Position Battles: Wide Receiver

[gimmesix]

Those low/high numbers on NFLDS are pre-draft estimates. They keep them there after the draft for some reason.

Oh, so his 4.37 is his only actual time. Thanks, I didn't know that.

So he's probably in the low-4.4 range although he may have improved his speed since he's been in the league working out as a pro.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

McDuffie and Whitehead are pretty much gone. For being suspended and the other because the team drafted his replacement.

Here is your active core

Dez
TW
Beasley
Butler
Switzer

I agree. I think we might slip Brown or Jones in as a sixth WR. I don't think they make it to the practice squad. Especially Brown, he is oozing with potential.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Oh, so his 4.37 is his only actual time. Thanks, I didn't know that.

So he's probably in the low-4.4 range although he may have improved his speed since he's been in the league working out as a pro.

What's interesting to me is it is assumed guys stay the same since they were drafted, they could be slower or faster. Darrell Green is a guy that never really lost any speed, and even when Eric Dickerson broke one, he said when he knew Green was on the field.....he was coming.

I think Joey Galloway got faster as he was in the league. RBs usually lose speed cause of wear and tear.

I remember going through the Raiders complex a long time ago and seeing the only guy in the gym was Jerry Rice. He was working out on some leg machine like a mad man. He made himself last that long.....some don't. Butler doesn't strike me as the only guy in the gym.

 

[gimmesix]

What's interesting to me is it is assumed guys stay the same since they were drafted, they could be slower or faster. Darrell Green is a guy that never really lost any speed, and even when Eric Dickerson broke one, he said when he knew Green was on the field.....he was coming.

I think Joey Galloway got faster as he was in the league. RBs usually lose speed cause of wear and tear.

I remember going through the Raiders complex a long time ago and seeing the only guy in the gym was Jerry Rice. He was working out on some leg machine like a mad man. He made himself last that long.....some don't. Butler doesn't strike me as the only guy in the gym.

Yes, I assume that most smaller-school guys get faster because their workout habits improve along with almost every other aspect of their workout. Some are maxed out speedwise when they enter the league, but different training techniques, equipment, etc., make a lot of them stronger and faster than they were.

Now, over the years (and sometimes it doesn't take that long), the wear and tear usually takes a toll on their speed ... although Green was definitely a freak of nature.

 

[Idgit]

I'm not wrong at all. If you see 4.37, by all means. I see a 4.6 guy on game day

Physically, Butler's got everything you want in an NFL WR. He just doesn't make all the plays that are there to be made. I don't like guys like that, and want to see them get unseated if we possibly can.

Whew.

I was afraid we wouldn't have unbridled Andy Jones love again this year.

What you got against Jones? If we were talking about a starting WR, I'd get the skepticism, but we're talking WR5 here, for a guy who was tearing up camp early on last year. That seems a pretty reasonable expectation for him to compete for a roster spot in year 2.

 

[Kaiser]

I agree. I think we might slip Brown or Jones in as a sixth WR. I don't think they make it to the practice squad. Especially Brown, he is oozing with potential.

I think Butler and Jones compete for the 5th spot and Brown goes to the practice squad.

I'm not worried about losing him on a waiver claim, it seems like the last couple of years NFL teams quit raiding other teams for PS players. It wouldn't surprise me to find out there was some handshake deal between teams on it. It seems like now when a player and team want that guy on their PS it always happens.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Yes, I assume that most smaller-school guys get faster because their workout habits improve along with almost every other aspect of their workout. Some are maxed out speedwise when they enter the league, but different training techniques, equipment, etc., make a lot of them stronger and faster than they were.

Now, over the years (and sometimes it doesn't take that long), the wear and tear usually takes a toll on their speed ... although Green was definitely a freak of nature.

My only point is there are alot that get rich, lazier, weaker, and slower. I don't just assume that if Butler ran a 4.37, 5 years ago, that he still runs a 4.37. Could be a 4.3 now or a 4.5, who knows. At this point it doesn't matter, all that matters is his performance on the field.

We do know the rookies that come in, ran their times recently, so they are more reliable.

 

[tyke1doe]

Aside from our overhauled defense, the wide receiver competition will be a good one. We have 3 locks: Bryant, Beasley, & Williams. We then have our specialty guys in: Whitehead, McDuffie, & Switzer. Then there are the big bodied backups: Butler, Brown, & Jones.

I am going into camp hoping Switzer pans out and wins out the KR/PR/WR role. He is already a better wide reciever than Whitehead and *Knockonwood* looks to be the most capable Beasley backup in case of injury.

I see Switzer getting more headlines but feel Butler/Brown/Jones is the bigger competition. Jones did work in camp last year but faltered when it counted-- in game. Butler is what he is, possibly faster than the two, occasionaly will make highlight places, a big guy who plays small (and I mean that in every possible way). Brown is the new toy and we'll have to wait and see but given all the information gathered, l see him as this years Andy Jones.

I think Andy Jones has a chance. He has a years worth of experience which could spell trouble for Butler who is on a 1 year deal. Jones was an undrafted guy so he needed some grooming, Tested @4.5 40/ 41 inch vertical, possesion, hand catcher, & like I said, did well last year in camp. All reasons I am rooting for him. Brown will end up on the P.S. to compete next year.

Nice synopsis.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I'm going to say we have a shake up with receivers

Dez
Williams
Beasley
Switzer
Jones
Brown

 

[gimmesix]

My only point is there are alot that get rich, lazier, weaker, and slower. I don't just assume that if Butler ran a 4.37, 5 years ago, that he still runs a 4.37. Could be a 4.3 now or a 4.5, who knows. At this point it doesn't matter, all that matters is his performance on the field.

We do know the rookies that come in, ran their times recently, so they are more reliable.

He definitely could be slower as well as faster. I think the point that was being made is that he doesn't look slow. He ran a good 40 time and he looks like he's that fast on the field. He looks faster than Williams and Bryant, but he obviously has not developed other aspects of his game to use that speed to make himself indispensable.

 

[stilltheguru88]

He definitely could be slower as well as faster. I think the point that was being made is that he doesn't look slow. He ran a good 40 time and he looks like he's that fast on the field. He looks faster than Williams and Bryant, but he obviously has not developed other aspects of his game to use that speed to make himself indispensable.

He does not look faster than either to me. Y'all forgot Williams vs Detroit or Dez vs Washington week 16 2014. craziness

 

[gimmesix]

He does not look faster than either to me. Y'all forgot Williams vs Detroit or Dez vs Washington week 16 2014. craziness

I think he doesn't look fast to you because that's the only trick he has. There's not enough difference between a wide receiver's speed and a corner's speed to beat them simply by running by them. In fact, most of the time, the DBs are faster.

Dez gains separation primarily by being more physical than the DBs covering him. Williams gains separation mainly through his route-running. Butler too often tries to just run by or away from DBs and they either just turn and run with him or body him to slow him down. He has to be able to sell his routes in order to get them to gear down or bite and let him get the edge in a foot race.

 

[conner01]

Gonna be lots of battles
Wr is one but the dline and oline too
That's a good thing

 

[stilltheguru88]

I think he doesn't look fast to you because that's the only trick he has. There's not enough difference between a wide receiver's speed and a corner's speed to beat them simply by running by them. In fact, most of the time, the DBs are faster.

Dez gains separation primarily by being more physical than the DBs covering him. Williams gains separation mainly through his route-running. Butler too often tries to just run by or away from DBs and they either just turn and run with him or body him to slow him down. He has to be able to sell his routes in order to get them to gear down or bite and let him get the edge in a foot race.

I gave instances of them running with the ball in their hands. It has nothing to do with routes. I'm talking pure speed. Butler has none/never showed it. All desean has it speed and it shows. In college butlers speed didn't even show. I watched his USC tape a few months ago and it was laughable. He does not have close to 4.4 speed in pads.

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

Butler has speed?

4.36 actually.....

 

[stilltheguru88]

4.36 actually.....

Y'all are funny. The closest that scrub came to 4.36 speed was his catch in New Orleans and that wasn't even impressive

 

[stilltheguru88]

Brice butler scores this td? https://lh6.***BROKEN***/proxy/StJyDkwGX75Wq5mzkGaRp_FwZVE5tezx2GpkykIgF22C5W-fgkW2wH8hlzxZ03LNiB3BXSCbLUJKSOp2kDuM6eUQiBRTUH-BsIshXWLLpWnBv7aQ3MNW4eSKdoE5eOz-bydvUnRWkOEm=w245-h285-nc

 

[Sydla]

Physically, Butler's got everything you want in an NFL WR. He just doesn't make all the plays that are there to be made. I don't like guys like that, and want to see them get unseated if we possibly can.



What you got against Jones? If we were talking about a starting WR, I'd get the skepticism, but we're talking WR5 here, for a guy who was tearing up camp early on last year. That seems a pretty reasonable expectation for him to compete for a roster spot in year 2.

I don't have anything against Jones. Hope he is great.

I just chuckle how every offseason we talk about guys who have done nothing and elevating them to roster spots over guys that at least have shown something at the NFL level.

 

[stilltheguru88]

I don't have anything against Jones. Hope he is great.

I just chuckle how every offseason we talk about guys who have done nothing and elevating them to roster spots over guys that at least have shown something at the NFL level.

Nobody elevated anyone. I said Butler isn't a lock and that he has to outperform Noah Brown, Brian Brown and Andy Jones. If he doesn't, he will be cut. Is it a guarantee that he will outperform them? NO

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I expect Noah Brown to beat out Butler

bub Butler has those mishandles with some balls that should be caught

Brown if can create separation on his routes. Sure he can beat out Butler. Butler has that deep speed going for him.