Crayton as Flank vs Slot WR

[21Savage]

Even though he's been our no. 2 WR for the most part of the past 2 seasons, can one of you great statisticians (cough Adam) inform us of how many of his catches have come in 3 WR sets with him in the slot as opposed to as a true number 2 (kinda like Glenn was in 06).

I believe he is one of the top 3 slot WRs in the game but I don't think he offers much as a number 2.

Even when we're in 2 WR sets, a lot of times we have in lined up in the slot position, therefore converging the whole field and giving more opportunities for safeties and corners to blow up our run plays. I hate watching the Oline dominate the D line only to have a corner blow up the play or a safety because they're not being threatened deep. There were a couple of run plays that guys like Finegan stopped that otherwise could've been significant gains yesterday. Now, those aren't on Crayton but are an example of what I'm talking about.

I want a guy like Austin or Hurd in there in an Alvin Harper like role. In reality, Crayton would still be higher than the guy in the pecking order in terms of number of catches at the end of the season.

The order still will be Witten>Williams>Crayton>Bennett>2WR. But as long as secondary players are forced to stay honest and cover the whole field, I think it'll work out better for the offense in the long term.

 

[21Savage]

I brought this back up because I posted it soon after game day and would really like to get some thoughts on it

 

[NeonDeion21]

I think Crayton is a fine slot WR. Sure he doesnt have the speed of a Wes Welker type but he finds ways to get open quick and thats all you really want from your slot guy.

 

[theogt]

Even though he's been our no. 2 WR for the most part of the past 2 seasons, can one of you great statisticians (cough Adam) inform us of how many of his catches have come in 3 WR sets with him in the slot as opposed to as a true number 2 (kinda like Glenn was in 06).

In 2008, 84% of his catches came when the team was in 3 or 4-receiver sets.

 

[21Savage]

In 2008, 84% of his catches came when the team was in 3 or 4-receiver sets.

Wow! Thanks. That's a higher number than I initially thought. Which means he can provide us with close to his current production even if we made him the 3rd WR.

I just believe Miles would provide more as a 2 WR/deep threat/deep decoy

 

[theogt]

Wow! Thanks. That's a higher number than I initially thought. Which means he can provide us with close to his current production even if we made him the 3rd WR.

I just believe Miles would provide more as a 2 WR/deep threat/deep decoy

I agree.

 

[AdamJT13]

More than 66 percent of Romo's completions came with three or four receivers on the field, so the fact that 82 percent of Crayton's catches came then isn't surprising, considering that he WAS our third receiver for nine games.

EDIT: Fixed Romo's percentage to include passes with zero receivers or one receiver on the field.

 

[YosemiteSam]

More than 70 percent of Romo's completions came with three or four receivers on the field, so the fact that 82 percent of Crayton's catches came then isn't surprising, considering that he WAS our third receiver for nine games.

Thats a pretty telling stat for opposing defenses to know. Many people (you too I believe) said that the offense was vanilla due to injury (which I believe), but that stat says there was more to it than just injuries. Even with injuries, you should be able to run something other than 3 and 4 WR sets to pass on.

All a defense needs to do is stack the line if we aren't in a 3 or 4 WR set.

 

[theogt]

More than 70 percent of Romo's completions came with three or four receivers on the field, so the fact that 82 percent of Crayton's catches came then isn't surprising, considering that he WAS our third receiver for nine games.

I noticed that myself, but also Crayton's catches were skewed significantly more to 3+ WR sets than TO's (84% for Crayton and 72% for TO).

I think there's something to the notion, but obviously it'd take much more research than is worthwhile.

 

[21Savage]

More than 70 percent of Romo's completions came with three or four receivers on the field, so the fact that 82 percent of Crayton's catches came then isn't surprising, considering that he WAS our third receiver for nine games.

My argument isn't about Crayton's production extrapolated with Romo's completions in consideration. It is about the speed threat to keep safeties honest in these 2 WR downs when we are really concentrated on the running games.

I'm just fed up of seeing secondary players blow up run plays for losses when the Oline is indeed moving a defensive front out of the way and creating holes.

 

[AdamJT13]

Thats a pretty telling stat for opposing defenses to know.

It's no different from most teams. Here are the percentages of completions with three or more receivers for some other quarterbacks --

93.5 Peyton Manning
82.5 Kurt Warner
78.1 Jay Cutler
77.6 Ben Roethlisberger
73.3 Aaron Rodgers
71.6 Eli Manning
68.9 Jason Campbell
66.3 Tony Romo
65.6 Brett Favre
63.0 Matt Ryan
62.9 Donovan McNabb
59.8 Drew Brees
57.7 Phillip Rivers

Many people (you too I believe) said that the offense was vanilla due to injury (which I believe)

I'm pretty sure I never said anything like that, unless it was about the three games What's His Name started at quarterback.

but that stat says there was more to it than just injuries. Even with injuries, you should be able to run something other than 3 and 4 WR sets to pass on.

All a defense needs to do is stack the line if we aren't in a 3 or 4 WR set.

That's fine with me. Romo had a 115.9 rating last year on 81 attempts when we used two or more tight ends.

 

[AdamJT13]

My argument isn't about Crayton's production extrapolated with Romo's completions in consideration.

Well, you asked for the stats.

 

[21Savage]

Well, you asked for the stats.

And I'm thankful for them Stephen

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Interesting stats. Thanks to Adam and Theo for doing the work to find what they did give us here.

 

[followthestar]

Rating Crayton vs. starting CB, he didn't contribute nearly as much or do as well as he does vs. nickle coverage (i.e. 3rd CB). The inference is that he can get open on most slot corners, but has trouble either getting open or catching passes when covered by the left or right CB. In other words, he's a very good slot receiver, not AS good on the outside but still a serviceable No.2. The stats may have come from Stats, Inc. or one of those guys, and it was posted here a couple months back...

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Well, you asked for the stats.

:laugh2: