Can Cole Beasley Be More Than Just A Slot WR?

[NeonDeion21]

One of the major concerns that some people (including the Cowboys, I believe) have with Cole Beasley is that they believe he is a slot receiver-only. While he is clearly more comfortable playing in the slot, Beasley can be a productive player outside. In fact, we are seeing more teams take their smaller receivers out of the slot and are moving them to the outside (the New England Patriots and Julian Edelman come to mind). We even saw it some from Beasley last year. Here’s a formation in which Dallas used Beasley on the outside in combination with Bryant and Witten lined up in the slot:



With Beasley lining up outside of the numbers and both Bryant and Witten running down the seams, it allows Beasley the entire right side of the field by himself without linebackers and safeties getting into his space. What I find interesting on this play is that Beasley was quick enough to beat the cornerback to the middle of the field despite the corner playing inside technique (giving Beasley the sideline). This is the type of route that Beasley can use to win if the team decides they do want to try to play him in base sets.

Read the rest at: http://all22breakdown.com/?p=3382

 

[perrykemp]

Can Beasley provide productive snaps on the outside? I think the answer is yes.

Having said that, it much more ideal with Dez and Williams on the outside and Beasley in the slot.

I think you'd start to see some of Beasley's athletic limitations shows up on the outside. His 5-8 height in particular would make many of the traditional routes along the boundry really problematic.

 

[DoctorChicken]

yes. follow ur dreams, cole. follow ur dreams and be whatever u want

a chef
a firefire
a strapping horse wrangler
a sexy hitman
a photographer
or whatever

 

[jrumann59]

Slot guys do well in the slot because their skill set is tailored made to working in areas with a lot of real estate, crossing routes, option routes, etc putting him on the outside will allow teams to play him by trying to keep him to the outside and try and prevent him from going inside,

 

[Doomsday101]

You can move a slot WR outside teams do it the routs they run tend to be the same type of slants and crossing routs and the change in alignment forces defense to adjust to it. I don't see Cole as a pure outside WR and would say the same with Welker even though there are formation where he will lineup outside.

 

[jazzcat22]

Slot guys do well in the slot because their skill set is tailored made to working in areas with a lot of real estate, crossing routes, option routes, etc putting him on the outside will allow teams to play him by trying to keep him to the outside and try and prevent him from going inside,

Yes, was just thinking this. The coaches know what to do, what he can do, what he can't, or needs to learn or get better at. Do not try to fix something that is not broken here. They have something that works, and works well.
Now put him on the outside, will teams take this serious or see as a decoy. I say leave it alone. They have Devin Street to take those outside snaps. But this is just my opinion.

But if the team uses him in different ways, then they have the confidence it will work. Wonder if we see this in preseason games.

 

[DeaconMoss]

I like him just where he is. Abusing people from the slot is where he needs to be.

 

[AbeBeta]

Edeleman is a poor comparison. He's 20lbs heavier than Beasley and really strong. You usually see smaller cbs in the slot. A big guy might not have much problem knocking him off his route

 

[erod]

He is a slot receiver only. He can't play outside in the traditional sense. Sure, he can line up out there and run quick under slants and bubble screens perhaps, but he can't line up wide and run 15-yard outs and go routes like a bigger guy.

 

[Doomsday101]

He is a slot receiver only. He can't play outside in the traditional sense. Sure, he can line up out there and run quick under slants and bubble screens perhaps, but he can't line up wide and run 15-yard outs and go routes like a bigger guy.

True, however he had a couple of go routs last season, I think the CB expect the short crossing or bubble screen and end up getting beat off the line as he took the rout up field. No doubt if you lined him up as an outside WR he would not win the battle very often. He fits perfect in the role he is in as a slot WR

 

[ConstantReboot]

If it isn't broke don't fix it. I think having Beasley in the slot is the best fit for him and has given teams trouble trying to cover him. He is almost open all the time as a slot receiver. But having him on the outside once in a blue moon can add a wrinkle to our offense. It won't hurt to put him outside once in a while to see how teams play him. But in all honestly, he's best as a slot receiver.

 

[Blackspider214]

I don't think he can be and really don't want to find out. He's fine where he is. He is our Wes Welker.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I like him just where he is. Abusing people from the slot is where he needs to be.

Ab so lutely!!

His talent is creating this little maze that makes defenders look foolish trying to follow him into.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Edeleman is a poor comparison. He's 20lbs heavier than Beasley and really strong. You usually see smaller cbs in the slot. A big guy might not have much problem knocking him off his route

I hear that t-shirts quiver when Edelman flexes dem guns

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I don't think he can be and really don't want to find out. He's fine where he is. He is our Wes Welker.

Chronically concussed and married to Miss Hooters?

 

[jday]

One of the major concerns that some people (including the Cowboys, I believe) have with Cole Beasley is that they believe he is a slot receiver-only. While he is clearly more comfortable playing in the slot, Beasley can be a productive player outside. In fact, we are seeing more teams take their smaller receivers out of the slot and are moving them to the outside (the New England Patriots and Julian Edelman come to mind). We even saw it some from Beasley last year. Here’s a formation in which Dallas used Beasley on the outside in combination with Bryant and Witten lined up in the slot:



With Beasley lining up outside of the numbers and both Bryant and Witten running down the seams, it allows Beasley the entire right side of the field by himself without linebackers and safeties getting into his space. What I find interesting on this play is that Beasley was quick enough to beat the cornerback to the middle of the field despite the corner playing inside technique (giving Beasley the sideline). This is the type of route that Beasley can use to win if the team decides they do want to try to play him in base sets.

Read the rest at: http://all22breakdown.com/?p=3382

There's an old adage that suggest you put your best 11 on the field. I say put your best 11 on the field in the position they are best suited to succeed. For Beasley, that is clearly in the slot.

 

[MonsterD]

Without long speed, I don't think so. If the guy had size and speed, he would have been drafted.

 

[Everson24]

Antonio Brown isn't much biggerthan Beasley and he was also considered just a slot receiver when he came into the league. Now he is considered one off he top 5 overall recievers in the game. I believe that Cole Beasley and Antonio Brown have a very similar skill set. In fact Beasley is slightly faster and seems to have an even bigger catch radius than Brown.

 

[perrykemp]

Antonio Brown isn't much biggerthan Beasley and he was also considered just a slot receiver when he came into the league. Now he is considered one off he top 5 overall recievers in the game. I believe that Cole Beasley and Antonio Brown have a very similar skill set. In fact Beasley is slightly faster and seems to have an even bigger catch radius than Brown.

The delta between 5'8" (Beasley) and 5'10" (Brown) is much more vast than the difference between 5'10" and 6'0".

If I had to guess 5'8" is probably the smallest for a top starting (X,Y, and Z) WR. I think Tavon Austin is also 5'8".

 

[conner01]

True, however he had a couple of go routs last season, I think the CB expect the short crossing or bubble screen and end up getting beat off the line as he took the rout up field. No doubt if you lined him up as an outside WR he would not win the battle very often. He fits perfect in the role he is in as a slot WR

He lined up some outside last year
But his strength is crossing routes and working in space
He is not a burner but he is so quick in and out of his routes
He can play outside some but go routes are not his strength
But you put dez in the slot and Beasley outside, send dez downfield and Beasley across the field and everytime one of them is going to get open
If the safety come up dez opens up, if he stays back Beasley opens up
In space you can't cover Beasley but running down the sideline doesn't play to his strength