Off to the Off-Season (Wide Receiver)

March 6, 2008 by Harry Greene

It’s nice to be starting from a position of strength and no team in the league has a better set of two primary receivers than Boldin and Fitzgerald. That said, the addition of a speedy receiver who can spread the field will only enhance the effectiveness of these two stars.

Wide Receivers

Overview

Every team in the league would love to have even one of the Cards’ top 2 receivers. There are bigger threats in the league, like Randy Moss, but no receivers are better at making the big catch and sustaining a drive. In fact, they are so good that with an accurate quarterback, the Cards can use up the clock nearly as efficiently passing, as they can by running the ball.

The next receiver in line is Johnson and while some want to retain him, my feeling is that he will be overpaid by another team. The Cards can’t afford to compete with that as I see him as overrated.

IMO

While Johnson occasionally makes an outstanding play and can get separation, he is all too likely to drop the ball even when wide open. If he has to dive, he is almost sure to fail to make the catch. While his straight-line speed times well, he plays slower and cannot consistently stretch the field. Waive good-bye (I know he’s a free agent and waivers aren’t needed - ).

I have never understood what the Cards see in Urban. His hands are even worse than Johnson’s and he cannot catch the ball in traffic. He should be another off-season casualty.

Towards the end of the season, the Cards were finally trying to work Breaston into the offense. He runs sloppy routes, doesn’t handle line pressure well and he drops passes due to concentration.

Still if they can get him the ball with just a little room to maneuver, he can be an impact player since he can’t be double-teamed considering the other targets. The Cards should not give up on trying to grow him as a receiver; however, they shouldn’t count on him becoming a key receiver in 2008. At best he figures to be erratic.

There are worse 6th receivers than Morey, plus he has a good attitude and can contribute on special teams. He’s a keeper at least for 2008.

Potential Help

Taking affordability into consideration, FA, Devery Henderson may fit into the Cards’ pocketbook. He has speed and is coming off a weak 2007, but he had a solid 2006. He can get deep and has a decent skill set. He’s not the ideal choice, but you get everything in one season.

As to the draft, the Cards can’t use a pick in round one or two for this slot, which makes it hard to get a quality speed receiver. A project would be the most likely target. D J Hall is a player to look at in this role. He needs a great deal of polishing, but has the potential to be a nice fit.

If he comes out, I might take a flyer on Lance Leggett in round 7. He was the classic underachiever in college, but he will probably workout well enough to be gone by this point. My feeling is that he might be a wasted pick, but if he matures, he could be a steal.

Overall

Fixing this group will not be easy if the Cards want to do it right. Productive speed receivers are costly in free agency. They also are usually taken too early in the draft, come with significant baggage or they take years to develop.

Nonetheless, the Cards don’t need a great player in this spot. He will never be double-teamed straight-up, though hopefully he can occasionally distract a safety by getting deep quickly.

Still, the receiver position will be an asset to the Cards as long as Boldin and Fitzgerald can stay healthy.

Posted in nfl draft, nfl free agency, bryant johnson, nfl, football, arizona cardinals