Quote:Again, I'm not saying he doesn't possess these traits. He does. I'm saying he needs time to develop, and that there is a chance that he doesn't develop. It's a legitimate concern on him.


I disagree with your statement on the 4 receivers mentioned. Crabtree played in the furthest from an NFL offense, but he ran a variety of routes. Blackmon and Bryant played in a spread not all that dissimilar from modern NFL spread offenses. Hopkins ran routes at Clemson; it's mostly Watson that is used in an offensive weapon role, similar to Harvin at Florida.

I hear what your saying, and I agree with the fact the each of those receivers varies as far as exposure to certain routes and understanding of defensive coverage principles.


But one thing they they have in common is that they weren't called upon to run consistently good routes in college, largely because of scheme.


I agree with you that the amount each knew going in varied. But I know following the transition of a few of them and reading articles in their rookie years that route running was the thing that they had to adjust to the most. Simply because they had more freedom in their spread offenses and DBS in the nfl were too good to neglect the importance.


Their are other wrs in spread offenses that don't make the transition as well, a lot of these receivers lack the explosiveness and purely benefit from the scheme they played in.


Watkins did have a. Unique role, and he will undoubtedly have to work on his route running at this level. But for an athlete of his caliber, I dont think it's going to be quite the problem that you make it out to be.... Especially in today's nfl where you are much more spread oriented, and can find a role for just about anyone.


What changes that is if he has a [BLEEP] work ethic, doesn't care about being great, and lacks the ability and desire to attack the ball, the latter part of that he has, the first part I suppose is what you maybe questioning?

---