I don't think it's a guarantee but i think there are few lanes that may prove we're more resilient and better than what the media thinks when it comes to the third pass catcher role (I say third cause I'm gonna talk about TE's we'll be using in the slot and out wide).
I do think we can set both Smith and Whittington aside right now. We've had enough time with them to understand exactly what they are. While Smith had the dominate snap share of all the "other" WR's on the field last year, he's an extremely limited WR in terms of route ability and so-so as a blocker. He does have speed but more quick than fast and his timed speed doesn't pop on film like other fast guys.
Mumpfield had some good plays last year and while slight, showed some skill at as a route runner. He seemed to not be a liability as a run blocker but as it stands now he seems below average there. Will a year in an NFL weight program allow him to put on some weight without losing his agility? Can he improve in his route savvy which was already pretty decent?
Fergy will be a year in the system too. He lined up in the slot (a tiny bit out wide) quite a bit last year and was tantalizing on out and ups, crossers, posts, corners though he struggled with contested catches. Can he take the next step and maximize his long speed, size and wingspan?
Klare is really tantalizing as a slot receiver. He can run every route on the route tree (Fergy has some limitations here). While not a speed demon at the spot, the guy has fantastic accelerate and seems like a YAC monster. (Kind of hilarious that if we had just picked Sadiq, all the Rams should have gotten help at pass catcher would have gone away and Klare is being completely overshadowed).
Finally, there's CJ. A player who's had an injury history in college (foot stuff) but has shown great hands and savvy ability in contested catch situations. He doesn't have to be a stud, he just has to offer more than Smith, Whitt and Mump to get on the field. He can play every WR spot on the field too. Seems like a great blocker too.
What do you guys think, is this stuff getting blown out of proportion?
I do think we can set both Smith and Whittington aside right now. We've had enough time with them to understand exactly what they are. While Smith had the dominate snap share of all the "other" WR's on the field last year, he's an extremely limited WR in terms of route ability and so-so as a blocker. He does have speed but more quick than fast and his timed speed doesn't pop on film like other fast guys.
Mumpfield had some good plays last year and while slight, showed some skill at as a route runner. He seemed to not be a liability as a run blocker but as it stands now he seems below average there. Will a year in an NFL weight program allow him to put on some weight without losing his agility? Can he improve in his route savvy which was already pretty decent?
Fergy will be a year in the system too. He lined up in the slot (a tiny bit out wide) quite a bit last year and was tantalizing on out and ups, crossers, posts, corners though he struggled with contested catches. Can he take the next step and maximize his long speed, size and wingspan?
Klare is really tantalizing as a slot receiver. He can run every route on the route tree (Fergy has some limitations here). While not a speed demon at the spot, the guy has fantastic accelerate and seems like a YAC monster. (Kind of hilarious that if we had just picked Sadiq, all the Rams should have gotten help at pass catcher would have gone away and Klare is being completely overshadowed).
Finally, there's CJ. A player who's had an injury history in college (foot stuff) but has shown great hands and savvy ability in contested catch situations. He doesn't have to be a stud, he just has to offer more than Smith, Whitt and Mump to get on the field. He can play every WR spot on the field too. Seems like a great blocker too.
What do you guys think, is this stuff getting blown out of proportion?
