Quote:
Originally Posted by jsarno
I agree, but do you really see Thrash as that guy?
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Yes. I have no reason to think that Lloyd or Randle El are primed for a breakout year as a WR.
Randle El was a converted QB, who never played the position in college. Anything the Steelers got, and now we get from him is a bonus. There are certain football skills Randle El has valuable to any NFL team (and warrent playing time), but being a quality NFL receiver is not one of them. He can however play the part in a pinch.
Lloyd was a fourth rounder who never quite lived up to his draft position, and then got a big pay day. Not sure how long we are supposed to wait on him to show football skill that he never proved he had at any point (college or pros). Circus catches aside, Lloyd has yet to show that he belongs in the NFL.
Thrash was our best WR last year (
by the efficency metric). Now Moss was hurt and is very obviously a better player, and Thrash's age suggests that he is not likely to be better than last year, but that gap between him and ARE/Lloyd is pretty sizable. Nothing to spit on.
The best argument against Thrash starting this year is that the 2nd receiver position is too insigificant to give to a journeyman WR who will be blocking growth of ARE as a NFL receiver, and Brandon Lloyd as a giant a**hole. But if the point is to start the best 11 players, hard to convince me that Thrash doesn't belong.