Covering Bolt Receivers a Tall Order
By P.S. Hamilton
Rumor has it some NBA recruiters are scouting Charger’s training camp. It’s not true, but wide receivers Vincent
Jackson, Kassim Osgood and Malcom Floyd, all 6’ 5” tall, have pulled down enough jump balls over the last few weeks to deserve a look. Judging by the acrobatics seen throughout camp, the Charger’s receiver corps is rebounding. It appears that on opening day the Bolts will field the most physically intimidating group of receivers in the NFL. No other team has more than one receiver 6’ 5” or over. The Chargers have three.
The most diminutive receiver on the squad is Eric Parker at 6’ 0”, while Keenan McCardell and Greg Camarillo are both 6’ 1”. They don’t need to worry about job security, though -- quick and elusive will always be in demand. But since 2003, there has been a definite trend toward larger receivers in the NFL.
It’s easy to point to the success of receivers like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson, Chris Carter and Plaxico Burress for instigating the big man movement. But that isn’t the whole story. In 2004, the NFL began getting tough on contact more than 5 yards downfield. That leaves defenders no choice but to be aggressive and physical at the line. Still, taller receivers usually win the battle. These players are strong, with a long wingspan, which allows them to push a defender off and get downfield before the defensive back can recover. Once a big man gets free, they become a true menace. They are a pressured quarterback’s dream, an exit sign flashing over the chaos and carnage that takes place after the snap. A tall receiver can go up over the top of defenders for the ball, and are long-striders. Once they get up to full speed they are extremely hard to match up with.
The success of tall players like Terrell Owens and Randy Moss brings extra defenders out of the woodwork. Antonio Gates gets double and occasionally even triple-teamed during games. It has become more and more difficult for him to get favorable match-ups because teams know the damage he can inflict. Chargers coaches seem to have solved this puzzle with their new lineup. Kassim Osgood has not seen as many passes come his way as he would like, but he has improved his route running and can make a crucial catch when called upon. Vincent Jackson is physical and athletic and extremely difficult to cover. Ask the Charger’s secondary…he has been burning them throughout training camp. Malcom Floyd is really pushing to make the team and has been good for at least one circus catch per day.
The Chargers have another XXL receiver that is an integral part of the receiving corps…the coach. Hall of Fame receiver and eight-time Pro-Bowler James Lofton is 6’ 3” and ranks third on the NFL’s all-time list in receiving yards. Lofton was known as a tough, deep-threat receiver, able to overpower, outrun and outlast his defenders. Who better to teach San Diego’s young wideouts how to maximize their unusual stature?
Of course, there are some good defensive backs in the AFC West, and most are not small. Strong safety Derrick Gibson of the Raiders is 6’ 2” and Michael Huff is 6’ 1”. Safety Sammie Knight of Kansas City is 6’ 1” and cornerback Lenny Walls is a towering 6’ 4”. Safety John Lynch of the Broncos is 6’ 2”, but the team’s nemesis, cornerback Champ Bailey is “just” 6’ 0”. Think about it…Vincent Jackson has five inches on Bailey. At least the team can throw to his side of the field with a little more confidence this year.
It used to be that cornerbacks were typically 5’ 9” to 5’ 11. But now bigger, physical, hard-hitting players are in demand. The Chargers are on top of that trend, too. This year they picked up cornerback Antonio Cromartie in the first round of the NFL draft…he’s 6’ 3”.
The word from training camp is that the coaching staff has been cooking up a variety of “747 packages” -- wide receiver jumbo sets that make it virtually impossible for opposing defenses to cover everyone.
This should be welcome news to the team’s new starting quarterback, Philip Rivers. The weapons are in his arsenal. Now all he has to do is use them. If the offensive line gives him enough time, it won’t be a tall order.
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Comments
I can't wait for the season to begin. I want to see those big receivers in action for real.
nomad (August 10, 2006 5:44 AM)
I've mentioned this height advantage before. Two guys on fade routes, one across the middle in the endzone. Or will go to L T? What happens when Sproles gets lost in the shuffle on a pattern? LT is the best RB receiver in the league. Gates drawing single coverage on occasion. Draws and delays to LT, pitchouts to LT off the drop, traps, sweeps into an area cleared by the receivers who all can block down field. A road grading fullback and and a steamroller tightend. People who aren't paying attention figure Rivers is going to have break in problems at QB. Good. Let them think that. Nobody but us will know he's as comfortable with this offense as a pair of old slippers. All of this without even mentionion McCardell and Parker, our pair of "normal" receivers, or Michael Turner. One would hope that even Feeley would have a prayer with these guys. This offense is a cypher to the rest of the league. I suspect the secondary is, too. Hope they like surprises out there as much as I do.
Richard (August 10, 2006 11:51 AM)
Good read. But Eric Parker, Keenan McCardell and Greg Camarillo can’t be over 6 feet. I just don’t believe it.
Ken (August 11, 2006 12:48 AM)