Eric Decker, WR Minnesota

[Freethinker]

From SI.com Q & A mailbag with writer Stewart Mandel:

Hi Stewart: I was wondering what your thoughts were on why Eric Decker doesn't get more national pub? Please don't tell me "because he plays for Minnesota." There has to be more to it than that. The guy is easily one of the top two or three receivers in the country -- some could argue he is the top receiver -- yet no one ever mentions his name.
-- D.J., Richfield, Minn.

I wish I could offer you a more complex explanation, but it really, truly is because he plays for Minnesota. Anyone who's ever watched Decker play comes away raving about the guy -- but with all due respect, who outside of Big Ten country watches Minnesota games? His best exposure to date came in the Cal game, both because the Gophers were facing (at the time) a top 10 team, and because Decker's remarkable face-bleed catch got so much replay run. But I'm not sure people realize Decker makes catches like that (minus the bleeding) every ... single ... game.

Right now he's sixth in the country in receiving yards (124.8 per game) after posting nearly 2,000 combined yards the past two seasons. You can't ask for more consistency than that. Not to mention the guy batted .319 for the Gophers' baseball team last year and will basically have his choice next spring over which sport to pursue professionally. There are only two receivers in the country right now I'd take over Decker: Dez Bryant and A.J. Green. Those guys may be more dangerous, but Decker is more consistent.

Some good praise for Eric, but the writer side steps why he isn't mentioned more in the national media. Elephant in the room anyone?

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Good post, Freethinker. Its pathetic how these cowardly "journalists" will bring up questions, that if answered, would expose the caste system. Of course, they hardly ever do answer them, and then only in part.

 

[Taco]

I think it is true that he doesnt get the publicity because he plays for Minnesota. Having said that, I believe the reason he is playing for Minnesota and not a better known school (unless Minnesota is where he wanted to play) is because...well, do i really need to say it?

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Attempting the Impossible: How to cover Eric Decker.

If I was coaching against the Minnesota Golden Gophers this fall, my scouting report would be all of three words long.

No color-coded booklet.

No bullet points.

No Xs and Os.

Just three words.

STOP ERIC DECKER.

So easy to write and (apparently) so impossible to accomplish.

It really doesn't seem like rocket science.

"See that No. 7 in the gold/white/maroon jersey? Don't let him catch the ball."

Sure thing, Coach.

On Saturday against California, the Gophers' top target caught eight passes for 119 yards. That's more receiving yards than the rest of the team had. Combined.

Oh, and Decker had two touchdown catches...including one fade where the star was so wide open he had time to sign autographs if he wanted to. And that was the SECOND touchdown. Don't you think after the first one that the Cal cornerbacks should have been a tad more focused on keeping tabs on Mr. Decker?

How does Minnesota's best player get so wide open? Has every defensive coordinator missed the memo of which Gopher is really, really, really important to slow down?

According to Decker's coach, Tim Brewster, the answer is pride.

"He may be the most prideful, tough young man that I've ever been around in coaching," Brewster said. "It's really important to him to compete and to play well, and that's why [he manages to work himself free] every game."

Of course, having Decker's roommate, Adam Weber, throwing the passes doesn't hurt anything either.

"They've got a real chemistry about each other," said Brewster of his quarterback-wide receiver combination. "They just understand each other so well."

One example, Brewster said, was a certain play against California where Decker wanted to do something different and was able to get Weber's attention with a signal. When thrower and catcher are constantly on the same page, good things will happen.

Even with a great tandem, however, the Gophers' coaching staff constantly has to scheme new ways to ensure that their star wideout is able to get his hands on the football. On Saturday, that meant letting Decker take a handoff and THROW the ball in the end zone.

Touchdown, Gophers. Not that anyone was surprised.

Expect the Minnesota coaching staff to continue to explore creative options for getting Decker involved.

"One of the things that we did in the National Football League when I coached was script plays for our playmakers," Brewster explained to me. "So each and every week, we have a script of plays in which Eric Decker's going to touch the ball, and by formation, motion, and shift, we try to create opportunities for him.

"We spend a good deal of time each week figuring out exactly how we want to incorporate Eric into the game plan. Obviously he's a big part of it every week."

There's the understatement of the year.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, whose Wildcats get the unenviable task of trying to contain Decker this weekend, is among the impressed.

"Decker's again one of the best in the conference, if not the country," said Fitzgerald. "They're doing a good job of getting the ball to their weapons."

So is there any way to guard the unguardable? To stop the unstoppable?

Borrowing from The Sound of Music, "how do you solve a problem like Eric Decker?"

It's going to take more than a great cornerback. Decker's eyes must light up every time he sees single coverage.

It's going to take more than a hard hit. Did you see the blow Decker took on his first touchdown catch? Some players might not have gotten back up. Decker got back up and kept catching passes.

If an opponent wants to stop Eric Decker, they're going to have to double- or triple-team him.

And you know what? I would.

The Gophers' senior star has 27 catches so far this season. He's averaging 138 receiving yards a game.

No one else on the roster has more than 10 catches... or even 100 yards TOTAL.

Memo to Big Ten coaches: start your defensive scheme with two cornerbacks covering Eric Decker. Every single snap.

So what if it sounds crazy? Get the Gophers out of their comfort zone.

Make them prove they can run the ball. Make them prove they're not one-dimensional. Put simply, make someone else beat you.

If fellow wideouts Troy Stoudermire or Brandon Green explode for a ten-catch game, more power to them.

The alternative is Weber and Decker playing pitch and catch for sixty easy minutes each weekend. Why NOT try to take away the man with the most catches in Minnesota history?

Remember these numbers, because they'll only get bigger. Eric Decker has 415 receiving yards so far in 2009. The rest of the Minnesota team: only 285. Eric Decker already has 27 catches, almost half of the team's total. Eric Decker has caught as many touchdowns as the rest of the Gophers players put together.

I'm ready to see what Minnesota's Plan B is when an opposing coaching staff finally decides to put as many players on Decker as it takes.

Who knows if we ever will, though? Coaches love being conventional. Face it: there's less criticism that way.

And hey, the nationally-ranked Bears managed to escape Minneapolis with a win despite Decker's big day. So maybe teams will choose that blueprint instead.

But I don't recommend it. When you hand the other team's star nine catches and 135 yards a game, winning won't be easy. Ever.

"It's going to be a great challenge for our defense," Northwestern's Fitzgerald said of Saturday's looming showdown with the Gophers.

You're probably right, Fitz.

Especially if you single-cover Eric Decker.

 

[SoberWF]

Through yesterday, Eric Decker now leads the nation in receiving!

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/stats/bycategory?cat=Receiving&conference=I-A_all

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Way to go Eric!

I won't hold my breath waiting for white college dominance to equal a fair NFL opportunity.

 

[backrow]

so as of today both leading receiver AND the leading rusher are white?

and yet we are somehow NOT good enough to play on Sundays. go figure!

 

[Quiet Speed]

Yeah Colonel Reb. It will be interesting to see which team will step up come draft time. It looks like he could report to any number of NFL teams tomorrow and replace what they have.

The announcers really spoke in glowing terms about Decker during yesterday's game. It is very rare that kind of reverence is given a White player with the possible exception of those at the QB position.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Here is what Walterfootball has to say about Eric Decker. They have him ranked as the 4th wide receiver.

" Eric Decker, Minnesota
Decker will be a very solid No. 2 possession receiver in the NFL. He has great concentration and toughness."

 

[green fire317]

here we go again with that "possession reciever" crap.

 

[Electric Slide]

Thought I'd post this cool graphic from the Minnesota football site supporting Decker for All-America and Biletnikoff awards:

 

[whiteathlete33]

CBS has him as the third best receiver in the country. http://www.startribune.com/sports/g...cyaiUjc8LDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

I can't remember the last time a white receiver was ranked so high. Hass was always considered like the 6th best receiver coming out of college despite winning the Biletnikoff award.

 

[SoberWF]

Bummer! Word is Eric Decker is out for the season with the foot injury he suffered this past weekend. Very disappointing news.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

This is horrible news. They will use any excuse to hurt a white WRs draft status. We all know a foot injury and refusing to run at the NFL Combine before surgery didn't hurt holdout crybaby Michael Crabtree's draft status, but Decker has the plight of white.

 

[Deadlift]

TJR,

If Blair White continues to be a monster, do you think he'll be taken before Decker (in the Draft), or could he be SNUBBED as well?

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

I still think Decker will be drafted at least a WR or two ahead of White. White doesn't have quite the buzz Decker has. I think Decker is very similar to Michael Crabtree actually, except Decker is even tougher, plays in a less stat inflating offense and still puts up similar numbers to Crabtree- and has a better head on his shoulders. If fair, Decker would still be off the board by pick 20 of the draft- he's that good. I wouldn't be surprised if he drops to the early to mid third round now though- there's just so many white WRs this draft some are going to get screwed. The caste has to do something b/c it is very scared!

 

[Leonardfan]

He could be back for his bowl game...I just hope he is healthy come combine time.

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Well I guess NFLdraftscout had to get with the "CaucasianRivals" program. They have already dropped Eric Decker from the #3 WR to #6. At the same time, instead of Shipley moving up one spot from #5- they jumped Jacoby Ford and his over 300 yards receiving less than than Shipley- up ahead of Ship. Based on what? Shipley is bigger, stronger, has better hands and runs routes as well or better than Ford and is far more productive. I guess it's all because Ford runs a 4.37, with a marginally better burst and Ship runs a 4.47.

They also still haven't moved RB Toby Gerhart ahead of Charles Scott. Scott is slower, weaker and heavier on his feet than Toby- and has been far less productive than him. Scott isn't even in the top 100 in the FBS in rushing yards this year and Gerhart is 4th. Scott is a full yard per carry behind Gerhart as well. They have a stock down arrow on Scott, but I haven't seen him move down all year. Gerhart is still 3rd, behind Scott and "Mr. Upside" C.J Spiller.

Injuries didn't screw Michael Crabtree last year and didn't screw Willis McGahee, with his torn ACL and MCL years ago, when he still went in the 1st round...so what gives?

 

[dwid]

Sucks that Decker had his season cut short, Im hoping he can recover soon and get a chance to impress scouts at pro day before the draft.

Here are his highlights for this season

Eric Decker 2009 highlights


[TUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx9WWaKQk5s[/TUBE]Edited by: dwid

 

[celticdb15]

Again I sound like a broken record, but man I love your videos! Decker is big, physical and catches everything! Not to mention he is tough after getting rocked in that Cal game he came back and played the rest of the game. He played with his foot injury until he couldn't for fear of further injuring it. He was a man among boys in college. Hopefully the NFL scouts and coaches will see that.

 

[dwid]

Thanks man, im glad you like the videos. Decker is a great receiver, I hope he doesn't drop too far in the draft.

 

[dwid]

[TUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGhKVNUfPcc[/TUBE]

I thought this was an interesting breakdown of the catch and hit Decker had against Cal. I can't think of one afflete in the NFL that would have held onto the ball after a hit like that, another reason why Decker should go in the first 2 rounds. Received stitches and went back out to play!

 

[Taco]

there's going to be no one with better hands this draft then Decker.

 

[whiteathlete33]

The question remains if Decker will be given an opportunity early in his career. I hope he doesn't end up in a situation like Kevin Curtis where he will be behind two affletes.

 

[Don Wassall]

Decker won't run at the Combine but will participate in other activities. The first two paragraphs are about Joe Mauer before getting to Decker: http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14414825