Redskins Deep Dive: An in-depth evaluation of the wide recievers

Wide receiver overview

Elite NFL wide receivers. What goes into one?

Well, a lot of different factors play into making a player elite at the position. Some players hold elite physical attributes, some have freak natural athletic talent, some use an instinctual understanding of the game and position, and some have a combination of everything. Breaking these skills down further, every single receiver has a unique trait that makes them special. But there are a few common foundational attributes that are found in just about every top NFL wideout.

I like to think that the best in the game share four key attributes. They have great hands, they run clean and crisp routes, they have a strong understanding of the position, and they play with speed.

Let’s walk through each of those.

The first attribute is an obvious one. Having good hands as a receiver is the most important trait, and it isn’t particularly close. Not being consistent with catches is the quickest way to find yourself off the roster at any level of football. When the best of the best drops the ball, you stop and go, “Wait, did he just drop that?” The best example in the NFL is Larry Fitzgerald. In his 17 years in the NFL, Fitzgerald has more tackles (39) than dropped passes (29). While Fitzgerald may not have the speed and agility that he used to have, his hands are one of the biggest reasons for his continued productivity at age 36.

The second attribute is running clean and precise routes. This is a big deal to NFL scouts. If you want an example of a crisp route runner, look no further than Keenan Allen of the Chargers. Allen is arguably one the best route runners in the league. His ability to shake defenders at the line of scrimmage, and turn power into speed at the top of routes, creates headaches for any defensive back. Route running combines athletic ability, footwork, and the intellectual knowledge of the position. Stop-and-go speed and strength is required when cutting in and out of breaks. Sinking your hips and maintaining a low pad level in short-yardage routes is key. Having body control and footwork when changing speeds and directions is the best way to combat the best cornerbacks. Watch two minutes of film from Stefon Diggs and you will see exactly what that looks like.

The second part of elite route running and the third attribute to elite wide receiver play is the intellectual knowledge of the position. Like quarterbacking, understanding the position and knowing the ins and outs on the field is almost as important as talent itself. While offenses in the modern NFL continue to throw the ball more, zone defenses are becoming a more common overall plan for defending. This requires receivers to know the plan on offense. It requires them to know their routes and find pockets in the field to create space manually. Finding soft spots in zone defenses or challenging man-to-man coverage are all parts of knowing the position, and creating opportunities to thrive. A good relationship between quarterback and receiver leaves room for improvising on certain defensive coverages, and elite receivers can and do play to those weaknesses.

The fourth attribute for elite wide receivers is speed. Not every productive wide receiver in the NFL is fast by any means. High-caliber players like Dez Bryant, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald never wowed anyone with their speed. But elite players make up speed with route running and athleticism. Players like Marquise Goodwin, Desean Jackson, and Tyreek Hill are borderline unstoppable when they break into open field. Fast wideouts can win in multiple ways during a play. Burst off the line of scrimmage, and breakaway acceleration in the open field. Elite speed paired with good route running and solid hands will always be a recipe for serious productivity in any offensive system.

With all that in mind, our attention turns to the Redskins receivers for this year.