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FRPLG · 11-23-2004, 09:58 AM

I honestly believe our WRs have been perhaps the most underated problem on our team this year. I'll go down the list to explain the issues each is having.

Coles: Clearly he is not the player he was last year. The toe injury has limited his quickness and probably inhibit good cuts. His routes are above average still but he is not at that top level where we need him to be. Basically his hasn't been able to get the seperation that a receiver his size and type need to be effective. This is obviously a result of the toe problem and hopefully will be remedied in the off-season. One other factor to think about is that Coles is Ramsey's favorite target. Brunell never seemed to get sink with him(or anyone else for that matter) so it cut down on his touches. He also has a finger issue that probably led to the drops. He is a number 1 guy on 25 other teams when he is healthy.

Gardner: Rangy guy with limited speed and quickness. He runs some routes perfectly and and exhibits the toughness needed for a possession receiver like himself. He also runs some bad routes and looks downright fragile at other times. He clearly doesn't have natural hands and doesn't seem to work hard at improving them. He drops far too many tough balls and way way way too many easy balls. He is athletic and can make some things happen but he needs to catch more balls and make his qb look better than he currently does. It seems to me the way to use a guy like Gardner is one of two ways. A) send him down field against shorter corners where he can use his size and athleticism to make plays. B) Use him on mid-range routes for first downs and short tough gains. The skins seem to use him well in the latter but he doesn't seem to get any seperation down field and doesn't exhibit the toughness that he shows on the shorter routes to be effective in the former. An above average number 2 if he could pcik it up and be a little more consistent.

Jacobs: Seems he is our current #3 which i think makes him probably the most talented #3 in the league. He has great speed and what seems like a good work ethic and a good team attitude. Somewhat injury prone due to his slighter frame I don't he is overtly athletic but he certainly has the requisite amount of athleticism. The lack of pure skill means he is probably 10-15 more games away from being a real impact player but I can see him being a real threat in the mold of a guy like Marvin Harrison. If he can learn to run great routes his speed quickness will make him a great receiver.

McCants: Pure possesion guy who seems to always make plays and be open downfield. I guess he is a lazy practice guy so that limits his growth potential. a pretty good number 4 guy considering he is probably an average number 3 in the NFL.

Thrash: Qucik guy who works hard and does much with less skill than most. Based purely on skill level he is a #3 at best in the NFL but his work ethic makes him a solid #2. Doens't get great seperation but does good thinsg once he gets the ball.

Notice the biggest issue our receivers have had is the lack of seperation. I think this and Brunell's arm go together to explain our anemic pass offense. These guys couldn't get open enough for Brunell's weak ass arm to ever get the ball in there. I thnk Ramsey will help this out as corners and safeties will learn pretty quick that they can't just hang back off of guys and jump the ball before it gets there like they were doing with Brunell(or would havge done if Brunell ever threw at them). Ramsey will start pushing some balls in tight spaces(or try to) and this will make corners and safties play a tighter style to accomodate the quciker balls which will actually create some more seperation as playing tight is a feast or famine situation. We are going to have one game where we bust out and everything changes. Thus ending the thought of ever using Brunell again.

11-23-2004, 09:58 AM	#48
FRPLG MVP Join Date: May 2004 Age: 46 Posts: 10,164	I honestly believe our WRs have been perhaps the most underated problem on our team this year. I'll go down the list to explain the issues each is having. Coles: Clearly he is not the player he was last year. The toe injury has limited his quickness and probably inhibit good cuts. His routes are above average still but he is not at that top level where we need him to be. Basically his hasn't been able to get the seperation that a receiver his size and type need to be effective. This is obviously a result of the toe problem and hopefully will be remedied in the off-season. One other factor to think about is that Coles is Ramsey's favorite target. Brunell never seemed to get sink with him(or anyone else for that matter) so it cut down on his touches. He also has a finger issue that probably led to the drops. He is a number 1 guy on 25 other teams when he is healthy. Gardner: Rangy guy with limited speed and quickness. He runs some routes perfectly and and exhibits the toughness needed for a possession receiver like himself. He also runs some bad routes and looks downright fragile at other times. He clearly doesn't have natural hands and doesn't seem to work hard at improving them. He drops far too many tough balls and way way way too many easy balls. He is athletic and can make some things happen but he needs to catch more balls and make his qb look better than he currently does. It seems to me the way to use a guy like Gardner is one of two ways. A) send him down field against shorter corners where he can use his size and athleticism to make plays. B) Use him on mid-range routes for first downs and short tough gains. The skins seem to use him well in the latter but he doesn't seem to get any seperation down field and doesn't exhibit the toughness that he shows on the shorter routes to be effective in the former. An above average number 2 if he could pcik it up and be a little more consistent. Jacobs: Seems he is our current #3 which i think makes him probably the most talented #3 in the league. He has great speed and what seems like a good work ethic and a good team attitude. Somewhat injury prone due to his slighter frame I don't he is overtly athletic but he certainly has the requisite amount of athleticism. The lack of pure skill means he is probably 10-15 more games away from being a real impact player but I can see him being a real threat in the mold of a guy like Marvin Harrison. If he can learn to run great routes his speed quickness will make him a great receiver. McCants: Pure possesion guy who seems to always make plays and be open downfield. I guess he is a lazy practice guy so that limits his growth potential. a pretty good number 4 guy considering he is probably an average number 3 in the NFL. Thrash: Qucik guy who works hard and does much with less skill than most. Based purely on skill level he is a #3 at best in the NFL but his work ethic makes him a solid #2. Doens't get great seperation but does good thinsg once he gets the ball. Notice the biggest issue our receivers have had is the lack of seperation. I think this and Brunell's arm go together to explain our anemic pass offense. These guys couldn't get open enough for Brunell's weak ass arm to ever get the ball in there. I thnk Ramsey will help this out as corners and safeties will learn pretty quick that they can't just hang back off of guys and jump the ball before it gets there like they were doing with Brunell(or would havge done if Brunell ever threw at them). Ramsey will start pushing some balls in tight spaces(or try to) and this will make corners and safties play a tighter style to accomodate the quciker balls which will actually create some more seperation as playing tight is a feast or famine situation. We are going to have one game where we bust out and everything changes. Thus ending the thought of ever using Brunell again.