Knox- 8th ranked NFL deep passes 2010

An interesting article and shows how well knox did in 2010 with the deep ball- now if he can learn to fight better for the ball he will def. be a 1,000+ WR IMO..

Deep Threats

May 31st, 2011 | Author: Khaled Elsayed

When you talk about some of the most explosive receivers in the league, your attention turns to the speedsters that go long and get behind defenses. Those guys you have to doubly account for on every play because, if you don’t, they’ll punish you. Not just by moving the chains, but by putting points on the board.

In our continuing look at wide receivers, we set our focus on what they are doing with their deep ball opportunities. For the purpose of this study, we’re looking at the 50 receivers who were targeted on at least 15 deep passes (balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield) and the numbers do include the playoffs. The findings throw up some names you’d expect, and some you wouldn’t.

Targets
Where better to start than by looking at which receivers were targeted downfield the most. Much like you probably did, I went into this thinking the names Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson would be at the top. Instead, it’s a list headed by Brandon Lloyd and Calvin Johnson, both targeted over 20 yards 41 times. Remarkably, “Fraction Jackson” didn’t even make the Top 10 in terms of targets, as can be seen from the table below:

Receptions
More importantly, Jackson did make the Top 5 when it came to receptions on deep throws. It’s another list headed by Lloyd (Johnson dropped to sixth in this rating), but Jackson’s leap and, to a lesser degree, Mike Wallace, are the most noteworthy inclusions. It’s also the first time we see Kenny Britt appear, but not the last.


Wide Receivers, Receptions on Deep Passes, 2010

Rank Player Team Receptions
1 Brandon Lloyd DEN 17
2t Mike Wallace PIT 15
2t Greg Jennings GB 15
4t DeSean Jackson PHI 13
4t Kenny Britt TEN 13
6t Calvin Johnson DET 12
6t Reggie Wayne IND 12
6tMario Manningham 12
9t Bowe KC 11
9tJohnny Knox CHI 11

Catch Percentage
The Titans’ receiver bested all others when it came to bringing in the highest percentage of deep balls thrown his way. A big reason why Vince Young had the highest completion percentage of deep balls was Britt acting as an imposing downfield target. Up at the top, there are also spots for Robert Meachem and Roddy White, though neither man saw more than 20 balls over the required distance. It’s more impressive to look at what Mario Manningham did in securing over half of his 23 long targets.


Wide Receivers, Catch Percentage on Deep Passes, 2010

Rank Player Team Catch %

1 Kenny Britt TEN 56.52%
2 Robert Meachem NO 55.00%
3 Roddy White ATL 53.33%
4 Steve Breaston ARZ 52.63%
5 Mario Manningham NYG 52.17%
6. desean Jackson PHI 44.83%
7 Andre Johnson HST 43.48%
8Johnny Knox CHI 42.31%
9 Jabar Gaffney DEN 42.11%
10t Greg Jennings GB 41.67%
10t Anthony Armstrong WAS 41.67%
10t Malcom Floyd SD 41.67%

Yardage
Next, we’re looking at who picked up the most yards in the long range game. To the surprise of very few (especially those who have read the opening couple of paragraphs) Brandon Lloyd once again leads the way, with Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson completing the top three. Just behind them is Greg Jennings, though it should be remembered these numbers do include the post season. We can also wonder how much stronger his yardage total might have been if he didn’t lead all receivers with four drops on deep chances.


Yardage
Next, we’re looking at who picked up the most yards in the long range game. To the surprise of very few (especially those who have read the opening couple of paragraphs) Brandon Lloyd once again leads the way, with Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson completing the top three. Just behind them is Greg Jennings, though it should be remembered these numbers do include the post season. We can also wonder how much stronger his yardage total might have been if he didn’t lead all receivers with four drops on deep chances.


Wide Receivers, Yards on Deep Passes, 2010

Rank Player Team Yards
1 Brandon Lloyd DEN 614
2 Mike Wallace PIT 591
3 DeSean Jackson PHI 551
4 Greg Jennings GB 545
5 Mario Manningham
Armstrong WAS 477
7 Kenny Britt TEN 460
8 Johnny Knox CHI 418
9 Robert Meachem NO 406
10 Braylon edwards


Contin in article

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog.../deep-threats/

At this point, just another Bernard Berrian....

I wonder where Knox ranks on given up plays or running the wrong route?

i think he takes up one of the top 5 spots, and i'd be willing to bet a dollar to a dime, he'd hit 1st...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Henry Burris

At this point, just another Bernard Berrian....

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Disagree strongly, knox is bettter both going inside and can actually run a cut pattern- someting berrian really struggled with-and knox is MUCH MUCH further along in his development/speed. For comparision

berrian first year 15 catches,225 yards and 2 td's

berrians 2nd year, 13 catches 246 yards and Zero td's

knox's first year 45 catches,527 yards and 5 td's

knox's 2nd year 51 catches, 960 yrds and 5 td's

Disagree strongly berrians 28 catches , 471 yards and 2 td's the "same" as 96 catches, 1,487 yards and 10 td's.. those are not even close to the same, I don't see how you think close.. sorry

The 3rd year is when typically Wr's breakout , so excited to see how much better Knox does in 3d year( berrian added 500+ yards to 776 in his 3rd year for example)

You were making that same argument for Devin Hester, if i recall, but he didn't have that jump. The fact is, Knox and Hester play at roughly the same talent level, but Knox is more prone to stupid mistakes, like going behind a defensive player on a slant pass....But what i was meaning by "another Berrian" is he's a speed guy with showing little potential for being a good route runner or catcher. Just get him to outrun the defender, and hope Jay gets the ball to him. BTW, Knox has had the benefit of a better QB than Berrian...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Henry Burris

You were making that same argument for Devin Hester, if i recall, but he didn't have that jump. The fact is, Knox and Hester play at roughly the same talent level, but Knox is more prone to stupid mistakes, like going behind a defensive player on a slant pass....But what i was meaning by "another Berrian" is he's a speed guy with showing little potential for being a good route runner or catcher. Just get him to outrun the defender, and hope Jay gets the ball to him. BTW, Knox has had the benefit of a better QB than Berrian...

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sorry you don't get 50+ catches and 960 yards in your 2nd year Receiving- more than players like T.O,steve smith,santana moss, tj who's your mama etc etc got in their 2nd years with knowing how to run a pattern or Catch the ball, that makes no sense

and again 1,487 yards a completely different stratospher from 471 yards,,, sorry if you do not see that


, wes welker,

That is a lot of yards. I wonder how many yards he would have if we had another Wide Receiver to throw to
or a Tight End that didn't drop every 3rd pass.

Top 10 stats in all deep ball receiving categories in just his second year? I'd say that's pretty incredible performance for a 5th round pick when you consider the company he's competing with. Whatever he may currently lack in route running skills can be fixed over time. The point here is that he has the speed and hands to be considered a true deep ball threat. For now I'll accept that with the knowledge that he should get even better.

Another interesting guy in the top ten of the catch percentage category is Malcom Floyd. Given his high YPC average it's pretty plain that he's more than just a posession receiver. He can stretch the field too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

Top 10 stats in all deep ball receiving categories in just his second year? I'd say that's pretty incredible performance for a 5th round pick when you consider the company he's competing with. Whatever he may currently lack in route running skills can be fixed over time. The point here is that he has the speed and hands to be considered a true deep ball threat. For now I'll accept that with the knowledge that he should get even better.

Another interesting guy in the top ten of the catch percentage category is Malcom Floyd. Given his high YPC average it's pretty plain that he's more than just a posession receiver. He can stretch the field too.

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exactly soul- and that is why most WR's take 3-4 years to breakout, because have to learn better route running and do improve each year in a system... that knox is already AHEAD OF THE CURVE, very good and shows "so far" done better than most wr's and light years better than a Wr like berrian

and floyd's never been a Possesion WR IMO, always thought of him as a deep/jump ball threat, his best year is 45 catches and avg a little over 30 catches a year, those are NOt possesion WR numbers