in just two games, we’re talking a handful of targets. While good receivers can improve their target to completion ratio over the long term, in a very small sample a few things out of their control can make them look bad when they’re not or good when they’re not.

plus it’s put up or ship out time for Taylor while Bumpus is safe on the practice squad.

Also, regarding point one: many of the above started their first season because they were drafted higher. Many didn’t start their first season and still enjoyed strong careers. “Starting” is an important criteria because it means they certainly saw sufficient snaps to contribute. While I don’t disagree that spending a season in a system before starting helps a wide receiver, it’s difficult to know exactly how much. Once one enters complicating factors, then all sorts of thing can be entered into the conversation: Quality of overall offense, quality of quarterback, quality of surrounding wide receiver talent, quality of opponent. Each is important but each is also very hard to define and probably not worth it. Whatever I would find, it wouldn’t change the fact that after two games struggling it is premature to argue Taylor is a bust.

But yeah. I guess I thought your point was that demoting Taylor was premature,and that those comparative stats were the supporting evidence. I was just saying that those stat lines in themselves are only one small part of what went into the coaching staff’s decision. Point taken though. Rarely do young receivers light the world on fire right out of the gate.

Were these actually “starts” (I can only assume they are since that is what you said)?

Throwing out more successful stat lines seems like a little manipulation of data to prove a point.

Not knowing how many times these guys were targeted IS a factor. So is who they were playing with (other WR’s, system, QB’s).

The fact that Taylor vanished when he was given an opportunity that many young WR’s would dream of is more compelling to me than the fact that these other WR’s had a mediocre stat lines in the first couple of games.

Again, I hope I’m wrong but I think we are dreaming to assume he is even close to these guys (or capable for that matter).

I’m not trying to say I have a better method to predict his future. I’m just disappointed that a guy with two years in a system did nothing for us when we needed him. I’m also not trying to pick a fight here soo I hope it didn’t come off that way.

I’m also probably being a little hard on a second year 6th round pick. I guess I’m just surprised you are trying to like him so much. There is a reason he was a 6th rounder and there is a reason he made it on and off the practice squad.

It seems like not too much. Plus if I were a WR, I’d stay safe and pick a system I’m comfortable with. It’s rare to see a WR be good with multiple QBs and multiple styles of offense.

I think most undervalue his talent and skills while others overvalue his production. I haven’t seen any definite signs of decline. I still don’t like investing in his future and, moreover, I don’t think Tim Ruskell does either.