Our WRs in 2009... My Thoughts

[Otis Wonsley]

Originally Posted by Hail to the Redskins

Ok, you know, the more I have thought about why our offense is just NOT helping us over the top, I started to realize something...

Wide Receiver is STILL the most glaring weakness on this football team, over O-Line & D-Line.

I am kind of combining thoughts I put on other various threads, but here are some points I want to make:

What we HAVE at receiver:

* One short, above-average receiver who was doubled for the MAJORITY of the season. (Moss)
* One short receiver who really isn't a "receiver" that runs crisp routes, escapes jams, and is finding holes in the D. (Randel El)
* One “tall” receiver who only started one year as a WR in college and doesn't seem very bright as the coaches & QB didn't REALLY trust him being out there as a target on plays. (Thomas)
* One “tall” receiver with the knees of a 37 year-old offensive lineman and again, not too bright with the playbook as he was healthy enough at times and still was INACTIVE. (Kelly)
* TWO really good receiving tight ends (Cooley & Davis) playing in a West Coast Offense that doesn't exactly use the Gibbs two TE set that often. (lol) It's SUPPOSED to be a 3 WR set most times

Why this was a HUGE issue for us in 2008:

Our Wide Receivers made EVERYONE else on offense look worse. Think about many of the sacks/runs by Campbell had this year and you notice that many times he would plant and hold or pump fake, because no one was open down field. I really do think this was the reason for at LEAST a quarter of the sacks this season, which made our O-Line look bad.

Our running game suffered at the end of the season because the rest of the league figured out that they needed to just play up at the line, jamming Moss/Randel El and cover Moss over the top as well as the simple fact that EVERYONE figured out that our offense WAS the run game and started playing up tight with linebackers & safties with no fear of our receivers. If we had even an AVERAGE passing offense (that included stretching the field), the run game would come back.

Why this is STILL a huge issue for 2009:

Basically, I am pretty sure we are going to have the same well below average WRs as this year (because I just don't see Cerrato going there again).

We have to hope that:
* One gets smart quick (Thomas)
* One gets Earnest Ainsley to HHHEEEAAAALL (!) those knees (Kelly)
* Zorn figures out how to use TWO TE's in the WCO (Davis).

My Opinion:

Imagine if we were to do something at WR this offseason? People would flip out after taking 2 in the 2nd round last year.

I know I may get reamed for this but, I REALLY think that we might be well served to go after a T.J. “Whoseyourmamma” Houshmandzadeh. Really.

If we have him & Moss as 1 & 2, then Randel El/Thomas/Kelly can battle it out for the 3rd receiver in our 3 man sets. The main thing is... we'd have a REAL wide RECEIVER that knows how to run routes, has great hands and is PROVEN in the league. I also think that it would have a TREMENDOUS effect on Santana Moss' success. Think about it. Since he's been here, there has been absolutely NO threat on the other side of the field at WR... it could only open things back up for him. And our O-Linemen look SOOOO much better when receivers are open, Campbell is getting rid of the ball & not holding it, and all of this softens the defense for the run game.

I know that I'm gonna be called crazy for saying spend money on him over a lineman, but I think our entire draft should be focused on the O& D-Lines and that Samuels/Kendall/Rabach/Thomas/Jansen/Heyer can be effective for another year until Rinehart & whoever we draft get ready.

What are your thoughts on our WR crew for 2009? Who will line up for us? Who should? Do you have faith that Thomas & Kelly will help us win next year?

I wouldn't have too much of a problem if they made moves in the WR area (because God knows that I would not put money down on any of last year's draft choices) as long as:

1. We first address both lines.

2. They are smart value moves to upgrade, not using all of our draft picks or breaking the bank for a Randle El type receiver.

But essentially I do agree with you, not that our OL doesn't have problems but certainly the lack of multiple big play receiving threats did not help.

I would make a play for TJ. but pass if the price gets too high. Maybe even go for a lower priced veteran receiver in FA or use a lower pick on one after line needs are addressed. Essentially we need a WR that is smart, with size and speed. He doesn't have to be a Jerry Rice. We can get that with a modest price and hope that at some point Thomas or Kelly can grow into that role.

[Hail to the Redskins]

Originally Posted by Otis Wonsley

I wouldn't have too much of a problem if they made moves in the WR area (because God knows that I would not put money down on any of last year's draft choices) as long as:

1. We first address both lines.

2. They are smart value moves to upgrade, not using all of our draft picks or breaking the bank for a Randle El type receiver.

But essentially I do agree with you, not that our OL doesn't have problems but certainly the lack of multiple big play receiving threats did not help.

I would make a play for TJ. but pass if the price gets too high. Maybe even go for a lower priced veteran receiver in FA or use a lower pick on one after line needs are addressed. Essentially we need a WR that is smart, with size and speed. He doesn't have to be a Jerry Rice. We can get that with a modest price and hope that at some point Thomas or Kelly can grow into that role.

Well... problem is... the WR FA Class is VERY thin looking. Here's what's going to be available as of right now...

T.J. Houshmandzadeh UFA
Bobby Engram UFA
Devery Henderson UFA
Shaun McDonald UFA
Hank Baskett RFA
Jabar Gaffney UFA
Dante Hall UFA
Sam Hurd UFA
Brandon Jones UFA
Ashlie Lelie UFA
Koren Robinson UFA
Amani Toomer UFA
Roydell Williams UFA
Cedrick Wilson UFA

Houshmandzadeh is clearly the best, most proven receiver out there, which, yes, is bad news in that he'll make BANK... that's why I say we won't go after him... but I'm saying he would be what we NEED to make the rest of the offense better... looks like we have to hope for the things I listed to happen to the guys we have... lol

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by Hail to the Redskins

Well... problem is... the WR FA Class is VERY thin looking. Here's what's going to be available as of right now...

T.J. Houshmandzadeh UFA
Bobby Engram UFA
Devery Henderson UFA
Shaun McDonald UFA
Hank Baskett RFA
Jabar Gaffney UFA
Dante Hall UFA
Sam Hurd UFA
Brandon Jones UFA
Ashlie Lelie UFA
Koren Robinson UFA
Amani Toomer UFA
Roydell Williams UFA
Cedrick Wilson UFA

Houshmandzadeh is clearly the best, most proven receiver out there, which, yes, is bad news in that he'll make BANK... that's why I say we won't go after him... but I'm saying he would be what we NEED to make the rest of the offense better... looks like we have to hope for the things I listed to happen to the guys we have... lol

WRs are a dime a dozen and they don't win championships, but they're not altogether irrelevant either. Brandon Jones will be a steal for some team (he's next year's Antonio Bryant). He's under-utilized in Tennessee's run-first offense. Kelly and/or Thomas will step-up assuming the line, Campbell and/or play-calling improves.

The 49ers don't have great WRs, but they had their way against us. The Eagles didn't have good WRs when they went to the NFC Championship game 4 years in a row. The Pats didn't have good WRs when they won those 3 Super Bowls. And there's no rule that says you can only throw to receivers when they're "open" as they're not open sometimes until the ball is already in the air or as it gets to them.

And there's always the option to throw to the backs and tight ends if the receivers are really that bad (see KC Chiefs of a few years ago). Cerrato decided to spend early picks on WRs instead of looking for a Marques Colston in the late rounds. The die is cast. We can only hope he didn't crap out with Kelly and Thomas.