To Contend Deep In The Playoffs, We NEED An All-pro WR, NOT!

[mgteich]

Many seem to think that we need an all--pro quality WR to contend deep into the playoffs, and really should have a #2 who is close.
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There are NOT very many of these, and few are available.
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I've only followed the team for 45 years. We have had exactly TWO all-pro wide receivers.
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We do indeed need two starting WR's. Our #3 and #4's will look much, much better.

 

[bakes781]

"A WR that will take the top off the defense" is all I ever hear. In order to do that your QB needs 3 seconds at a minimum.

 

[imahobgoblin]

We went 4-13. Just so you know, we need just a little more than that. Lol. Can we field a frikin team who knows how not to lose before we even imagine playoffs again?

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

@imahobgoblin I think we are on the right path to achieve what you’re asking. The process has begun and will unfortunately take more time but I think we are well on our way. It will be nice to see a semi return to true normalcy and not laughable if not very classic Browns and Jete like performances.

As to @mgteich …

 

[TheRainMaker]

Pats need to build better O-line and feature Rham more since they paid him. Pats will put together a better effort in signing some WR's than Osborn that so many here were excited about for no reason.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

TRENCHES.
Period.

 

[imahobgoblin]

TRENCHES.
Period.

No, not period. We have 9 draft picks and a full free agency. We can't just draft and sign trenches. You don't just sign or draft guys because they are in trenches. They have to fit the schemes. Its a waste of money to get guys who don't fit. Finding the right fit is hard. We need WRs, LBs, CBs, and RB depth. Period.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

No, not period. We have 9 draft picks and a full free agency. We can't just draft and sign trenches. You don't just sign or draft guys because they are in trenches. They have to fit the schemes. Its a waste of money to get guys who don't fit. Finding the right fit is hard. We need WRs, LBs, CBs, and RB depth. Period.

I don't think @WhatJustHappened was saying only draft trenches but that it needs to be the main focus.... =) Has any team ever drafted one area? IE line, DB etc? I can't say i remember it ever happening. I think it would be asinine and very bad to do then again, I am just some rando on the net...

 

[signbabybrady]

I think we need a little of everything

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I don't think @WhatJustHappened was saying only draft trenches but that it needs to be the main focus.... =) Has any team ever drafted one area? IE line, DB etc? I can't say i remember it ever happening. I think it would be asinine and very bad to do then again, I am just some rando on the net...

Correct.
Thanks

 

[JohnJH]

I think we need a little of everything

And in some cases, a lot of everything.

 

[Boomer B]

We just saw a team win that has 2 pro bowl caliber WRs, the best o-line in the league,the best RB in the league, and one of the best defences in the league.

I’d say we need a whole lot to contend. While we may not need an all-pro WR, we do need high end weapons at WR or TE, a new o-line, DE, DT, LB, 2nd corner…….

 

[maust]

And in some cases, a lot of everything.

Most cases really

 

[JohnJH]

Most cases really

It's certainly not going to be a one off-season and plug all the holes situation. But, they can make a great start and a lot of progress if they nail it in the next few months.

 

[maust]

It's certainly not going to be a one off-season and plug all the holes situation. But, they can make a great start and a lot of progress if they nail it in the next few months.

They absolutely have the resources to make a hella dent in their to do list

 

[JohnJH]

They absolutely have the resources to make a hella dent in their to do list

Indeed they do! They absolutely CANNOT afford to muck it up!

 

[Brick27]

Largely have nothing better to do while snowed in so thought would delve into the thread title at a surface level. Looking back at the past 10 SB champions, here are where their leading WR ranked in that season for receiving yards and TDs respectively.

2024: Brown - 17th, 21st (2nd team)
2023: Rice - 32nd, 18th
2022: Smith-Schuster (!) - 24th, 72nd
2021: Kupp - 1st, 1st (1st team)
2020: Evans - 18th, 4th
2019: Hill - 37th, 16th
2018: Edelman - 28th, 25th
2017: Jeffery - 34th, 4th
2016: Edelman - 13th, 85th
2015: Thomas - 7th, 29th

Average: 21st, 28th

Some obvious takeaways here:
• Only 2 of 10 of these WRs earned All-Pro honors in the given year—Kupp was a big outlier for production.
• Great QB and TE play was going on in many cases for these teams, among other offensive support.
• These teams averaged a WR1 who was roughly just below the 33rd percentile among top WRs for receiving yards and TD production, with over 2/3 of the rest of the leagues top WR ranking above them.

Bottom line.. to be a good team you need a lot of good things going for you at multiple position groups to be a SB threat. WR1 in a vacuum is not the be all and end all.

 

[Patriot Missile]

And in some cases, a lot of everything.

Which to me is a lot of trenches. Just about every mock draft I do seems to be an accumulation of 4 lineman including LT, G and center. Its a really good guard class and a pretty good center class. The DT’s in this draft is very deep. Trenches are where you are getting best value this year.

Rb’s are also looking great. Brashard Smith is my binkie rb to complement Rham and challenge for carries.

 

[dliverey44]

Which to me is a lot of trenches. Just about every mock draft I do seems to be an accumulation of 4 lineman including LT, G and center. Its a really good guard class and a pretty good center class. The DT’s in this draft is very deep. Trenches are where you are getting best value this year.

Rb’s are also looking great. Brashard Smith is my binkie rb to complement Rham and challenge for carries.

I was arguing with someone because I want to bring in a few guards and they were saying we have enough of them, but if you have a lot of something that is not good you are stuck with ****. Your OL is as good as the weakest link. I believe we currently have 11 OL signed to the roster, I would love to see 6 new OL brought in via FA and draft and let them fight it out to get the best 10-11 and get 1-3 on the PS. We need competition everywhere.

My choices are in FA Alaric Jackson-Jaylon Moore-Jedrick Wills (reclamation project
Draft Donovan Jackson-Jack Nelson-Logan Brown

 

[Wozzy]

No team has ever needed an All Pro WR to contend deep in the playoffs. You simply need 4-6 reliable WR’s who can attack the entire field so defenses have to account for them and defend every blade of grass.

David Patten wasn’t an All Pro but he was a fast reliable deep threat, David Givens wasn’t an all pro but he was a strong physical possession WR, Troy Brown was impossible to cover in the slot because he possessed great mobility… all these guys were late round picks and UDFA’s. This trend of finding good value players continued for the next two decades.

QB and both offensive and defensive lines… all these skill guys or glory positions come well after those line positions in terms of importance. Football is won in the trenches.