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The Atlanta Falcons’ attack of the (receiver) clones

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Goober Pyle

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https://theathletic.com/994500/2019/05/24/the-atlanta-falcons-attack-of-the-receiver-clones/

 

The Falcons will begin the 2019 season with arguably the best receiver trio in the NFL. Julio Jones led the league in 2018 with 1,677 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley both totaled more than 800 receiving yards, with Ridley posting 10 touchdowns and Sanu scoring four times.

Atlanta was one of only two teams — the other being Tampa Bay — to have three players surpass 800 receiving yards in 2019.

But Atlanta isn’t the type of team to rely solely on those three players at wideout. Oftentimes, the team is rotating receivers in and out, keeping its stars fresh for the fourth quarter. For example, as important as Jones is on offense, he was on the field for 77.2 percent of the team’s plays.

With this kind of strategy in mind, the Falcons are always in a position to find other receivers who can mimic what the starters bring.

Enter the clones — the receivers near the back of the depth chart. They must offer similar characteristics to the starters.

Remember Marvin Hall’s 47-yard touchdown reception against the New York Giants last season? That play came with Jones out of the game and Hall split wide to the left of the formation. Hall ran a deep post, with some of the action in the backfield freezing the Giants’ defense. Hall used his speed to get open, and Matt Ryan hit him in stride for the deep score.

Marvin-Hall.gif

 

The point is, if Jones goes out of the game, another receiver must have a semblance of that skill set. Hall, who is no longer with Atlanta, offered similar speed to both Jones and Ridley. With Hall gone, the Falcons are searching for at least one clone to step up and see 17-to-18 percent of the team’s offensive snaps at receiver.

Receivers coach Raheem Morris said Russell Gage and Devin Gray are early contenders to be a speedy clone. Gage, who saw time on special teams as a rookie, earned some offensive reps near the end of the season. Gray will be an interesting receiver to watch, considering the Falcons stashed him on the practice squad in 2018. Morris also mentioned that Christian Blake, who ended the 2018 season on the practice squad, could compete for a spot. Blake seemingly offers a skill set reminiscent to Sanu.

“Those guys are clones of the guys we have,” Morris said. “Those guys can come in and fill in at different spots. I’ve got a really competitive group.”

The Falcons brought back Justin Hardy, and Morris said Hardy can play all three receiver spots and clone any of the wideouts ahead of him on the depth chart. That feasibly would leave anywhere from one to three spots left for remaining wideouts.

While Marcus Green was a receiver in college at Louisiana-Monroe, he’s beginning his NFL career with the running backs. Therefore, the Falcons were able to bring in four undrafted free-agent receivers shortly after this year’s NFL Draft.

Morris commented on what he has seen from each player so far.

On Olamide Zaccheaus: “He’s done a really nice job. He’s sharp; he’s smart. He can run. He’s starting to learn our lingo.”

On Khalil Lewis: “He’s smart; he’s sharp. He’s wired in and is ready to go.”

On Shawn Bane: “He’s showing some real athleticism. He’s got nice bounce; he’s got nice wiggle. He’s wired the way you want to be wired.”

On C.J. Worton: “We brought C.J. Worton in to be a little bit of a clone of Sanu. He reminds me of a taller Nick Williams. He’s got nice wiggle, get-off. He can do some really good things. He’s learning the system. We’ll see what he can do.”

Ryan on Ridley: ‘He looks really good right now’

Even as a first-round selection, Ridley entered the 2018 season as a Jones clone. It didn’t take long, however, for Ridley to go from clone to primary target in the passing game. In the third week against the New Orleans Saints, Ridley exploded for seven catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns. He ended his rookie year with 64 catches for 821 yards.

With all three of Atlanta’s top receivers back in 2019, Ridley will hope for an even bigger second campaign.

“I thought Calvin had a **** of a season,” Ryan said. “He played extremely well for us. He came out, was productive. When he got his chances he made plays. But like all of us, he realized there’s more out there for you. You can always be better. He has that mindset. He’s hungry. He wants to be a great player in this league. He’s worked extremely hard this offseason. He looks really good right now.”

Morris has been impressed with Ridley’s offseason thus far and even said he has to harness Ridley’s output at times. Ridley entered the NFL with a reputation of out-working his teammates back at Alabama.

He apparently has continued that trait this offseason.

“There are times he’s going so hard, so fast, and he wants to do it so right, that you have to say, ‘Whoa Calvin, let’s just do these things today. Let’s focus on this today,’” Morris said. “His whole thing is how to increase his knowledge. His ability to run, his ability to stop, his ability to absolutely own the passing game is going to be how he gets better. Last year, a lot of things were new and a lot of things were going fast for him. He was picking it up as it went and had a productive season. I don’t see any way he slows down at all.”

 

 

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Hibachi Apprentice

Hibachi

Posted
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23 hours ago, Goober Pyle said:

https://theathletic.com/994500/2019/05/24/the-atlanta-falcons-attack-of-the-receiver-clones/

 

The Falcons will begin the 2019 season with arguably the best receiver trio in the NFL. Julio Jones led the league in 2018 with 1,677 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley both totaled more than 800 receiving yards, with Ridley posting 10 touchdowns and Sanu scoring four times.

Atlanta was one of only two teams — the other being Tampa Bay — to have three players surpass 800 receiving yards in 2019.

But Atlanta isn’t the type of team to rely solely on those three players at wideout. Oftentimes, the team is rotating receivers in and out, keeping its stars fresh for the fourth quarter. For example, as important as Jones is on offense, he was on the field for 77.2 percent of the team’s plays.

With this kind of strategy in mind, the Falcons are always in a position to find other receivers who can mimic what the starters bring.

Enter the clones — the receivers near the back of the depth chart. They must offer similar characteristics to the starters.

Remember Marvin Hall’s 47-yard touchdown reception against the New York Giants last season? That play came with Jones out of the game and Hall split wide to the left of the formation. Hall ran a deep post, with some of the action in the backfield freezing the Giants’ defense. Hall used his speed to get open, and Matt Ryan hit him in stride for the deep score.

Marvin-Hall.gif

 

The point is, if Jones goes out of the game, another receiver must have a semblance of that skill set. Hall, who is no longer with Atlanta, offered similar speed to both Jones and Ridley. With Hall gone, the Falcons are searching for at least one clone to step up and see 17-to-18 percent of the team’s offensive snaps at receiver.

Receivers coach Raheem Morris said Russell Gage and Devin Gray are early contenders to be a speedy clone. Gage, who saw time on special teams as a rookie, earned some offensive reps near the end of the season. Gray will be an interesting receiver to watch, considering the Falcons stashed him on the practice squad in 2018. Morris also mentioned that Christian Blake, who ended the 2018 season on the practice squad, could compete for a spot. Blake seemingly offers a skill set reminiscent to Sanu.

“Those guys are clones of the guys we have,” Morris said. “Those guys can come in and fill in at different spots. I’ve got a really competitive group.”

The Falcons brought back Justin Hardy, and Morris said Hardy can play all three receiver spots and clone any of the wideouts ahead of him on the depth chart. That feasibly would leave anywhere from one to three spots left for remaining wideouts.

While Marcus Green was a receiver in college at Louisiana-Monroe, he’s beginning his NFL career with the running backs. Therefore, the Falcons were able to bring in four undrafted free-agent receivers shortly after this year’s NFL Draft.

Morris commented on what he has seen from each player so far.

On Olamide Zaccheaus: “He’s done a really nice job. He’s sharp; he’s smart. He can run. He’s starting to learn our lingo.”

On Khalil Lewis: “He’s smart; he’s sharp. He’s wired in and is ready to go.”

On Shawn Bane: “He’s showing some real athleticism. He’s got nice bounce; he’s got nice wiggle. He’s wired the way you want to be wired.”

On C.J. Worton: “We brought C.J. Worton in to be a little bit of a clone of Sanu. He reminds me of a taller Nick Williams. He’s got nice wiggle, get-off. He can do some really good things. He’s learning the system. We’ll see what he can do.”

Ryan on Ridley: ‘He looks really good right now’

Even as a first-round selection, Ridley entered the 2018 season as a Jones clone. It didn’t take long, however, for Ridley to go from clone to primary target in the passing game. In the third week against the New Orleans Saints, Ridley exploded for seven catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns. He ended his rookie year with 64 catches for 821 yards.

With all three of Atlanta’s top receivers back in 2019, Ridley will hope for an even bigger second campaign.

“I thought Calvin had a **** of a season,” Ryan said. “He played extremely well for us. He came out, was productive. When he got his chances he made plays. But like all of us, he realized there’s more out there for you. You can always be better. He has that mindset. He’s hungry. He wants to be a great player in this league. He’s worked extremely hard this offseason. He looks really good right now.”

Morris has been impressed with Ridley’s offseason thus far and even said he has to harness Ridley’s output at times. Ridley entered the NFL with a reputation of out-working his teammates back at Alabama.

He apparently has continued that trait this offseason.

“There are times he’s going so hard, so fast, and he wants to do it so right, that you have to say, ‘Whoa Calvin, let’s just do these things today. Let’s focus on this today,’” Morris said. “His whole thing is how to increase his knowledge. His ability to run, his ability to stop, his ability to absolutely own the passing game is going to be how he gets better. Last year, a lot of things were new and a lot of things were going fast for him. He was picking it up as it went and had a productive season. I don’t see any way he slows down at 

If the team has another down year,  TD & Quinn gonna need a  couple of clone scapegoats. So Raheem better be working on them machines, cause he gonna need one 2

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Osiruz Newbie

Osiruz

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On 5/27/2019 at 1:14 PM, Goober Pyle said:

 

“There are times he’s going so hard, so fast, and he wants to do it so right, that you have to say, ‘Whoa Calvin, let’s just do these things today. Let’s focus on this today,’” Morris said. “His whole thing is how to increase his knowledge. His ability to run, his ability to stop, his ability to absolutely own the passing game is going to be how he gets better. Last year, a lot of things were new and a lot of things were going fast for him. He was picking it up as it went and had a productive season. I don’t see any way he slows down at all.”

That right there should draw a smile on anyone's face if they are real fans :D. Excited about him and Gage. I think Gage could be a player for us. Can't wait till he annihilates the saints again with our OL holding up. 

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