Trying to understand Welker's success

[drew4008]

I actually can't believe the season Welker is having right now. I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, and I actually felt a little dumb because I couldn't really explain what makes Welker so successful (given his limitations).

In a time where the league is moving more and more towards "freaks" at the WR position, ie. those with massive hands, huge wingspan, insane verticals, 6'4"+ and run sub 4.4 forties... how is Welker doing it?

I mean, sure, he's ridiculously "quick" and agile.. but many WRs are probably at or near the same level... even Deion Branch for instance set the combine record for fastest 3-cone and shuttle times, I believe.

Also.. I remember previously thinking that Welker wasn't anything special as far as the level of athlete he is. I mean, you see a white WR out there, you obviously don't think that right off the bat haha. But I've seen him working out at practice and before games this offseason/season... and the guy is actually pretty jacked. Is he more "fit" than we give him credit for? Can he actually be classified as a "physical freak" (in a little different sense of the word)?

 

[yukon cornelius]

I actually can't believe the season Welker is having right now. I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, and I actually felt a little dumb because I couldn't really explain what makes Welker so successful (given his limitations).

In a time where the league is moving more and more towards "freaks" at the WR position, ie. those with massive hands, huge wingspan, insane verticals, 6'4"+ and run sub 4.4 forties... how is Welker doing it?

I mean, sure, he's ridiculously "quick" and agile.. but many WRs are probably at or near the same level... even Deion Branch for instance set the combine record for fastest 3-cone and shuttle times, I believe.

Also.. I remember previously thinking that Welker wasn't anything special as far as the level of athlete he is. I mean, you see a white WR out there, you obviously don't think that right off the bat haha. But I've seen him working out at practice and before games this offseason/season... and the guy is actually pretty jacked. Is he more "fit" than we give him credit for? Can he actually be classified as a "physical freak" (in a little different sense of the word)?

he's completely on the same page as one of the best QB's in the game in one of the better offenses

they rely on timing, on thinking on the field, on reading the defense and running the correct pattern for what that defense is giving

brady & welker see same thing.....they are on the same page

to top it off, welker runs great patterns and goes 100% all the time

and brady delivers....not just hits the right guy, but puts the ball in there prefectly....hits guys in stride, throws them open, etc


not saying welker wouldn't be good elsewhere, but he fits what the pats do well, on top of being able to do it well

 

[D-Money]

He's a great slot wr.Very shifty.This offense would be worthless if it wasnt for him.I keep harping it but this team needs more production from either Branch or Ochochinco.

 

[drew4008]

Yeah I definitely think that "heady" aspect greatly contributes to his success.. as well as the connection he has with Brady.

I still can't believe though that he is open as much as he is. Aside from the odd seam route (which usually doesn't work and is just keeping the D honest lol), he runs the same routes over and over... yet they just keep on working.

 

[Sivy]

he's completely on the same page as one of the best QB's in the game in one of the better offenses

they rely on timing, on thinking on the field, on reading the defense and running the correct pattern for what that defense is giving

brady & welker see same thing.....they are on the same page

to top it off, welker runs great patterns and goes 100% all the time

and brady delivers....not just hits the right guy, but puts the ball in there prefectly....hits guys in stride, throws them open, etc


not saying welker wouldn't be good elsewhere, but he fits what the pats do well, on top of being able to do it well

He is on the same page with THE best qb in the nfl, not one of the best..No one is as good as Brady.

Welker has no limitations to answer the orginal post.

 

[drew4008]

I keep harping it but this team needs more production from either Branch or Ochochinco.

Yup, definitely. That's the only thing I'm nervous about offensively with this game coming up. Rex is a master schemer and game-planner. If one coach can some up with something to eliminate Welker (or at least as close to eliminate as you can get), it'd be him.

And with nobody else stepping up, we could be in a little bit of trouble. Really hope Hernandez is back, as I see him and Gronk being essential in this game.

 

[SanAngeloState]

His agility, reactions and intelligence are what makes him. He can lean one way get the CB to lean that way and instantaneously go the other way, which is why he's uncoverable in space against a linebacker. Plus he knows what brady is looking for and looking at b/c he's so smart. And he has great hands.

I would think the pats could scout a slightly slower receiver like that, maybe one with soccer backgrounds like branch and welker who both seem to have really quick feet and reactions.

An intelligent receiver who can get open is what the system requires...someone like bethel was completely the opposite.

 

[yukon cornelius]

He is on the same page with THE best qb in the nfl, not one of the best..No one is as good as Brady.

Welker has no limitations to answer the orginal post.

i was being a humble fan


welker runs the right pattern perfectly - brady makes the same read and delivers it perfectly....they make each other better

branch & now ocho may not always catch the ball, but as long as they also make the right reads and run the patterns well, it contributes to others getting open

getting hernandez back is huge.....3 legit weapons in welker, hernandez & gronk.....two good compliments (branch, ocho) that can burn you if you focus on any of the big 3.....and we haven't even really gone to the back out of the backfield much yet

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Welker's freakishness is his acceleration; he didn't earn his 99 rating for nothing.

 

[randomk1]

He is a great athlete period. Combine that with his work ethic,heart,toughness,intelligence and relationship with Brady and you have the best slot receiver in nfl history.

Welker is like the Tom Brady of receivers.

 

[D-Money]

I would like this offense more if they got production from the outside.Thats been a major problem.I am starting to get worry about Branch.I know he got a td yesterday but he wasnt much of a factor.He started out well and has dissapeared.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I actually can't believe the season Welker is having right now. I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, and I actually felt a little dumb because I couldn't really explain what makes Welker so successful (given his limitations).

In a time where the league is moving more and more towards "freaks" at the WR position, ie. those with massive hands, huge wingspan, insane verticals, 6'4"+ and run sub 4.4 forties... how is Welker doing it?

I mean, sure, he's ridiculously "quick" and agile.. but many WRs are probably at or near the same level... even Deion Branch for instance set the combine record for fastest 3-cone and shuttle times, I believe.

Also.. I remember previously thinking that Welker wasn't anything special as far as the level of athlete he is. I mean, you see a white WR out there, you obviously don't think that right off the bat haha. But I've seen him working out at practice and before games this offseason/season... and the guy is actually pretty jacked. Is he more "fit" than we give him credit for? Can he actually be classified as a "physical freak" (in a little different sense of the word)?

Many of those physical skills are actually over-rated.

Welker’s success is derived from:

– his ability to quickly accelerate and decelerate
- Being on the same page with TFB
- His magnificent sense of field geometry, he has an amazing sense of when to move where, to get open and avoid taking a lot of impact.

Just as TFB is not a physical speciman, his physical attributes are very ordinary if not underwhelming, it's his mind which makes him so deadly, this is also true with Welker.

 

[WhiZa]

When he catches the ball he is usually not wide open. A lot of his catches come with a defender on his back. Him and TFB are a great combo.

How do you think Davone Bess would do in this offense?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I would like this offense more if they got production from the outside.Thats been a major problem.I am starting to get worry about Branch.I know he got a td yesterday but he wasnt much of a factor.He started out well and has dissapeared.

You have some of the same issues that plagued Nem. He was a one note hight and speed guy who was never happy with a W because it lacked his preferred style points. Never appreciated the nuaces. Even yesterday Deion was doing his job in drawing coverage and making crucial blocks for his teamates. Brady, whom some were disappointed in performance wise yesterday, well Bill said that was probably his best game of the season because of the reads and check downs decisions. It's not Madden when you play it in real time on real turf against real opponents who get paid too.

 

[AluminumMessiah]

He's one of the best athletes in the NFL. Reminds me of Steve Nash a little bit in that they are both tiny little white guys who have a supreme understanding of angles and ridiculous body control.

 

[Patspsycho]

It's not just his athleticism, toughness or his ability to interpret coverage, but this offense is also tailor-made him. If you watch carefully, you notice that he is run out of a lot of stacks or as the under in the trips, and invariably he'll have a few cross routes where he can clean his tail with a rub. All he needs is half a step on his man and he's home free, and the rub will do that for you.

 

[VJCPatriot]

It's not just his athleticism, toughness or his ability to interpret coverage, but this offense is also tailor-made him. If you watch carefully, you notice that he is run out of a lot of stacks or as the under in the trips, and invariably he'll have a few cross routes where he can clean his tail with a rub. All he needs is half a step on his man and he's home free, and the rub will do that for you.

They do run plays for Welker, but it is also his physical ability to create separation quickly that makes him such a mismatch. Wes Welker was considered the best slot receiver in the NFL by many before this season. But hes taken it to another level. He can legitimately be considered a Top 5 all around WR in the NFL now. The playbook has opened up, Wes is one of the main weapons, and he is beating defenses in EVERY way imaginable, whether its inside, outside, short, or deep.

 

[memento]

A lot of posters point out wes is white, but the big thing is he's short. He can change direction on a dime compared to these big guys.

There was a play last game that emphasized it perfectly for me. Mightve gone for a touchdown or inside the 10. Wes does a spin and the dback follows him looking for the fade. Then wes spins again, the dback sees it but he's already committed to the fade and te ball is already in welkers hands. The backside fade is one of the hardest passes to defend in all of football, and its even harder when your reciever can spin like that.

Welkers success concerns me a bit, bc tommy boy doesnt spread the ball like he uses to. Outside of Branchs superbowl mvp 11catches, branch was just one of the reciwvers, bc u had no idea where the ball was going. Also, a little less shotgun would be nice.

 

[Hael]

Obviously as others said, his mental/timing/synching with Brady.

However it really is physical in the sense that he is extremely hard to jam b/c he is so small and shifty. No defender in the league can cover him man to man in that short to intermediate (5-15 yard) area b/c of his great quickness, and they have to rely on zone to cover him. Further, he is great at reading the zone and will sit in the right spots to split it.

In some sense, although different types of recievers, he has some of the same strengths Jerry Rice did. Namely, the first 3 steps of his are truly elite, as well as that first step out of the cut. It can lead to incredible seperation, despite the fact that he is far from the sprint speed of most DBs.

 

[Wides]

you can not understand wes welker. he operates at level beyond human comprehension. we must suffice with worshiping his glory from afar.