Football Outsiders: Michael Jenkins is Mediocre, Harry Douglas Even Worse

[Sporkdevil]

FO has an article about some of the worst players in the league, and were making an Anti-Probowl team, AKA, the Carolina Panthers.

Here's what they say after they smack around Randy Moss:

Quote:Tom: I have a slightly unconventional choice for the starting wideout opposite Moss.

Mike: Let's hear it.

Tom: The bottom of the DVOA table has names from teams like the Cardinals and Panthers. But down there at 81st in DVOA is Harry Douglas of the Atlanta Falcons. He's a bit of a small sample size wonder, with only 53 targets. But your quarterback is Matt Ryan. You have Roddy White drawing coverage. How do you catch 42 percent of your passes? How are you 81st in DVOA?

Mike: It seems he was even worse in his last uninjured year (2008), where he only managed a 45 percent completion percentage off short throws. Is that progress? But I agree -- that is absolutely horrid. After seeing the Falcons try again and again to go to White in their game against the Packers, the Falcons have clearly been harmed by the lack of any viable second or third option.

Tom: Michael Jenkins was mediocre, which is disappointing but that's Michael Jenkins. Douglas was ... yeesh.

[cnasty]

Jenks was clutch, though. He always seemed to make a catch when we needed it most.

[Radical]

(01-26-2011 05:45 PM)cnasty Wrote:  Jenks was clutch, though. He always seemed to make a catch when we needed it most.

I feel like with a really good #2 WR, we wouldn't have to be in the situation to be making those catches. While the fact that he can make them alone says he should still be on this team, I don't think that should make him the #2.

[Sporkdevil]

(01-26-2011 05:46 PM)Radical Wrote:  I feel like with a really good #2 WR, we wouldn't have to be in the situation to be making those catches. While the fact that he can make them alone says he should still be on this team, I don't think that should make him the #2.

Totally my opinion, which makes you totally right. I think Jenks would be a great #3, but just doesn't have the speed to be a #2. Really, outside of Roddy, we have a slow Gonzo, a slow Jenkins, and a Harry Douglas who has been off all year. No wonder Roddy gets all the damn targets.

[Beef]

(01-26-2011 05:50 PM)Sporkdevil Wrote:  Totally my opinion, which makes you totally right. I think Jenks would be a great #3, but just doesn't have the speed to be a #2. Really, outside of Roddy, we have a slow Gonzo, a slow Jenkins, and a Harry Douglas who has been off all year. No wonder Roddy gets all the damn targets.

Jenks is hardly "slow", he's just not "quick" & there's a big difference. I watched Jenkins in training camp beat Roddy in a 50-yard sprint (from the 50 to the endzone). Granted Roddy is about a 4.5 guy, but Roddy is ultra-quick with lightning reflexes & can cut on a dime without losing speed.

Jenkins is purely a possession receiver now & a damn good one. Whether that's a #3 or #5, who cares. When it's 3rd & long/goal, he should be in the game. When we do get some deep threat weapons & start running more 4 or 5 receiver sets, he should be in the game.

HD, on the other hand, has to show up in TC & then produce very well the first half of next season if he wants to remain in the NFL. Injury or not, he was horrible at catching the ball & that has to improve dramatically.

[Jayhawk-Falcon2012]

(01-26-2011 07:06 PM)Beef Wrote:  Jenks is hardly "slow", he's just not "quick" & there's a big difference. I watched Jenkins in training camp beat Roddy in a 50-yard sprint (from the 50 to the endzone). Granted Roddy is about a 4.5 guy, but Roddy is ultra-quick with lightning reflexes & can cut on a dime without losing speed.

Jenkins is purely a possession receiver now & a damn good one. Whether that's a #3 or #5, who cares. When it's 3rd & long/goal, he should be in the game. When we do get some deep threat weapons & start running more 4 or 5 receiver sets, he should be in the game.

HD, on the other hand, has to show up in TC & then produce very well the first half of next season if he wants to remain in the NFL. Injury or not, he was horrible at catching the ball & that has to improve dramatically.

But i think you're also missing Game speed to practice speed. I don't consider Jenks the fastest wide receiver but his game play makes it seem like he's a lot slower then he actually is. A lot of times it seems as though Jenks can never beat his guy and from my watching of the film looks as though most of his catches are made mainly as a "toss-up" kind of play. Usually he's not getting the stride looks and such, but i could be completely wrong and that its because the Corner is just having a great game.

All i know is i'd really like to change things at wide receiver kind of like some of the other post are talking about.

I think the best situation would be to have Roddy, obviously, being our #1 and a Rookie W.O be our #2, from there it should be Jenks #3, HD #4/#5, and Weems #4/#5.

If as a lot of you are saying Jenks is clutch, then have him be the slot with Roddy and the speed Rook on the outside leaves single coverage along the field. Depending on if we have Gonzo in or if we have the #4 Wideout, just seems like it opens both the playbook and Explosive plays for the team.

Anyways i'm starting to rant, but thats my thought on the Jenks and HD.

[illmusic]

to this day i'm wondering what WR skills people saw in HD...at best he was a poor man's Bush in 08, without the carries. his biggest game was only big because of a punt return and an end around...iunno, he seems more like an offensive playmaker, someone you get in space, not really a WR. the Welker comparisons were odd.

[Radical]

(01-26-2011 07:41 PM)illmusic Wrote:  to this day i'm wondering what WR skills people saw in HD...at best he was a poor man's Bush in 08, without the carries. his biggest game was only big because of a punt return and an end around...iunno, he seems more like an offensive playmaker, someone you get in space, not really a WR. the Welker comparisons were odd.

Very agile and has high YAC potential.

None of it matters though when he constantly is dropping passes.

[illmusic]

(01-26-2011 07:46 PM)Radical Wrote:  Very agile and has high YAC potential.

None of it matters though when he constantly is dropping passes.

I mean, I see his potential...but I've never seen him actually display it in a WR package...the time when he showed a flash of greatness, he seemed more like a Randle El...kill you in different gadget plays, and on ST...but as Washington showed, he's no true WR

[USAF HART]

Michael Jenkins would be best fit in a role as our new Finneran