More Catches Than Targets (1 Viewer)

[Topes]

In reality, we know it's possible for a receiver to have more catches than targets.

Guy gets targeted three times and catches them all.

Later on, he jumps a route and #### blocks his TE.

Then, a ball gets tipped and he catches it.

Wham. Three targets. Five receptions.

But are those untargeted receptions converted to targets when folks compile target statistics..?

I can't recall seeing stat lines with more catches than targets, so I'm thinking that's the case. Just curious.

 

[bigmarc27]

Is there any reason why it would matter either way?

 

[Eminence]

Trends I suppose. That is curious though. The target statistic is odd.

 

[Dragon1952]

No way it happens enough to be remotely relevant.

 

[kinghill]

OP, please do the legwork research for us and yourself and get back to this thread with the answer. Thanks in advance.

 

[GregR]

Box score of a week 2 game from 2010, Saints and 49ers.

Note that Drew Brees was the only Saint with a pass attempt. Also note that Drew Brees is credited with 1 reception for 7 yards, and 1 target.

Here is the play by play for it:

3rd and 15 at NO 10 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to D.Brees to NO 17 for 7 yards (P.Willis). Tipped by R. McDonald and caught by D.Brees at NO 1.

So the fact he made the reception resulted in him getting credited with the target as well, even though it was not thrown to him.

 

[GregR]

Here's another game: http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=310925018&period=0

Texans and Saints 2011. Pass to Joel Dreessen that is bobbled by Dreessen and a defender, bounced to a second defender, and finally lands in Kevin Walter's hands for a touchdown. Note that Walter has 3 receptions and 3 targets in the box score, and he is only mentioned in the Play by Play on the 3 plays he made the catches.

 

[DesmondBishop]

To Greg Russell, you either have the most amazing memory on earth (To recall 2 separate instances of this rare feat) or you have an uncanny knack for quickly finding useless information. Either way, :tipshat: excellent work in solving this otherwise elusive mystery.

 

[MacAvery]

Here's another game: http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=310925018&period=0

Texans and Saints 2011. Pass to Joel Dreessen that is bobbled by Dreessen and a defender, bounced to a second defender, and finally lands in Kevin Walter's hands for a touchdown. Note that Walter has 3 receptions and 3 targets in the box score, and he is only mentioned in the Play by Play on the 3 plays he made the catches.

Just amazing

 

[Vykng]

Greg Russell comes in /thread and leaves.

 

[GregR]

To Greg Russell, you either have the most amazing memory on earth (To recall 2 separate instances of this rare feat) or you have an uncanny knack for quickly finding useless information. Either way, :tipshat: excellent work in solving this otherwise elusive mystery.

Thanks for the kind comments. Just to share the wealth of football resources... profootballreference.com has search features that make finding a lot of answers really quick. For the Brees one I actually just went to their Player Season Finder to find any QBs with receptions. From their front page, Play Index -> Player Finder: Seasons. Set the year to just 3 or 4 years worth to limit amount it returns. Uncheck All positions then reselect QB. And then set sort by receptions, and limit it to receptions >= 1. Once I knew a QB with a reception, click through to his player page, check the game stats for that year to find the exact game to get at the box score and play by play though I went to ESPN for those as I know they have target stats too in their box scores.The Kevin Walter one I just happened to remember as a Texans fan and googled to see which game it was.

 

[socrates]

Box score of a week 2 game from 2010, Saints and 49ers.

Note that Drew Brees was the only Saint with a pass attempt. Also note that Drew Brees is credited with 1 reception for 7 yards, and 1 target.

Here is the play by play for it:

3rd and 15 at NO 10 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to D.Brees to NO 17 for 7 yards (P.Willis). Tipped by R. McDonald and caught by D.Brees at NO 1.

So the fact he made the reception resulted in him getting credited with the target as well, even though it was not thrown to him.

The fault in your logis is the assumption that Brees was not targeting himself.

 

[SameSongNDance]

If memory serves me correctly, this happened in a CLE game this year, I think it was vs. BAL. A ball tipped off of the hands of Little (surprise) and landed in Josh Gordon's (or Norwood's) hands.

I also believe Romo had a reception this year. I specifically remember my friends and I laughing at the gamecast when it happened.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Simple: QB throws the ball, it's tipped by the DE and the QB catches the ball.

Stat line: QB X - 0 targets, 1 reception.

 

[GregR]

There was a QB this year caught his own tipped pass and then tried to throw it a second time, which is a penalty.

 

[SameSongNDance]

There was a QB this year caught his own tipped pass and then tried to throw it a second time, which is a penalty.

Oh I remember this. It was one of the newer QBs in the league..

 

[JoeSteeler]

There was a QB this year caught his own tipped pass and then tried to throw it a second time, which is a penalty.

Oh I remember this. It was one of the newer QBs in the league..

Weeden IIRC

 

[SameSongNDance]

Well, only Romo and Stafford have a reception. RG3 and Tebow have one target a piece as well. It must have been Stafford then.

These stats aren't saying Brees has a reception though, odd.

Edit: Nevermind, that Brees stat is from 2010.

 

[JoeSteeler]

It was Weeden

http://www.dawgsbyna...le-forward-pass

Facing a 3rd-and-goal from the 5 yard line, Weeden's first pass was batted away by DE Justin Tuck. Weeden caught the deflection behind the line of scrimmage, and then fired a second forward pass to TE Jordan Cameron for a touchdown. According to the NFL rulebook, the penalty is as follows:

ETA-if you click the link there is a GIF of the play

 

[SameSongNDance]

It was Weeden

http://www.dawgsbyna...le-forward-pass

Facing a 3rd-and-goal from the 5 yard line, Weeden's first pass was batted away by DE Justin Tuck. Weeden caught the deflection behind the line of scrimmage, and then fired a second forward pass to TE Jordan Cameron for a touchdown. According to the NFL rulebook, the penalty is as follows:

ETA-if you click the link there is a GIF of the play

So it was a newbie after all. Thanks and lol I'm saving that GIF.

 

[belljr]

To Greg Russell, you either have the most amazing memory on earth (To recall 2 separate instances of this rare feat) or you have an uncanny knack for quickly finding useless information. Either way, :tipshat: excellent work in solving this otherwise elusive mystery.

Thanks for the kind comments. Just to share the wealth of football resources... profootballreference.com has search features that make finding a lot of answers really quick. For the Brees one I actually just went to their Player Season Finder to find any QBs with receptions. From their front page, Play Index -> Player Finder: Seasons. Set the year to just 3 or 4 years worth to limit amount it returns. Uncheck All positions then reselect QB. And then set sort by receptions, and limit it to receptions >= 1. Once I knew a QB with a reception, click through to his player page, check the game stats for that year to find the exact game to get at the box score and play by play though I went to ESPN for those as I know they have target stats too in their box scores.The Kevin Walter one I just happened to remember as a Texans fan and googled to see which game it was.

Why would you let out our secret?!?!?!??!

 

[steveski]

Box score of a week 2 game from 2010, Saints and 49ers.

Note that Drew Brees was the only Saint with a pass attempt. Also note that Drew Brees is credited with 1 reception for 7 yards, and 1 target.

Here is the play by play for it:

3rd and 15 at NO 10 (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to D.Brees to NO 17 for 7 yards (P.Willis). Tipped by R. McDonald and caught by D.Brees at NO 1.

So the fact he made the reception resulted in him getting credited with the target as well, even though it was not thrown to him.

The fault in your logis is the assumption that Brees was not targeting himself.

Someone check to see if there are any games where Brees has more targets than receptions!

 

[Sarnoff]

It was Weeden

http://www.dawgsbyna...le-forward-pass

Facing a 3rd-and-goal from the 5 yard line, Weeden's first pass was batted away by DE Justin Tuck. Weeden caught the deflection behind the line of scrimmage, and then fired a second forward pass to TE Jordan Cameron for a touchdown. According to the NFL rulebook, the penalty is as follows:

ETA-if you click the link there is a GIF of the play

Huh. I didn't realize it at the time that Weeden accidentally did the right thing on that one.

 

[steveski]

It was Weeden

http://www.dawgsbyna...le-forward-pass

Facing a 3rd-and-goal from the 5 yard line, Weeden's first pass was batted away by DE Justin Tuck. Weeden caught the deflection behind the line of scrimmage, and then fired a second forward pass to TE Jordan Cameron for a touchdown. According to the NFL rulebook, the penalty is as follows:

ETA-if you click the link there is a GIF of the play

Huh. I didn't realize it at the time that Weeden accidentally did the right thing on that one.

I was too busy laughing at him to realize this as well.