Who are the better route running WR's in the NFL? (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

That's the hardest thing for anyone to evaluate - why is the player open? Was it the player's ability to get separation or is it his clean route running?

Exactly. I would love to see FBG interview an NFL WR (past or present) and ask him this question, among others. Why do certain players have a knack for getting open? How critical is route-running? What do the WR coaches teach the young players? Who are some of the best WR coaches in the NFL?

Good idea. Hopefully Cecil (or one of the other staffers with connections) can pull something like this off.Just fleshing out the argument a bit, I think the scouts can differentiate pure route-running skill from an ability to separate. In many cases, route-running is part and parcel of the ability to separate. But some separation skills have nothing to do with route-running -- strong hands, pure size, straight-line speed, body control -- and the receivers that rely on those are easily differentiated from those that use route-running as their primary separation skill. The best route runners get separation by running the first few yards of a route exactly the same every play, get in and out of breaks sharply and quickly (set feet, sink hips, quick explosion out of a cut), and have the body control to feign one direction while moving in the other.Guys like Randy Moss and Steve Smith get separation because of elite speed and body control, but IMO they end up being inconsistent and may not have the longevity of a Jerry Rice or Isaac Bruce because their separation skill requires way above average raw talent rather than a combination of measurables and understanding of their position. It's part of the reason why a Michael Westbrook can't stay in the league while a Keenan McCardell can.As Marc says, the line between route-running and separation is blurred for some (eg. Chad Johnson), but I think you can reliably say Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt are route runners while Terrell Owens and Keyshawn Johnson are separators.

 

[Two Deep]

Kevin Curtis

 

[Jene Bramel]

Here's a link to an excellent article by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. Lot of good information about the differences between route guys and separation guys, the proliferation of big wideouts and how corners use tape against receivers who run poor routes.

 

[JayMan]

Mark Clayton is very good at this and I expect to see his numbers to spike in the near future because of it. He suprisingly seems to have moved ahead of Mason allready this year in targets (they are both very close). That really shows just how good he is because Mason is a master of this himself, and all the history and chemistry that Mason has with McNair.. thats what really makes Claytons performance suprising to me. I thought he would take more of a backseat to Mason at least this year.Clayton 79 targetsHeap 78 targetsMason 75 targetsMark Clayton looks poised to be a break out Wr next year.Greg Jennings is another one. The comparisons of him to Marvin Harrison are not as far fetched as it may sound. This guy is really good. He has a great teacher and mentor in Driver. Who is also a great route runner who does all the little things well working hard and paying attention to detail.

That's exactly the thoughts I had when seeing this thread...If you have a trio composed of: 1. veteran QB - 2. veretan WR - 3. young WR... and the young WR is still guessing alot of targets... it definitely means that he's running good routes...Jennings and Clayton are perfect examples... you don't see Ruvell Martin and Demetrius Williams getting many looks simly because they have not earned their veteran QB's respect so far(Favre & McNair respectively)... compared to Jennings & Clayton that gets many looks even though Driver / Mason / Heap are showcased also...

 

[Wheelhouse]

Here's a link to an excellent article by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. Lot of good information about the differences between route guys and separation guys, the proliferation of big wideouts and how corners use tape against receivers who run poor routes.

Outstanding article Jene Bramel

 

[MarcO]

Excellent topic.

Size and speed are nice, but route running skill and ability to separate are often better predictors of success. I'm no Bloom, so I rely on this forum and a couple of scouting services to aid my evaluations. Of this year's class, I had my eye on Chad Jackson, Greg Jennings, Demetrius Williams, and Derek Hagan. All had scouting reports that suggested they were polished players and had a good shot of performing at the next level regardless of the level of their college competition.

Last season, Mark Clayton was at the top of this list but I also had Braylon Edwards, Mark Bradley, Reggie Brown and Brandon Jones reasonably highly rated on the route/separation skills scale.

I'd disagree on Jones - I had him his rookie year so I watched him when I could - While he made tough catches across the middle and ran well after the catch - he was a sloppy route runner.

 

[Marc Levin]

As Marc says, the line between route-running and separation is blurred for some (eg. Chad Johnson), but I think you can reliably say Marvin Harrison and Torry Holt are route runners while Terrell Owens and Keyshawn Johnson are separators.

Steve Smith, IMO, is the pure definition of a guy who doesn't run routes all that well - and doesn't have complicated routes called for him - but he gets better separation in and out of his cuts than any player in the league. It is amazing watching his cuts - the defender is three steps behind him in a flash, and NO defender in the league can close on SS fast enough to cut into that separation.Coles runs more flag/post routes than anything else - not exactly a difficult route - but he gets so much separation at the cut, he is often (well, he used to be) wide open deep.

 

[switz]

Holt, Harrisona and Bruce are the top 3 imo

Fitz is young, but close behind

Fitz and Boldin are both excellent athletes and great WRs, but route running is a weakness in both of their games.

Forgot those two guys - Fitz is a master, Boldin is pretty close to a master.

comprehension down?Fitz is a better route runner than Boldin - there is master and then there are levels below - Boldin is paduan - is that easier to understand?

tool it down, k? your post was contradicting and made no sense. "forgot those two guys" sounds like you agree that route running is their weakness. then you go and call them masters....

Actually, Ned apparently does need to work on reading comprehension. Marc says "Forgot those two guys" - obviously when he was making his list - which is then supported by the context "Fitz is a master, Boldin is pretty close to a master." Although, there was no need to get grumpy Marc.

 

[Marc Levin]

Sorry - tool factor turned back down to nil.

I still like Fitz and Boldin's route running - a LOT.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Marvin Harrison is the best. He's top three in the past couple decades (which probably means top three all-time) along with Jerry Rice and Steve Largent.

Torry Holt is also top-tier.

Terrell Owens has very solid fundamentals and footwork when he concentrates, although he lets himself get sloppy sometimes.

Eric Parker is a very good route-runner who reminds me a little of M.Harrison in the way that he gets into and out of his cuts at full speed. Deion Branch also.

Reggie Wayne is an excellent route-runner. Practicing behind Harrison every day in the drills probably hasn't hurt.

People have already mentioned Mark Clayton . . . he is a bit like a young Reggie Wayne. Very solid footwork and body control for a young receiver.

Has anybody mentioned Hines Ward? Solid fundamentals. Rod Smith too.

 

[Biabreakable]

Yeah but these knobs go to 11

 

[Marc Levin]

Has anybody mentioned Hines Ward?

 

[ExtraPoint]

Here's a link to an excellent article by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. Lot of good information about the differences between route guys and separation guys, the proliferation of big wideouts and how corners use tape against receivers who run poor routes.

Branch and Wayne, the two I mentioned, both in the article

 

[Mister CIA]

Holt, Harrisona and Bruce are the top 3 imo

Fitz is young, but close behind

Fitz and Boldin are both excellent athletes and great WRs, but route running is a weakness in both of their games.

Forgot those two guys - Fitz is a master, Boldin is pretty close to a master.

comprehension down?Fitz is a better route runner than Boldin - there is master and then there are levels below - Boldin is paduan - is that easier to understand?

tool it down, k? your post was contradicting and made no sense. "forgot those two guys" sounds like you agree that route running is their weakness. then you go and call them masters....

Actually, Ned apparently does need to work on reading comprehension. Marc says "Forgot those two guys" - obviously when he was making his list - which is then supported by the context "Fitz is a master, Boldin is pretty close to a master." Although, there was no need to get grumpy Marc.

This dialogue was stuck in my craw, because I too was confused by Levin's comment to which Ned replied, and now I know why.I read "forget those two guys" as opposed to "forgot those two guys." One letter changed the entire context.

Until I figured it out, I was on Ned's side.

I demand a refund from Evelyn Wood.