Eric Decker

[Don Wassall]

I found this little gem on Decker:

8/10 Update: Decker has struggled with drops in camp, although he continues to show fearlessness over the middle.

If Decker's hands have suddenly and seemingly inexplicably gone bad it could be because he's continually getting mashed by the Denver defenders, ala the way Toby Gerhart is being treated by the Vikings defense.

And why does Eric Decker have to "show fearlessness over the middle"?He's an outside receiver and constant big play threat. It's apathetic misuse of a talent whose measurables and intangibles are similar to those of Larry Fitzgerald. I would imagine at no time in his career, college or pro, did Larry Fitzgerald ever have to prove he was "fearless over the middle."

The apparent gross misuse of Decker makes him a prime candidate to continue to be banged up and injured in the NFL.

 

[Don Wassall]

I don't like the constant comparisons to Ed McCaffrey, but at least they should help Decker establish himself in Denver.

The Spirits Did It In One Night: Decker's Bronco 'Carol' vs Lions!

























On a night where ghosts of Broncos past returned to haunt Invesco Field in the present, one Bronco stepped up and showed that he could channel the spirit of a past Denver standout, and embody the soul of Broncos future. A present daynight of reflection, and redemptionthat would make even Dickens smile.
Josh McDaniels: the young Ebenezer Scrooge.
Broncos from the past; Dre Bly, Tony Sheffler, and Brian Clark, and even Kory Bosworth, all contributed to a Detroit Lions 5 point win Sunday night. Tony was especially 'surprised' by the raucous boos, but several good catches by he and Brian, and a 52 yardinterception return by DreBly of a High pass to Lance Ball helped soften the blow of a cold Bronco country reception. Kory Bosworth recovered the Brady Quinn sack fumble to seal the Detroit win.
While being haunted by the specters of castoff Broncos of recent past, the embodiment of a Broncos greats Past seemed to enter the current #87 as he stepped onto the field for the Broncos. Ina little over ahalf of play the current embodiment of Easy Ed McCaffery showed much the same toughness, route running prowess and sure hands that Eddie Mac did in his years of helping Denver to it's first two Super bowl wins and a golden age of Broncos football.
Incidentally when this #87 was drafted Ed gave the standout Minnesota Gopher a signed #87 jersey and asked him to wear the number, citing that his play reminded him of himself and that he would be honored (paraphrased) if he would wear it. Pretty high praise for a rookie, who had just came into the league. Despite having his college career shortened by a foot injury, #87's 354 catches and 3 drops , yes I said THREE drops (1 every 118 passes), tough over the middle catches and almost angry tenacious blocking might have been what drew the comparisons by McCaffrey and others.
Who is this man apparently in need of an exorcism?
Easy Ed Decker!
If that catches on I want credit ha ha!
Eric Decker had 5 catches, many of them Eddiesque over the middle and in traffic, for 66 yards and a 13.2 yard average. Easy Eric also had one drop while being drilled in the back by a Defensice Back. Welcome to the NFL Mr Decker. If Decker's Stats hold, he's not due for another drop for atleast another 111 times he's targeted.
Worries about the injury, and him being behind due to lost practice time, should largely be put to rest. He was fast and quick and made precise clean cuts on routes. He looked every bit the second coming of Easy Ed McCaffrey!
With Royal, Gaffney, Graham, the emergence of Brandon Lloyd, Marquez Branson, the speedster Mathew Willis, and the return of the Broncos first round receiving monster Bey Bey Thomas, the Broncos receiving corps looks to be very formidable this year.
And as long as Eric Decker keeps channeling the spirit of Easy Ed, let's hold off on calling for the Exorcists just yet!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/441014-the-spirits-did-it-all-in-one-night-a-preseason-bronco-carol-vs-lions Edited by: Don Wassall

 

[Thrashen]

<div>I don't like the constant comparisons to Ed McCaffrey, but at least they should help Decker establish himself in Denver

Now Don, you know the rules.

Decker obviously plays nothing like Ed McCaffrey"¦.but then again; I've seen the "professionals"Â￾ compare Matt Jones to Wes Welker and Kevin Walter to Brandon Stokley.

It doesn't need to make any sense, because it's not as if anyone would care enough point out the obvious lack of knowledge exhibited by the Caste System's Corporate Media and/or their asinine racial typecasting.

Anyway, congrats to Decker for having a big game so shortly after a minor injury. Like Brian Hartline and Austin Collie, Decker seems to have been drafted by a team that is actually willing to utilize his talents.

 

[Don Wassall]

This is good news for Decker -- if he can remain healthy himself:

Vic Lombardi of CBS 4 in Denver reports Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has once again re-injured his left foot. The Denver Post confirms the report. He's being sent for X-rays and an MRI for the second time in under three weeks. Lombardi suggests it could be anything from scar tissue breaking up (routine) to another stress fracture (major). Thomas just returned to practice on Tuesday, so the setback suggests his foot may not have been ready for football action. We'll update as information becomes available.

 

[white lightning]

What a superb performance by Eric Decker tonight in the final pre season game. He had 10 catches for 114 yards! This kid can really play. He will probably be compared to Ed McCaffrey by the media. This guy might just end up being a pro bowler in the next few years. It will depend on the Broncos having stability at qb.

 

[Don Wassall]

What a superb performance by Eric Decker tonight in the final pre season game. He had 10 catches for 114 yards! This kid can really play. He will probably be compared to Ed McCaffrey by the media. This guy might just end up being a pro bowler in the next few years. It will depend on the Broncos having stability at qb.

He has the same number as Fast Eddie so the comparisons are inevitable, but it can only help Decker as McCaffrey was a helluva receiver. If he hadn't been forced to go through a very long racial apprenticeshipMcCaffrey might have made the Hall of Fame.

Decker's going to have to be very careful to avoid the headhunters as the Broncos were using him almost exclusively over the middle in this game. He should be playing outside but it looks like he's being pigeonholed because of his race. At any rate he's come backfull strengthfrom his foot injury and it would be great to see him avoid what McCaffrey had to go through and play a lot this year as the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart are journeymen/scrub types and the first round draft pick Thomas is still injured and is the proverbial black "project". Edited by: Don Wassall

 

[whiteathlete33]

Right after the draft I predicted Decker would start. Despite his lack of melanin I felt he was just too talented to suffer the caste treatment. There are rare white players who aren't affected by the caste system. It looks like he'll be a number three or four receiver this year.

 

[JReb1]

There is NO way that Jabar can outplay Decker, NO WAY!

 

[ToughJ.Riggins]

Just wanted to say, in my writeup I stated Eric Decker has the tools and work ethic to become better than 3/4 of the starting outside WRs in the league (if he actually gets put on the field soon- rather than going through a racial apprenticeship). I should have said AT LEAST that good. I do think- considering his hands and concentration adjusting to the ball are so ELITE in the NFL- that he'll make some Pro Bowls for the Broncos if Tebow puts it together if he becomes Denver's starter in the future. How long will it take Eminem to play Decker a lot- after such a great last week of the pre-season?Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

 

[white lightning]

I still am very angry about the Broncos ignoring Eric Decker. The kid could easily be a starter. They need a 2nd go to guy and Decker fits the bill. We all knowhow the coach thinks. He will be lucky to keep his job for another 2 years. He plays favoritism far too much. He is also anti white in general. They also should be getting Tebow more involved in the offense. Oh well. Sometimes teams get what they deserve! Edited by: white lightning

 

[Don Wassall]

Decker finally played a bit other than as a WSTD during the debacle against the Raiders. While Demaryius Thomas is being developed as a rookie, the much more polished and productive Decker is being wasted on the bench. Why draft a talent like Deckerin the third round, who would have gone even higher had he not had the foot injury his senior season, and not use him? It's absurd that Decker has to serve a racial apprenticeship on a crap team, but arch-journeymen-turned legends of the game Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney are doing well on a team with no running game so Decker sits. . . as if Decker (who led the NFL in receptions during the preseason) wouldn't also be contributing if he were being used.

An Eric Decker Sighting on the Near Horizon?

http://www.milehighreport.com/2010/10/22/1767778/denver-broncos-injury-news-an-eric-decker-sighting-on-the-near-horizon

 

[qj]

Decker is an A-1, special sauce WR who is big, tough and is always open. He has hands of glue. But McDummy is his head coach and can't see greatness if it smacked him right in the face. What a shame. Hopefully, he'll get to play some steady WR if McD sees the light. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[backrow]

Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said Eric Decker "will certainly factor into the game" in Week 12.

Demaryius Thomas won't play this week, but Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal are all healthy, so we doubt McDaniels really has much in store for Decker. The rookie is still looking for his first NFL catch.
Source: Lindsay Jones on Twitter

 

[TorontoArgos]

McDaniels' strategy when it comes to talented white players: do not even give them the opportunity to show flashes of brilliance. Nail them to the bench. Because if they play even a few series they will make him look like a turd for not starting them. But of course in the Caste NFL they cannot start.

 

[OldSchoolBoy75]

McDaniels' strategy when it comes to talented white players: do not even give them the opportunity to show flashes of brilliance. Nail them to the bench. Because if they play even a few series they will make him look like a turd for not starting them. But of course in the Caste NFL they cannot start.

Spygate II and 5-15 since a 6-0 start his rookie coaching season aside, McDaniels ought to reminded of the days when players like the late Rob Lytle, Steve Watson and Dave Preston were allowed to flourish under the coaches Red Miller and Dan Reeves.

 

[Don Wassall]

Events seem to be moving in Decker's favor to have much more playing time this season. He could be a big suprise in 2011, at least to everyone except CFers who know how good he is.

Denver's Eric Decker: The Up-and-Coming

by Jacob King

Eric Decker,six receptions for 106 yards and 1 touchdown. Impressed? No? Understandable. Well what if I said he only caught a ball in 3 games all season? Now the stats look a little better don't they. His college stats are even more impressive with 21 touchdowns from hissophomorethrough senior years while averaging nearly 915 yards per season and 13.9 ypc. A guy who ranks 6th in Big Ten history in career receptions and 8th in Big Ten history in career receiving yards. Let's face it, this man can playreceiverin the NFL if given the chance. Well, his chance might just be here.




With Demaryius Thomas in alllikelihood out until at least mid season, the odds are in Decker's favor for these stats to greatly improve even with Eddie Royal at or near 100%. He and Brandon Lloyd should take the oppositions starting corners out of the picture leaving the Nickel and Dime backs for the likes of Decker and/or Jabar Gaffney early in the season. And who knows, maybe Royal won't even be quite up to form come the start of the season.


Plus, last year he was still a rookie working with a struggling team. He had no real chemistry working with Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow for that matter because in game flow can never be matched even by the most perfect ofpractices. Rhythms don't just fall out of the air and make a goodquarterback-receiver combo, it's something that has to beestablishedin games. Give Decker a little time and some work with the starting quarterback, whomever that might be this year (Orton), and watch the chemistry come to life.


The main concern with E.D. is his lack of that breakaway speed that seems to be so crucial in the receiver position. Even if Decker doesn't have break neck speed to get theseparation from some of the NFL's defensive backs, he has the route running to make up for it. Who cares if Decker can't run away from a corner if said corner is busy picking himself up off the ground after being fooled by an amazingly sharp cut? I know I wouldn't as long as the catch was made. And with his 6'3"³ frame the man can undoubtedly take a hit, making him an interesting slot receiver prospect. Sure he wouldn't exactly fit the usual 6 foot or under criteria for such a position, but with his route running skills it becomes an interesting thought to toy with.


Decker also impressed last year with his 22 kick returns for 556 yards averaging just over 25 yds. per attempt. That's a pretty nice average for a 3rd round pick. While he failed to score, his leading competition has just 1 over three years work, so no real downfall there. While, again, he lacks the breakaway speed of your elite returners of other teams, he appears to have the vision and finesse to get the job done. Even with ball moved up to the 35 this year, the chance is still going to be there to change the field position and ultimately, change the game.


This Thomas injury may just be the open door that someone like Eric Decker needs to become another success story in today's NFL.
http://predominantlyorange.com/2011/04/23/denvers-eric-decker-the-up-and-coming/

 

[snow]

He never had a problem getting separation in college. The knock on him was he never got yac and was always tackled as soon as he caught it. His college qb Weber, was horrible at anticipating routes and receivers getting open. Decker would have like 7 yards of separation before Weber would throw, so many times Decker would just have to slow down or just stop and wait, by that time the dbs would catch up, he would have to use his size/physical skills to get the ball. He wasn't getting open just by "crafty route running". Hes like a Colston/Fitzgerald type of receiver, you never hear people saying they don't have breakaway speed. Putting him in the slot is a horrible idea. Shorter guys are better suited for the slot with shorter legs they can cut quicker. You put him on the outside he can be at least like a Colston type receiver, it doesn't matter if he runs a 10 yard route or a 30 yard route, hes going to get open and catch it. Putting him in the slot is just a bad idea. Save that for Jabar Gaffney.
Edited by: snow

 

[TwentyTwo]

I'm sick &amp; tired of all this pigeon-hole slot talk...I'd like to see an NFL team that's brave enough to start BOTH Jordy Nelson &amp; Eric Decker no.1 &amp; no.2...to debunk this foolishness! BOTH of these WR's are capable of being in the Top 10 statisticallyin the AFC or NFC for sure; if given the right opportunity...

 

[celticdb15]

If the Broncos want to be succesful they will put Decker on the outside and put Eddie Royal in the slot.. Decker may not be a "burner" like the media potrays every black WR, but he's a fluid athlete and has great hands. Demayrius is on his way to be another overrated wideout with average production and injury pronein collegeto fail in the league. But he sure does look good running in shorts!!

 

[devans]

I totaly agree with the last few posts. Why would you put your latest high draft pick 6'.3" WR who averaged 14 ypc in college and averages 19ypc in the NFL, in the slot receiver position. If there is anyone out there reading this who dosn't think it is because he is white please show me a similar occurance with an equivalent black WR in the last few years. Hopefully this is just a journalist or sports pundit jumping to race based conclusions rather than the actual thinking of the Broncos coaches.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Here is a good one from Weenieworld.

<div ="re">


According to the Denver Post, 2010 third-round pick Eric Decker stands "a good chance" of being a starter in his second year.
</div>
<div ="impact">
Decker's rookie year was delayed by a Lisfranc fracture
suffered during his senior season at Minnesota, but he has the talent to
unseat Jabar Gaffney as a physical, possession complement to Brandon
Lloyd. Though he caught just six passes in 2010, Decker contributed
heavily on special teams, averaging 25.3 yards per kick return with
eight tackles on kickoff and punt coverage.
</div>

 

[backrow]

first someone predicting Shipley starting, now this. not a bad day for white receivers!

 

[whiteathlete33]

first someone predicting Shipley starting, now this. not a bad day for white receivers!

It's great news if it happens, backrow. However, it's caste speak as usual. Decker is much larger than Lloyd and both of them have similar 40 times. Lloyd runs in the 4.5 range as well. So why is Decker considered the possession complement to Lloyd? I don't want to see Decker in the slot.

 

[backrow]

oh, he will play outside, methinks. Gaffney did.

 

[whiteathlete33]

My mistake. Was it Royal who played in the slot?