Richard Rodgers: 2015 Packers Player Report Card

Richard Rodgers stepped up this season when Jordy Nelson went down. We take a look at how he met and exceeded expectations.

Richard Rodgers

  • Age: 24
  • Ht./Wt: 6'4", 257lbs
  • College: California
  • NFL Experience: 2 years

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Expectations coming into the season:  Coming into training camp, Rodgers looked like he would be splitting time with Andrew Quarless, but when the latter was arrested for firing a gun in public, Rodgers was handed more responsibility. not long after that, receiver Jordy Nelson was lost for the season and it became clear that the team would be looking to everyone - Rodgers included - to step up. With his size, it was expected that Rodgers would at least be a threat in the red zone.

Player’s highlights/low-lights: During a Week 13 game against the Detroit Lions, Rodgers caught all eight of his targets, totaling 146 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Down by two with no time on the clock, Aaron Rodgers scrambled around buying time while his receivers ran down the field. The quarterback heaved the ball into the air, throwing it 61 yards into the end zone where several players from both teams were waiting for the ball.  Richard Rodgers stayed a little short of where the ball seemed to be heading and stood just a short distance in front of the other players. As the ball dropped towards the players in the end zone, Rodgers moved backwards, putting himself in front of the group, using his body to block them out. Rodgers, in good position to make the play, leapt into the air and hauled the ball in for a walk-off touchdown to win the game.

After that spectacular catch though, Rodgers caught just three balls over the next three games for a grand total of 12 yards.

Level of Expectations met:  While we learned that perhaps Rodgers doesn't have the speed or athleticism to really be a huge factor the way a Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham can be, he still stepped up quite often for the offense. While his yards were probably a little lower than one could hope for given the opportunity with Nelson out, the eight touchdowns for the season was better than hoped for, especially given the tattered state of the offense. Rodgers saw the third most red zone targets (14) behind Randall Cobb (21) and James Jones (16).

Grade: A

Player’s contributions to team success:  He flat out won a game in Week 13 (with a little help from the quarterback) and often seemed to do damage late in games to help the team win. He also was one of the more reliable receiving options catching 68 percent of the passes thrown his way. That's no little thing considering the struggles the team seemed to have completing passes. Rodgers was one of the few receiving options who the quaryerback could count on to be where he was supposed to be when the ball arrived and then actually catch it.

Again, he didn't become a dominant or "elite" tight end by any stretch of the imagination and his presence doesn't impact the defense in a major way. He also could be inconsistent (such as that stretch of games with next to no catches). Still, he was able to step up and help a struggling offense.

Grade: B+

Player’s contributions in the playoffs:  Rodgers was relatively quiet during both playoff games and couldn't find the end zone. He made some nice catches in both games, but struggled to seperate from coverage and had a big drop near the end of the game, though the Packers were able to overcome that particular mistake. 

Grade: C

Intangibles/misc: Rodgers had a knack for stepping up often during the season and his aggressiveness catching the ball translated to some big moments. Without the speed for seperation, he needs that "my ball" mentality, and that's something you can't teach. If he can keep working hard during the offseason, he has the upside to be a big part of the offense even if his overall physical attributes might keep his ceiling lower than you could hope for.

Grade: B-

 

Overall Grade:  B

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Comments (53)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Razer's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:15 pm

Great hands and body control but he needs to be a step faster. It would help if the play calling wasn't sending him on shallow sideline routes. Hey, let's send the big lumbering guy on a Darren Sproles route. I am not sure if we even know how to use a TE in this offense.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:29 pm

Yes we have forgotten. Been awhile since we had a TE.

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zoellner25's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:28 pm

Comments should be great for this guy. I think when the coach's bulked up him up, it zapped what speed he may have had. Needs to drop back down in weight. Great hands, but I can see why he lasted until the late 3rd round.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:32 pm

I agree with this. I think he could stand to lose some weight. Try to get some quickness to him.

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JerseyAl's picture

February 08, 2016 at 04:14 pm

In college he was asked to lose 30lbs from 275 and had his best year playing more in the slot and out wide.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 09, 2016 at 06:37 am

If the Packers want to use him in that way in their offense, they need him to lose that weight.
If they want him to play inside in the more traditional TE role, then they need to use him in that role.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:28 pm

RRodgers is 27?!!!

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JerseyAl's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:56 pm

Not any more! (I fixed it)

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Tundraboy's picture

February 08, 2016 at 06:43 pm

Thanks, that would have been disturbing.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 09, 2016 at 07:24 am

Disturbing in the sense he is as fast now as he will ever be and that this is his prime?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 08, 2016 at 09:49 pm

When I watch him run he looks like he's 37. I'm also dubious on his listed weight. Some times I wonder if it would help help to loose 15+ pounds since the extra weight doesn't seam to help his blocking.

That said, he's got good hands, and can use his body to shield. If they used him like a Mark Churma I think he'd he would be pretty successful.

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dobber's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:08 am

I go back to that Hail Mary in Detroit. Admittedly, it was at the end of the game, but when you watch him running down the field to catch that pass, the word "lumbering" is kind.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:31 pm

IF used correctly Rodgers can be a really good weapon. He ended the season with 8 TD catches. 5th most for TE's.

The biggest problem is he hasn't really been used the right way. He is not a player that is going to break tackles and run for 20+ yards. He is not Finley. He is a possession type of receiver.

Rodgers was at his best down the middle of the field in the more traditional TE type of role, but he really wasn't used that way very much.
Against the Lions he was used that way, and he had his best game of his career.

McCarthy and whoever is running the offense has to do a better job of recognizing their players strengths and weaknesses and put them in the best positions. Asking Rodgers to run those routes out to the flat and expecting him to break any tackles is not fair to Rodgers. He doesn't have that ability so don't ask him to do it.

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JerseyAl's picture

February 08, 2016 at 03:58 pm

dead on.

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Packer_Pete's picture

February 08, 2016 at 04:35 pm

you are correct. That's why it is so ridiculous that commenters here always bring up Finley when talking about Rodgers. Same position, but absolutely not the same player. Overall Rodgers will have the better career, IMHO.
Overall I think Rodgers could be a very valuable part of the team especially in the red zone and with his great hands. Just need another TE to complement his skills in the open field.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 08, 2016 at 09:41 pm

They do?

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:04 am

yeah, I agree.
They really need a faster TE to compliment him. Think back to the olden days when we had Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson.
We have the Chmura, just need to find the Jackson.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 08, 2016 at 06:50 pm

Exactly. Another case of going away from what works. He had a very good game in Detroit.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:05 am

That is the hardest thing for me to understand with the coaches this year. That when they had something that worked or found something that worked, how they didn't stick with it, or use it more.

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Tundraboy's picture

February 12, 2016 at 04:36 pm

Yes the most frustrating part of a frustrating year.

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barutanseijin's picture

February 08, 2016 at 05:06 pm

Even at the end, Hawk was faster than this guy.

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Ima fubar's picture

February 08, 2016 at 07:17 pm

Another piss poor selection by Ted the genius

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ray nichkee's picture

February 08, 2016 at 10:11 pm

And the piss poor comments continue...

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barutanseijin's picture

February 08, 2016 at 05:05 pm

Good thing #12 threw that ball into the end zone in Detroit because if #82 had had to catch and run it in, the defenders could have tackled him by breathing in his general direction.

A B rating? Really? This guy is not very good -- and not just because he isn't Finley. He isn't an athletic TE, but he also isn't really good at traditional TE jobs. He's a big, soft marshmallow of a man who goes down easily and isn't a very good blocker.

At least he has sure hands. His best position may be holder on the FG unit.

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Ima fubar's picture

February 08, 2016 at 07:15 pm

If Rogers hadn't caught the miracle pass we would all, if honest, say this year and his play was undermwhelming. he lacks speed and quickness, his role is to run to a spot on the field andnot route running. He is often covered and rarely in the open. The tight ends role is a quick strike and he lacks that ability. His blocking lacks ability as well.

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Packer_Pete's picture

February 08, 2016 at 08:14 pm

8 TDs, 2nd most in NFC... oh well. And the 1st is not playing for our favorite team, the Vikings...

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dobber's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:13 am

"The tight ends role is a quick strike and he lacks that ability. "

Disagree. The tight end's role is whatever his physical attributes allow him to be. Some guys play like a WR, some guys are strictly dump-off options. I've said it before: at this stage, RRodg looks about like a bigger Ed West, better hands. He's a security blanket/dump-off guy who can also be a target in the red zone. He still has a chance to develop in his blocking.

You utilize your players based on what they do, not what you wish they could do. Other posters have commented on that here in this thread, so I won't revisit that. But if you can get "quick strike" from a WR or a RB rather than a TE, you use your WR or RB that way and use your TE for what he does. People are so hung up on drafting a top TE...it provides another weapon, sure, but if you can go 5-6 deep in your WRs, that's where your weapons are. Adding a TE to use as a WR might not help as much as you think.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 10, 2016 at 02:25 am

I love your comment, Dobber. You are spot on. Now, how do I reconcile this comment with my diatribe below? For the record, I don't hate RR, and I don't want to give up on him. He has a truly outstanding trait: great hands and fine concentration on passes that are difficult to catch. Lots of starting caliber NFL players don't have even one truly outstanding trait. I don't require RR to be able to explode out of his cuts and get great separation or be able to threaten the seam. I am not the commenter who in a prior thread in all seriousness likened RR to an Ent in Tolkien (RR is like a tree...).

My view is that great hands alone means the player should be a #3 TE used only in certain situations, worthy of playing perhaps 300 snaps per year. But for the dearth of TE talent, that is how RR should have been used based on what he can actually do, not the 799 snaps the coaches gave him either due to lack of options or based on what they wished he could do or hoped he would learn on the job, so to speak.

Moreover, RR can still develop. Receivers can always improve and refine their route running, study film, etc (I am not saying RR is bad at these things - just a general statement applicable to most receivers). He appears to have the body type that is helpful in being a good blocker. If RR can become even an adequate blocker, then he can be an above average starting TE in the NFL for a long time. Draft and develop, especially when a player already has an outstanding trait.

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Rossonero's picture

February 08, 2016 at 08:10 pm

While he has soft hands, his blocking still needs improvement. I've heard him described as "Baby Huey with cement feet." I just don't see any quick twitch with him, but at least he knows how to catch the football. It'll be hard to figure out what to pay him when his contract is eventually up.

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EdsLaces's picture

February 08, 2016 at 08:34 pm

Name me one player this year that made more plays on offense ....it's ok I'll wait.........................It's sad but RR was our offensive MVP.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 09, 2016 at 05:06 am

AR, James Jones (50 receptions, 890 yards, 17.8 yds/reception!) and Randall Cobb (79 receptions, 829 yards, 10.5 yd. average). But that's it, so I concede that you do have a point.

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EdsLaces's picture

February 09, 2016 at 03:41 pm

AR statistically his worst or 2nd worst season? Cobb absolutely vanished in most games after the injury plus he had countless drops. James Jones vanished as well at least a game or two where he had zero receptions ....ZERO RECEPTIONS. They are wrs ....800 yards for your leading wr is a joke. Rogers wasn't amazing but he was easily the most reliable and consistent play maker om our team.

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barutanseijin's picture

February 09, 2016 at 10:37 pm

There were also stretches when #82 was invisible. The article concedes as much.

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chaka's picture

February 08, 2016 at 08:43 pm

Packers should have re-signed Colt Lyerla if they wanted a real TE.

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JerseyAl's picture

February 08, 2016 at 09:05 pm

Yeah, that NFL team he is playing for now sure got a steal. Oh wait...

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Handsback's picture

February 08, 2016 at 09:41 pm

Really, again beating that dead horse!

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Handsback's picture

February 08, 2016 at 09:41 pm

His lack of improvement probably cost the TE coach his job. Just adding weight w/o determining what it would do to his speed was not a good idea for Rodgers.
Let's see what happens next year.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 09, 2016 at 03:08 am

Wow. Just wow. Head scratching article. Not one word written about RR's inability to block after describing Perillo's blocking as brutal in a prior article. At least I had the good sense to erase my initial comment and replace it with this one before I posted it. Suffice to say that I disagree with the author by and large.

Expectations Met: "With his size, it was expected that Rodgers would at least be a threat in the red zone."

That's it? Really? Nothing more was expected of our starting #1 TE, the guy who in his rookie year shared snaps with Q and by the end of the season (for reasons not entirely clear to me) overtook Q for playing time. I suppose if that had been the level of expectation, then the author is correct to give RR an A. My own expectations were rather low, so low that RR met my expectations, but I think most fans, and probably coaches, thought he would get a lot better. For the most part, RR didn't get better, and got his position coach fired. "While we learned that perhaps Rodgers doesn't have the speed or athleticism to really be a huge factor the way a Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham can be..." I learned that by watching his rookie season. He was still a brutally bad run and pass blocker, the only things I thought he might improve upon. I saw some baby steps in run blocking, but otherwise, nada. Grade: C-.

Contribution to Team Success: Since this #3 TE was forced to be the #1 TE and thus played 799 snaps on offense, he managed to accumulate some stats in gross. His only competition for most of the season was the hapless Perillo & the truly awful Backman. IDK if Mitchell Henry was really worse than Perillo and Backman, or if his continued presence on the PS is just more evidence of a stubborn coaching staff.

As the author noted, RR can catch a pass, and he runs his routes, albeit in a lumbering manner with no suddenness. With Cobb and Adams dropping so many, and the absence of Nelson, the reliable RR became a higher option in AR's mind, rather than the afterthought he was in his rookie year, and thus RR had 58 receptions, but for a measly 8.8 yd/catch, which ranks 3rd worst of all qualified TEs (see link), regardless of whether the TEs were starters or back ups. RR got more targets, but this isn't because RR got better, it is because everyone else had a bad year. Major League Baseball has a stats that applies to RR. A fair amount of RR's receptions, yards, and is pretty decent 3.86 YAC stat, aren't due to good receiving ability but rather to defensive indifference. His yards after catch certainly weren't due to his speed, elusiveness, ability to break a tackle, or even just falling forward. By DVOA and DVAR, RR is rated on his receiving ability as the 30th best. Perhaps that is about right - close to the worst starting TE in the NFL. And DVOA doesn't take into account blocking, attracting double teams: it measures only when the ball is thrown to him. The author's note that RR is not going to impact a game like Gronk or Graham can is correct: indeed, RR isn't even going to make a team adjust its normal alignments by bringing down a Safety or allotting a speedy LB to cover RR. If RR were on an opposing team, I'd feel perfectly comfortable assigning Barrington, Palmer or Ryan to cover him man to man. No need for Hyde, a safety or CM3 to be assigned to RR.

As for blocking, the author did not spare a single word to RR's blocking ability, even after he crucified Perillo for it in a prior article. RR was brutally inept in his rookie year, and improved to bad. Per McGinn, RR had 16.5 bad runs (which is basically a "stuff" as defined by McGinn), allowed 1 sack & 4 pressures. It is hard to calculate RR's per snap totals since I don't know how many snaps he played during running plays or on how many snaps he was assigned to pass protect. My fear is that RR is a finesse player who doesn't want to block, isn't interested in breaking tackles, and just looks to fall down if a 185 pound CB is coming up to tackle him.

Future: If RR can learn to be an adequate blocker, he would be a nice dual threat with the ability to block or slip out and reliably catch passes, particularly against zones, and rumble downfield, while being a threat in the red zone. As it is, he is a zero threat.

Receiving Grade: Defense is indifferent
Blocking Grade: Defense is salivating
Overall Grade: D.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/receiving/sort/yardsPerR...

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/TE

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dobber's picture

February 09, 2016 at 05:18 am

Don't candy-coat it for us TGR, tell us what you really think... ;)

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DrealynWilliams's picture

February 09, 2016 at 03:59 pm

Wooo!

(Ric Flair's voice)

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barutanseijin's picture

February 09, 2016 at 10:45 pm

This.

Expectations game is ridiculous. Like you say, it was clear from his first season that this guy was slow & soft. Whaddyaknow, he was slow and soft again this year.

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Since'61's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:06 am

I agree with Reynoldo. Giving R Rodgers a B for his 2015 season is like putting Finley in the NFL HOF. Neither would be close or accurate. Rodgers has good hands but he can be covered by a Nose Tackle or even AJ Hawk. His blocking leaves a lot to be desired especially if you are a Packer's RB. He is a #2 TE at best who will be good in short yardage or red zone packages but DCs are not adjusting their coverage schemes for R Rodgers. He is just not the answer for us at TE. He gets a C at best, if not a C-. Thanks, Since '61

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dobber's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:15 am

Another receiver who will look better when a legit outside and deep threat (e.g. Jordy Nelson or a "developed" Jeff Janis) helps force defenses to stay honest and clear out underneath. A chain-mover at best.

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RCPackerFan's picture

February 09, 2016 at 08:43 am

There is nothing wrong with having a chain mover type of player on the roster.
They just have to realize what he is not, and that is a Finley type of player.

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barutanseijin's picture

February 09, 2016 at 10:47 pm

How good a chain mover is he if he is tackled so easily?

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Ima fubar's picture

February 11, 2016 at 05:51 pm

He's not even a tight end. Not sure what he is. They have to keep quarles because they know now what they have in Rogers and I think they are not happy with him overall. If I'm right I see a tight end in round 2

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Tundraboy's picture

February 12, 2016 at 04:40 pm

Spot on. Not only slow, but can be tackled by anyone. I was optimistic coming into the year that he could be a solid possession TE, red zone threat but even that is not enough to justify starting minutes. Need a real tight end now

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Razer's picture

February 09, 2016 at 09:04 am

After reading the "reality check" portion of the comments, the dilemma becomes what to do with Andrew Quarless. If RR had made the jump in year two or if the other JAG TE's had shown anything, I doubt the Packers would resigning Quarless. Now, we head to a new year without many options at a position that really needs a solid starter.

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Lphill's picture

February 09, 2016 at 03:14 pm

Give the kid another season to prove himself, too many haters here , AJ Hawk played in a different defense at Ohio State , he did a good job for the Packers taking on blocks when necessary just never had a thumper to compliment him, some of you should actually learn more about assignments and roles a player needs to adjust to rather then rip on them because they don't meet your standards that's where the term arm chair QB came from.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

February 09, 2016 at 04:08 pm

I'm with you. I hate how fans (majority) nowadays give up on young players after just 2 or 3 seasons.

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barutanseijin's picture

February 09, 2016 at 11:02 pm

It's not just the fans. Most guys get their cup of coffee in the nfl and go quietly into the night after one or two seasons.

In a couple of decades you'll be talking about a big slow TE who falls over easily and doesn't block worth a crap. "He reminds me of a guy the Packers had a while back... What was his name?" You won't remember.

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barutanseijin's picture

February 09, 2016 at 10:55 pm

What roles did 82 fill adequately? Block whiffing? Falling on contact with DBs whom he outweighs by 50 pounds? And he's only going to get slower from here on in.

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Ima fubar's picture

February 11, 2016 at 05:49 pm

257? Ya as a frosh in college. If he isn't pushing 275 280 I would not beleive it. No speed, no route running ability, can't block and so so hands. Ted picked em

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