Battle of the NFC East: Wide Receivers

[PennSkinsfan]

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/09/battle-of-the-nfc-east-wide-receivers.html

[Bulldog's Twin]

This article makes no sense.

The author starts out by crowning Desean Jackson after one 900 yard season playing with perhaps the best pure passer in the division.

Then he goes onto salivate over what Maclin MAY do in the NFL.

With the Redskins he notes that with TO gone Moss has been the most productive receiver in the division but decides that isn't a determining factor in the analysis (??).

He goes onto say that Kelly and DT are unproven.

You mean just like Macklin?

Ha!

I think we need some additional analysis here.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

[Spence]

I'm the author of that article. Let me see if I can clear up a few things.

Jeremy Maclin has immense potential, but he's unproven and he's had a fumbling problem in the preseason. I wrote that. I also wrote that "If Maclin develops, the Eagles could have a truly terrifying pair of wideouts." That's correct. That was the extent of my salivation over Jeremy Maclin.

I did write that DeSean Jackson will be the best WR in the NFC East this year. I don't think that's terribly controversial. He had a very good rookie season and he plays with a good quarterback. [I rated Donovan McNabb as the best quarterback in the NFC East in the Battle of the NFC East: Quarterbacks.]

I wrote that Moss was good last year and that his presence is why the Redskins were rated #2 in wide receivers in a poor division for wide receivers. No one else on the team has proven anything, apart from Antwaan Randle El, who has proven that he's a decent slot receiver who should not be a starting flanker in the NFL. Again, I don't think that's terribly controversial.

Maclin is unproven like Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. However, Maclin didn't piss away his rookie season [at least not yet] the way Thomas and Kelly did. That's the difference. If Maclin does piss away his rookie season, I'll write that when the time comes. I would note, however, that Maclin could at least show up to training camp in decent shape -- unlike Thomas or Kelly.

[Chris]

Yikes!

We could have the best receiving corp. Or the worst.

Moss is injury prone. But not last year.

The youngsters are a motley crew of unproven kids. But if they step-up they could be potent.

El has played out of position in the past. But not this season. How is that a bad thing?

[Spence]

El has played out of position in the past. But not this season. How is that a bad thing?It's a good thing...if it happens.

[MikeSr619]

We could easily end up with the best WR corps in the division. The Gnats have nobody with hands outside of Boss and even he isn't killing it. The Iggles have a really young corp that has shown they are prone to do dumb things like drop the ball before going in the end zone, not running routes right and other silly things. The Cowbums put their stock in a never was WR named Roy and he is hurt anyways. Those other 2 wannabe #1s will never live up to their own hype.

That leaves us. Moss has shown he can get 1300 yards but he has also shown that he has a bad case of the drops. El is NOT a pure WR and we need to recognize that and use him for what he is. Kelly "could be" a goldmine or he could be a bust. Depends on his knees and his continued dedication. Thomas is a pure disappointment to me and I can't believe he was returning kicks. How sad for a 1st rounder to sink that low.

[Chris]

Thomas is a pure disappointment to me and I can't believe he was returning kicks. How sad for a 1st rounder to sink that low.

He was second rounder.

Why do you view it a disappointment that Thomas may return kicks, Mike? There have been many great players that have played on special teams in the NFL. (And, no, I'm not saying that Thomas is a great player.)

[MikeSr619]

He was second rounder.

Why do you view it a disappointment that Thomas may return kicks, Mike? There have been many great players that have played on special teams in the NFL. (And, no, I'm not saying that Thomas is a great player.)

my bad..2nd rounder.

he wasnt some guy that barely made the team or we picked up and are using as a ST'er. He was drafted to come in and give us size and speed at WR and he has done neither. He barely played last year because he couldnt pick up the playbook and now this year he is playing special teams. Unless you are someone like Rock or Osgood (Chargers) you really dont want to be on special teams. You want to start at the position you were drafted at and most try to get off of there. Devin is going backwards...

[Lanky Livingston]

How quick people are to write off WRs in this league, if they don't make an immediate impact. The general rule USED to be the 3rd year was the "breakout" year for receivers, but for some reason Skins fans expect performance NOW NOW NOW.

Let's give Devin a little more time before we label him a bust or disappointment. He's got all the raw-physical abilities he could ever need - just needs to screw his head on a little tighter and figure out the offense. Will he? Who knows, but I for one am not ready to just call him a waste after one season.

[MikeSr619]

How quick people are to write off WRs in this league, if they don't make an immediate impact. The general rule USED to be the 3rd year was the "breakout" year for receivers, but for some reason Skins fans expect performance NOW NOW NOW.

Let's give Devin a little more time before we label him a bust or disappointment. He's got all the raw-physical abilities he could ever need - just needs to screw his head on a little tighter and figure out the offense. Will he? Who knows, but I for one am not ready to just call him a waste after one season.

well thats why I play jug and you're stuck on spoons!! :elvis:

I am not ready to call him a complete bust but can we agree that he has been exhibiting bust qualities? you dont go from being a player we want to have make an immediate impact on offense to returning kicks without looking like you are going the wrong way.

I FULLY support him and want him to do good. I would never wish ill on a Skins player or any player trying to make a living at something he loves. I guess it could be my fault for having higher expectations. I did draft Kelly in my fantasy draft...but last round ;)

[Bulldog's Twin]

First of all, I don't think Kelly pissed off his rookie season, unless you seem to think that needing reconstructive knee surgery is like stubbing your toe on a door jamb :)

Besides, what happened in 2008 is irrelevant for 2009 IF the circumstances are different and I think Kelly's performance in camp and during the preseason indicates it might very well be the case.

He has improved and is now healthy, items seemed to be missed in the initial anaylsis.

It's great that Jackson came in, stayed healthy and was productive in a scheme where defenses were still keying on Brian Westbrook out of the backfield or split wide on passing downs.

Notice that when Westbrook was injured the Eagles offense with the defense playing back didn't produce nearly as many big plays in the passing game.

Credit Westbrook in part with Jackson's ability to get single coverage as a rookie.

[Neophyte]

I always thought Thomas was more of a split-end type anyway and that he would be best at backing up Moss. Some time on teams with a few snaps a game at split-end while Moss takes a blow work fine for me where Thomas is concerned right now, especially with the way Kelly and Mitchell are playing. We need his speed but I think we need Kelly's hands more.

[Bulldog's Twin]

The irony is that Marko Mitchell may end up being the better player 2-3 years from now in the NFL.

He lacks the straight ahead speed that Thomas possesses but is mature for his age in terms of his football IQ and has good hands and body control at 6'4.

Plus he stays on the field.

That's important for a team where the offense in recent years has been paralyzed with guys in and out of the lineup because of injuries.

[Walking Deadman]

keep your eyes on a 2 WR 2 TE package in the Red Zone with Kelly and Mitchell.....it will be very, very hard to cover if the Redskins decide to run a package like this