modern offensive trends & our #2 WR next year

you're right in that they were unhappy with how the top two performed up to the time Naanee was signed. Lafell has obviously improved since.

needs both of those picks in the first two days to be difference makers, one up front and one behind preferably - a lot past that can be depth but we won't be done.

 

Unless Blackmon somehow drops to 8/9 pick, I don't think we draft a receiver this year.

Trio of Smitty, LaFell,Gettis is solid. Look for Pilares to possibly be used as our 3rd down back next year.

 

What?

 

found this nugget about modern offensive trends while scouring the usual suspects (http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/01/08/insider-jets-schottenheimer-lacks-adjustment-acume)

"A lot of offenses have become spread, horizontal passing games with quarterbacks who can spit it quickly and offensive linemen who can shield and get in the way. It has put more of a premium on athletic offensive linemen. O-linemen have been getting bigger and bigger when they come into the league. I think you're going to see a trend going the other way — with feet and athletic ability being the most dominant traits sought in (offensive linemen)."

 

4-3 DTs seem to be getting smaller as well, so it makes sense. Maybe that's why Evan Mathis looks better now.

 

this is somewhat related to the OP, which includes a lot of good commentary about how this is the golden era for tight ends.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/01/16/shorts-and-shells-divisional-round

(a lot more in there than what's copied below)

I thought NFL Network's Marshall Faulk had a great point when talking about tight ends dominating in this era.

"I believe it's the illegal-contact rule now," Faulk said on NFLN's Sunday-morning broadcast. "How do you slow down a big receiver? It used to be disrupting them down the field. Getting in their way, bumping them, it used to be legal.

"Now that you no longer can touch them after that five yards, the big guy can get that full head of steam and they can get going now. They can clear you out, get you out of the way, body you up, and you can't do (anything) about it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And another nugget from the NYG/GB game highlights two different points of recent interest to me: how hard it is to play safety under the knew rules (and how that effects the value of the position going forward) and the need for physicality in the receiving core.

"The safety play was not at its peak this weekend. Once the Broncos lost a couple of safeties to injury, they were toast. The Packers were undone by Charlie Peprah's awful shoulder-tackle attempt on Hakeem Nicks, sort of a mini tight end considering how physical he is, and then Peprah failed to get position on Nicks' Hail Mary reception at the end of the half."




Personally, the biggest reason I feel we can upgrade the #2 receiver spot was due to how little success Naanee had getting yards after the catch, his YA numbers were very mediocre if not below average. Maybe it was because of the routes he was running, I dont know, but we dont seem to have anyone in the mold of Moose - i.e., a physical receiver that can break tackles and make things happen that way. Also doesnt seem prudent to spend a high pick on a WR, but it would likely help the offense if a physical type were to somehow emerge.

 

That got me looking at YAC in 2011, and holy shit Julio Jones led the league among receivers with at least 30 catches. Blackmon is the type of physical receiver who can break tackles and gain yards after the catch. I wouldn't be opposed to trading up for him, but it's highly unlikely given that Olsen already cost the 3rd rounder.

 

Moose was a reliable receiver, but I don't remember a ton of missed tackles.
We can upgrade on Naanee without a ton of effort, but I honestly believe LaFell is that guy in the team's eyes, too. It's going to be up to who's going to be the 3rd guy.

 

If Gettis can come back he'd be a good second or third option. The third year is typically when WRs break out. It's possible both Gettis and Lafell could show up big.

 

true. I guess i'm talking more about broken tackles than missed tackles

maybe a better example is the difference between tar heel WR's Greg Little & Jhay Boyd. Little sought contact at every opportunity, some thought his best position woulda been linebacker. Jhay Boyd was known as 'Chafrin' because he soft early in his career.

Moose's attitude toward getting tackled was closer to Little's than Boyd's. Who's that guy on the 2012 team? Lafell?