Assuming JJ goes to #2, who is our slot guy?

[Farmer2]

I'm going to assume that JJ will be our #2 WR barring a long lockout. So who is our #3 slot receiver? I'm assuming it's between Jenkins and Douglas. Both bring something different to the table. My vote would go to Jenkins now, but I'll admit I could be easily swayed. Jenkins is a bigger target, sneaky fast, good run blocker and makes the tough catch in the clutch. IMO the one advantage Douglas has over Jenks is the ability to turn a short pass into a homerun. He's more elusive with the ball. For now I'm saying it'll be Jenkins, while sprinkling in some HD into the offense and let him compete w/ Weems for return duties.

[g-dawg]

I think they will rotate depending on the play being run. Certainly Jenkins is the more physical player with the bigger body - on plays that require his talents, he will be the slot receiver - otherwise on more explosive plays, it will be HD.

Good news is - I doubt Kerry Meier will be 100% until end of season so he can sit out first half - no point in bringing him back until he's 100% coming of the knee. Clearly HD was not 100% last year - takes 2 years to be fully back in most cases from the ACL

[Captain Falcon]

Jenkins would be an excellent slot guy IMO.

[Theyhateme : )]

If they keep Jenkins, I think he'd create some mismatches if he moved to the slot.

[Dharma Initiative]

I think Douglas is gone. Jenkins will become the slot guy and Meier the big #4 guy. Weems at #5, the difference between Weems and Douglas is almost null, except Weems actually catches and doesn't drop every pass

[coachx]

I'd put Roddy White in the slot and let the taller Jenkins and Jones play on the outside in some 3 WR sets.

[Tribal Chief]

I think Douglas is gone. Jenkins will become the slot guy and Meier the big #4 guy. Weems at #5, the difference between Weems and Douglas is almost null, except Weems actually catches and doesn't drop every pass

I think there will be a jump in production from Harry Douglas because it's going to be his second year recovering from his knee surgery. Even though Harry was ready to go when the season started, he wasn't 100 percent.

As the season progressed, he got better and better. I think it was evident in the Carolina game [in Charlotte on Dec. 12] when he caught the deep ball. Harry will be an integral part of what we want to do.

--Coach Smith

[FalconFanatic304]

I like having a bigger WR in the slot to create mismatches. Jones would be a beast I think.

[Magic Man]

Jenkins is the slot guy for now, and I think HD is possibly wearing a different color when the season starts. We now have:

White - 'Nuff Said

Jones - The rookie

Jenkins - coaching staff likes this guy. Tough, quick, and has ok hands

Douglas - slowed by injury, not consistent hands

Meier - The new Finneran

Weems - P/K Returns

Looking at this list, I think HD becomes trade fodder. We could possibly have an understanding with Cleveland to get next year's 4th back for HD after the season is officially no longer under lockout rules.

[Farmer2]

I'd put Roddy White in the slot and let the taller Jenkins and Jones play on the outside in some 3 WR sets.

That's an option that never even crossed my mind. Very interesting. That could be a match up nightmare for teams that don't match up a CB to a specific WR.

[Falc_Fan_Since_Six]

It's ridiculous to count out HD just yet. He will really just now be getting back to 100% with the start of this season. Sure, he could get out there and play last year but he wasn't himself. It takes awhile to get over a knee injury like HD had and part of it is just having confidence in the knee again. I really hope TD and Smitty are not as short sighted as some of our fan base seems to be.

[Master Exploder]

I have a feeling we're going to drop Jenkins or Douglas. You never know though.

[Borat]

I don't know if I'd want Roddy running cross routes across he middle and getting jacked up by MLBs. But yeah Roddy vs. NB is a good matchup for us

[bigalbinodonky]

Jenkins is not a good slot receiver. His best talent is blocking, and if you're in a 3-WR set then you probably aren't running the ball. The idea of Roddy in the slot and Jenkins on the outside is a decent idea and will definitely happen on occasion if ATL keeps Jenkins. Douglas or Weems would both be better pure slot receivers than Jenkins, though.

[The Don™]

HD isn't going anywhere folks. TD and Smith have been talking real highly of him this offseason and constantly reference him being a key part of the offense this upcoming season.

The same applies for Meier too. Coach Smith sounds VERY HIGH on the kid(see Pat Y. article).

Either we go with 6 WRs(which we might have done last year if Meier didn't get injured). That shows how much they liked Meier and didn't want to risk it putting him on the practice squad. Anyways, we go 6 WR or we go 5 WR with Jenkins making the most sense to be traded and getting rid of his salary...

[JC Falcon]

I've said parts of this in other threads:

I think Jenkins would be awful in the slot. He has no explosion or moves to evade or change direction. He doesn't catch as well in traffic and doesn't use his body to shield out defenders on jump balls. He's got good deep speed and good hands when he catches away from his body like the sideline toe tap. Jenkins does have good timing with Ryan and the QB confidence on that sideline comeback.

HD is 2 years back from a knee and hopefully has recovered all the explosion and change of direction that got him one of (if not the) fastest 3 cone drills in his combine class. He needs to focus on his timing and rapport with Ryan. He played the beginning of the season at #2 while Jenkins had his collar bone. I wondered through the season if that playing 2 different positions plus his knee in what was effectively his 2nd year playing diminished his play. I also think it cost him valuable time perfecting his timing and confidence with Ryan. I saw a lot of passes to HD that were just a half step out of sync. Another year of practice should improve those plays.

So with HD as our #3, we are overpaying to keep Jenkins as our 4th or 5th passing option (White, Jones, Gonzalez, HD/Jenkins). I think Jenkins is great trade material to a team like St. Louis. Veteran WR with great deep speed and has worked with another developing QB and can also show their 2 new WR how to play. He has legitimate skills to justify a good trade to get a draft pick or two back in 2012, but is not worth his contract as 4th or 5th option here.

[Power I]

We have a bunch of different receivers with a lot of different attributes. They all bring something to the table. It's up to the coaching staff to put them in the best positions to succeed.

[Aria7]

I'm going to assume that JJ will be our #2 WR barring a long lockout. So who is our #3 slot receiver? I'm assuming it's between Jenkins and Douglas. Both bring something different to the table. My vote would go to Jenkins now, but I'll admit I could be easily swayed. Jenkins is a bigger target, sneaky fast, good run blocker and makes the tough catch in the clutch. IMO the one advantage Douglas has over Jenks is the ability to turn a short pass into a homerun. He's more elusive with the ball. For now I'm saying it'll be Jenkins, while sprinkling in some HD into the offense and let him compete w/ Weems for return duties.

Jenkins

Harry Douglas s*cks.

Michael Jenkins is at least servicable. Douglas has not shown any homerun ability at all. I would rather give Meier a shot at #4.

[Falcon Fanatic]

I think Douglas is gone. Jenkins will become the slot guy and Meier the big #4 guy. Weems at #5, the difference between Weems and Douglas is almost null, except Weems actually catches and doesn't drop every pass

I think Weems is gone with him being a UFA. Douglas will probably take his punt return duties as it would cost too much to retain Weems and Douglas is still playing under his rookie contract.

[Ga_spider]

Jenkins is one of the best at using the sidelines.

[DirtyBirdSupabowl]

I would leave Roddy out on the outside his skill set is best utilized working out wide. HD should be back to '08 HD with two years since the injury and I can see MJ rotating in like Finn did but in more situations. Regardless I am sure this is a problem most teams would love to have and hopefully MM is opening up the playbook.

[BlazerHarvard]

People that are all over Harry Douglas are being so short-sighted it isn't even funny.

Douglas is going nowhere for two reasons:

1) He is going into his second season removed from his ACL tear. This is usually when players return to their old form, as we all know.

2) He has ZERO trade value right now, but has the potential to perhaps not only return to '08 form, but improve from that.

If anyone is going to be cut or traded, it's Jenkins or Weems.

[Clark Kent™]

I'd put Roddy White in the slot and let the taller Jenkins and Jones play on the outside in some 3 WR sets.

This will definitely happen. In fact i think that all of our WR's will play some in the slot. HD and Weems are both pretty quick and crafty guys so they will each see some time in the slot as well. Jenkins may have the edge over those two because of his blocking ability. Despite his size he really doesn't create THAT much of a mismatch because he doesn't play like his size.

[MSalmon]

I'd put Roddy White in the slot and let the taller Jenkins and Jones play on the outside in some 3 WR sets.

This and I bet you'll see a lot of "trips" shotgun looks with Gonzo in at TE. Particularly in the no-huddle that Ryan likes to run. Grabbing Jacquizz really helps this formation, as you honestly have another receiving weapon in as well.