netnalp
Footballguy
Deep Threats
May 31st, 2011 | Author: Khaled Elsayed
When you talk about some of the most explosive receivers in the league, your attention turns to the speedsters that go long and get behind defenses. Those guys you have to doubly account for on every play because, if you don’t, they’ll punish you. Not just by moving the chains, but by putting points on the board.
In our continuing look at wide receivers, we set our focus on what they are doing with their deep ball opportunities. For the purpose of this study, we’re looking at the 50 receivers who were targeted on at least 15 deep passes (balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield) and the numbers do include the playoffs. The findings throw up some names you’d expect, and some you wouldn’t.
Targets
Where better to start than by looking at which receivers were targeted downfield the most. Much like you probably did, I went into this thinking the names Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson would be at the top. Instead, it’s a list headed by Brandon Lloyd and Calvin Johnson, both targeted over 20 yards 41 times. Remarkably, “Fraction Jackson” didn’t even make the Top 10 in terms of targets, as can be seen from the table below:
[*]Wide Receivers, Targets on Deep Passes, 2010
[*]1t Brandon Lloyd DEN 41
[*]1t Calvin Johnson DET 41
[*]3t Larry Fitzgerald ARZ 37
[*]3t Mike Wallace PIT 37
[*]5t Greg Jennings GB 36
[*]5t Reggie Wayne IND 36
[*]7t Braylon Edwards NYJ 33
[*]7t Dwayne Bowe KC 33
[*]9t Mike A. Williams TB 32
[*]9t Nate Washington TEN 32
Receptions
More importantly, Jackson did make the Top 5 when it came to receptions on deep throws. It’s another list headed by Lloyd (Johnson dropped to sixth in this rating), but Jackson’s leap and, to a lesser degree, Mike Wallace, are the most noteworthy inclusions. It’s also the first time we see Kenny Britt appear, but not the last.
Wide Receivers, Receptions on Deep Passes, 2010
1 Brandon Lloyd DEN 17
2t Mike Wallace PIT 15
2t Greg Jennings GB 15
4t DeSean Jackson PHI 13
4t Kenny Britt TEN 13
6t Calvin Johnson DET 12
6t Reggie Wayne IND 12
6t Mario Manningham NYG 12
9t Dwayne Bowe KC 11
9t Johnny Knox CHI 11
Catch Percentage
The Titans’ receiver bested all others when it came to bringing in the highest percentage of deep balls thrown his way. A big reason why Vince Young had the highest completion percentage of deep balls was Britt acting as an imposing downfield target. Up at the top, there are also spots for Robert Meachem and Roddy White, though neither man saw more than 20 balls over the required distance. It’s more impressive to look at what Mario Manningham did in securing over half of his 23 long targets.
Wide Receivers, Catch Percentage on Deep Passes, 2010
Catch %
1 Kenny Britt TEN 56.52%
2 Robert Meachem NO 55.00%
3 Roddy White ATL 53.33%
4 Steve Breaston ARZ 52.63%
5 Mario Manningham NYG 52.17%
6 DeSean Jackson PHI 44.83%
7 Andre Johnson HST 43.48%
8 Johnny Knox CHI 42.31%
9 Jabar Gaffney DEN 42.11%
10t Greg Jennings GB 41.67%
10t Anthony Armstrong WAS 41.67%
10t Malcom Floyd SD 41.67%
Yardage
Next, we’re looking at who picked up the most yards in the long range game. To the surprise of very few (especially those who have read the opening couple of paragraphs) Brandon Lloyd once again leads the way, with Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson completing the top three. Just behind them is Greg Jennings, though it should be remembered these numbers do include the post season. We can also wonder how much stronger his yardage total might have been if he didn’t lead all receivers with four drops on deep chances.
Wide Receivers, Yards on Deep Passes, 2010
1 Brandon Lloyd DEN 614
2 Mike Wallace PIT 591
3 DeSean Jackson PHI 551
4 Greg Jennings GB 545
5 Mario Manningham NYG 484
6 Anthony Armstrong WAS 477
7 Kenny Britt TEN 460
8 Johnny Knox CHI 418
9 Robert Meachem NO 406
10 Braylon Edwards NYJ 401
Touchdowns
The last point is touchdowns … who is turning these big plays into scores? Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is joined by Calvin Johnson at the top with seven catches that went all the way. Behind them we have that man again, Brandon Lloyd, as part of a gaggle of receivers with six.
Wide Receivers, Touchdowns on Deep Passes, 2010
1t Mike Wallace PIT 7
1t Calvin Johnson DET 7
3t Brandon Lloyd DEN 6
3t Mario Manningham NYG 6
3t Kenny Britt TEN 6
3t Dwayne Bowe KC 6
7t Greg Jennings GB 5
7t Pierre Garcon IND 5
9t Robert Meachem NO 4
9t Braylon Edwards NYJ 4
9t Jeremy Maclin PHI 4
9t Terrell Owens CIN 4
9t Hakeem Nicks NYG 4
9t Mike A. Williams TB 4
Ultimately, these numbers aren’t going to give you a hard answer as to who the best deep threat in the league is. Arguments could be made for a variety of players who offer something different, whether it be catching more balls or finding the end zone more often.
What all of this does give you is an idea of which players you really need to worry about. I’m not talking about the Mike Wallace’s and DeSean Jacksons’ – you already know about them – but about just how devastating a player Kenny Britt can be if he doesn’t let off field issues consume him, or how Redskin Anthony Armstrong is able to pick up so much yardage on deep routes.
If and when we get football, watch out for these guys. They can turn a game just like that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surprised to see Armstrong on the list, the Impression I had was that Moss was the deep threat on the Skins. Also, maybe I'm too harsh on Mannigham, though sure seems like he lets the ball hit his palms so he ends up bobbling the ball.
May 31st, 2011 | Author: Khaled Elsayed
When you talk about some of the most explosive receivers in the league, your attention turns to the speedsters that go long and get behind defenses. Those guys you have to doubly account for on every play because, if you don’t, they’ll punish you. Not just by moving the chains, but by putting points on the board.
In our continuing look at wide receivers, we set our focus on what they are doing with their deep ball opportunities. For the purpose of this study, we’re looking at the 50 receivers who were targeted on at least 15 deep passes (balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield) and the numbers do include the playoffs. The findings throw up some names you’d expect, and some you wouldn’t.
Targets
Where better to start than by looking at which receivers were targeted downfield the most. Much like you probably did, I went into this thinking the names Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson would be at the top. Instead, it’s a list headed by Brandon Lloyd and Calvin Johnson, both targeted over 20 yards 41 times. Remarkably, “Fraction Jackson” didn’t even make the Top 10 in terms of targets, as can be seen from the table below:
[*]Wide Receivers, Targets on Deep Passes, 2010
[*]1t Brandon Lloyd DEN 41
[*]1t Calvin Johnson DET 41
[*]3t Larry Fitzgerald ARZ 37
[*]3t Mike Wallace PIT 37
[*]5t Greg Jennings GB 36
[*]5t Reggie Wayne IND 36
[*]7t Braylon Edwards NYJ 33
[*]7t Dwayne Bowe KC 33
[*]9t Mike A. Williams TB 32
[*]9t Nate Washington TEN 32
Receptions
More importantly, Jackson did make the Top 5 when it came to receptions on deep throws. It’s another list headed by Lloyd (Johnson dropped to sixth in this rating), but Jackson’s leap and, to a lesser degree, Mike Wallace, are the most noteworthy inclusions. It’s also the first time we see Kenny Britt appear, but not the last.
Wide Receivers, Receptions on Deep Passes, 2010
1 Brandon Lloyd DEN 17
2t Mike Wallace PIT 15
2t Greg Jennings GB 15
4t DeSean Jackson PHI 13
4t Kenny Britt TEN 13
6t Calvin Johnson DET 12
6t Reggie Wayne IND 12
6t Mario Manningham NYG 12
9t Dwayne Bowe KC 11
9t Johnny Knox CHI 11
Catch Percentage
The Titans’ receiver bested all others when it came to bringing in the highest percentage of deep balls thrown his way. A big reason why Vince Young had the highest completion percentage of deep balls was Britt acting as an imposing downfield target. Up at the top, there are also spots for Robert Meachem and Roddy White, though neither man saw more than 20 balls over the required distance. It’s more impressive to look at what Mario Manningham did in securing over half of his 23 long targets.
Wide Receivers, Catch Percentage on Deep Passes, 2010
Catch %
1 Kenny Britt TEN 56.52%
2 Robert Meachem NO 55.00%
3 Roddy White ATL 53.33%
4 Steve Breaston ARZ 52.63%
5 Mario Manningham NYG 52.17%
6 DeSean Jackson PHI 44.83%
7 Andre Johnson HST 43.48%
8 Johnny Knox CHI 42.31%
9 Jabar Gaffney DEN 42.11%
10t Greg Jennings GB 41.67%
10t Anthony Armstrong WAS 41.67%
10t Malcom Floyd SD 41.67%
Yardage
Next, we’re looking at who picked up the most yards in the long range game. To the surprise of very few (especially those who have read the opening couple of paragraphs) Brandon Lloyd once again leads the way, with Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson completing the top three. Just behind them is Greg Jennings, though it should be remembered these numbers do include the post season. We can also wonder how much stronger his yardage total might have been if he didn’t lead all receivers with four drops on deep chances.
Wide Receivers, Yards on Deep Passes, 2010
1 Brandon Lloyd DEN 614
2 Mike Wallace PIT 591
3 DeSean Jackson PHI 551
4 Greg Jennings GB 545
5 Mario Manningham NYG 484
6 Anthony Armstrong WAS 477
7 Kenny Britt TEN 460
8 Johnny Knox CHI 418
9 Robert Meachem NO 406
10 Braylon Edwards NYJ 401
Touchdowns
The last point is touchdowns … who is turning these big plays into scores? Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is joined by Calvin Johnson at the top with seven catches that went all the way. Behind them we have that man again, Brandon Lloyd, as part of a gaggle of receivers with six.
Wide Receivers, Touchdowns on Deep Passes, 2010
1t Mike Wallace PIT 7
1t Calvin Johnson DET 7
3t Brandon Lloyd DEN 6
3t Mario Manningham NYG 6
3t Kenny Britt TEN 6
3t Dwayne Bowe KC 6
7t Greg Jennings GB 5
7t Pierre Garcon IND 5
9t Robert Meachem NO 4
9t Braylon Edwards NYJ 4
9t Jeremy Maclin PHI 4
9t Terrell Owens CIN 4
9t Hakeem Nicks NYG 4
9t Mike A. Williams TB 4
Ultimately, these numbers aren’t going to give you a hard answer as to who the best deep threat in the league is. Arguments could be made for a variety of players who offer something different, whether it be catching more balls or finding the end zone more often.
What all of this does give you is an idea of which players you really need to worry about. I’m not talking about the Mike Wallace’s and DeSean Jacksons’ – you already know about them – but about just how devastating a player Kenny Britt can be if he doesn’t let off field issues consume him, or how Redskin Anthony Armstrong is able to pick up so much yardage on deep routes.
If and when we get football, watch out for these guys. They can turn a game just like that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surprised to see Armstrong on the list, the Impression I had was that Moss was the deep threat on the Skins. Also, maybe I'm too harsh on Mannigham, though sure seems like he lets the ball hit his palms so he ends up bobbling the ball.
Last edited by a moderator:
