Go Back   New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com > Main > Saints

Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; And it's not even close. The New Orleans Saints No. 1 wideout has never made a Pro Bowl or been given All-Pro distinction. While he wouldn't be considered a secret weapon, the former seventh-round pick from Hofstra doesn't get the ...

Like Tree17Likes

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-16-2013, 05:46 PM   #1
Threaded by hagan714
LB Mentallity
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 15,870

Blog Entries: 68
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rating: (0 votes - average)

And it's not even close.

The New Orleans Saints No. 1 wideout has never made a Pro Bowl or been given All-Pro distinction. While he wouldn't be considered a secret weapon, the former seventh-round pick from Hofstra doesn't get the credit he deserves in many circles.

Hopefully this examination will shed light on Colston's sterling resumé, especially in relation to well-known, highly-regarded receivers in the league today.

Let's begin by comparing Colston to three wideouts who are considered among the best in the game, guys who certainly aren't underrated.
(They also happen to have joined the NFL around the same time Colston did in 2006.)

Name Career Receptions Per Game Career Yards Per Game Career TDs Per Game

Greg Jennings 4.42 68.1 .55
Calvin Johnson 5.30 85.2 .58
Brandon Marshall 5.72 72.5 .42
Marques Colston 5.21 72.5 .57

Surprised?

Colston's per-game numbers are clearly quite impressive across the board. In this case, they're better than Jennings in every category and Colston's receptions-per-game and touchdowns-per-game averages are on par with the undisputed top receiver in the NFL.

Jennings, Johnson and Marshall have been named to a combined nine Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro teams.

Remember, the Pro Bowl is far from being the purest practice of correctly labeling the league's best players, as it's become somewhat of a yearly popularity contest.

USA TODAY Sports

But the fact that Colston has never been named to one speaks to his public perception and subsequent underrated status.

If 1,000-yard seasons are your thing, Colston checks out favorably in relation to his receiving peers, too.

He has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in six of his seven professional seasons, tied with Reggie Wayne, Roddy White and Marshall for the most 1,000-yard campaigns since 2006.

Altogether, Wayne, White and Marshall have been named to a whopping, yet deserved, 14 Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro teams.

The most common criticisms against Colston as an elite receiver are as such, and actually are related: Drew Brees' consistently prolific, pass-happy offense inflates Colston's statistics and his comparatively lower single-season receiving yard career high of 1,202.

Brees' quarterbacking brilliance and high-volume passing attack are undoubtedly beneficial to Colston.

However, New Orleans' offense is mainly predicated on distributing the football to a wide range of receivers, tight ends and running backs.

Brandon Marshall 9.62
Greg Jennings 7.64
Calvin Johnson 9.58
Roddy White 9.09
Reggie Wayne 9.57
Marques Colston 8.09

Name Average Targets Per Game Since 2006 While Colston definitely gets his fair share of targets every game and every season, he's not targeted nearly as much as some of the more prominent receiving names.

He saw 144 targets in 2007, the most of his career, which is considerably lower than most of the aforementioned top wideouts.

Brandon Marshall 194 (2012)
Greg Jennings 139 (2008)
Calvin Johnson 205 (2012)
Roddy White 181 (2011)
Reggie Wayne 173 (2010)
Marques Colston 144 (2007)

Name Career High of Targets in a Single Season

Colston simply hasn't had the football thrown in his direction as often, which could be part of the reason why his single-season receiving yard career high is lower than most of the household names at his position.
Also, Colston has been dubbed as more of a chain-moving, possession receiver than a downfield threat during his time with the Saints, something that may have given the impression that he was a boring, underneath receiver incapable of making big plays.

After all, we love big plays.

Actually though, his career yards-per-reception average stacks up with the league's best.

Name Career Yards Per Reception Average

Brandon Marshall 12.7
Greg Jennings 15.4
Calvin Johnson 16.1
Reggie Wayne 13.5
Roddy White 14.0
Marques Colston 13.9

Obviously, Colston hasn't been as vertically dangerous as some of his wide receiver mates, but the notion that he can't or doesn't stretch the field is probably overblown, right?

A career yards-per-reception average between Wayne and White is surely respectable to say the least.

Heck, with the crowd of tremendous receivers in the NFC, there's a legitimate chance he never makes a Pro Bowl and is never a member of the All-Pro team.

But with years of sustained high-level production and not nearly as much to show for it as his wideout cohorts, it's easy to see that Marques Colston is the most underrated receiver in the NFL.


Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver | Bleacher Report

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	New+Orleans+Saints+v+Chicago+Bears+CBK-ipXWfTMl.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	63.3 KB
ID:	6843  

darksoul35 likes this.

Last edited by Halo; 05-16-2013 at 06:01 PM..
Views: 7870
Old 05-16-2013, 06:00 PM   #2
Bounty Money $$$
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA.
Posts: 23,689
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

I thought Lance Moore was the NFLs most underrated player.
foreverfan likes this.
Rugby Saint II is offline  
Old 05-16-2013, 06:02 PM   #3
Site Donor MONTHLY
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 20,181
Blog Entries: 45
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II View Post
I thought Lance Moore was the NFLs most underrated player.
I think Moore lost that title when he landed THE BIG paycheck!
Halo is offline  
Old 05-16-2013, 06:07 PM   #4
Site Donor 2014
Truth Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R)
Posts: 24,634
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

PT is the NFL's most underrated Saint.
Moore disappears too often.
Colston remains steady all year long.
Rell&Gold and Joker like this.
Danno is offline  
Old 05-16-2013, 06:31 PM   #5
10000 POST CLUB
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Shreveport,Louisiana
Posts: 15,996
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

He is definitely under appreciated outside of WhoDat Nation!
Danno, SloMotion and saintsfan403 like this.
WhoDat!656 is offline  
Old 05-17-2013, 03:36 PM   #6
1000 Posts +
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: WHO DAT NATION
Posts: 2,261
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

Just like Sproles
saintsfan403 is offline  
Old 05-17-2013, 04:40 PM   #7
Site Donor 2018
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Thibodaux
Posts: 43,543
Blog Entries: 39
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

Who Gives A F***...

If building a real team and Megatron is off the board, Colston is the Wide Receiver I'm selecting - and that includes the Other Kid Named Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, AJ Greene and the Choke Squad from Atlanta...
jeanpierre is offline  
Old 05-17-2013, 04:41 PM   #8
Site Donor 2018
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Thibodaux
Posts: 43,543
Blog Entries: 39
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

And the disrespect and reality detachment continues...

B/R NFL 1,000 2013: Top 100 Wide Receivers | Bleacher Report
jeanpierre is offline  
Old 05-17-2013, 05:49 PM   #9
Site Donor 2014
Truth Addict
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R)
Posts: 24,634
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

Originally Posted by jeanpierre View Post
Who Gives A F***...

If building a real team and Megatron is off the board, Colston is the Wide Receiver I'm selecting - and that includes the Other Kid Named Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, AJ Greene and the Choke Squad from Atlanta...
Wow, I couldn't disagree more. Colston over Larry Fitzgerald? Are you on drugs?

And as much as I hate the Falcons I'd take Julio Jones over any of our WR's.

Brees with Fitzgerald? Brees with Julio? That would be embarrasing for our opponents.
thebdj and Joker like this.
Danno is offline  
Old 05-17-2013, 09:15 PM   #10
1000 Posts +
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,021
Re: Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver

Let them keep on hating. That might be part of the mans fuel. WhoDat knows whassup.
darksoul35 is offline  
Closed Thread

Tags
marques colston, underrated

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules

LinkBacks (?)
LinkBack to this Thread: https://blackandgold.com/saints/57901-why-marques-colston-nfls-most-underrated-receiver.html
Posted By For Type Date Hits
Why Marques Colston Is the NFL's Most Underrated Receiver This thread Refback 05-16-2013 06:22 PM 10
The Latest New Orleans Saints News | SportSpyder This thread Refback 05-16-2013 06:09 PM 3


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:00 AM.


Copyright 1997 - 2020 - BlackandGold.com
no new posts