Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football

TheOak · 10-07-2019, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by SaintSproles

You made absolutely no sense.

The grayness is not on my part.

When analyzing stats, it is a best practice to eliminate the outliers. Keeps your judgements from being skewed. When you do that, your argument crumbles. Different QBs, different offensive planning... Not a reliable direct comparison.

Take away yesterdays game and he has 1 TD and 79.3 yards/game with TB which are both less than his 2018 season. He is also on track to get 176 targets which is 27 more than any previous season. Naturally if targets go up total yards should go up and it is more of a result of volume and not increased performance.

Unless, of course, you are prepared to admit that its apples to oranges and the present sample size is too small and too dynamic for statistical reliability?

But hey, if you want to hang your hat on your snapshot then by all means... I am just trying to help.

TheOak · 10-07-2019, 06:24 AM

Bull Sh1t. Until he proves that Lattimore cant guard him he is merely as good as the top 2-3 receivers in the league.

44Champs · 10-07-2019, 06:53 AM

MT leads the league in receptions and yards

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1

XLIV CHAMPS

K Major · 10-07-2019, 07:32 AM

I was sold on Mike ever since the "toe tap" in the title game vs Bama years back.

He's a special player.

hitta · 10-07-2019, 09:38 AM

My opinion on this has probably angered many of those on this forum. When it comes down to it, when someone says that a particular player is the best player in football at a particular position, I believe it to be far too generalized of a statement. By saying someone is the "best" one could mean several different things. If we are looking at statistics, Michael Thomas is certainly the best receiver in the league right now. Pure statistical evaluation using bulk stats like receiving yards or receptions is not a great way to evaluate whether one player is more talented than the another as there are too many variables that influence these things that are outside of the players control.

I've maintained for a while that Julio Jones is the best receiver in football. Since the moment in time that this became my opinion, Michael Thomas has certainly gained ground on him. Whether Michael Thomas has passed him really depends on how the question is framed. I think Michael Thomas is a more consistent receiver than JJ. There is something to be said about the sheer effort that Michael Thomas puts forth game after game, catch after catch. As such, when it comes to value I believe Michael Thomas and Julio Jones are fairly close. Stating that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football is assuredly not an asinine assertion. I do have an issue with the statement that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football from a particular vantage point. I believe that Julio Jones is possibly the most physically gifted player in the entire league(this includes all positions). Julio Jones at his best is better than Michael Thomas at his best. I think Julio Jones has the potential to shred even the most elite corners in a way that Michael Thomas does not. I know as a Saints fan, we root for our guys ... we believe our guys to be the best etc. And in a way, I'd even agree with you that Michael Thomas is the best WR in the league. In trying to remain neutral on the topic though, it just seems obvious to me that Julio Jones possesses a gear in which Michael Thomas does not.

SaintSproles · 10-07-2019, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by hitta

My opinion on this has probably angered many of those on this forum. When it comes down to it, when someone says that a particular player is the best player in football at a particular position, I believe it to be far too generalized of a statement. By saying someone is the "best" one could mean several different things. If we are looking at statistics, Michael Thomas is certainly the best receiver in the league right now. Pure statistical evaluation using bulk stats like receiving yards or receptions is not a great way to evaluate whether one player is more talented than the another as there are too many variables that influence these things that are outside of the players control.

I've maintained for a while that Julio Jones is the best receiver in football. Since the moment in time that this became my opinion, Michael Thomas has certainly gained ground on him. Whether Michael Thomas has passed him really depends on how the question is framed. I think Michael Thomas is a more consistent receiver than JJ. There is something to be said about the sheer effort that Michael Thomas puts forth game after game, catch after catch. As such, when it comes to value I believe Michael Thomas and Julio Jones are fairly close. Stating that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football is assuredly not an asinine assertion. I do have an issue with the statement that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football from a particularly vantage point. I believe that Julio Jones is possibly the most physically gifted player in the entire league(this includes all positions). Julio Jones at his best is better than Michael Thomas at his best. I think Julio Jones has the potential to shred even the most elite corners in a way that Michael Thomas does not. I know as a Saints fan, we root for our guys ... we believe our guys to be the best etc. And in a way, I'd even agree with you that Michael Thomas is the best WR in the league. In trying to remain neutral on the topic, it just seems obvious to me that Julio Jones possesses a gear in which Michael Thomas does not.

I think all that you said is fair.

Thomas doesn't have the splash plays like the other elite receivers, but what's the value in catching a 7 yard pass on first down? I dunno, but the chance you're getting a first down is quite high at that point. When you're catching nearly 78% of the passes thrown your way, how does that correspond to a Julio Jones only catching only 65% of his passes but making a few more splash plays?

dizzle88 · 10-07-2019, 11:29 AM

Colston was always my favourite receiver but its just impossible to deny how dominant Thomas is.

I cant remember a receiver on our team as physical as Thomas is, he literally bullies DB's at the line. So physical and such a technician in his routes.

K Major · 10-07-2019, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by dizzle88

Colston was always my favourite receiver but its just impossible to deny how dominant Thomas is.

I cant remember a receiver on our team as physical as Thomas is, he literally bullies DB's at the line. So physical and such a technician in his routes.

Precisely.

Hargreaves had no answer. Mike put his hands on him early and often, creating separation and big completions.

But like you stated, his precision route running ability is incredible.

vpheughan · 10-08-2019, 07:39 AM

"I didn't mean you, I was talking about the other idiot"

Cruize · 10-08-2019, 09:45 AM

Agree with absolutely no disrespect to Hopkins. Both are great. Neither are head cases.

10-07-2019, 10:46 AM	#1
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,056	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football Originally Posted by SaintSproles You made absolutely no sense. The grayness is not on my part. When analyzing stats, it is a best practice to eliminate the outliers. Keeps your judgements from being skewed. When you do that, your argument crumbles. Different QBs, different offensive planning... Not a reliable direct comparison. Take away yesterdays game and he has 1 TD and 79.3 yards/game with TB which are both less than his 2018 season. He is also on track to get 176 targets which is 27 more than any previous season. Naturally if targets go up total yards should go up and it is more of a result of volume and not increased performance. Unless, of course, you are prepared to admit that its apples to oranges and the present sample size is too small and too dynamic for statistical reliability? But hey, if you want to hang your hat on your snapshot then by all means... I am just trying to help.
	It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. ~ Henry David Thoreau Last edited by TheOak; 10-07-2019 at 10:57 AM..

10-07-2019, 06:24 AM	#2
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,056	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football Bull Sh1t. Until he proves that Lattimore cant guard him he is merely as good as the top 2-3 receivers in the league. Crusader and Rugby Saint II like this.

10-07-2019, 06:53 AM	#3
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football MT leads the league in receptions and yards http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1 XLIV CHAMPS Crusader likes this.
44Champs Site Donor Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,589

10-07-2019, 07:32 AM	#4
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,853 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football I was sold on Mike ever since the "toe tap" in the title game vs Bama years back. He's a special player. TheOak likes this.

10-07-2019, 09:38 AM	#5
hitta 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,343	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football My opinion on this has probably angered many of those on this forum. When it comes down to it, when someone says that a particular player is the best player in football at a particular position, I believe it to be far too generalized of a statement. By saying someone is the "best" one could mean several different things. If we are looking at statistics, Michael Thomas is certainly the best receiver in the league right now. Pure statistical evaluation using bulk stats like receiving yards or receptions is not a great way to evaluate whether one player is more talented than the another as there are too many variables that influence these things that are outside of the players control. I've maintained for a while that Julio Jones is the best receiver in football. Since the moment in time that this became my opinion, Michael Thomas has certainly gained ground on him. Whether Michael Thomas has passed him really depends on how the question is framed. I think Michael Thomas is a more consistent receiver than JJ. There is something to be said about the sheer effort that Michael Thomas puts forth game after game, catch after catch. As such, when it comes to value I believe Michael Thomas and Julio Jones are fairly close. Stating that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football is assuredly not an asinine assertion. I do have an issue with the statement that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football from a particular vantage point. I believe that Julio Jones is possibly the most physically gifted player in the entire league(this includes all positions). Julio Jones at his best is better than Michael Thomas at his best. I think Julio Jones has the potential to shred even the most elite corners in a way that Michael Thomas does not. I know as a Saints fan, we root for our guys ... we believe our guys to be the best etc. And in a way, I'd even agree with you that Michael Thomas is the best WR in the league. In trying to remain neutral on the topic though, it just seems obvious to me that Julio Jones possesses a gear in which Michael Thomas does not.
hitta 1000 Posts + Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,343

10-07-2019, 09:43 AM	#6
SaintSproles Site Donor Drew Brees GOAT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 342 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football Originally Posted by hitta My opinion on this has probably angered many of those on this forum. When it comes down to it, when someone says that a particular player is the best player in football at a particular position, I believe it to be far too generalized of a statement. By saying someone is the "best" one could mean several different things. If we are looking at statistics, Michael Thomas is certainly the best receiver in the league right now. Pure statistical evaluation using bulk stats like receiving yards or receptions is not a great way to evaluate whether one player is more talented than the another as there are too many variables that influence these things that are outside of the players control. I've maintained for a while that Julio Jones is the best receiver in football. Since the moment in time that this became my opinion, Michael Thomas has certainly gained ground on him. Whether Michael Thomas has passed him really depends on how the question is framed. I think Michael Thomas is a more consistent receiver than JJ. There is something to be said about the sheer effort that Michael Thomas puts forth game after game, catch after catch. As such, when it comes to value I believe Michael Thomas and Julio Jones are fairly close. Stating that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football is assuredly not an asinine assertion. I do have an issue with the statement that Michael Thomas is the best receiver in football from a particularly vantage point. I believe that Julio Jones is possibly the most physically gifted player in the entire league(this includes all positions). Julio Jones at his best is better than Michael Thomas at his best. I think Julio Jones has the potential to shred even the most elite corners in a way that Michael Thomas does not. I know as a Saints fan, we root for our guys ... we believe our guys to be the best etc. And in a way, I'd even agree with you that Michael Thomas is the best WR in the league. In trying to remain neutral on the topic, it just seems obvious to me that Julio Jones possesses a gear in which Michael Thomas does not. I think all that you said is fair. Thomas doesn't have the splash plays like the other elite receivers, but what's the value in catching a 7 yard pass on first down? I dunno, but the chance you're getting a first down is quite high at that point. When you're catching nearly 78% of the passes thrown your way, how does that correspond to a Julio Jones only catching only 65% of his passes but making a few more splash plays?

10-07-2019, 11:29 AM	#7
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,548	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football Colston was always my favourite receiver but its just impossible to deny how dominant Thomas is. I cant remember a receiver on our team as physical as Thomas is, he literally bullies DB's at the line. So physical and such a technician in his routes. Crusader, Rugby Saint II and K Major like this.

10-07-2019, 11:32 AM	#8
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,853 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football Originally Posted by dizzle88 Colston was always my favourite receiver but its just impossible to deny how dominant Thomas is. I cant remember a receiver on our team as physical as Thomas is, he literally bullies DB's at the line. So physical and such a technician in his routes. Precisely. Hargreaves had no answer. Mike put his hands on him early and often, creating separation and big completions. But like you stated, his precision route running ability is incredible.

10-08-2019, 07:39 AM	#9
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,563	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football "I didn't mean you, I was talking about the other idiot"
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,563

10-08-2019, 09:45 AM	#10
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,467	Re: Michael Thomas is officially the best receiver in football Agree with absolutely no disrespect to Hopkins. Both are great. Neither are head cases. SaintSproles likes this.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,467