Do We Need a Speed WR in this Draft?

[Bronn]

I was going to start a thread about how overhyped John Ross is because of his speed, but this one will do.

Take a look at this list and point out to me the WRs that ever did much at all in the NFL on it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40-yard_dash

There's not even enough guys overall to count on one hand that did squat. I count maybe Champ Bailey, Chirs Johnson, DRC, and DHB as maybe the lone success stories.

Also notably, the average time for WRs is 4.55.

Speed isn't coachable. Route running and separation is.

Ross is unimpressive to me from a route tree perspective and from his ability to separate before the ball is in the air. That doesn't cut it in the NFL.

Add in his injury history, and I want no part of him.

I know this isn't necessarily a John Ross thread, but he's the guy on everyone's minds when it comes to speedy WRs.

Give us a better offensive coordinator and coaches and WRs that run hard every down, and you'll see improvement. We don't have to draft fast guys just because they are fast.

[Mistuh Jones]

2 hours ago, Saca312 said:

Kelvin Benjamin healthy ran around a 4.4 I believe. Didn't show that speed in the combine since he wanted to drop to the Panthers, but he's not as slow or sluggish.

If his knee is healthy, he isn't that slow.

As far as speed, we might draft someone later in the rounds. But it certainly won't be Ross at the first.

Dude burned stephon Gilmore his rookie pre season for a TD. He's not slow at all. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Ross isn't on my mind. Those knees are a conversation ender for me.

Zay Jones 4.45 at 6'2" 200 works for me. Would love to see that pick at #40.

 

[grimesgoat]

2 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Yes.

These stats are simply reinforcing the idea that most of us already had. Our WRs aren't getting open for the most part.

I like KB, but the only way he's running a 4.4 is if he runs off the edge of a cliff.

And Funchess? Yeah, that 4.7 at the combine doesn't look all that off.

So how much is getting separation raw speed and how much is about running a good route. Lots of guys without great speed in the NFL manage to get open.  I think Benjamin and Funchess just lack experience and professionalism.  I think they will get better with time and reps.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

8 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Ross isn't on my mind. Those knees are a conversation ender for me.

Zay Jones 4.45 at 6'2" 200 works for me. Would love to see that pick at #40.

 

Zay is Bae

[C47]

1 hour ago, top dawg said:

Benjamin actually suggested that he kinda did so he would fall to us.

Subtle tanking.

Right....so you believe him? 

[Cpt slay a ho]

Ross isn't just speed, looks like what ginn was suppose to be when he got drafted. Earliest I'd take him is in the 2nd Or bottom of the 1st, but zay jones all day


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[Eclipse]

14 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Ross isn't on my mind. Those knees are a conversation ender for me.

Zay Jones 4.45 at 6'2" 200 works for me. Would love to see that pick at #40.

 

Who else in this draft would you choose to fill the Ted Ginn Jr. role as a deep threat besides John Ross. 

[LinvilleGorge]

3 minutes ago, Eclipse said:

Who else in this draft would you choose to fill the Ted Ginn Jr. role as a deep threat besides John Ross. 

No one. But I'm also not willing to take a guy solely to try to replace Ginn at #8 overall. Ginn has rare speed and it's what got him so badly overdrafted by the Dolphins.You just can't draft a guy with bum knees at #8.

We took a flier on Charles Johnson to see if he can fill that pure deep threat role.

[LordOfDaWingz]

We need speed on offense, period. Like some on this board, I'm not big on Ross but I do like the Idea of Zay Jones. BTW, 4.45 is not slow for a receiver. 

 

Notable receivers with 4.40 or higher 40 yd dash times:

T.Owens: 4.45

AJ Green: 4.5

Antonio Brown: 4.47

Dez Bryant: 4.5

OBJ: 4.43

DeAndre Hopkins: 4.41

 

Most of those receivers were listed as best vs man coverage this past season. 

[PantherPhann89]

I wouldn't mind a speed guy to replace Ginn but I'd want one with much better hands. However, I'd really prefer to have a great route runner, with above average hands and very good speed. Great route running creates separation, speed turns separation into big gains...

[Eclipse]

36 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

No one. But I'm also not willing to take a guy solely to try to replace Ginn at #8 overall. Ginn has rare speed and it's what got him so badly overdrafted by the Dolphins.You just can't draft a guy with bum knees at #8.

We took a flier on Charles Johnson to see if he can fill that pure deep threat role.

I should have been clearer.  I was looking for names of deep threats without John Ross health concerns that we could get instead of him.  Say for example Zay Jones which has been mentioned.  

[MechaZain]

Remember that we're already testing options too. The team just signed a guy who runs a 4.38 in Charles Johnson and Byrd's not dead.

[firefox1234]