Saints WR - Who Emerges?

hagan714 · 07-04-2007, 12:50 PM

Saints WRs - Who Emerges?

June 26, 2007
By Ryan Patterson
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

The New Orleans Saints experienced a passing game renaissance in 2006 under head coach Sean Peyton. From 2000-2004, wide receiver Joe Horn was the one consistent standout. He led the team in receptions each of those years (averaging 87.4 per year) and made the Pro Bowl four times.
However, not only had age and injury started to catch up with Horn last year, but the Saints found several other options in the receiving game, including wide receivers Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper. (Let's not to forget running back Reggie Bush, who led the team in receptions last year.) Add the acquisition of quarterback Drew Brees, and the result was an extraordinarily balanced passing game that finished first in the NFL. New Orleans continued their push towards a younger receiver corps by releasing Horn (who has since been acquired by the Atlanta Falcons) and drafting Robert Meachem in the first round.
Expectations for the passing game in 2007 are through the roof, and although all receivers will likely get a piece of that action, Colston is clearly the top receiver. Past Colston, the pecking order becomes a little more convoluted, where most starting time will be had by either Henderson or Copper. Veteran wide receiver David Patten was brought in for some experienced depth, and Meachem is a wildcard.

Colston

Most people know by now that Colston came out of nowhere and established himself as the top receiver on the Saints. He entered the season as the fourth-to-last pick in the 2006 NFL draft and finished leading all rookies in receiving yards (1,038) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Currently, the only player on the team who should rival Colston in receptions is not any of the other receivers but Bush.
There are several factors that could contribute to Colston's improvement in 2007. First, Colston missed a few games in 2006 because of an ankle injury; if he played all 16 games last year he could've may have been able to approach to 1,400 yards. Second, Colston now has a full season of experience under his belt. Third, the offensive structure and players, for the most part, have remained intact. Fourth, and possibly most important, Horn is no longer in New Orleans, and this leaves Colston as the undisputed No. 1 receiver. This should help strengthen the rapport between Brees and Colston; it may also be reflected in the game plan and play calls.
Not to be a cynic, but it's important to note that Colston has had only one productive season, and if he tanked in his second year, he wouldn't be the first to do so. Other wide receivers in recent memory who have done this include Michael Clayton from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1,193 receiving yards his first season, less than 400 yards in each of his next two) and Keary Colbert of the Carolina Panthers (754 receiving yards his first season and a combined 338 yards over his next two seasons). Colston is in an offense that should give him more opportunity to succeed. How he will function as the No. 1 remains to be seen, though.

Henderson and Copper

Although Henderson and Copper both entered the league in 2004, it was under different circumstances. Henderson was a second-round pick by the Saints while Copper went undrafted but was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. What they do have in common is the Saints used them both as big-play receivers in 2006. Last year Copper averaged 16.7 yards per catch and Henderson a whopping 23.3 yards per catch.
What they also have in common is they are now in competition for the starting spot opposite Colston. Henderson has a slight upper hand in the contest as he is more athletic and has had more experience as a receiver, but that isn't saying a whole lot as he only has 54 career receptions (compared to 31 for Copper). However, because head coach Sean Payton likes to spread the ball around (by no coincidence, much like one of his mentors, former NFL head coach Bill Parcels). Therefore, who sees action may be dictated more by the situation of the game at the time instead of who is the official starter.
That fact may also keep either one from amassing the amount of receptions and yards worthy of a true second receiver on a team that threw for over 4,000 yards last season. In reality, these two aren't even necessarily competing for the second receiver position but the third receiver position, because the top two belong to Colston and Bush. Henderson showed more potential last season, though. With his ability, he has the better chance to break out and fill the deep-threat role that Horn was at times able to. That's a facet of the offense that isn't a certainty going into the season.

Patten

Even though the Saints have the receiver talent to replace the departed Horn, they do not have the experience. This is why Patten was brought in. The Saints had to use a number of different receiver combinations on the field because of injuries (most minor) in 2006, and it was important to bring in veteran talent that can come in when called upon. Patten has played this role for the majority of his career and did it very well while playing for the New England Patriots, where he started 14 games in each of the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
Patten made 61 receptions for 824 yards and five touchdowns in his best season yardage-wise, but impressive statistics are not what make Patten valuable. Instead, he will likely be used as clutch receiver as well depth to cover any injuries that may occur. Unfortunately, Patten's last tour of duty with the Washington Redskins did not produce much, primarily because of injuries. Chances are his numbers in New Orleans will be closer to those in Washington (23 receptions for 242 yards in 14 games in 2005-06) than those in New England.

Meachem

The Saints used their first-round pick on highly ranked rookie receiver Meachem, the fourth receiver drafted. Since then, Meachem has struggled in the Saints' minicamp and official team activities in part because he was out of shape. He injured an ankle as well as his knee and had arthroscopic surgery to repair a cartilage tear in the knee.
Well, take a page from the Detroit Lions about first-round wide receiver picks and chalk this one up to experience. Actually, from a career standpoint, it isn't all that bad and definitely not time to throw in the towel. You can certainly forget Meachem competing for a starting position right away like the team hoped he would. New Orleans believes that he will be ready for training camp, but even if he is able to fully participate, don't count on Meachem being productive or seeing any significant action in 2007 until at least later on in the season. Rookie receivers have a steep learning curve, and he's now behind.

07-04-2007, 12:50 PM	#1
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Saints WR - Who Emerges? Saints WRs - Who Emerges? June 26, 2007 By Ryan Patterson Edited by Nicholas Minnix The New Orleans Saints experienced a passing game renaissance in 2006 under head coach Sean Peyton. From 2000-2004, wide receiver Joe Horn was the one consistent standout. He led the team in receptions each of those years (averaging 87.4 per year) and made the Pro Bowl four times. However, not only had age and injury started to catch up with Horn last year, but the Saints found several other options in the receiving game, including wide receivers Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper. (Let's not to forget running back Reggie Bush, who led the team in receptions last year.) Add the acquisition of quarterback Drew Brees, and the result was an extraordinarily balanced passing game that finished first in the NFL. New Orleans continued their push towards a younger receiver corps by releasing Horn (who has since been acquired by the Atlanta Falcons) and drafting Robert Meachem in the first round. Expectations for the passing game in 2007 are through the roof, and although all receivers will likely get a piece of that action, Colston is clearly the top receiver. Past Colston, the pecking order becomes a little more convoluted, where most starting time will be had by either Henderson or Copper. Veteran wide receiver David Patten was brought in for some experienced depth, and Meachem is a wildcard. Colston Most people know by now that Colston came out of nowhere and established himself as the top receiver on the Saints. He entered the season as the fourth-to-last pick in the 2006 NFL draft and finished leading all rookies in receiving yards (1,038) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Currently, the only player on the team who should rival Colston in receptions is not any of the other receivers but Bush. There are several factors that could contribute to Colston's improvement in 2007. First, Colston missed a few games in 2006 because of an ankle injury; if he played all 16 games last year he could've may have been able to approach to 1,400 yards. Second, Colston now has a full season of experience under his belt. Third, the offensive structure and players, for the most part, have remained intact. Fourth, and possibly most important, Horn is no longer in New Orleans, and this leaves Colston as the undisputed No. 1 receiver. This should help strengthen the rapport between Brees and Colston; it may also be reflected in the game plan and play calls. Not to be a cynic, but it's important to note that Colston has had only one productive season, and if he tanked in his second year, he wouldn't be the first to do so. Other wide receivers in recent memory who have done this include Michael Clayton from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1,193 receiving yards his first season, less than 400 yards in each of his next two) and Keary Colbert of the Carolina Panthers (754 receiving yards his first season and a combined 338 yards over his next two seasons). Colston is in an offense that should give him more opportunity to succeed. How he will function as the No. 1 remains to be seen, though. Henderson and Copper Although Henderson and Copper both entered the league in 2004, it was under different circumstances. Henderson was a second-round pick by the Saints while Copper went undrafted but was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. What they do have in common is the Saints used them both as big-play receivers in 2006. Last year Copper averaged 16.7 yards per catch and Henderson a whopping 23.3 yards per catch. What they also have in common is they are now in competition for the starting spot opposite Colston. Henderson has a slight upper hand in the contest as he is more athletic and has had more experience as a receiver, but that isn't saying a whole lot as he only has 54 career receptions (compared to 31 for Copper). However, because head coach Sean Payton likes to spread the ball around (by no coincidence, much like one of his mentors, former NFL head coach Bill Parcels). Therefore, who sees action may be dictated more by the situation of the game at the time instead of who is the official starter. That fact may also keep either one from amassing the amount of receptions and yards worthy of a true second receiver on a team that threw for over 4,000 yards last season. In reality, these two aren't even necessarily competing for the second receiver position but the third receiver position, because the top two belong to Colston and Bush. Henderson showed more potential last season, though. With his ability, he has the better chance to break out and fill the deep-threat role that Horn was at times able to. That's a facet of the offense that isn't a certainty going into the season. Patten Even though the Saints have the receiver talent to replace the departed Horn, they do not have the experience. This is why Patten was brought in. The Saints had to use a number of different receiver combinations on the field because of injuries (most minor) in 2006, and it was important to bring in veteran talent that can come in when called upon. Patten has played this role for the majority of his career and did it very well while playing for the New England Patriots, where he started 14 games in each of the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Patten made 61 receptions for 824 yards and five touchdowns in his best season yardage-wise, but impressive statistics are not what make Patten valuable. Instead, he will likely be used as clutch receiver as well depth to cover any injuries that may occur. Unfortunately, Patten's last tour of duty with the Washington Redskins did not produce much, primarily because of injuries. Chances are his numbers in New Orleans will be closer to those in Washington (23 receptions for 242 yards in 14 games in 2005-06) than those in New England. Meachem The Saints used their first-round pick on highly ranked rookie receiver Meachem, the fourth receiver drafted. Since then, Meachem has struggled in the Saints' minicamp and official team activities in part because he was out of shape. He injured an ankle as well as his knee and had arthroscopic surgery to repair a cartilage tear in the knee. Well, take a page from the Detroit Lions about first-round wide receiver picks and chalk this one up to experience. Actually, from a career standpoint, it isn't all that bad and definitely not time to throw in the towel. You can certainly forget Meachem competing for a starting position right away like the team hoped he would. New Orleans believes that he will be ready for training camp, but even if he is able to fully participate, don't count on Meachem being productive or seeing any significant action in 2007 until at least later on in the season. Rookie receivers have a steep learning curve, and he's now behind.
	"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins