This is Why We Suck - Receiving Edition

jiggins7919

"You know how this goes. These types of throws, while not perfect, need to be caught. That's the difference that having a dependable receiver makes."

This. All of this. I'm not taking anything away from Deshaun Watson, but one of the biggest differences between him and Kizer is Watson has a dependable, all-star receiver. How many times a game does Watson hike the ball, stare Hopkins down, and deliver the ball to him because he's STILL open. You know it's coming, but you can't stop it because the guy knows how to get open. He knows how to win his route, come out of the breaks, and of course...catch the ball. Even if the ball isn't perfect, a guy like him can often times bring it in. Kizer doesn't have ANYTHING like this, and it's killing him. Look at that deep Higgins drop when Kizer felt the pressure, didn't panic in the end zone, stepped up and threw a pretty decent pass that Higgins got both hands on. Yeah, it was a TOUGH catch, but I see it made all the dang time! That would've been first down at the 40 or so, and a huge momentum shifter.

And that deep bomb to Ricardo? Cmon man! I don't think he would've scored per say, but he would've had a chance. I think the safety would've gotten him if the corner didn't trip him up, but you never know. Receivers score all of the time on things like that. Corner misses the ankles, the safety overruns the angle, and the receivers struts into the end zone. Does it happen FOR US? No, not since Josh Gordon flaked out 4 years ago. When is the last time we had a deep pass connect for a touchdown in a regular season? I mean, Jesus. Whenever we DO get a touchdown it seems like the most difficult thing ever. We get it to the 12. We somehow pick up a first down. We bulldoze our way into the end zone with our QB. It's always such a dang struggle. Now, I WAS happy to see the play-action TD to Njoku because it was one of those "easy touchdowns" I've been saying we need. Every other team gets them. But ours are always such a dang struggle, and it's tiring. I'd love to see a long throw, to a receiver who has a step, and then the guy make the catch and run in the end zone. Is that asking too much?

Tour2ma

@flyingfooldoug said:

Ok, so what is it? Pick bad talent intentional? I just don't think they have very good evaluation at all. I haven't seen a glimmer that sez playmaker out all of them. Draft 4, no playmakers. Or am I missing the Paul Warfield's in the current batch of receivers? All I have seen is suckage on a grand scale.

You are focused on the WR to the exclusion of all the non-WR picks.

There's no doubt our WR picks have not panned out. I'll even supply you some new evidence... evidence even PFF haters will embrace because if supports their WR position.

John Kosko‏ @PFF_JohnKosko

The #Browns are catching 74.4% of all catchable passes: Last in the NFL. Arizona is 31st at 80.3% and is closer to 14th team than Cleveland

I want to point out... again... that besides Coleman, who arguably was developing this year, we basically spent loose change on WRs in 2016... two 4ths and a 5th. Our FO cast a net... they took a shot even though they were not fully set for the Draft. They spent 13 picks on Days 2 and 3 and netted six 2017 starters and a backup... and that's going what appears to be 0 fer 3 on WRs. This FO did not "punt" as our incoming regime did in 2014.

In 2017 we arguably went 10 fer 10 in the draft including 4 current starters plus what looks to be a very good Kicker and a solid, rotational DT. and Then there's a DT who may still be rising, a promising, injured CB, a RB some of us want to see a lot more of and a raw, but physically gifted OT. That's 10 for 10.

Didn't take a WR, so collectively there had to be a belief that one or more of the 2016 "busts" would develop. I have no doubt that was a collective judgement of FO and staff, and I am not convinced it was the wrong conclusion based upon their talent alone, but rather it was not considered in light of going with a raw, rookie QB... something few, if any, here saw as "the plan".