Aug

5

2008

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Blue Corner - Wide Receivers

12:57PM by PLam

One of the big position battles going into this year’s training camp is at wide receiver.  Our starters - Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer - are pretty much set, and it’s clear that Steve Smith makes the roster.  But after those three, which receivers make the final cut is up for grabs.  The criteria for keeping receivers at the #4-6 spot (assuming we only keep 6 on the active roster) will be a combination of receiving skills and special teams contributions.  From our roster last year, the contenders are David Tyree, Sinorice Moss, and Dominque Hixon.  Rookies and players from last year’s practice squad include Mario Manningham, Brandon London, DJ Hall, and Craphonso Thorpe.  That’s 7 players vying for 3 spots.

David Tyree should have the inside track on one of the spots.  In addition to being a “good karma” player by making the biggest catch in Super Bowl history, he is also a Pro Bowl-calibre special teams player.  He’s also in the 3rd year of an admittedly expensive contract that pays him a little over $1mil/year; the contract included a $1.5mil bonus with backloaded salary which will make him somewhat expensive to cut this year cap-wise (cutting him would be about a $2mil cap hit this year, while keeping him would only be $1.2mil cap hit this year).  He’s currently on the PUP List (Physically Unable to Play) but anticipates being back by the season opener.  I would be surprised to see him cut this year, although if his health keeps him from the season opener, I could see the team putting him on IR.

Dominique Hixon is also a big special teams contributor, taking over kick return duties last season and being extremely good at it.  After my visit to Albany for training camp last week, I came away with the impression that Hixon had pretty much cemented himself into the roster.  He looked like a veteran in practice, showing speed, quickness and fluidity.  With Plaxico sitting out with an anke injury, Hixon is likely to take the starting split-end role in Thursday’s preseason opener against Detroit.

Sinorice Moss is now entering his third year in the league (same draft class as Hixon).  He is clearly on the bubble, having made no impact his rookie season (due to injury) and limited contributions last season.  When he was drafted, he was talked about as a possible kick and/or punt returner, but every training camp he’s participated in, he seems to fall behind other players on those practices, and this year appears to be no different (he did not participate in return drills in yesterday’s practice after having been there for the first week or two).  So his ability to be a major contributor on special teams seems unlikely.  As a receiver, IMHO he has also shown major limitations.  As a 5’8” receiver, he needs to be either the fastest guy on the field *by far*, or he needs to show explosive quickness a la Dave Meggett or Eric Metcalf.  So far, he has proven that he can run a hook/come-back pattern really well, but has not shown any great ability to beat defenders on a deep fly pattern, and his dancing around trying to make guys miss after catching the hook/comeback seem largely unsuccessful.  IMHO, Moss has to show a *lot* in the preseason games to prove that he belongs on this roster.

Brandon London is a tall (6’4") receiver with very good hands.  I haven’t heard much talk about his speed or his route running, but the concensus from camp reports seems to be that if he can touch the ball, he can pull it in.  Given Plaxico’s injury and contract situation, as well as Shockey now being gone, London seems like a guy who would be extremely valuable to have on the team, especially in the red zone.  He’s a second year player who spent last year on the practice squad, and from interviews this year, he seems to say the right things about not being satisfied by just making the practice squade.  Not sure what his value is on special teams.

Mario Manningham, as a 3rd round draft pick, is probably a lock for a roster spot.  The team has given Moss 3 years to develop, so I expect the same for Manningham.  Unfortunately, no one has really seen what he can do because he’s been sidelined with an injury.  Maybe the team puts him on IR just as a matter of convenience.

DJ Hall and Craphonso Thorpe are both undrafted free agents who are both longshots IMHO.  They haven’t been outstanding in camp, and as such, I think they are practice-squad-bound unless they show something on specials and/or in preseason games.  Given their lack of “fame”, I think they will be “safe” on the practice squad.

So based on all of this, I think our wide receivers going into the season will be Plax, Toomer, Smith, Hixon, London and Tyree.  Manningham will be on IR (unless it looks like Tyree’s recovery is slower than expected, in which case Tyree will be on IR and Manningham makes the roster).  Hall and Thorpe go to the practice squad, and Moss is the odd man out.