While the NFL
does not like to admit it, it is a league full
of copycats. From the West Coast offense to the
3-4 defense to everything in between like the
old Run and Shoot offense and the still en vogue
Cover 2 defense, once one team experiences
success with a particular scheme, other coaches
are quick to adopt it into their systems in
hopes of having the same success. As soon as
the Rams won a championship with Kurt Warner
running the spread offense, a chain of teams
began implementing similar packages. After the
Buccaneers became of the most dominant defenses
in NFL history running the Cover 2, a slew of
teams began the same.
This copycat mentality also applies
to specific positions on the field. Randall
Cunningham and John Elway began the era of duel
threat quarterbacks, as teams began looking for
quarterbacks with similar skills such as Steve
Young, Akili Smith, Donovan McNabb, Cade McNown,
Daunte Culpepper, Mike Vick, Adrian McPherson,
and now Vince Young. All of a sudden players
once deemed as "too athletic" to play QB in the
NFL were now the toast of the draft. Another
trend began with teams looking for big wide
receivers. This started with bigger guys like
Randy Moss and Terrell Owens and has continued
with current NFLers Roy Williams, Charles
Rogers, Mike Williams, Matt Jones, Reggie
Williams, Plaxico Burress, Tyrone Calico, Mushin
Muhammed, and Andre Johnson. This sparked a
chain of teams drafting bigger corners such as
Ty Law, Ricordo Colclough, Champ Bailey, Brandon
Browner, and continues now with 2006 draft
prospects such as Jimmy Williams, Michael Huff,
and Antonio Cromartie. This is the nature of
the NFL...teams pride themselves on being
revolutionary; however it is usually in response
to growing NFL trends.
As of this past NFL season, a new
trend is starting to emerge, as the smaller WRs
are "making a comeback." The 2005 successes of
Steve Smith and Santana Moss are opening the
eyes of teams who once overlooked any WR that
was not at least 6'2" 210 lbs. Steve Smith was
a legitimate MVP candidate the entire season
posting 103 receptions for over 1,500 yards and
12 touchdowns. He put the Panthers on his back
during the stretch and in the playoffs,
essentially lifting his team to a new level of
success. At 5'9" 185 lbs, Smith is unimposing
physically, but ask any team that had to game
plan against him this year, and they will tell
you that Smith is one of the elite players in
the NFL. Santana Moss at 5'10" 190 lbs is not
much bigger than Smith, and after years of
disappointing play and a rash of injuries,
lifted his game to elite status posting 84
receptions for 1,483 yards and 9 TDs. At the
beginning of the 2005 season, Moss put together
a string of performances that rival some of the
best in NFL history.
Teams are beginning to see that a
wideout does not have to be a physical monster
to be a game changer. To address problems of
these smaller receivers getting bumped off the
line, teams are putting them in motion to
exploit matchups against LBs and safeties.
These smaller guys also seem to run better
routes and are more elusive in the open field,
giving them another advantage over bigger
opponents. Smaller wide receivers also have the
ability to slip behind coverage and "hide" from
defenders. Other members of this new receiving
club include Buffalo's Lee Evans, the Jets
Laveranues Coles, Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion
Branch, Ravens' Mark Clayton, and the Rams'
Kevin Curtis. There are also NFL veterans that
have made comeback such as Terry Glen and Joey
Galloway, and consistent performers such as
Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison.
In the 2006 NFL draft, there are a
few guys who could become part of this new
club. Moss's little brother Sinorice also out
of the University of Miami had a big Senior
Bowl, and even though he only comes in at 5'8"
185 lbs, he projects to be a first day pick.
Santonio Holmes (5'10" 195 lbs), Wisconsin's
Brandon Williams (5'11" 175 lbs), LSU's Skylar
Green (5'10" 180 lbs), and Western Michigan's
Greg Jennings (5'11" 190 lbs) are all players
who have the ability to be impact players in the
NFL.
It seems just a matter of time
before a new trend emerges in the NFL, be it at
linebacker, tight end, or even at wide receiver
again. Until that time, let us enjoy watching
these guys who used to be considered underdogs
and overachievers carve up NFL secondaries for
years to come. Now that more value is being
placed on route running and speed, it seems
these smallish WRs will continue to have an
advantage over their super-size counterparts.
