T.O.-Top 10 Receivers of all time?

[LittleBoyBlue]

He's definetly in my top 10, but the concerns you have are valid.

He's just not a natural receiver.

Not just my top 10, but if I made a top 50 list, he's be my least skilled in the group.

He doesn't have great hands,

he doesn't run precise routes.

He also lacks a natural feel for the position.

He's also not good on jump balls. At least not as good as you'd think he should be with his physical ability.

ALOT of good points in here on Owens... pro and con.

Agreed. He is not a natural WR. That makes what he does even more remarkable. He is a self made WR.

Disagree. How is he the least skilled on a Top 50 list. I think you over shot there. Maybe in a top 10 or 20 list.

He doesnt have great hands. But I think its more taking his eyes off the ball. He makes some amazing catches and drops easy ones.

The route running - I dont know. It seems its just pointed out just to point it out. I think you can call out ALOT of WR on their route running. But ok. No biggie.

He does seems lack a "natural feel" which is why I would like "his strengths"... what he does best to be practiced and executed on game day. He has a "natural feel" for what he can do. He has proved that over the years.

The jump ball problem does boggle the mind. I think he should be better too. He is a basketball player too... so doesnt make sense to me.

He simply lacks a good nose for the ball, doesn't track it well to make those type plays enough.

Something else he doesn't do that Parcells pointed out once. When Parcells said it I thought wow, I knew there was something off there, I just couldn't put it in words.

When Owens is running a deep patern for the ball, as the ball approaches him, he doesn't come under controll by changing his stride and running on his toes for the last few steps.

This is something I was never coached to do, I just did it instinctively.

That's his short coming in a nutshell, he has little instincts for the position.

His size, strength, speed and quickness are off the charts. It's just not fair that someone as big and strong as he is, is as fast and quick as he is. At times it appears he violates the basic laws of physics.

Most importantly he's perhaps the best at the most critical attribute of the the position. Uncovering. He may be the most difficult WR to cover in the games history.

Disagree on deep ball. When its thrown deep enough he has made adjustments pleny of times. We have seen him contort his body the opposite way to make a catch. Its when the ball is short that he is not able to adjust and/or come back for it. Cant nail him for that though.

Dont agree with the tip toes part. He is not known for dropping "deep balls".



Last part. Yep he is a physical freak.

 

[gazmc_06]

Easily, he's in my top 5 and when he's done will probably be top 3.

 

[Hostile]

When I think great WRs I first think of guys who could make incredible catches. In other words, absolutely great hands. I've been thinking about it all day and I think these guys have the best hands I ever saw for WRs. I am adding one kid who is very young but I think amazing. No particular order.

Raymond Berry
Fred Biletnikoff
Jerry Rice
Lance Rentzel
Larry Fitzgerald
Lance Allworth
Don Hutson
Don Maynard
Charlie Joiner
Paul Warfield


That's 10 and doesn't even take into consideration some great WRs like Steve Largent, Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson, Tommy McDonald, and a host of other WRs who had amazing hands. It doesn't even take Randy Moss into consideration.

Owens in my discussion of the greatest WRs ever and if I am talking about nose for the endzone he very well may crack my top 5. He's good, but I just can't put him top 10. Not over some of the names above. I just can't do it.

 

[joseephuss]

When I think great WRs I first think of guys who could make incredible catches. In other words, absolutey great hands. I've been thinking about it all day and I think these guys have the best hands I ever saw for WRs. I am adding one kid who is very young but I think amazing. No particular order.

Raymond Berry
Fred Biletnikoff
Jerry Rice
Lance Rentzel
Larry Fitzgerald
Lance Allworth
Don Hutson
Don Maynard
Charlie Joiner
Paul Warfield


That's 10 and doesn't even take into consideration some great WRs like Steve Largent, Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson, Tommy McDonald, and a host of other WRs who had amazing hands. It doesn't even take Randy Moss into consideration.

Owens in my discussion of the greatest WRs ever and if I am talking about nose for the endzone he very well may crack my top 5. He's good, but I just can't put him top 10. Not over some of the names above. I just can't do it.

Good stuff. Making the amazing catches and amazing plays also goes beyond just having good hands. Balance, body control and strength also factor into it. So does speed and quickness. Even just getting open plays a part. With all that I still would not put TO in the top 10, but he gets consideration as one of the best. More consideration than I would give Harrison and I like Harrison. I just can't get past that his great hands play such a little part in the post-season.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Easily, he's in my top 5 and when he's done will probably be top 3.

So Jerry then Cris then TO right?










j/k

 

[IndianaCowboyFan]

When I think great WRs I first think of guys who could make incredible catches. In other words, absolutely great hands. I've been thinking about it all day and I think these guys have the best hands I ever saw for WRs. I am adding one kid who is very young but I think amazing. No particular order.

Raymond Berry
Fred Biletnikoff
Jerry Rice
Lance Rentzel
Larry Fitzgerald
Lance Allworth
Don Hutson
Don Maynard
Charlie Joiner
Paul Warfield


That's 10 and doesn't even take into consideration some great WRs like Steve Largent, Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson, Tommy McDonald, and a host of other WRs who had amazing hands. It doesn't even take Randy Moss into consideration.

Owens in my discussion of the greatest WRs ever and if I am talking about nose for the endzone he very well may crack my top 5. He's good, but I just can't put him top 10. Not over some of the names above. I just can't do it.

I can't say I agree with all your top 10 selections, as I am Irvin and Hayes homer, but I have watched the game long enough to agree with the prior posters who suggest that there is a group that excell, maybe more than a top 10, and TO is nowhere on that list. He does perhaps belong in the next group. There are several names on your list Hostile that I would guess that less than 10% of the posters here have ever seen play. If the youth here had ever seen Fred or Paul (who I hated for knocking out the Cowboys) play they would change their minds. Really has there even been a slower WR than Fred? How in the world did he make all those impossible catches? Stickum aside the man had golden hands. The award for the best receiver in college is the Biletnikoff award. I think they have it right. Rice has to be there. I hated him to but have to respect the talent. Raymond Berry, I was a Colts fan before Bob Hayes, may be my second receiver ever just nudging out John Mackey. For what it is worth I hated Cris Carter also but he unquestionably had much better hands than TO. You young guys need to watch some old games. There was so much elite talent in history that you seem to overlook. Let me select a team of all time talent and TO doesn't even make waterboy. Flame away.

 

[THUMPER]

You are obviously not Pro-TO by your list.....

No, I'm not. I never wanted him here and can't wait til he is finally gone.

There are probably 150 WRs I would want on my team before Owens. Not from a talent aspect but from what they bring to the TEAM. I'm a big TEAM guy and would not have guys who are all about themselves.

That's why Deion, Owens, and others of their ilk will never be seen on any of MY all-time teams. I don't care how physically gifted they are, if they aren't about the TEAM then let them go play for someone else.

The best WR I've ever seen play, from a complete perspective: Hands, Speed, Route Running, Yards after the catch, Making the play, Keeping the defender from making a play, and attitude, was Paul Warfield. The guy had it all, I only wish he would have played for us (he is on our staff though, or was recently). Raymond Berry would be near the top as well. Thy may not have the gaudy numbers but they did a lot with every pass thrown their way.

People sell Hayes short because he didn't catch a lot of passes but his average yards per reception (19.7 for his career!) and TD% are phenomenal! He & Warfield are nearly identical in those stats (19.7 - 20.0 avg, 18.2 - 18.4 TD%).

Gary Collins is another guy not many here ever hard of but he has the highest TD% of any WR all-time. He played opposite Warfield when they were with the Browns.

 

[Muhast]

When I think great WRs I first think of guys who could make incredible catches. In other words, absolutely great hands. I've been thinking about it all day and I think these guys have the best hands I ever saw for WRs. I am adding one kid who is very young but I think amazing. No particular order.

Raymond Berry
Fred Biletnikoff
Jerry Rice
Lance Rentzel
Larry Fitzgerald
Lance Allworth
Don Hutson
Don Maynard
Charlie Joiner
Paul Warfield


That's 10 and doesn't even take into consideration some great WRs like Steve Largent, Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, Bob Hayes, Drew Pearson, Tommy McDonald, and a host of other WRs who had amazing hands. It doesn't even take Randy Moss into consideration.

Owens in my discussion of the greatest WRs ever and if I am talking about nose for the endzone he very well may crack my top 5. He's good, but I just can't put him top 10. Not over some of the names above. I just can't do it.

So Roy Williams should be high on your list when it's all said and done. He's made incredible catches. What about Freddie Mitchell?

lol just trying to lighten the debate

 

[Bleu Star]

Wow. You guys are still debating this?