Redskins: How Josh Doctson can improve before the 2018 season
Become a possession receiver
When the Redskins drafted Doctson, it looked like he would have a chance to be a true No. 1 wide-out. In his very brief action during his rookie year, Doctson demonstrated that he had potential as a deep threat. He had one play against the Dallas Cowboys that went for 57 yards and should have gone for longer. He had the Cowboys defender beat by a couple of steps, but Cousins’ throw came up short. Had he not, it would have been a touchdown.
However, in his second season, it became apparent that while Doctson can make plays downfield, he doesn’t have the game-breaking speed to be a deep threat. His speed is decent, but it seems like the Achilles injury he dealt with as a rookie may have taken a little bit of it away. It looks like the better way for him to beat defenders will be to improve his route running and physicality. In short, he should become more of a possession receiver.
Doctson’s 6-foot-2 frame will allow him to have a size advantage on most of his opponents. The average height for a corner in the NFL is usually about 5-foot-11, so that will give Doctson three inches or so on some of his matchups. Either way, Doctson has to learn to use his body to his advantage. Ideally, he could run downfield and body up against defensive backs when he can’t get separation. If Doctson can learn to run step for step with corners and then fight for the ball thrown his way to make the catch, he will have a much greater chance of sticking around in the NFL.
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Two receivers that Doctson should watch play are Jordan Matthews and Terrance Williams. Doctson drew comparisons to both during the draft process from NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and Lance Zierlein respectably. Both Williams and Matthews profile as No. 2 receivers at the NFL level, and they have similar size to Doctson. They both function more as possession receivers but occasionally have the ability to make big downfield plays. Though neither is as talented as Doctson, they both play with the skills that allow them to find success.
Doctson isn’t ever going to be a player who is able to gain big separation from receivers at the NFL level. But, that shouldn’t stop him from being an effective possession receiver. Think of him as a poor man’s DeAndre Hopkins, which is who WalterFootball’s Charlie Campbell compared him to before the draft. Hopkins makes a lot of jump ball catches and has good size and athleticism, but rarely does he gain more than a step on opposing defensive backs.
Doctson has a good skill set and has the ability to be a high-level No. 2 receiver. That will only happen if he can turn himself into a solid possession receiver and continue to add muscle to his frame.