re: Matt Harmon's top 25 wrs coming out of college entering the draft the last four classes...

quote:

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Pickens
McConkey
Mitchell
Burton

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Well, again this isn't based on production, but how well they ran routes and got open against coverage.

Pickens is an elite contested catch guy. He's not a terrible route runner, but can stand to improve and has since he's been in the league. Will need to do so more to move up into that upper echelon of NFL WRs. Pickens is an X.

Ladd gets open, a lot. He just isn't on the field that much. Partially due to injury and partially due to UGA running so much 12 personnel and having a full WR room. Ladd does not do well against press coverage and will never be an X in the league. Slot or Y flanker.

AD gets open deep, but isn't quite as nuanced on shorter routes and needs to work on that. He will be strictly an X at the next level according to Harmon.

Burton had problems staying healthy at UGA. At Bama he was transitioning to a new offense. Last year he was held back somewhat by Milroe not really being an elite passer, but he got open, a lot. He also has traits where you can put him at all WRs positions X,Y,Z. That's a bonus.

All of his film review is based on their last season in college with the exception of Pickens since he didn't have a whole lot to look at there.

If there is enough footage to give him a good idea of their game, he likes to use the most recent stuff exclusively.

Generally speaking, if you are getting mass production from a receiver, they are either a straight up X receiver (Chase, Julio) or are moved all over the field and play at X,Y or Z (Lamb). There are a few exceptions like Amon-Ra who is mostly a big slot.

But slot WRs are generally not flooding the top ten most productive lists at the end of the season. X WRs production is more insulated and doesn't vary widely with a change in QB play or OC. Not true of the slot. So X traits may rate higher for him even if the route running success is overall the same. Example: An X that can beat man and press consistently but struggles some with Zone is more valuable than a slot that can beat man and zone consistenly, but struggles more with press.