PFF: grading WR by ability to separate, YAC and catching the ball

[mav1234]

52 minutes ago, frankw said:

I agree I still think he has a high ceiling and he's given me no reason to question his work ethic. I expect him to be much better next season. That being said nothing is guaranteed.

I think his wrist injury is impacting his play. He ability to catch the ball declined thru the season from what I recall, tho maybe I'm wrong.

Like every rookie he deserves a second year. And this hasn't even been a BAD year for a rookie receiver, just a disappointment for what we hoped he'd be (and tbh for what he was midway thru the year). We've had plenty of guys basically be unable to get on the field at all.

I am concerned about our ability to develop receivers, though. We shall see how that goes...

[kungfoodude]

21 hours ago, outlaw4 said:

XL basically only had one full season of actual production his final year. I see him as a raw guy compared to someone like Coker who at least got a ton more playing time. You could argue we should've gone with a guy who had more college playing experience, although it's not as often you see rookie receivers go off anyways unless they are in the ideal QB/system situation. The drops are concerning but the fact he's been in position to make big plays I'd say is far better results than guys like TMJ/Mingo have ever done. Also, all these rookies got a lot of playing time this year, so hopefully that will get them all to take a bigger step their second year.

But we aren't in the era of rookie WR's struggling, especially first round guys. Look at the 8 WR's in this 1st round alone. The only three with under 700 yds receiving are XL, Worthy and Pearsall. It's also a group that is about to have its 4th 1000+ yard WR so far.

[kungfoodude]

8 hours ago, Navy_football said:

Not naturally. No. But I feel like you can improve your hands with practice. I think tracking the ball is one of those things you either have or don't. That's when they just become DBs.

TBH, XL probably should have made that switch in college if he was capable of being a defender. He would be a wild safety.

[Ghostofdelhomme]

2 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

But we aren't in the era of rookie WR's struggling, especially first round guys. Look at the 8 WR's in this 1st round alone. The only three with under 700 yds receiving are XL, Worthy and Pearsall. It's also a group that is about to have its 4th 1000+ yard WR so far.

So the lower drafted guys aren’t as good as the higher ones. Interesting.

[pantherclaw]

On 12/24/2024 at 4:56 PM, mav1234 said:

Thielen has been excellent this year. Defenses know that he's Bryce's first read on any critical conversion and they still aren't usually able to stop it.

He's been excellent in both years, having to be the top target when he he has never been a true #1 in terms of ability.  

[kungfoodude]

16 minutes ago, Ghostofdelhomme said:

So the lower drafted guys aren’t as good as the higher ones. Interesting.

Sure, if you don't count another 1k WR taken two spots after XL in the 2nd.

[mav1234]

19 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

But we aren't in the era of rookie WR's struggling, especially first round guys. Look at the 8 WR's in this 1st round alone. The only three with under 700 yds receiving are XL, Worthy and Pearsall. It's also a group that is about to have its 4th 1000+ yard WR so far.

Sure, but despite being targeted less, he has more TDs than Odunze and more y/r than Nabers (and same number of TDs).  He's got a very similar y/r as Worthy.  He isn't stacking up that poorly to other WRs, but he has trailed off late - something that imo may indicate injury or needing to improve conditioning.

He's not ever gonna be the best WR in this draft class, but he'll be in the top 3-5 with a bit of improvement imo.

[electro's horse]

36 minutes ago, mav1234 said:

Sure, but despite being targeted less, he has more TDs than Odunze and more y/r than Nabers (and same number of TDs). 

A bears wide receiver and a guys who starting qb is effectively out of the league. 

one of the WR doing comparable work, pearsall, missed multiple games after being shot

Take the L dude

Edited 15 hours ago by electro's horse

[mav1234]

Just now, electro's horse said:

A bears wide receiver and a guys who starting qb is effectively out of the league. 

one of the WR doing comparable work, pearsall, missed multiple games after being shot. 

I mean Bears offense isn't too different - young QB that is VERY up and down. XL has had a veteran that wouldn't start hardly anywhere else and a QB with the worst rookie season of all time. Not a great situation and he's done OK in it. Lots still to work on.

Pearsall isn't doing comparable work because he hasn't been on the field (170 yards and 1 TD). 

[electro's horse]

2 minutes ago, mav1234 said:

I mean Bears offense isn't too different - young QB that is VERY up and down. XL has had a veteran that wouldn't start hardly anywhere else and a QB with the worst rookie season of all time. Not a great situation and he's done OK in it. Lots still to work on.

Pearsall isn't doing comparable work because he hasn't been on the field (170 yards and 1 TD). 

Bears offense is very different because it’s the bears. It’s where things go to die. Just ask moose. 

and yeah the total stats are low secondary to missing multiple games with a GSW. Theres no way XL looks good 

[mav1234]

3 minutes ago, electro's horse said:

Bears offense is very different because it’s the bears. It’s where things go to die. Just ask moose. 

and yeah the total stats are low secondary to missing multiple games with a GSW. Theres no way XL looks good 

XL doesn't look good, I didn't say that. I said he wasn't particularly bad for a rookie. There are some bright spots. He needs to develop to not be a bust, while most of those guys will have a place on a roster even if they don't.

[kungfoodude]

1 hour ago, mav1234 said:

Sure, but despite being targeted less, he has more TDs than Odunze and more y/r than Nabers (and same number of TDs).  He's got a very similar y/r as Worthy.  He isn't stacking up that poorly to other WRs, but he has trailed off late - something that imo may indicate injury or needing to improve conditioning.

He's not ever gonna be the best WR in this draft class, but he'll be in the top 3-5 with a bit of improvement imo.

It is highly unlikely he ever becomes top 7 in this class, TBH. It's a strong class and he is not a strong player. 

He is also near last in that group in drops and catch %. 

Again, it isn't just stats, he struggles with aspects of his game that a lot of these guys don't.

[Jackie Lee]

The link is pay walled but I'm guessing AT came in 9th in separation this week with an 81.82%

PFF CAR Panthers

 

@PFF_Panthers

 

9. Adam Thielen - 81.82%

The best receivers at creating separation to get open in Week 16:

[Ghostofdelhomme]

2 hours ago, mav1234 said:

XL doesn't look good, I didn't say that. I said he wasn't particularly bad for a rookie. There are some bright spots. He needs to develop to not be a bust, while most of those guys will have a place on a roster even if they don't.

XL looks good except for being able to catch, which of course is the WR’s #1 Job. He doesn’t look lost like AD Mitchell or odunze