Houshamazood: The Scouting Report

vs mothra?

I think the use of #1 or #2 WR can be used as a loose reference point to overall ability and production. It is typically useful in fantasy football, helping to determine a level or breaking point between them an other WRs in a discussion but it’s all related to production/numbers. That allows people to understand the importance of a player from a numbers standpoint in simpler discussions, while typically reflecting a certain role as the ‘featured guy’ on the team.

This is certainly a fallible set of terms, and I see your point. I also agree that in the real world, these terms don’t do much to clarify things. I use those terms, still, out of simplicity or habit. Another example of WR1/WR2 not being useful is the setup in Arizona: Boldin for over half of the year was the #1 WR in all of fantasy football. Most would agree that Fitzgerald could easily be termed the #1 receiver. Both would be WR1s in fantasy football, which is probably the best place to utilize those descriptions.

As far as our team goes, we have been much like the Eagles in perception with regards to our WR corps. No true stud, standout player at the position, but usually several serviceable ones that would be termed #2 or #3 WRs on many teams. As mike said (above), our system doesn’t really discriminate. Another similarity with PHI, the way the ball is spread around there is really no clear ‘number one guy’ (another bad thing for fantasy owners, yet I digress again). There hasn’t been since T.O. for that team. I continue to believe that Koren was the last hope for that, with DJack trying to be that, but better suited as a compliment to a better player. But he did thrive in our system. WRs can thrive in our system (at least our Holmgren-let system as it was).

Again, I think that we have to look at this group as a whole, and probably in football terms with regards to our team. SE, Flanker, Slot, etc. Different packages we’ll run, etc. I think for the sake of discussion, and the fact many of us probably don’t know that stuff at a high enough level to avoid some other terms entirely, prepare for a mixed bag.

Branch is still a very dangerous threat. True, he hasn’t played as much as everyone hopes, but the guy has some special skills. He’s great after the catch and is a smooth, quick athlete with good YAC ability. It would be nice to see his ‘expericence in big games’. One asset in getting him originally that was probably more gimmick and excitement than anything, but important nonetheless was the fact he destroyed another team in the Super Bowl as MVP. Clutch. I still like that about him, too, even though it may be silly.

TJ has the best set of hands this team has seen since Largent, or possibly Joe Jurevicius. I think they’ll compliment each other well.

Finally, I agree that this is a push to try and kick that window open with Matt, et. al for another year (or more). It may work. At least we have some hope for winning this year and the TJ signing is in contrast to ‘full rebuilding mode’. John described how TJ could bridge the gap among some of the team’s changes in coming years, an important consideration. I’m now excited for this year AND beyond . Of course, another defensive turd could wipe that away, but I’m still hopeful for now.

We gave Branch Reggie Wayne money. We can argue all day about whether he was worth our #1 pick but I don’t think anyone can make an argument that Branch is a Reggie Wayne talent. For the record, 880 yards and 5.6 TDs doesn’t exactly impress me. You say we spread the ball around too much for any WR to be successful, and the same argument was used when we signed him to explain his mediocre stats in New England, but other players have proven it false both places. You take issue with my use of the terms “dominant” and “#1” but don’t touch “superstar” which is what he was paid to be and what he decidedly is not.

As for TJ, he does have the potential to be our most productive WR because Branch and Burleson are both coming off injury and the rest are crap. I am just worried that he is an overpaid Bobby Engram. I don’t see him as a dynamic athlete which is what I think the team needs at the position and worry he is close to the end of his career. But who knows, maybe I’m way off base with these fears.

Man, we need a real strong safety.