White WR revolution?? White Wide Receiver news thread

[Lugnut]

The recognizable ones, even by DWFs:

Jordy Nelson
Erick Decker
Brian Hartline
Wes Welker
Julian Edelman
Riley Cooper
Danny Amendola

Well known locally:

Cole Beasley
Kris Durham
Griff Whalen

Good prospects

Jared Abbrederis
Jeff Janis
Ryan Swope(hopefully)

When was the last time in the Pro era white WRs were in such a good position?

 

[Lugnut]

Good news

Decker proved every stereotypical analysis about him wrong. And he's finally getting some respect

The abundance of skilled players on the league’s most dominant pass attack undoubtedly opened up opportunities for Decker, but his 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns were no fluke. With elite size and speed, Decker has become a viable No. 1 target on almost any team in the NFL.

Dude has some thick running legs. And he'll have a thick wallet this of-season. I heard people saying he's in for a 40 mill contract.

 

[Lugnut]

Some sad News

Brandon Stockely retiring after 15 seasons

Based on their time together with the Indianapolis Colts, quarterback Peyton Manning once called the diminutive slot receiver the "best teammate" he's ever had. "He's a guy you want on your team in your corner. Fifteen years as a slot receiver in the NFL, going across the middle, taking hits, it's almost unheard of," Manning said.
Stokley missed most of the 2011 season, but caught 45 passes in a surprisingly resurgent 2012 season with Manning in Denver.

We'll remember Stokley for scoring the first touchdown of Super Bowl XXXV as a member of the Ravens and his 1,077-yard, 10-touchdown season in 2004 in Indianapolis. Stokley suited up in playoff games for four different organizations -- the Ravens, Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Broncos.
Despite his career ending with a concussion, Stokley, 38, doesn't regret playing one more year.
"If in 30 years I'm feeling fine and I would have stopped playing football four or five years ago it would have been, 'Why did I stop?' You can't predict the future. So I was all in with football until I knew it was time for me to stop playing," Stokley said.

 

[Lugnut]

Abbrederis is listed at 6’2” 190lbs and looks really lean and relatively average in terms of his build. His strength is relatively average, but his speed is pretty solid. Abbrederis is quick, has good body control, and really can make quick moves and adjustments. He does have the frame to add a solid amount of weight as he goes forward and needs every bit of strength he can get. Abbrederis could use another fifteen to twenty pounds added to this listed weight.

NFL Comparison
Abbrederis has a similar game to Marvin Jones(For once it's not a white guy)of the Cincinnati Bengals. Coming out of Cal, Jones was somewhat overlooked because he was overshadowed by Keenan Allen, one of the best receivers in the country. Jones has similar physical ability to Abbrederis and might not make the top 10 for the most gifted athletes on the Bengals roster, but he is one of the leaders in catches because he just understands and how to get open and catch the football after being a fifth round pick.

Draft Projection
Physically, Jared Abbrederis is not the tallest or strongest guy and it would not be a surprise if his testing when it comes to speed is relatively average on a track. When it comes right down to it, Abbrederis understands how to play the position and demonstrates a terrific amount of technique that makes it so he can beat physically superior players. If he can keep adding strength and fill out that frame, Abbrederis has the potential to become a really nice player in the NFL and a good #2 receiving option. Because of the sheer amount of receiving talent, Abbrederis warrants an early third day pick but just projects as the type of guy who might get overlooked for his physical gifts and just sticks around for a decade in the league because he just understands how to get open and catch the football.


Focused and athletic. Needs to add a bit more muscle. I think he's more athletic than Cooper but not as promising as Decker. Nowhere near Jordy:sad:

 

[Lugnut]

Forgotten WWR news

Bet you didn't know. Promising prospect Blair White was forced to retire at 25, after multiple back injuries and now is in dental school.

 

[Lugnut]

[video=youtube;CF-ZzzhOvD4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF-ZzzhOvD4[/video]

 

[Carolina Speed]

The recognizable ones, even by DWFs:

Jordy Nelson
Erick Decker
Brian Hartline
Wes Welker
Julian Edelman
Riley Cooper
Danny Amendola

Well known locally:

Cole Beasley
Kris Durham
Griff Whalen

Good prospects

Jared Abbrederis
Jeff Janis
Ryan Swope(hopefully)

When was the last time in the Pro era white WRs were in such a good position?

Good stuff Lugnut. Currently there is only 1 active white WR, other than the retiring Brandon Stokely, in the top 250 for catches/receptions. However, with the list you have provided there should be some white WR's busting through in a big way over the next several years! Here is the current active list including where Stokley stands. 367 catches or more gets you in the top 250.

24. Wes Welker (841)
206.Brandon Stokely (397)

Kevin Walter (356), he didn't play this year, injured, or would have cracked the top 250.
Jordy Nelson (302)
Brian Hartline (259)
Danny Amendola (250)
Eric Decker (222)
Austin Collie (179)
Julian Edelman (174)

 

[The Spaniard]

Abbrederis is listed at 6’2â€￾ 190lbs and looks really lean and relatively average in terms of his build. His strength is relatively average, but his speed is pretty solid. Abbrederis is quick, has good body control, and really can make quick moves and adjustments. He does have the frame to add a solid amount of weight as he goes forward and needs every bit of strength he can get. Abbrederis could use another fifteen to twenty pounds added to this listed weight.

NFL Comparison
Abbrederis has a similar game to Marvin Jones(For once it's not a white guy)of the Cincinnati Bengals. Coming out of Cal, Jones was somewhat overlooked because he was overshadowed by Keenan Allen, one of the best receivers in the country. Jones has similar physical ability to Abbrederis and might not make the top 10 for the most gifted athletes on the Bengals roster, but he is one of the leaders in catches because he just understands and how to get open and catch the football after being a fifth round pick.

Draft Projection
Physically, Jared Abbrederis is not the tallest or strongest guy and it would not be a surprise if his testing when it comes to speed is relatively average on a track. When it comes right down to it, Abbrederis understands how to play the position and demonstrates a terrific amount of technique that makes it so he can beat physically superior players. If he can keep adding strength and fill out that frame, Abbrederis has the potential to become a really nice player in the NFL and a good #2 receiving option. Because of the sheer amount of receiving talent, Abbrederis warrants an early third day pick but just projects as the type of guy who might get overlooked for his physical gifts and just sticks around for a decade in the league because he just understands how to get open and catch the football.


Focused and athletic. Needs to add a bit more muscle. I think he's more athletic than Cooper but not as promising as Decker. Nowhere near Jordy:sad:

When watching Jared Abbrederis play, it seemed he had far more than 4.5 speed. His acceleration may be average (for WR), but he has elite top end speed.

 

[Upside]

Good Stuff! We've definitely seen a resurgence at the position!

Here are some guys to also keep an eye on in the off season:

Dan DePalma
Ryan Spadola
Sam McGuffie
TJ Moe
Connor Vernon
Dane Sanzenbacher
Kevin Walter
Devon Wylie
Marc Mariani
Andy Tanner

 

[Lugnut]

24. Wes Welker (841)
206.Brandon Stokely (397)

Kevin Walter (356), he didn't play this year, injured, or would have cracked the top 250.
Jordy Nelson (302)
Brian Hartline (259)
Danny Amendola (250)
Eric Decker (222)
Austin Collie (179)
Julian Edelman (174)

list includes TEs but it's good to see WRs prevailing.

 

[bigunreal]

Blair White was "forced to retire because of multiple back injuries?" Huh? The last I heard, he was being unceremoniously cut by the Colts, for no other reason than his skin color. I thought he was still attempting to play somewhere, but was being ignored like so many other talented whites.

Again, mysterious injury concerns surface belatedly to explain the otherwise baffling treatment of a white skill position player.

 

[Lugnut]

Blair White was "forced to retire because of multiple back injuries?" Huh? The last I heard, he was being unceremoniously cut by the Colts, for no other reason than his skin color. I thought he was still attempting to play somewhere, but was being ignored like so many other talented whites.

Again, mysterious injury concerns surface belatedly to explain the otherwise baffling treatment of a white skill position player.

White WR have to outperform black affletes to be left on the team. Blair was a very gifted athlete, but his injuries were visibly negating his talent and progression.

It is what it is... I think he made a good decision to retire. He has a wife now and a respected professional. Maybe one day, his sons may end up good WRs.

 

[Lugnut]

Griff overcoming his injuries and the caste system

After a turbulent start to his NFL career, second year wide receiver Griff Whalen has quickly emerged as a legitimate weapon for an Indianapolis Colts offense still acclimatizing to life without veteran superstar Reggie Wayne.

Signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Whalen’s rookie year was over before it began; a preseason foot injury left him on the sidelines for the remainder of the year. During that time, Whalen watched from afar as fellow Stanford alumni Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener, featured in a surprisingly potent rookie-led offense, developed under the tutelage of the vastly experienced offensive coordinator and now Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians.
More hurdles were thrown Whalen’s way in 2013. His position on the active roster at the beginning of the season was purely a numbers game, with fellow second year wide-out LaVon Brazill serving a four-game suspension due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. Whalen was cut following Brazill’s return, but was quickly signed to the practice squad after impressing the Colts’ coaching staff. He was activated once again after Wayne’s season-ending ACL injury during the Week 7 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Following a second spell on the practice squad, Whalen returned to the active roster in Week 15 against the Houston Texans and started to offer a glimpse of the potential at his disposal. A career high 45 receiving yards and first touchdown catch against the Texans was followed by an 80-yard day in the impressive 23-7 road victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, a game in which Whalen led the Colts in receiving yards and receptions. His fine run of form continued in the 30-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, adding a second touchdown catch in three weeks.

Obviously sports writers will bash him before praising him. But he's making most of them eat their words with his play.

And he's proving me wrong. I didn't see him as a starting talented/instinctive receiver, like Collie, only a hard worker. The best part? it can't be considered a fluke. Luck is a good QB, but he isn't known to blow up the stat sheet even in wins.

 

[Lugnut]

Jeff Janis

This guy is rated 5th out of 413 WR prospect in the nation even by the caste system.

This makes him the intriguing caste busting WR prospect for me after Jared. And i don't have enough info on him.

[video=youtube;Kx3iUkmS8bU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx3iUkmS8bU[/video]

 

[FootballDad]

I'm not sure who number 6 is that you've got pictured, but it certainly isn't Janis, who is number 82.....

 

[whiteathlete33]

Jeff Janis

This guy is rated 5th out of 413 WR prospect in the nation even by the caste system.

This makes him the intriguing caste busting WR prospect for me after Jared. And i don't have enough info on him.

[video=youtube;Kx3iUkmS8bU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx3iUkmS8bU[/video]

Which sight has him rated at 5th for receivers? Nfldraftscout has him at 22, and a few other sites I checked have him around that area as well. I don't know much about him other than he is reported to have low 4.4 speed and possibly high 4.3. He probably doesn't get drafted until the late rounds after all he's a "small school player".

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Abbrederis ... his speed is pretty solid …

… it would not be a surprise if his testing when it comes to speed is relatively average on a track …

Abbrederis was going to attend Wisconsin on a track scholarship before deciding to walk-on to the football team. "somehow" i think his speed will be better than "average."

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Good Stuff! We've definitely seen a resurgence at the position!

Here are some guys to also keep an eye on in the off season:

Dan DePalma
Ryan Spadola
Sam McGuffie
TJ Moe
Connor Vernon
Dane Sanzenbacher
Kevin Walter
Devon Wylie
Marc Mariani
Andy Tanner

and please don't forget Danny Coale-burner, formerly of VA Tech and the Dallas Cowboys. he had a couple of very unfortunate injuries which derailed his early pro career, but the man has serious talent.

 

[Lugnut]

Which sight has him rated at 5th for receivers? Nfldraftscout has him at 22, and a few other sites I checked have him around that area as well. I don't know much about him other than he is reported to have low 4.4 speed and possibly high 4.3. He probably doesn't get drafted until the late rounds after all he's a "small school player".

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=94124&draftyear=2014&genpos=WR

maybe I'm misreading it.

 

[Ambrose]

Why are white receivers starting to find work again? Is the African talent pool thinning? Have the Patriots embarrassed the league? Has winning become a new necessity? Is NFL popularity waning and new attractions sought to bolster interest? Is the generation willing to suddenly re-think past credo?

 

[whiteathlete33]

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=94124&draftyear=2014&genpos=WR

maybe I'm misreading it.

Thanks. The site that has him 22nd is cbssports.com. I am pleasantly surprised at the link you posted.

 

[Lugnut]

Why are white receivers starting to find work again? Is the African talent pool thinning? Have the Patriots embarrassed the league? Has winning become a new necessity? Is NFL popularity waning and new attractions sought to bolster interest? Is the generation willing to suddenly re-think past credo?

Doubtful. Blacks gave their best. It's the most glorified/promoted job market for black youth in America. But it's only very recent(early 2000s) that the NFL is worth it monetarily for athletic white men to fully commit to positions other than QB.

I think the 'job market' is attracting better talent.

 

[Lugnut]

Thanks. The site that has him 22nd is cbssports.com. I am pleasantly surprised at the link you posted.

izza:

 

[Ieroner]

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=94124&draftyear=2014&genpos=WR

maybe I'm misreading it.

I think this site only includes seniors because there is no certainty that juniors will declare. So that might be boosting him a bit.

 

[Carolina Speed]

list includes TEs but it's good to see WRs prevailing.

I know. I only listed WR's, because of the thread title, "White WR revolution,"