You said Corey Davis is the number 1 and AJB is limited by the fact that previous Titans WRs have been busts
It's like saying you should sell DJ Chark for James Washington because the far less productive Dede Westbrook is the number 1 in JAX and past Steelers WRs like AB and Juju>>>>>past Jaguars WRs like Keelan Cole and Marquise Lee
Tell me where I followed you wrong
No I didn't
The previous post, which doesn't quote, is from Faust quoting someone as saying that AJ would have a better year than Michael Thomas.
The Titans have said many times this offseason that Corey is still the #1. I, on the otherhand, have been crystal clear on my thoughts on him on this board over the years.
The bulk of my post is how I love AJ but the predictions are getting way out of hand
The previous WRs listed were supposedly all gems and all going to be special but never were.
Hunter didn't do squat his rookie year but run deep routes, get called JAG, and occasionally show us he can jump higher than one might imagine. People predicted big things from him in year two because of college #s and his combine measurables were (still are) out of this world good. CJ running for 2k with his 4.2 speed, it's entirely possible people that aided people to go overboard on Hunter's 4.2 speed but....he was a very good case for "actual production over combine numbers" and "there's more to the game than combine #s." College Hunter had moves and that probably was in people's heads but he wouldn't show those moves until several years later in preseason games with the Steelers. Very impressive shake N bake from a big fella and yeah leaning forward to reach for the end zone is pretty unstoppable after a move and...well too little too late. Much of Hunter's career though is old school bashing from a coach (Whis) that used the old school approach of breaking down a player completely to build him back up. This doesn't always work because, like Hunter, sometimes they lose all confidence and don't regain it. Again though, everyone predicted big things for him in year two and a lot did in year three.
Kendall Wright was a speedy little bugger that the Titans said would be a big part of the O in year two and he totally was. They had an awful offense which seemed to only throw short passes and ultimately defenses alllowed Kendall to catch it rather than risk him burning them and choosing to smack him after a 5 yard pass. It didn't work, re Kendall, as he had 94 catches for 1079 yards but the OC (can't think of name, went to Bears recently) could not get anyone open with medium to long range passes with the DBs backed up ready to smack Kendall. Many had him sustaining his numbers because he was a speedy lil bugger that was tough to cover and we're talking something of a compiler of 5-6 yard passes. The more defenders learned how to cover him/ bump him around, the more he ad-libbed on plays which would ultimately get him out of the league.
Britt was a darling of this board. Even when he went to the Rams after failing in TEN. He had a 200 yard game against Philly that people used over n over to rationalize greatness. HOFer Mike Munchak tried everything to get him to be accountable and to get him to the next level and it just didn't work. Randy Moss joined the Titans for a late season minute and I firmly believe his (laziness, blase attitude, how do you describe Moss then?) ruined Britt. He was a hard worker and really changed after that. There were good reports of his effort in STL but Munchak would have no choice but to bench his spoiled "star WR" that truly never accomplished a darn thing.
Davis was the top WR selected and the fifth pick in the draft. It's almost mandatory that FF people predict great things after that happens. He is a very well built, well coached, hard working WR that's a great teammate. He learned to block better and better and is one of the best blocking WRs there is and....he checks every box. BUT he doesn't produce. Rookie WRs are always always always bumped at the LOS until they prove the can beat it. Last year, there was a video from Titans training camp of him showing Brown how to beat it and yet how frustrating is it that he can not? He plays patty cake with the defender, he pauses, he does a stutter step to give a shoulder...it's all wrong! It's 100 percent mental as he is glorious in practice and camp and everyone raves how he looks like the 5th pick in the draft and then the games come and it's what the curse!
Humphries is curiously absent from most of your posts. He's an excellent tactician that the Titans paid big $ for and then barely used. He is a bigger looming presence than anything to take up targets as a reply to your post about vacated targets.
AJ wasn't great in camp and was clearly outplayed by Taywan Taylor and Humphries when he was healthy. It took him longer than FF fans would have hoped but about normal to catch on the the O and adjust to the NFL game. His first six games aren't on the QB, as you said, he wasn't even in the game much. Your post insinuates he was on the field and QB play let him down- he was not on the field much at all.
The Titans had Heimerdinger who was as creative as can be and an absolute gem at creating shifts to create mismatches. From him all the way til Arthur Smith, they have had old school coaches that have at one time seemed a 3WR proponent but they always went with a 2 TE and/or 3 TE offense, often times in the most old school boring mind numbing way possible.
Arthur Smith 'grew up' in this environment and also under Joe Gibbs. The wealthiest coach in football adored Gibbs and that there is why there's reason for hope with him. His offense was terrible, firable, OMG bad. He learned and improved every week. By late season and in the playoffs, his adjustments were genius. It is exciting to wonder what he can do in year two.
As far as Corey being the number one not being a big deal, ya gotta remember that AJ isn't on the field if they're running a multiple TE set and want Corey in to block. The Titans had the best blocking TE in football for years and then have paraded through some pretenders. Delanie and Jonnu formed a nice one two punch of receiving TEs that would force defenders back a step in respect. This was enough of an advantage to still make the multiple TE sets viable. Jonnu learned an old school punching technique in college and is OMG good as a downfield blocker while in-line he's just good. Firkser is tiny. Pruitt was an average blocker that really stepped up late in the season but all in all is probably average. There is definitely hope for them to not use a multiple TE offense as much but it's more likely they add a TE to be able to continue to. Big Henry behind seven linemen with a great outside blocking presence is formidable. They have the most questionable backup QBs in the NFL and a rookie T predicted to start next to a guard with about a half season of starts. Chances are, they help those two out with a TE and try to wear down a D with Henry. Both young linemen are maulers but the critique is they struggle against fancy feet so they might "have to" get the defenders worn down to feel comfy with Ryan throwing. The divisional opponents have destroyed the Titans over the RG or RT for years. One way Smith adjusted was to take a page out of Gibbs book and use Jonnu as more of a FB and h-back type almost like a second lineman to get through.
Smith instilled a big offense last summer and it was very successful most every time he used it. Henry, Jonnu/Delanie, and AJ out wide is an odd matchup that can really work against certain teams. Legal illegal picks are real difficult to deal with when there's three that size in your way and the QB is firing it quickly.
AJ did not do well when he was established as a star. It's totally fine for a rookie to not beat double coverage and struggle. It's part of the development process. We would not be talking of Smith's creativity if Brown succeeded late and in the playoffs. Jonnu runs. Khalif bolting deep from the slot. Humphries slanting in from out wide. There were a number of huge plays that probably weren't necessary if Brown was this sure thing to get open and catch passes with ease. Rob Moore is a good WR coach and he learned to overcome. Brown puts the work in and has an awesome attitude. I'm very confident he can overcome the double coverage in year two. That doesn't mean 5 catches in 3 games is good. No one in FF would ever be excited over 5 total catches in 3 games. What did opposing DCs get on tape as far as how to stop AJ? And what can he learn and adjust to? This right here is huge to this guy become a stud WR.
The Titans closed with three must win games and he rocked in one and then had five games with ten catches. One was a beautiful catch N run but otherwise he did not come through. What did work was the "good luck stopping Henry" offense.
Tannehill was meh through three quarters and a legend in the fourth quarter of games last year. He's got work to do and they clearly believe in him and this does bring hope for Brown. If Tannehill is throwing, that's gotta mean Brown gets on the field.
Still though, there are a ton of traditional FF boxes we check that AJ does not.
Late season success, no
Offense built for him, no
Pass happy offense, no
history of successful players at his position, no
team speaks of using him more in the upcoming season, no- Davis and Humphries
opportunity increase, not likely. 60 percent of snaps has been about regular for Titans #2 WRs for 10-15 years.
fave panic target, no clearly the TE
The Titans needed a change. They were picking near the Browns for a couple years and a doormat other years. AJ could lead that change with Tannehill too. I am not saying there is no hope. I am excited about this kid but it's too strong, way too strong.
You 'can't' judge all 31 other teams WRs one way and then AJ a different way. He has concerns or issues and must develop. Michael Thomas is best ever type good. Brown is not. Not yet? Idk but definitely not now. It's completely irrational to compare AJ to Thomas now and find AJ in a more favorable light.