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Two Techniques Rookie WR Must Learn to Succeed..............
Two techniques rookie WRs must develop
If you want to produce, then these two techniques are crucial.
Matt Bowen
May 07, 2012
For rookie WRs, it can be a struggle to transition to the NFL game. Gone are the basic zone looks, free releases off the line of scrimmage and CBs that play with a soft cushion to avoid giving up the deep ball. And when I look at receivers coming into the league, there are two techniques that need to be developed: route running and the ability to defeat press coverage.
Route running
ICONAlshon Jeffery and the rest of the rookie class must develop their route running skills this offseason.
Don’t let a rookie WR tell you they can run the entire route tree at NFL speed. That’s not the truth—yet. Turn on the tape and take a look at Michael Floyd, Justin Blackmon, Kendall Wright, etc., but focus on their technique. They will round their cuts, get away with some sloppy footwork at times and rely on their natural athletic ability to win. That works on Saturdays, but it won’t fly in the pro game.
To beat NFL corners, these rookies need to develop their release and improve their break at the top of the stem. You want to see WRs run through their cuts (thus avoiding slow, choppy footwork) and show speed out of the break. That is how you create separation vs. pro DBs.
Remember, NFL secondaries are loaded with 4.4 40 guys. And the veterans that may have lost a step play with elite technique throughout the stem. They will be in the back pocket of WRs when they break on the dig, the out, the 7 (corner), etc. And you can’t just run by NFL talent with straight linear speed. That's not good enough. Grab a QB, or equipment guy or the mailman if you have to. Get someone to throw you the ball everyday and practice the route tree.
Defeating press-coverage
Unless you drafted a rookie that played against LSU or Alabama every week, there is a good chance he has very little experience vs. legitimate press-man technique. That’s a problem vs. pressure-based defenses and Cover 2 schemes (think rolled up CB with initial jam at the line of scrimmage).
Rooks are accustomed to CBs playing off-man because they are nervous of the speed outside of the numbers. Not on Sundays. NFL corners are physical, strong with their hands and will beat up rookie WRs that play with lazy technique at the line of scrimmage.
WRs have to develop their lateral movement at the line to get into the route stem and must learn how to be technicians with their hands. This is tough on rookies that have a big frame as corners will get under their pads, slow the release and kill the route. And if you can’t get off of press, well, you won’t play. It can be that simple. Rookies should beg veteran DBs to come out on the field and push them around a little bit in the offseason. They need it.
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We could all see from his game vids that Jeffrey has the hands and body control to be a top NFL WR. But something else we should also have caught was the fact that he was often wearing the CB like he was a second jersey. He made a lot of grabs over tight coverage using his size and his reach.
As Matt Bowen points out he'll have a far more difficult time doing this is the NFL so he needs to hone his skills as far as creating separation. Sloppy technique there won't get him open in the NFL and the two major raps on him at the Senior Bowl were his lack of separation and difficulty handling press coverage. Bingo!
So before we anoint him as Brandon Marshall v2.0 let's be aware that he still has some hard learning to do between now and September. The good thing is that he's already under contract and he can work daily on improving those skills anytime there's a coach or another player around to help him with it.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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This is why I hope Marshall can help develop Jeffery as an mentor/example. I also hope Sanz makes the team as I believe he is also a good example to learn from as Drake growing anyone is questionable.
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I hope Sanz makes it too shorty. I think he's one of those guys that if you cut him you'll be sorry. He may not be the biggest guy around but I think the little dude can play football.
He's got his work cut out for him in spades this year. I'd suggest once they get rollin' with these OTA's and in camp that he not drop even one pass that comes his way. The only chace he has of sticking is to show up again with incredible hands and a knack for finding some open spots in the field like he did early last season.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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I'm really suprised everyone has dismissed Sanz. He's an undrafted rookie who struggled in a position that takes a year or so to get used to; that's 2 strikes against him right there.
I'd like to see him stick around also, and see if he cannot give us a nice possession guy.
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I like what Sanz could become. I sure hope he makes the roster. He could blossom in time.
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He was the best WR in the Big Ten his senior year at Ohio State, and I was frankly shocked that he didn't get drafted. The Bears got a steal when they came away with him.
In college, he had some of the best hands in the country, and he was a scrapper. The Bears could definitely use that to their advantage in case they ever wanted to take Hester out of the offense entirely.
However, with the signing of guys like Devin Thomas, he may not stand a chance of making the roster.
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Id like to keep saz as well
Another guy who didnt get an offseason last year
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Well then we need to start a keep Sanz campaign once camp starts. I hope his ST skills are up to snuff because he'll need them to stick.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman 
Well then we need to start a keep Sanz campaign once camp starts. I hope his ST skills are up to snuff because he'll need them to stick.
Ain't that the truth, soul. Sanzenbacher dropped so many passes that he may have played his way off the roster very early on in his professional career. I really don't know who would pick him at this point because no one is going to want to waste their time taking on a 5'11" receiver who isn't the fastest in the world and who, early on in his NFL career with the Bears, had a case of the dropsies.
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