Forum The Longship JJ: Elite route runner

JJ: Elite route runner

StickierBuns
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Interesting article in the Strib.

#1 · Sep 4, 7:39 AM
DE
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Vikings are very fortunate so many teams passed on JJ - and they had the intelligence to draft him...Chase is going to be a good one too., heck he already is.  

#2 · Sep 4, 8:52 AM
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Vikings have a history of good route runners. Thielen and Diggs were among the best as well. Still are. As was Cris Carter. I think it's the single most underrated trait among college players successfully transitioning to the pros. But damned if teams don't keep obsessing over height, weight, speed. 

#3 · Sep 4, 10:14 AM
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Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.

#4 · Sep 4, 3:26 PM
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@"StickyBun" said: Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.
I don't know that he'll ever be a WR1 or 2, but I think he can craft out a long career as a special package guy. Like a Ted Ginn or Percy Harvin. 
#5 · Sep 5, 7:42 AM
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@"MaroonBells" said:
@"StickyBun" said: Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.
I don't know that he'll ever be a WR1 or 2, but I think he can craft out a long career as a special package guy. Like a Ted Ginn or Percy Harvin. 
I’m a big McCardell fan. Hoping Reagor can develop. Still young and good measurables.
#6 · Sep 6, 9:28 PM
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@"claykenny" said:
@"MaroonBells" said:
@"StickyBun" said: Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.
I don't know that he'll ever be a WR1 or 2, but I think he can craft out a long career as a special package guy. Like a Ted Ginn or Percy Harvin. 
I’m a big McCardell fan. Hoping Reagor can develop. Still young and good measurables.
He's definitely still got a good degree of upside...and at what cost? Almost nothing. Really good move by KAM.

Under McCardell and playing alongside JJ and Thielen could help fix whatever ails him. And in the meantime? Speedy package guy and a much needed PR. 

#7 · Sep 7, 5:24 AM
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@"MaroonBells" said:
@"StickyBun" said: Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.
I don't know that he'll ever be a WR1 or 2, but I think he can craft out a long career as a special package guy. Like a Ted Ginn or Percy Harvin. 
I agree with this. He isn't going to magically become a good route runner. That doesn't typically happen. 
#8 · Sep 8, 3:34 PM
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@"Canthony" said:
@"MaroonBells" said:
@"StickyBun" said: Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.
I don't know that he'll ever be a WR1 or 2, but I think he can craft out a long career as a special package guy. Like a Ted Ginn or Percy Harvin. 
I agree with this. He isn't going to magically become a good route runner. That doesn't typically happen. 
You’re right that it doesn’t magically happen. But it did for Diggs in large part due to McCardell.

In a 2018 interview with the Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, Diggs credited McCardell with making him a more complete receiver. He said that McCardell helped teach him the smallest details of route running, like suddenness, breaking, and creating separation.
Diggs emphasized that McCardell wouldn’t let Diggs rely solely on his athleticism and natural talent in college, and it looks like both McCardell’s coaching and Diggs’ hard work paid off. Diggs is one of the best route runners in the NFL, and he led the league in receiving yards this season.

#9 · Sep 8, 4:15 PM
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@"claykenny" said:
@"Canthony" said:
@"MaroonBells" said:
@"StickyBun" said: Reagor is going to surprise. JMO.
I don't know that he'll ever be a WR1 or 2, but I think he can craft out a long career as a special package guy. Like a Ted Ginn or Percy Harvin. 
I agree with this. He isn't going to magically become a good route runner. That doesn't typically happen. 
You’re right that it doesn’t magically happen. But it did for Diggs in large part due to McCardell.

In a 2018 interview with the Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, Diggs credited McCardell with making him a more complete receiver. He said that McCardell helped teach him the smallest details of route running, like suddenness, breaking, and creating separation.
Diggs emphasized that McCardell wouldn’t let Diggs rely solely on his athleticism and natural talent in college, and it looks like both McCardell’s coaching and Diggs’ hard work paid off. Diggs is one of the best route runners in the NFL, and he led the league in receiving yards this season.



Diggs already was a route runner but just needed to clean things up. He knew how to run the routes. Reagor is just bad. I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. Reagor is a guy that I think people got caught up with his measurables and speed. I think he will need more than just help with his route running. Diggs it came natural, I am not sure Reagor has that natural instinct. 

Here is Diggs NFL.com draft analysis

Strengths

  • Fluid, flexible athlete
  • Five-star recruit who stayed home to help build local program
  • Instinctive route runner
  • Does an outstanding job of sinking his hips and exploding out of breaks to create immediate separation
  • Natural ball-plucker
  • Excellent body control to adjust to throws, whether they're low, high or behind him
  • Can make contested catches
  • Dynamic and dangerous with the ball in his hands
  • Sudden once he's in space, using head fakes and impressive lateral change of direction to make multiple defenders miss
  • Instant acceleration is his differentiator from the slot

#10 · Sep 9, 8:26 AM
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for comparison
Jalon's nfl.com draft thingee

Strengths
  • Fluid but explosive
  • Versatility to create chunk plays from all levels
  • Works all three levels, including gadget plays
  • Sells vertical push to set up route breaks
  • Loose hips to sink quickly to snap off breaks
  • Shows ability to lose coverage at the top of the route
  • Gets to top speed very quickly and opens separation deep
  • Able to leap up the ladder and snag it at the high-point
  • Silky with the ball in his hands
  • Plays like a slashing running back in space
  • Creative return option with home-run potential
Weaknesses
  • Gets stalled by press more than expected
  • Strong cornerbacks ride and grind on early stages of route
  • Needs to maintain focus and finish his routes
  • Frustration with quarterback appeared to creep into play at times
  • Cornerbacks go unstacked on long throws
  • Uneven tape in competitive catch situations
  • Inconsistent leveraging space to catch
  • Ball skills fail to match athletic ability
It is the Ball skills that is the prime concern

#11 · Sep 9, 12:53 PM
DE
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Weaknesses

  • Gets stalled by press more than expected
  • Strong cornerbacks ride and grind on early stages of route
  • Needs to maintain focus and finish his routes
  • Frustration with quarterback appeared to creep into play at times
  • Cornerbacks go unstacked on long throws
  • Uneven tape in competitive catch situations
  • Inconsistent leveraging space to catch
  • Ball skills fail to match athletic ability

Top 3 weaknesses are route running related directly. I hope he ends up being the next big thing. I am just saying he has major things to work on. 

#12 · Sep 9, 1:17 PM
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Forum The Longship JJ: Elite route runner

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