Just as the title says. What are the key aspects of a WCO WR and who available through draft or FA would be a good fit?
Since the WCO is predicated mostly on timing route running and speed are probably #1 on the list. I list the two together because they really go hand in hand. If you are fast but run poor routes then you have to slow down to get to the spot you are supposed to be. If you run good routes but have Greg Camarillo speed then you are likely to get jammed and have the timing of the route thrown off. Look at the guys on GB's roster and it becomes clearer: Jennings is a legit 4.5 guy. Same with Cobb. Driver was that way for a number of year. Nelson as well. Even TE Jermichael Finley I believe slotted in the low 4.6 range.
Well, I think just looking at the Packers offense the last few years, their wr's have to be able to run the slant. Now that sounds simple enough. But what goes into that? Hands - not just catching the ball, but getting off the LOS if faced with press coverage Fearless across the middle - that safety or linebacker could be coming at you ready to take your head off. Not just speed, but also quickness. All of that then leads to the slant and go route... sluggo...
They need to get open very fast too. The WC is a quick passing attack. Your QB doesn't sit back in the pocket and wait to launch bombs, most of the passes are thrown before the "Typical" 3 seconds as in other offenses. Overall, get off the line fast and well against jam, good hands, and solid route runner. As far as fit: I could see Bess having a good year. In the draft: Blackmon, Micheal Floyd, Kendall Wright (***probably the best fit in my opinion), Stephen Hill, Mohamed Sanu, Ryan Broyles, Marvin Jones (*** could see us drafting him in the early 3rd if he is still there)
I was doing research a while ago (when the 4-3 Under was a topic of discussion on these forums) and I came across this excellent website, with a bunch of information including info on the WCO. Here is a snipet regarding WRs. Notice the bolded part? Here is the link: http://football.calsci.com/WCOHistory2.html
From the article above it also states the ideal size is 6'3" and 210 pounds. Sounds like someone we traded away.
The WCO offense has many variations so I don't agree that there is one type. For example, "big WR" is always mentioned, but there have been so many successful WCO WRs who weren't big that I think that's an inaccurate statement at least as it applies to all WCO variations. If I were to list the primary characteristics, I would say precise route running followed by consistent hands. Speed, quickness out of cuts, strength and size are all desirable, but those are just things that can help the goal, which being in the right place at the right time and catching the ball. Some will accomplish that with speed, some will do it with size, some will use their strength, but the point is that the successful ones get to the right spot at the right time and catch the ball. That precision is what racks up all those YAC yards that the WCO covets and relies on.
We'll see what we do in the draft. I'm not eluding to anything in particular other than the fact that I would've liked to have Marshall in our WR corps is all. Hope whoever we draft pans out. If we sign Flynn I'd like Michael Floyd with 8th pick.
I do agree, I do think it would be nice to have Brandon Marshall. However I can see why they got rid of him and why the price was so low.
Quickness and discipline. Quickness (not always top end speed) to break off of the line to get initial seperation and discipline to run the route exactly as it's drawn up.
Stephen Hill is not currently a good enough route runner for the WCO, though could develop in that regard.
His 40 time has to be the biggest shock for me since I've been following the combine. On the field he plays like a 4.3 guy. DeSean Jackson kind of fast. If I had to guess before the combine who was faster between Wright and RG3 I'd have said Wright.
Jerry Rice. Seriously though it is just like any other offense in my opinion. You always want versatile receivers who can run many different routes, create separation and not drop passes. In that respect it is no different from any other offensive style. One very important trait in the WCO is the ability to gain yards after the catch. Whether you are a strong WR who breaks tackles or a small shifty guy doesn't matter as long as you can get those YAC yards. That is one thing that made Rice so amazing. The ability to catch a seven yard hitch and take it seventy more.
He's surprising quick and agile. 3-cone and shuttle at the combine were near the top of his class. He's deceptively quick. Great beating press coverage, which is a huge plus.
They said they started the clock sooner because he moved his other hand or something like that. Also if you watched him run it, it almost seemed like he stumbled out of the gate. Clearly he didn't prep for the 40 yard dash because he wasn't taught the "proper way" of running the 40 yard dash. That's okay though because he is a WR and would never be asked to start a route with his hands in the ground. Watch this: [video=youtube;HZxXkExViFk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZxXkExViFk[/video] Couple things to note: 1.) His feet are too close together. Harder to drive the back leg and really get going. 2.) On his first step his body, torso, head do down kind of like he is stumbling. Most of the time when you run the 40 all moment is supposed to be forward and up. This motion of going down has a HUGE effect on the timing in my opinion. Also I think Wright would be a damn good WC WR, so don't sleep on him. If we don't sign Mario Manningham I would be willing to bet at least one of the following players will be drafted by us: Wright, Floyd, Sanu, and Marvin Jones from Cal.
Based on his combine performance people are going to draft him on potential. He hasn't run nearly the amount of routes that other WRs have, but that 10 yard split means he gets off the line really fast, with his body he provides a big target too. He also is pretty solid at getting YAC. While he is somewhat raw with some development, especially in the route running like you mentioned he could be special in the WC.