Devonta Smith

One of those years where a guy looked to be on an entirely different level than anyone on the field in any game. Same with Burrow and Cam. It sure was something watching Smitty effortlessly beat double teams, glide through and past defenders in the open field, and high point balls while facing perfect coverage.

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Louisiana produces great WR talent.

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No doubt - tons of great athletes

He is so good. He's sort of like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker in the sense that he had no business being in college last year. Just an unbelievable player.

Devonta Smith reminds me a lot of Marvin Harrison. I feel like that is a pretty common comparison these days for Smitty. It is apt though because Marvin was never the biggest or fast WR but he was always got to his spots on timing routes and was nifty enough to make separation when going down field. Every receiver need not be built like Calvin Johnson or Julio Jones. There has always been a place for receivers like Jerry Rice or Marvin Harrison who can just technically work defenders over and reliably catch the ball.

I don't know if he's a true 1WR in the NFL but I could see him being kinda like Marvin as a 1A to Reggie Wayne's 1B. You put him on a team with a good quarterback and a compliment receiver then he will likely chew up receptions and yards. Hard to doubt him though..he may be able to continue being an alpha on an NFL team.

I really like Jamarr Chase too and think he's basically a better version of Amari Cooper. Not a tall WR but hardly short...lower body is built kinda like a tailback. I think the difference is that Chase seems to have more over the top speed than Cooper who developed into a volume possession receiver in the NFL rather than an all-around threat w/ constant splash play potential.

Watch some old Jerry Rice highlights when he first joined the 49ers.

Its somewhat uncanny how similar they look, with Smitty much more athletic, but the way they look in their routes/cuts versus the rest of the people on film looking similar in the fluidity (of much worse film quality).

Clearly, the X factor you can't watch on film is long term work ethic that Jerry excelled at, but at that age the fluidity is crazy similar versus everyone else on the field.

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He just looks different running routes. The fluidness, the poetic nature of his route running is crazy. I don’t think I’m some NFL scout or something but smith just looks different when running his routes. I don’t think his size will hurt him. I’ll talk shite about Bama as much as anyone in good fun but I truly enjoy watching that kid. Excited to see where this years WRs end up.

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I know I sound like a grandpaw but why cant the Rant be more like this?

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Hard not to enjoy great talent when your a big CFF. I know many who enjoyed watching Joe and Co last year, even if not LSU fans.

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This. After getting over the disappointment of the loss in Tuscaloosa, it was fun watching the LSU offense destroy non-conference teams in the playoffs. I was at the LSU-Oklahoma game and it was interesting to watch Burrow while not emotionally invested in the game. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a QB better at maneuvering in the pocket to find a window. Not scrambling, but pocket presence....a sidestep, couple of steps forward, etc.

Silk

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Louisiana produces great WR talent.

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They just produce great athletes. I was reading an article about the states that produce the most nba talent. And of course, more populated states were at the very top. California, New York, for example, and then there was Louisiana at #4. I mean that is just remarkable when you consider the size and population of the state.

Here is the bleacher report article, if anybody is intersted in seeing where their state is.
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