Redskins OTAs

So, youtube had a couple videos of all of Doctson's targets in the Denver and Saints game.

In the Saints' game, he had 4 catches on 7 targets. Of the three non-catches, he got his hands on one but couldn't pull it in, the other two were on Cousins.

In the Denver game he had 2 catches on 13 targets. Of the non-catches, the vast majority (at least 6) were just bad throws by KC. Three were ones he should have caught with one being a very tough but makeable catch.

Nothing in the videos, however, show a "soft" receiver. He ran over the middle without hesitation and consistently contested balls in the air (in one, he almost turned a certain interception in the end zone into a TD). When close, and whether he caught it or not, he would lay out and take the pounding in the attempt. In addition, on several of KC's misses, Doc was open and KC just either underthrew or overthrew him (in one Doc had beaten double coverage deep and KC just threw it behind him, two yards in front and it's a TD).

It was only two games but I didn't see anything in them that would cause me to believe he is lacking the skills or the will needed to be a No. 1 WR in the league.

At this point, I expect a big leap from last year. He had a full year of being healthy after missing all but two games his rookie year. In addition, I am admittedly buying into the company line that KC really didn't take many chances downfield with him (although he did force the ball into a couple double coverages in an attempt to give Doc a chance, I think he was about 50/50 on those).

All this is to say that, if I was to bet on it, I'd bet we see very significant improvement in his numbers this year.

I am not as hopeful as you are, but I sure hope you're right! Potential is there.

Doc is coming into his third year. WR is one of the toughest positions to transition from college to pro. Sure, a handful of WR's are day 1 ready. Most take a couple years to develop.

I am not ready to pass judgment on Doc yet. After this year, if he fails to produce, fine, I will not object when folks say he is soft or not a No. 1. He made some hard catches and did not shy away from contact as far as I could tell. I don't know if KC wasn't comfortable with him or if Doctson really just wasn't doing his job. Let's see if Smith / Richardson make a difference.

I heard Cooley go over this a few weeks ago. He was doing it from the point of view of which positions to draft versus which positions to sign in FA.

He was making the categorization based purely on how quickly players at the position transition from college to the NFL.

He lumped WR squarely as a position that takes longer to develop.

Hope springs eternal.

He could be in for a breakout season

It's keeping these guys on the field, I saw Allen saying that is his biggest goal. Kinda scares me that he has that thinking already.

One thing is clear with Doctson, if we can start the season with P. Rich, Reed and Crowder all healthy ready to go his opportunity will be at its greatest potential since he's been here.

With P Rich's speed and Reed's ability as top 5 pass catching TE...these 2 will demand the most attention from the D coordinator's passing defense. Throw in Crowder a nuisance type receiver who has proven to be a playmaker and match up problem working underneath....he will probably demand some attention especially when it comes to formation match ups.

Doctson will probably be left alone on the 2nd corner without safety help...certainly an opportunity here.

One thing is clear with Doctson, if we can start the season with P. Rich, Reed and Crowder all healthy ready to go his opportunity will be at its greatest potential since he's been here.

With P Rich's speed and Reed's ability as top 5 pass catching TE...these 2 will demand the most attention from the D coordinator's passing defense. Throw in Crowder a nuisance type receiver who has proven to be a playmaker and match up problem working underneath....he will probably demand some attention especially when it comes to formation match ups.

Doctson will probably be left alone on the 2nd corner without safety help...certainly an opportunity here.

I mean, throw in Chris Thompson and that just becomes a nightmare scenario for coordinators.

If Reed can stay relatively healthy for the first part of the season, and of course Thompson, then that will take a lot of pressure off of Doctson. Having Richardson here will also take pressure off of Doctson. Even if we go through the same crap of not having Reed for several games, I think there's still enough weapons, offensively, that can make it easier for Doctson.

Point is, we had better remain a lot healthier than we were last year. I know there are going to be injuries, but losing guys like Thompson AND Reed last year turned out to be backbreaking.

I mean, I get injuries happen, but it just seemed like last year was out of whack. Other than DB's we lost starters everywhere with the skill positions, OL and DL being the worst hit.

I mean, I get injuries happen, but it just seemed like last year was out of whack. Other than DB's we lost starters everywhere with the skill positions, OL and DL being the worst hit.



Yup and the Giants did too but I still believe it's a combination of many things. Working out year round more wear and tear on the joints and the body in general,and my biggest bitch is the turf.The shoes do a better job of gripping the surface and the players are bigger and stronger and the only thing that gives is the human body. I know people bitch about it and cost ...slipping ,mud and all that but I still think the game needs to be on grass fields.Let the sod give way instead of someones knee or ankle.

I mean, I get injuries happen, but it just seemed like last year was out of whack. Other than DB's we lost starters everywhere with the skill positions, OL and DL being the worst hit.

It was the worst I've ever seen. Last time I felt the 'skins were hit hard with the injury bug like this was in 1990 when they played that "body bag" game.

Yahoo shouldn't link to sites that are behind a hard paywall like the Wash. Post. They have an article about OTAs but you read half a paragraph and Wash Post wants money.

Did it one year, not paying them again.