Packers Blueprint - Wide Receivers
 

I was tooling around on the interwebs... so I decided to take a look at the Packers' receiving corps because of their obvious success running the West Coast offense.

What did I find? I'll start with what you might not expect. For starters, not a single receiver was drafted in the first round of the draft, with the highest selection being #36. Secondly, lack of top-end speed, which inexplicably seems to be high on everyone's wish list. In fact, only 2 of their receivers run faster than 4.5, one at 4.46 and one at 4.42. Only one of those 2 received a significant number of snaps, the one that ran 4.46. A third thing is that there is a wide range of verticals, but only half boast a vertical leap over 34 inches, with only 1 of them seeing significant snaps.

What we should expect is another story, and perhaps should shed some light on what is important in running an effective WCO. All of the receivers had a 3-cone of 7.12 seconds or less. Most are in the 6'1" to 6'3" range. In fact, only 1 is under 6'1" at 5'10" although that player was second on the team in receptions. What may be most important is that all showed in college they were comfortable catching balls in traffic and continue to do so in the pros except for 1, who didn't catch balls in college. Another is that no receiver is under 190 pounds, which helps with durability.

Now, I know this isn't the end-all-be-all to the receiver position, but the story is telling. So if a WCO has proven to be successful with players you expect to see in a WCO, why doesn't Reid tend to get these types? I have relayed in the past that Reid has never been a guy to carry too many big receivers, instead relying mostly on receivers with some speed to them that are 6'0" to 6'1". Reid has taken his share of receivers that run close to 4.40 or even lower. Why no love for the quick, but not so fast, bigger receivers that catch the ball in traffic extremely well? I don't get it with Reid, he's difficult to put a finger on.

The receiver that seems to fit Reid to a T is Ohio State's Devin Smith. 6'0" with speed to burn (he'll likely run in the 4.3s). While we are all salivating over guys like Kevin White and DeVante Parker, Reid goes against the grain.

It also helps they have Aaron Rodgers.

If you're looking for a great route runner that's 6', Rashad Greene is the best guy for you.

I have a terrible gut feeling that Sammie Coates is gonna be a Chief in 3 months.

I really love the following guys for our system:

Devin smith
Rashad Greene
Nelson Agholor
Justin Hardy
Dres Anderson (if his injury is no issue)
Tyler Lockett
Phillip Dorsett
Josh Harper
Antwan Goodley


I'm a happy guy if we can snag one of them. If we get 2 than wow.

Is there any reason why the thought of a 6'2" 210lb ~4.4 speed receiver would produce such a terrible feeling?

Inconsistent hands.

Not really sure I care about a drop here or there with his size and speed. After Amari Cooper comes off the board, if the Chiefs want to go with a WR in the first and pick him over any other receiver to take in the first I'm not going to be barfing all over the living room.

I've only watched a couple of his youtube videos and the only thing that irked me was that he doesn't tend to high point the ball on 50/50 passes. But if you guys are looking for a dude to get separation so Alex can drop his testicles then I'm not sure why Coates wouldn't be near the top of everyones list.

lol You may not care about a drop here or there.....but think of what board you're on right now.

Ya, you're right.

Forgot people think Bowe is the only receiver that drops passes in the NFL as he sits like ****ing 30th in dropped passes.

Man, Coates drops came at awful times, not that there's a good time for a drop.

The K-State game was pretty brutal, and honestly, even the Senior Bowl he had some bone-headed plays.

Coates is about the only receiver that would make sense to me in the 1st round if the thought is to dump Bowe because he doesn't fit well with Alex as his QB.

Maybe you can get him in the 2nd, but the rest of the guys are Bowe. To me it would be like Pioli passing on Torrey Smith to get Jonathan Baldwin. It made no ****ing sense.

Because he is about as good of a receiver as Darius Heyward-Bey was.

God no, there are about 10 different receivers after the top 4 that I would rather take over Coates. The guy was nowhere to be found when Auburn had to rely on him after losing Williams for a few games. Coates has subpar ball skills and hands and isn't a natural at the position at all. He's an elite athlete trying to play WR and compares best with DHB.

Well by all means, lets cut Bowe to save money because it's not working with Alex and then go out and get a guy who's 6'3" 210 and runs a 4.5, which is basically every 1st and 2nd round graded WR not named Coates or Smith. He outta work out.

Coates IS a baby Bowe with worse hands yet faster in a straight line.

While they are not called "drops" technically, Bowe gets a lot of passes knocked loose due to slop routes, spotty focus, and poor separation.

I get the strong feeling that Coates will really be a screw-up early on.. and maybe throughout his career. He seems immature.. and one who would try to get by on his physical gifts alone.. much to the detriment of the cerebral work and technique of the position.

Other WRs that would be much better in KC.

Coates seems immature because he's a RS JR that's already graduated and this?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZvYtTg5mTF0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Coates is immature because he's black. /Sandy Cheeks

Don't take my word for it.

Not just his hands. His routes are bad. He just tries to outrun defenders. That wot work in the nfl. Everyone is fast.

Agreed, for all of that speed and explosiveness that he has, it seems like many DBs have an easy time sticking to him in his routes which is part of the reason why he wasn't as productive at Auburn as a #1 WR should have been.

DROPZ

The 49er douches and RunKC don't like Coates so that makes him a solid prospect.

Always funny to see posters like this who don't use the ignore function.

I wouldn't mind coates in the 3rd or 4th round. He obviously has elite traits, but he's a boom bust, and a major project.

So according to what the packers draft, Bowe would be a 1500 yard receiver for them.

Packers WRs tend to be phenomenal route runners and are great hands catchers. Bowe, not so much.

I think Sammie Coates is as Dorsey-esque a WR as there is in this draft.

Sammie Coates is an overrated turd.

I agree with Direkshun and crow. He just seems like a Dorsey pick.

And I will break my tv if we draft him

Here's my checklist for WRs, personally.

1. Runs routes well, allowing for immediate separation.
2. Catches with hands away from frame.
3. Has immediate quickness, I look for 3-cones under 7 seconds.
4. High-points well, over defenders.
5. Has a long enough stride to keep distance from defenders after the catch
6. Deep speed, look generally for 4.55 or better.

Notice how far down my list speed is... I'm not overly concerned with 40 times but I try not to go for slugs either.