Marquez Callaway (1 Viewer)

[TCUDan]

I think he's about to be a huge beneficiary of the Saints drafting Olave.

Callaway, in my mind, is destined for the slot. Physically, he does not have any stand-out qualities (he's not short but isn't extremely tall, doesn't have a lot of bulk, isn't very twitchy and does not possess the separation gear to consistently get open outside). But he is an overachiever, and one place those guys can go and really succeed in the NFL is the slot.

Think Lance Moore. He was a guy who didn't have a blazing 40, really didn't have a ton of natural quickness (athletically). Now he had great mental agility--awareness, anticipation--those are the guys you often hear being talked about as "faster than their time (their 40, their cone drill)". If you put Moore outside and asked him to do what Callaway was asked to do last year (to be a #1 WR), he would have struggled much more.

The reason the slot fits these guys is because it instantly puts them at an advantage--especially if you have outside guys who are demanding a defense's best cover players. Then there is the spatial advantage: a slot WR has a 2-way go, every play, and that stresses the nickel in man or the underneath coverage in zone. You can't squeeze them to the sideline, and it's much harder to reroute at the LOS. A WR can be a lot less athletic if he understands stems and manipulating space from the slot. He becomes one of those "sneaky" slot WRs.

With the Saints essentially adding 2 1,000-yard receivers to the roster this season (since MT was injured all last season), Callaway will have the opportunity to slide into a more complementary role. I don't think he's Lance Moore yet, but he has that mental agility that makes up for some of what he lacks physically. If he learns to command and manipulate space, continues to refine his route running, and gains a little more veteran savvy, I think he is the Saints answer at slot WR.

The odd man out, IMO, is Tre'Quan Smith. I don't mean that the Saints release him (he's not expensive, has great speed and run blocking stature, and will provide crucial depth outside), but I definitely see his share of snaps decreasing. With what I know and have seen of the Saints WRs thus far, I think Callaway is the #3 next season and becomes much more of a slot WR specialist.

 

[rsmith2783]

One thing about Calloway that I like is that he made some tough catches. His play alone in preseason made Winston look good and helped him win the QB battle.

 

[kennydfresh]

Great write up and you made alot of good points. I would buy off on the Calloway narrative, if you can sell me on him being better than Deontay "mini Tyrek Hill" Harty. If it was me I would start MT13, Olave, and Harty with AK41 (speed and POWER). You can't cover that, somebody is open. With the OL being as good as it is and Jameis mobility. Its a first down or completion. BTW Calloway 46rec or 2.7 rec a game is pitful, (was our #1 WR (started all 17 games) last year and I had to scroll 3 pages on NFL WR stats to find him. Comparing LMo and Calloway is not fair. Remember Calloway went 13 games last year without getting at least 50 yards receiving not to mention getting blanked our last game of the year when we needed him the most. Just a thought.

 

[BelowZero]

I think another positive is that with Thomas now back, you can move Callaway and Olave around interchangeably (along with MT himself), which could likely further open play calling and the types of offenses we can run. Hardy/Harris only adds to it at this point. There's a lot of diversity in where all these guys can be played now.

That said, I think Callaway can be better than just a slot guy. He reminds me a bit of Hopkins from the speed side of things. If he can just figure out how to play a bit stronger (for lack of better word) both in frame and in hands, then I think it'll start to show. As it stands now, he looked pretty good against #1 CBs, but he obviously wasn't ready for that role last season. He shouldn't be blamed for his lack of production, nor was it fair to put him in that position - not even mentioning the QB carousel we had last season.

 

[kennydfresh]

That said, I think Callaway can be better than just a slot guy. He reminds me a bit of Hopkins from the speed side of things.

Hopkin runs a 4.41 (really fast) compared to Calloway who runs a 4.57 for comparison that is slower Treylon Burks and Michael Thomas. So last year when he couldn't separate, now you know why.

 

[Cougar 2]

I think he's about to be a huge beneficiary of the Saints drafting Olave.

Callaway, in my mind, is destined for the slot. Physically, he does not have any stand-out qualities (he's not short but isn't extremely tall, doesn't have a lot of bulk, isn't very twitchy and does not possess the separation gear to consistently get open outside). But he is an overachiever, and one place those guys can go and really succeed in the NFL is the slot.

Think Lance Moore. He was a guy who didn't have a blazing 40, really didn't have a ton of natural quickness (athletically). Now he had great mental agility--awareness, anticipation--those are the guys you often hear being talked about as "faster than their time (their 40, their cone drill)". If you put Moore outside and asked him to do what Callaway was asked to do last year (to be a #1 WR), he would have struggled much more.

The reason the slot fits these guys is because it instantly puts them at an advantage--especially if you have outside guys who are demanding a defense's best cover players. Then there is the spatial advantage: a slot WR has a 2-way go, every play, and that stresses the a nickel in man or the underneath coverage in zone. You can't squeeze them to the sideline, and it's much harder to reroute at the LOS. A WR can be a lot less athletic if he understands stems and manipulating space from the slot. He becomes one of those "sneaky" slot WRs.

With the Saints essentially adding 2 1,000-yard receivers to the roster this season (since MT was injured all last season), Callaway will have the opportunity to slide into a more complementary role. I don't think he's Lance Moore yet, but he has that mental agility that makes up for some of what he lacks physically. If he learns to command and manipulate space, continues to refine his route running, and gains a little more veteran savvy, I think he is the Saints answer at slot WR.

The odd man out, IMO, is Tre'Quan Smith. I don't mean that the Saints release him (he's not expensive, has great speed and run blocking stature, and will provide crucial depth outside), but I definitely see his share of snaps decreasing. With what I know and have seen of the Saints WRs thus far, I think Callaway is the #3 next season and becomes much more of a slot WR specialist.

Agreed Dan!

Last year, despite their youth n inexperience, let alone playin wit 4 different QBs, Quez n Deonte combined for 82 catches n nearly 1300 yds. Unlike dat duo, Michael Thomas is a helluva “X” WR. He plays on the line, n sees lotsa press man coverage, often with some safety help. But a healthy, focused MT eats dat kinda coverage for breakfast!



Earlier, I posted that the biggest key for our passing O success this season will be Jameis establishing good chemistry with MT. I feel IF they can, it’s REALLY gonna open things up for ALL the rest of our WRs, esp Quez, Deonte, n now, Olave!

Im already kinda feel for em come TC tho! Even after a brutal, hard, hot day of practice, you jus KNOW Jameis is gonna want an EXTRA 30 min to an hour, even if it’s jus “pitch n catch” wit his guys!

Yeah, QB1 gonna b doin QB1 stuff !!!!

 

[BelowZero]

Hopkin runs a 4.41 (really fast) compared to Calloway who runs a 4.57 for comparison that is slower Treylon Burks and Michael Thomas. So last year when he couldn't separate, now you know why.

Every combine source has him at a 4.57/4.5. Combine Results. Go watch Deebo Samuel, Justin Jefferson, or OBJ (who all were given faster 40 times) and say he's faster than any of them. He obviously doesn't run a 4.41.

 

[kennydfresh]

Every combine source has him at a 4.57/4.5. Combine Results. Go watch Deebo Samuel, Justin Jefferson, or OBJ (who all were given faster 40 times) and say he's faster than any of them. He obviously doesn't run a 4.41.

He doesn't run a 4.41, since when?

Clemson WR Hopkins runs 40-yard dash in 4.41

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has run a 4.41-second time in the 40-yard dash at Clemson in front of New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and personnel from 31 NFL teams.

www.espn.com

 

[saints4eva]

One thing about Calloway that I like is that he made some tough catches. His play alone in preseason made Winston look good and helped him win the QB battle.

Agreed and if we're comparing him to a potential Lance Moore type slot receiver, he needs to be sure-handed because Lance had some of the best hands in the biz. He was also very acrobatic (Super Bowl 2 point conversion comes to mind).

 

[TCUDan]

Great write up and you made alot of good points. I would buy off on the Calloway narrative, if you can sell me on him being better than Deontay "mini Tyrek Hill" Harty. If it was me I would start MT13, Olave, and Harty with AK41 (speed and POWER). You can't cover that, somebody is open. With the OL being as good as it is and Jameis mobility. Its a first down or completion. BTW Calloway 46rec or 2.7 rec a game is pitful, (was our #1 WR (started all 17 games) last year and I had to scroll 3 pages on NFL WR stats to find him. Comparing LMo and Calloway is not fair. Remember Calloway went 13 last year without getting at least 50 yards receiving not to mention getting blanked our last game of the year when we needed him the most. Just a thought.

Deonte Harty is definitely in the mix, but his role is a little unique. People always talk about Taysom Hill being playing that "joker," but that's really Harty. So in terms of being a down-to-down traditional slot, can he do it (will he pop in at the Y, for example)?

Absolutely.

But I don't consider him a traditional slot WR. He does a lot more and the skillset is different. So you're still really talking about two different roles when comparing him and Callaway, even if they both spend some time at the Y.

If Harty stays healthy, his playmaker role is only going to expand. But given his health issues, he's not really the guy you want to consistently use inside to get those 'dirty yards.'

 

[BelowZero]

He doesn't run a 4.41, since when?

Clemson WR Hopkins runs 40-yard dash in 4.41

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has run a 4.41-second time in the 40-yard dash at Clemson in front of New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and personnel from 31 NFL teams.

www.espn.com

You're taking one article (hand-timed at a Pro-Day, which are notorious for embellishing numbers) and stating as fact when the reality is that every source shows his combine numbers (with superior technology) being 4.57/4.50. Which also has video (and him being outran by Noah Fant).

Even if he did run a 4.41, do you think he's really running that fast in pads? Working under the assumption he didn't cut weight/muscle to get that speed, then probably not.

 

[kennydfresh]

Deonte Harty is definitely in the mix, but his role is a little unique. People always talk about Taysom Hill being playing that "joker," but that's really Harty. So in terms of being a down-to-down traditional slot, can he do it (will he pop in at the Y, for example)?

Absolutely.

But I don't consider him a traditional slot WR. He does a lot more and the skillset is different. So you're still really talking about two different roles when comparing him and Callaway, even if they both spend some time at the Y.

If Harty stays healthy, his playmaker role is only going to expand. But given his health issues, he's not really the guy you want to consistently use inside to get those 'dirty yards.'

Great take. To be honest, when I think about it Calloway was kinda set up for failure(Not Ian Book level setup tho) seeing once Jameis went down the QB play went with it. Lets give him another year see what we have, I can dig it. Go for broke Calloway.

 

[Epic Brownie]

If anything, he will be getting teams' #3 CBs instead of their best.

 

[guillermo]

While I agree with you that Calloway is going to the slot. I got him playing a different role.

I model our re diving group by our former group. Thomas is playing Colston. Olave will play Devery.

I disagree with you thinking that Calloway will play the Meachem role. Blocking on the run game. Running curl routes and sometimes going deep.

What is not clear to me is who is playing the Lance Moore role. I though drafting Kyle Phillips could solve the problem. And Jarvis Landry is perfect considering his experience.

If there is an internal candidate to play the role, I think it is Humphrey. I know, totally different body, but this was the role he played in college at Texas, and when he has the opportunity, he had played well.

I was wondering if Trequan can switch and take that role. He already is a great blocker, but his fist strike is that he is often injured. To play that role, you better be available and reliable catching the ball and running crisp routes.

 

[JackDiesel]

I know I'm really looking forward to seeing Harty on the outside with Olave and Thomas in the slot. Thomas gets to abuse the nickel and then you got sub 4.4 speed outside. That's tough to matchup against and really opens up space for Kamara to work, something he hasn't had really in his career.

Really all that's missing now is better play from our guards and since we have so much invested in there already we just got to hope the new trainer can keep Peat healthy and Marrone can get something out of Ruiz.