(03-06-2024, 02:06 PM)Protozoa Wrote: I think Kirk and Zay going down hurt Ridley in that it makes it seem like his number were more to do with picking up slack than making a difference. If Ridley had put up the numbers he did with Kirk and Zay in the line up the whole year then there would be no question about resigning him.

This makes no sense to me. By default, he was considered the WR1 all year. Zay was in and out of the line-up routinely last year. Kirk went down and missed the last five games on the year. 

If anything, it allowed Lawrence to target Ridley more, for this offensive coaching staff to utilize him a little more. The fact that he put up the numbers he did IN SPITE of everybody being in and out of the line-up around him is probably the best case you could have made for him to be brought back. 

Kirk's serviceable. He's a slot receiver. He's not a true #1. 
Jones' is questionable now. He got arrested last year for a baby mama dispute. Then he misses half a season worth of football games.

This is further compounded with the obvious issues in the starting line-up with the offensive line, no running game at all and Lawrence physically falling apart towards the end of the year. 

Ridley did a number of things in 2023 that I simply do not see in Kirk's and Zay's game. His route running is superb, his ability to catch rifles are impressive, sure, he had his concentration drops and we wanted to kill him, but, hate to break it to you, so did the rest of this receiving core all year and they only finished 15th in dropped passes as a team.

Not nearly as bad as it was the year prior I believe.

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