Matt Waldman - Devin Funchess, A Future 'Middle Class' Julio Jones?

[Saca312]

Over the course of the past four weeks, Funchess has more than confirmed to be a competent replacement for Kelvin Benjamin. His production the past few games has been unreal, despite the few drops he's had over the last two weeks.

That's solid production. Really solid. 

It's even enough to make one particular analyst turn his head towards Funchess.

If you haven't heard of Matt Waldman, he's been one particular draft analyst I really enjoyed over the off-season. He's known to do incredible work and give very good, insightful analysis. Many people respect him and his ideas on certain players, teams, and future draft classes. 

Recently, Matt Waldman even began drawing comparisons of Funchess to Julio Jones. Seriously. While Funchess is certainly not close to Julio Jones total skillset, he's shown plenty of flashes of being what Matt Waldman calls a future "middle class" version of Julio. 

Take a look at one of his mini-breakdown videos.

For those wondering what Matt Waldman means by his comparison, he answers that question here:

A very nice analogy and explanation on his opinion on Funchess. While Funchess isn't close to Julio's level of skill, he's getting very close to Julio's style of play. 

Just something to think about.

[OneBadCat]

I think he has a lot of potential. I also think he’s built well to play WR. Not overly fast but has a great stride and nice hands. 

In comparison to KB he’s not as massive but you can tell he’s more stout and more well rounded muscle wise. He also seems to have pretty great control of his body where as KB has a sort of awkwardness about his game. Which I think makes him less injury prone.

[rippadonn]

I'd love to see Moose become his mentor. They're so much alike athletically.

[rippadonn]

Fun is better at yards after contact he has a breakaway ability KB didn't have.

[Vagrant]

He needs to figure out how to run routes to the first down marker. I have been really encouraged about everything about his game except field awareness. 

[Saca312]

8 minutes ago, Vagrant said:

He needs to figure out how to run routes to the first down marker. I have been really encouraged about everything about his game except field awareness. 

interesting. aside one play from the saints, he's been amazing at ensuring he does get to the first down marker and getting the right depth in my opinion.

wrote about it a bit here.

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/2017/11/23/carolina-panthers-devin-funchess-2/

When Devin Funchess entered the NFL in 2015, he was one of the youngest at the age of 20. During his rookie season, he showed plenty of flashes, but never found much consistency. However, for a young receiver his age, it’s not surprising that it’d take a little time for him to grow.

Entering year three, it appears Devin Funchess finally found his groove. At his current age of 23, he’s still younger than current rookies Cooper Kupp, Kenny Golladay, and Dede Westbrook. It’s still pretty mind-blowing that a year three veteran is younger than plenty of rookies.

On the field, he shows plenty of improvement with route-running and situational awareness. While in his rookie year, he was comparable to a deer in headlights on the field; unsure what to do. Nowadays, he understands the NFL better, and it shows.

Against the Dolphins, he showcases his improved route running and awareness on one particular play.

On this play, the Panthers face a 3rd down. The Miami defense is in zone with Devin Funchess lining up to the left of Cam. On the snap, he runs a hitch route and does enough for the first down.

What’s incredible is how Funchess completes this. He begins by running and selling the outside route to the corner ahead of him. Since the corner thinks the Panther receiver is going outside, he sits back, consequently allowing Funchess to gain leverage inside.

Once he gains enough depth, Funchess quickly turns around on his hitch route. The timing of this was impeccable; causing Miami defenders to be 2+ yards ahead of the first down marker. Afterwards, he runs back to the first down marker, allowing Cam Newton to throw a beauty.

[unicar15]

Welp...good thing he had like 1 first half target against the Saints...with their number 1 DB out. Good job Mike. Great game plan. 

[LinvilleGorge]

The hyperbole in today's world is just ridiculous. Funchess looked like a bust now he's emerging into being a solid starter and now we're trying to compare him to Julio. My god. Now people will be bitching next year because he's not Julio. Can't we just appreciate that he's a solid starter and calm the fug down and not heap expectations on him that are almost certainly out of reach? 

[JakeDel5674]

16 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The hyperbole in today's world is just ridiculous. Funchess looked like a bust now he's emerging into being a solid starter and now we're trying to compare him to Julio. My god. Now people will be bitching next year because he's not Julio. Can't we just appreciate that he's a solid starter and calm the fug down and not heap expectations on him that are almost certainly out of reach? 

No, no, no.  Just this guy and some random twitter guy is doing that.  He’s solid and that’s it to most of us.  Saca can’t get past the fact Worley is hot garbage.  So, he’ll just hype up Funchess instead.  

[Saca312]

1 hour ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The hyperbole in today's world is just ridiculous. Funchess looked like a bust now he's emerging into being a solid starter and now we're trying to compare him to Julio. My god. Now people will be bitching next year because he's not Julio. Can't we just appreciate that he's a solid starter and calm the fug down and not heap expectations on him that are almost certainly out of reach? 

i mean if you actually read maybe you'd clearly see the part where funchess isn't close to julio's level, but comparable in certain traits that give him potential.

he's comparable in certain traits you see from julio. but he'll never touch julio's skillset or overall level. that doesn't mean a receiver will not show some similarities in certain areas to better receivers, or said receiver is just as good.

plus this isn't my opinion.

[LinvilleGorge]

10 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

i mean if you actually read maybe you'd clearly see the part where funchess isn't close to julio's level, but comparable in certain traits that give him potential.

he's comparable in certain traits you see from julio. but he'll never touch julio's skillset or overall level. that doesn't mean a receiver will not show some similarities in certain areas to better receivers, or said receiver is just as good.

plus this isn't my opinion.

Sorry man, it's just an awful comparison. 

Ironically, I think it's another Falcons WR Funchess compares pretty favorably to and that's Mohamed Sanu. He's basically a bigger version of Sanu. Both are good route runners who are pretty good at finding holes in zones with hot/cold hands who don't have big time deep speed and despite being big WRs aren't particularly great in traffic. I think Funchess has a bit more potential than Sanu, but overall I think they're relatively comparable. Julio though... man, it's just laughable. 

[Saca312]

1 minute ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Sorry man, it's just an awful comparison. 

Ironically, I think it's another Falcons WR Funchess compares pretty favorably to and that's Mohamed Sanu. He's basically a bigger version of Sanu. Both are good route runners who are pretty good at finding holes in zones with hot/cold hands who don't have big time deep speed and despite being big WRs aren't particularly great in traffic. I think Funchess has a bit more potential than Sanu, but overall I think they're relatively comparable. Julio though... man, it's just laughable. 

i can see waldman's point when talking about stylistically they're similar. both are flexible athletic receivers with great ball tracking skills on out routes and such. but definitely agree he's not even half of who julio is yet, and i doubt he'll ever reach julio's level over the course of his entire career.

but in my opinion, if i were to compare funchess to a past panther receiver, he's most comparable to moose. funchess has potential, but don't worry im not insinuating he's julio by any means.

[JakeDel5674]

This is all realtively stupid anyway.  Shula would find a way to ruin Julio too. 

[LinvilleGorge]

I just don't see Funchess as anywhere near as physical as Moose. Moose's physicality was his best asset. I don't feel that Funchess plays up to his size most of the time and isn't the great competing for the ball in traffic. If you could give Funchess KB's ability to get jump balls and compete in traffic you'd really have something. Maybe he can develop that as he has the size, but it's usually one of those things that you either have it or you don't.