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+---- Thread: *DSFL Scouting report of the 12 rookie receivers (/showthread.php?tid=20702)
*DSFL Scouting report of the 12 rookie receivers - cho1325 - 04-01-2020
With the upcoming draft I wanted to take a look at top 12 active rookie wide receivers. There are plenty of offensive threats and the wide receiver position has 16 active rookie receivers that I am aware of. Despite that I will take a look at the top 12 as after that the TPE drops about 40 points from 12 to 13. Hands, route running, quickness and agility, speed and acceleration, size and blocking are all key aspects that we must look for in a wide receiver. (All stats are current as of 3/30/20)
1. William Lim (197 TPE Dallas) at 6’2” and 195 lbs Lim is the highest ranked TPE receiver in this current draft. He has 35 complete catches and 450 career yards. Presents good height and length for an outside receiver, also has some lower-body strength for explosion off the line of scrimmage and in his cuts. Solid route runner used in the short, intermediate, and deep games, who has flexibility to avoid corners in zone and the quick feet to separate on hitches, comebacks, and other cuts. Does a nice job creating separation and deceiving defensive backs with head fakes and quick moves. Will threaten the top of defenses with NSFL quality straight line speed. Possesses strong hands in traffic, not afraid of contact downfield and can separate at the last second with an arm extension. Agile enough to quickly avoid oncoming defenders after the catch yet remain balanced to head downfield for the big gain. Does not go down without a fight, can run through arm tackle attempts from cornerbacks. Snatches throws with his hands, even those within his frame. Concentrates on the ball throughout difficult catches and extends his long arms to make a big radius. Sells double moves well with a head fake and body lean. Very good body control to contort his body on catches and pluck the ball out of the air, keep one foot in bounds on the sideline. Effective run blocker, usually reaches his target and gets his hands up, uses correct blocking angle to sustain, also shows some nastiness at times, capable of putting his man to the ground. Weaknesses: Only average size for a starting outside receiver and has room to add bulk to his frame. Occasionally loses track of the ball on easy catches when trying to make a move too early. Must prove his ability to use his hands to beat press coverage from NSFL veterans off the line. Dances around defenders and run backwards after short catches at times, losing his balance or some yardage, instead of heading upfield. Will need to be more consistently physical in the blocking game at the next level.
2. Eddie Jeeta (195 TPE Kansas City) at 6’1” and 185 lbs Jeeta ranks number 2. He has 45 complete catches and 555 career yards and 4 touchdowns. Outstanding size and a very available target. Shows no concern working over the middle. Known for his competitive spirit and alpha demeanor. Hyper aware of defenders around him in space. Works back to the ball as aggressively as he needs to when defenders are attempting to ball hawk. Searches and sinks into the optimal openings against zone coverage. Plays to his size and has plus route strength. Shows effective uses of frame to shield cornerbacks from contested catches. Plucks it way out front of his body with strong, confident hands. Tremendous ball tracker with ability to search, find and follow the pass in over his shoulder. Has body control to twist and contort in mid-air to pull the throw in. Plays with sideline awareness and consistently drops feet in-bounds on boundary catches. Rugged, aggressive runner after the catch with a stiff-arm to hurt feelings. Has field vision after catch for maximum yard after catch yardage. Reliable blocker who can help spring a big run. Able to sustain blocks with power. Weaknesses: Very slightly built. Struggles with physical cornerbacks and can be redirected in his routes. Press coverage could be an issue for him on the next level. Scouts are concerned that he is too slightly built to be a full time NSFL kick returner. Likely relegated to the slot only in the NSFL. Hands are inconsistent in traffic. Top end speed in question. Got caught from behind more than once.
3. Michael Witheblock (191 TPE Kansas City) at 6’2” and 200 lbs Witheblock ranks number 3 overall. He has 14 completed catches and 181 career yards and 4 touchdowns. Good play speed. Has twitch at top of his routes and gets separation for quarterbacks to make open throws. Nuanced route runner with ability to sell. Will vary route speed and is proficient with double moves. Scouts say his personal character and football character are top notch. Has a knack for making explosive plays as a receiver and return man. Steps up his game when matched up against top competition across from him. Likes to block. Highly competitive with a history of production. Witheblock is a film rat who can come in and compete for a slot receiver spot right away. Weaknesses: Needs to get better at freeing himself at the break point of his routes. Doesn't seem to get cornerbacks tilting with his routes. Missing the sudden acceleration out of his cuts to generate separation and an easy throwing window. Contested catches will have to be a big part of his future. Rarely shows a second gear to run under the deep throws. Will coast when turning to find deep ball rather than maintaining play speed. Will need to pay better attention to his angles as a blocker.
4. Thomas Passmann (186 TPE Tijuana) at 6’3” and 217 lbs Passmann is the 4th overall. He has 45 completed catches and 555career yard and 1 touchdown. Exceptional football playing speed can flat out fly and take the top off a defense. Has world class track speed. Extends outside his frame and plucks the ball. Outstanding body control and agility. Tracks the ball well over his shoulder and is a natural hands catcher who can make an average quarterback look good. Consistently turns 2-yard gains into 15-yard chunks possesses big time playmaking ability and is very effective creating in the open field on bubble screens and quick hitting short/lateral tosses. Superb run after the catch ability. Good burst out of his cuts to separate. Has game-breaking return ability and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Weaknesses: Does not consistently work the middle of the field. Could improve field awareness. Could require some time to acclimate to an NSFL playbook. Could stand to improve ball security and do a better job fielding punts.
5. Susan Cash Jr (177 TPE London) at 6’1” and 200 lbs Cash jr ranks 5th. He has 38 completed catches and 458 career yards and 2 touchdowns. Cash jr is a strong receiver. Is a very sound route runner who is smooth in and out of his breaks and has experience in a pro-style system. Is dangerous after catch with a nice combination of quickness and power to break tackles. Has been highly productive. High character player who will always compete. Has reliable hands. He is an excellent route runner that knows how to set defenders up and does not show much wasted movement when running patterns. He does a great job of going to the ball when slightly off target and will compete for virtually every pass. Weaknesses: His overall explosiveness is questionable. Is more of a speed builder than a sudden guy, odd for a shorter receiver. Takes a while to eat up cushions. Top end speed is good but not elite. Can get deep on occasion but doesn’t appear to be a consistent downfield threat.
6. William Alexander (166 TPE Minnesota) at 6’4” and 240 lbs Alexander ranks 6th. He has 30 completeed catches and 353 carrer yards and 1 touchdown. Outstanding size and length. Functionally strong to power through the jam. Boxes out defenders and is a big red zone target. Hardwood background is evident outstanding leaper with above the rim skills to go over top of smaller DBs and highpoint throws. Creates late, subtle separation. Tracks and adjusts. Makes contested grabs, attacks throws and outmuscles defenders in a crowd. Nearly unstoppable executing back shoulder catches. Strong, reliable hands. Very strong after the catch slams into tacklers, is a load to bring down and leans for extra yardage. Productive playmaker. Weaknesses: Monotone mover with pedestrian speed cannot separate vertically or pull away from the pack. Unsudden acceleration. Stiff hips. Will have to make a living in traffic at the next level will struggle to separate vs. quick twitch NSFL cornerbacks. Did not run a full route tree and could require patience learning the nuances of refined route running.
7. Nick Kaepercolin (163 TPE London) at 5’9” and 185 lbs has 22 completed catches and 268 career yards and 2 touchdowns. Takes the top off the defense and throws it in the trash. Elite explosiveness. Gets to top speed quickly and is a seamless glider on crossing routes, leaving man to man defenses in his wake. Can work outside and from the slot. Elevates and attacks contested catches. Outstanding body control and can adjust to the ball in mid-air. Mind-boggling big-play production and more than just a vertical-only receiver and has the blazing feet and stop-start to beat zone coverage for big plays. Weaknesses: Still raw in his routes, relying on pure speed. Inconsistent with his hand placement to catch and lets the ball get on top of him. Small frame and will have to withstand hits over the middle as a slot receiver.
8. Kevin Koh (154 TPE Norfolk) at 5’10” and 185 lbs Koh has 34 completed catches for 312 career yards with 3 touchdowns. Good balance and body control. Savvy route runner uses stems and nods and works back to throws. Confident hands catcher snatches throws off his frame. Extends and high points. Attacks throws and wins 50-50 balls. Makes some spectacular, acrobatic grabs. Good concentration and toughness over the middle. Does not go down without a fight after the catch. Willing blocker. Lined up outside and inside. Likes to compete and it shows. Has special teams experience covering kicks. Weaknesses: Has a fairly lean frame could stand to bulk up and get stronger in order to combat the jam. Lacks elite explosiveness and top end speed does not have an extra gear to take the top off. Average line release, acceleration and suddenness. Could struggle to separate vs. quick-twitch cornerbacks. Large percentage of catches are contested. Lacks ideal height and is not a great leaper.
9. Mike Lee (146 TPE Dallas) at 6’3” and 225 lbs has recorded 17 completed catches for 189 career yards and 1 touchdown. Productive potential number one receiver who can excel on any route on the tree due to good foot quickness and shifty hips. Runs solid comeback routes and uses sharp cuts on skinny posts to free himself. Possesses good vision and a strong burst with the ball in his hands. Flashes the ability to catch passes away from his frame with his hands. Can make catches in traffic and track passes over his shoulder. At times shows the strength and agility to spin out of tackle attempts in the secondary. Willing to go over the middle, take a hit and hang on. Has the speed to run past defenders, but also uses his long arms to create space from defenders downfield. Gives his quarterback a target when plays break down by going deep or coming across the field. Does his job as a downfield blocker on run plays, mixes it up with multiple targets if necessary. Weaknesses: Lean upper and lower body builds, strength is an issue when trying to get off the jam, fight for 50-50 balls. Has more than his share of drops in some games, fails to squeeze the ball with his hands to secure it. Settles for body-catches over when high-pointing passes over defenders. Could step in as a kickoff or punt returner in a pinch due to his willingness to run through traffic.
10. Leeroy Jenkins (145 TPE Myrtle Beach) at 6’2” and 225 lbs has recorded 7 completed catches for 66 career yards. Possesses prototypical height, a wide catch radius, and very good speed. A true vertical, big play threat. Explodes off the line. Eats up cushions immediately. Doesn't idle down in and out of his breaks. Displays the ability to uncover against zone. Can haul in the poorly thrown pass and wins most jump balls. Productive over the middle. Very competitive. Light on his feet with terrific balance. Sinks his hips with ease and pops out of breaks to separate. Tracks and adjusts. Quick hands. Good concentration, body control and boundary awareness. Can turn a short throw into a long gain. Shows elusiveness, creativity and vision after the catch. Unafraid to play in the tall trees. Weaknesses: Only possesses adequate bulk. Can be harassed at the line by physical press-man corners with good size. Bigger defensive backs will compete with him for 50-50's. Would like to see more sustained effort and physicality while run blocking.
11. Garfield Despactio jr (142 TPE Myrtle Beach) at 5’11” and 185 lbs he has recorded 8 completed catches for 82 yards and 2 touchdowns. Slot target who plays faster than his timed speed, but whose issues with drops and focus over the middle could derail his NSFL opportunity. Despactio jr currently benefits from level of competition and route combinations in uncovering as a DSFL player, but he’ll need to work on fine tuning his routes and playing with more focused quickness to free himself from NSFL corners. While he has some talent with the ball in his hands, he won’t stick around if he doesn’t get better at consistently reeling in the football. Weaknesses: Route speed is erratic. Routes tend to be run at about 80 percent of this top speed and he will need to play faster on the next level. Too often unchallenged by quality opponents across from him. Plays with some hip-tightness that limits his ability to sink into breaks for sharp cuts. Needs to do a better job of attacking jump balls at the high point.
12. Tan Johnson (119 TPE Kansas City) at 6’3” and 205 lbs he has 16 completed catches for 218 yards.Outstanding combination of size and speed. Has the frame to overwhelm smaller cornerbacks. Feet are much quicker in tight quarters than expected. Quick to take off after the catch and has power to plow through tacklers. Will work back to his quarterback when needed. Plays with some hip tightness that limits his ability to sink into breaks for sharp cuts. Needs to do a better job of attacking jump balls at the high point. Weaknesses: Should rely on footwork and body positioning over arm extension to clear the top of his route. Gears it down a little when turning to locate the deep ball. Fails to sell route fakes to manipulate his opponent. Breaks and stems aren’t as sharp as they could be. Suffered focus drops when working back to the ball. Drop rate too high. Needs better positioning of his big frame to block out defenders on comebacks.
*DSFL Scouting report of the 12 rookie receivers - revuhlution - 04-01-2020
These are my receivers! Much love to these guys! #2, 3, and 12. DSFL WR: GET UP! My guys are here to PLAY!