Battle for WR (1 Viewer)

[meily]

Edwards and Carr have chemistry and familiarity with each other. Carr would have at a minimum been consulted before they brought him in for a contract, and could possibly have lobbied for the front office to go get him. I would expect his relationship with Carr makes him a lock for the roster. We all fall in love with the camp beasts, but we can more easily stow away a 6th round draft pick on the practice squad than we can replicate chemistry and comfort Carr has with Edwards.

The goal is to keep ALL of these guys if possible for depth in case of injury.

We can do that if we practice squad the rookies.

If Edwards gets cut, he will end up somewhere else.


So will Coutee. IMO

Edwards was brought in for his familiarity with Carr yes but also his skillset, but do not forget this guy is pretty much a journeyman at this point as he was on the Falcons practice squad or subsequently released by the falcons last year which means he was not even on the raiders squad he just knows Carr from when he played with the raiders a year or so back.

 

[SWJJ]

Edwards was brought in for his familiarity with Carr yes but also his skillset, but do not forget this guy is pretty much a journeyman at this point as he was on the Falcons practice squad or subsequently released by the falcons last year which means he was not even on the raiders squad he just knows Carr from when he played with the raiders a year or so back.

He went from 35 catches for almost 600 yards with Carr at QB in 2021, to Mariota/Deridder for the falcons in 2022. The Falcons ran a lot of 22 personnel and Drake London and Kyle Pitts seems to be the first looks on every play, and then immediate check downs to Cordarrelle Patterson.

Falcons almost never have more than 2 WR on the field Patterson Lined up in the slot plenty.

London and Zaccheaus I believe were the only WR on the roster with more than 20 targets.

Is Edwards the guy he was with Carr (35 and 600) or is he the guy he was on a very bad falcons team?

 

[saint_drago]

TQS is always the WR3/WR4 so by matter of limited opportunities he'll never be featured enough to always show up with big stats...which is why his other attributes are always being highlighted. He can play outside and inside. Just not a world beater. Glue guy.

Yeah this is something that is largely overlooked. If you look at his game logs you'll that his targets are all over the place. He has only seen 9+ targets once in his career and that was in his rookie season when he went for 13 targets, 10 catches, 157 yards, and a TD.

So when you combine limited opportunity and limited availability, this is what you get. Make no mistake about it, Blockzilla will be back. He will always be back. He's 27 years old so he could be around for several more years. We don't have many examples of WR blocking specialists but it seems like a dude could block well into his 30s.

 

[sfidc3]

Listening to Underhill's ppdcast, it sounds like Kirkwood is also ahead of the class

I thought a few years ago Kirkwood would emerge as a really good contributing WR, he has skill, size, athletic for his size and good hands.....just can't stay healthy.....I hope he makes the roster....

 

[jasonsw]

You and I have watched 2 different tr'quan smiths play

Wwll that's because there are two versions of him. One version makes amazing catches. The other makes head scratching miscues

 

[Snakehead]

I thought a few years ago Kirkwood would emerge as a really good contributing WR, he has skill, size, athletic for his size and good hands.....just can't stay healthy.....I hope he makes the roster....

He did miss pretty much an entire year from a cheap shot head shot while in training camp with the Panthers a couple seasons ago. It was so bad the DB that made the hit was cut immediately.

 

[MG3n2K5]

Yeah this is something that is largely overlooked. If you look at his game logs you'll that his targets are all over the place. He has only seen 9+ targets once in his career and that was in his rookie season when he went for 13 targets, 10 catches, 157 yards, and a TD.

So when you combine limited opportunity and limited availability, this is what you get. Make no mistake about it, Blockzilla will be back. He will always be back. He's 27 years old so he could be around for several more years. We don't have many examples of WR blocking specialists but it seems like a dude could block well into his 30s.

He was also benched for Olamide Zaccheaus and UDFAs before being cut with over a month left in the season, rest of the league looked at him and said nope. Now everybody who tried to put him at #4 are conceding that spot to Tre'quan. Wouldn't be surprised if he is our new Kevin White who hangs on the practice squad until we pick up a couple injuries.

Right now Underhill has Tre at #4, AT Perry at #5 (Redshirt), and Kirkwood at #6. This tells me a couple things, you either are going to have to flash serious talent or pick up the offense really fast to knock out our depth WRs. Nobody has done that as of yet.

Wouldn't surprise me if it becomes 6th WR (whoever that is) or Lucas Krull (who would be the 5th TE) for one of the last roster spots.

 

[JackDiesel]

Biggest knocks on TQS is that je never turned into our #1 or #2 WR and that he's been injured a lot. The things that keep him on the team are the things that coaches know and want.

He barely turned into our #3 and has mostly been our #4 and can't stay healthy. He's flashed in some games but mostly disappears when given the chance to take on a bigger role.

He knows the offense so it's a given he'll be ahead after a week in camp and he has enough talent to do just enough to hold the others at bay. If we're honest Edwards, Smith, and Washington are all about the same player. Edwards has chemistry with Carr working for him and Smith knows the offense. We'll see where they're at after 3 preseason games.

 

[BRSaint225]

Trequan isn’t going anywhere so get ready to support the man lol. I’m crossing my fingers that Carr and his leadership will maximize his receiving efforts this year.

 

[sfidc3]

He did miss pretty much an entire year from a cheap shot head shot while in training camp with the Panthers a couple seasons ago. It was so bad the DB that made the hit was cut immediately.

Yup, I remember that, he is 28 so it's getting late in his career, just hope he makes the roster....

 

[dutar76]

Trequan isn’t going anywhere so get ready to support the man lol. I’m crossing my finger that Carr and his leadership will maximize his receiving efforts this year.

20+ catches, 200+ yards, and 3+ TD catches along with his downfield blocking and special teams role is about what I'd expect of him. Lots of mouths to feed and the superstars will probably gobble up most of it. (AK, MT, Olave) Everybody else will have more specific roles and won't likely put up consistent fantasy #'s in our passing game other than redzone TDs. As long as we're winning and they answer when their number is called, I'm fine with that. It's the same on most teams.

 

[Cougar 2]

Perry and Davis seem to be fighting for the same spot. They would have to outplay Edwards for both to make it.

TQS is a lock the more sense is made of his past production and what he brings as another vet WR. He can be an effective quality receiver when he has a great QB. It’s hard for the Saints to move on from a vet who’s productive in the RZ, can move the chains depending on who’s at QB, and he can block. He can be a deep threat and a possession WR, plus almost 6 years in the system.

Here’s my “objective” takes on Trequan so far in his career here.

First, his negs:

Fairly “average” as an NFL WR. Average to decent hands An average route runner who usually struggles to get any kind of separation against a defender. Not only did he struggle with the playbook, he often couldn’t even line up properly! Sad! Then there’s the injuries, injuries n more injuries that have plagued him n prevented him from being more consistent.

The positives:

He came into the league soo skinny, that the coaches told him he’d have to gain weight to b a more physical receiver AND a better blocker. He DID, n it became one of the biggest reasons he’s been able to hold on to a spot on the 53! Meanwhile, he began to grasp n learned the playbook, which allowed the coaches to play n move him around more at the different WR spots. Because he lacks dat “burst” coming outta his cuts, he may never become a more “polished” route runner. But he’s now got a better understanding of play “concepts”. He knows that it’s gonna b his job to run the “proper routes” ( like goin deep r a crossing route in front of the safety) to help open things up for others.

Meanwhile, it’s been so far so good for Trequan in TC. He’s been healthy, working hard to up his game as a WR, n playing with CONFIDENCE! As well he should be, cause after Michael Thomas, Trequan has the most experience in this O than any WR on da team!

As a new QB here, obviously Derek Carr will have to learn the offensive playbook, AND develop that much needed chemistry with his WRs.

He barely turned into our #3 and has mostly been our #4 and can't stay healthy. He's flashed in some games but mostly disappears when given the chance to take on a bigger role.

He knows the offense so it's a given he'll be ahead after a week in camp and he has enough talent to do just enough to hold the others at bay. If we're honest Edwards, Smith, and Washington are all about the same player. Edwards has chemistry with Carr working for him and Smith knows the offense. We'll see where they're at after 3 preseason games.

Yep, because of this I thought the Edwards/TQS competition for WR4 spot was gonna be one to watch in TC.

But so far it ain’t happened….at all! In fact, on his podcast, Ross Jackson said based on what HE has seen. IF he had to pick his top 5 WRs “right now” ( He added it could change by the end of TC) it would be CO, MT, Sheed, Trequan Smith and Keith Kirkwood. Hes goin with TQS n Kirkwood, mainly because he feels their experience n their familiarity in this Saints O has given them an edge over the other WRs. And along with Jackson, others in the media have taken notice about the play of Smith n Kirkwood as well.

But IMO, it’s esp true for TQS. Say what you want about him: Always injured, inconsistent as a WR, n all he can do is block, etc.etc. But only Michael Thomas has more experience at WR in the Saints O than him. Moreover, Trequan is versatile: He knows the playbook, can play all 3 WR spots.

Finally, IMO this is the MOST competition Trequan has ever had for his job! And IMO, he KNOWS it! So he’s been working his tail off! Along with his experience, keep in mind that since the start of OTAs, Trequan has been out there dang near EVERYDAY working with Derek Carr. So I wouldn’t b surprised if the 2 have quietly been establishing a certain “comfort level” with each other. So IF all goes well for him, I won’t b surprised if TQS wins da WR4 spot outright.


Side note: I’m stll pullin for rook WR AT Perry to make the 53. He got off to a SLOW start, but has been showing some signs of progress/improvement since the start of TC. Hope he keeps it up!