Training Camp Report: Wide Receiver Battles

While most media-covered position battles are at the QB position, many NFL teams this offseason have receivers that are fighting for the number one spot on the WR depth chart.  Here are 8 of the tighter matchups, with predictions as to who will come out on top.
(Player name: Ht, Wt, 2011 season stats)

Baltimore Ravens

Anquan Boldin vs. Torrey Smith

Boldin: 6' 1", 220lbs, 57 receptions, 887 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs

Torrey Smith catches his first of three TDs 

in week 3 of the 2011 season.

Anquan Boldin is the more physical and more experienced of the two.  He has strong hands and excellent body control.  However, he seems to be declining in terms of speed and raw power.

Smith: 6'0", 205lbs, 50 receptions, 841 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs
Torrey Smith had many bursts throughout last season, most notably that three-touchdown performance against the Rams in week three.  He plays taller than he is, but doesn't have the surest of hands.  His speed is exceptional and he has a yearn for the endzone.

Conclusion
Both of these play-makers could be a number one wide receiver on a lesser team, but Smiths flash and youthfulness should propel him ahead of Boldin and could make him the Ravens go-to guy through the air for the next five seasons.
Edge: Torrey Smith

Green Bay Packers

Greg Jennings vs. Jordy Nelson

Jennings: 5'11", 198lbs, 67 receptions, 949 receiving yards, 9 receiving TDs
Greg Jennings has unpredictable route running skills and very soft hands.  While his height may be an issue at times, he finds many ways to get to the ball in time.  He can be a leader and a strategist and take apart a secondary.

Jordy Nelson hauls in a catch over Saints DB

 Patrick Robinson in the 2011 season opener.

Nelson: 6'3", 217lbs, 68 receptions, 1,263 receiving yards, 15 receiving TDs

Jordy Nelson is incredibly strong for a wide receiver.  He is surprisingly fast and unsurprisingly durable.  For a few plays a game, he can be rather stiff, but his reach makes up for it most of the time.

Conclusion

This is a much more lopsided comparison statistically last season, but many scouts believe Greg Jennings will be back to full power at the start of this season after a few scary dings last year.  However, I am a big fan of tall receivers(who isn't), and as great as Jennings will be, I feel Jordy Nelson could be a top five WR when the 2012 season comes to a close.

Edge: Jordy Nelson

Atlanta Falcons

Roddy White vs. Julio Jones

White: 6'0", 211lbs, 100 receptions, 1,296 receiving yards, 8 receiving TDs
Roddy White is a terror for one on one situations downfield, as he is both physical and quick.  He uses his hands extremely well, both in catching the ball and in losing coverage.  He, like Torrey Smith, plays taller than he is.  Using his wrestling experience, he is can be an expert after the catch.

Jones: 6'3", 220lbs, 54 receptions, 959 receiving yards, 8 receiving TDs
Also a strong YAC player, Julio Jones has a knack for splitting defenders using his speed and decisiveness.  He doesn't slow down on long plays, and is a terrific route-runner.  He is very similar to his mentor who lines up across the field from him.

Julio Jones(left) and Roddy White could be considered the 

top wide receiver duo in the NFL.

Conclusion
While Jones is considerably taller than White, I believe they are the most similar duo on this list of elite receivers, making this matchup the toughest to decide.  They both posses the deadly combo of strength and speed, and are very good at working together to destroy a defensive gameplan.  Matt Ryan is very fortunate to have not one but two #1 receivers, and could use them to make a strong championship run in 2012.
Edge: Tie

 

New England Patriots

Wes Welker vs. Brandon Lloyd

Welker: 5'9", 185lbs, 122 receptions, 1,569 receiving yards, 9 receiving TDs

Wes Welker holds many Patriots receiving records, 

and is just 4 receptions away from getting the most 

receptions in franchise history.

Wes Welker  is one of the smallest receivers in the NFL.  While this makes his cover area less than desirable, it also makes him incredibly quick and tough to take down.  He can contort his body to make plays, and has ball-magnets for hands.  His title as the King of YAC was crowned on him for a reason.

Lloyd: 6'0", 200lbs, 51 receptions, 683 receiving yards, 5 receiving TDs
While last year was far below expectations for Brandon Lloyd, he should bounce back strong with his new pass-happy team.  He excels at deep plays, something the Patriots wide receiving corps has been lacking since the departure of Randy Moss.  While not the strongest player on the field, he has the potential to make spectacular catches.

Conclusion
As the previous battle was the closest, this is probably the farthest apart.  Wes Welker has been and still is Tom Brady's go-to guy in New England.  However, Brandon Lloyd adds the new threat of a true downfield receiver, which will just make life tougher for all defensive backs playing the Patriots this upcoming season.
Edge: Wes Welker

New York Giants

Victor Cruz vs. Hakeem Nicks

Victor Cruz leaps past Jets DB Eric Smith on his way 

to a 99 yard receiving TD, the 2nd in the 2011 NFL 

season (the 1st going to Welker) and 13th ever in 

NFL history.

Cruz: 6'0", 204lbs, 82 receptions, 1,536 receiving yards, 9 receiving TDs
Victor Cruz had nine catches of 40+ yards last season, 2nd only to Calvin Johnson.  He is small and quick to the ball, with great hands and a very flexible torso, which makes for some very entertaining displays of body control and focus.  His toughness is there, although his strength may be lacking.

Nicks: 6'1", 208lbs, 76 receptions, 1,192 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs
At only one inch taller than Cruz, Hakeem Nicks plays like he is five inches taller.  While his hands are above average, he uses his arms as the secret weapons.  He utilizes them in a way that confuses the cover man and forces that cover man to lose focus on the ball.  His vertical rivals that of Brandon Marshall.  His energy and stamina are a bit slow.

Conclusion
Victor Cruz danced his way to the top of the depth chart at the end of last season and into the postseason, and it looks like it will continue that way.  He is 2nd on my list of top WRs in the NFL, and shows no signs of slowing down.  While these two maybe the most dangerous one-two punch on this list, Cruz is the new dominant receiver for Eli Manning and the New York Football Giants.
Edge: Victor Cruz

Dallas Cowboys

Dez Bryant vs. Miles Austin

Bryant: 6'2", 220lbs, 63 receptions, 928 receiving yards, 9 receiving TDs
Dez Bryant has had many issues off and on the field.  His lack of enthusiasm on certain plays is similar to Terrell Owens' a few years ago, although less dramatic.  On plays he does attempt to make, his strength puts the outcome in his hands.  He can be very fundamental when it comes to catching, something many receivers seem to lack.

Miles Austin dives into the endzone in the 4th quarter for his 3rd receiving 

TD of the day in week 2 of the 2011 season.  This brought the Cowboys 

within a field goal of tying the 49ers, and they ultimately won it in overtime.

Austin: 6'2", 217lbs, 43 receptions, 579 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs
Miles Austin is the Cowboys' cowboy.  He has a rowdy yet almost charismatic personality on the field and the sideline.  He is a smooth and agile route runner, and has a natural feel for the catch.  His durability can be an issue.

Conclusion
Dez Bryant seems to be the favorite to win the X receiver position for the Cowboys, even with his off the field troubles.  However, Miles Austin will not go down easily, and I feel he has the better skill set and mental thoughts that will have him coming out on top.
Edge: Miles Austin

San Francisco 49ers
Michael Crabtree vs. Randy Moss

Crabtree: 6'1", 214lbs, 72 receptions, 874 receiving yards, 4 receiving TDs
Michael Crabtree has a solid mix of determination and raw talent that assisted him at Texas Tech and now in the NFL for the past three years.  He is skilled at moving around defenders, and can show hints of a showmanship that could match up against any receiver.  Considered a strong playmaker, he has the potential to lead this new receiving corps.

Michael had 7 receptions for 120 yards 

in the Niners week 11 win against the 

Cardinals.

Moss: 6'4", 210lbs, N/A
Randy Moss didn't play football at all last season.  Before his 'retirement', he had a fierce aggressiveness about him, and a strong downhill speed.  His awareness was matched with a solid football IQ.  Whether or not this is all still with him after a year off the field is a mystery.

Conclusion
Neither Michael Crabtree nor Randy Moss had an orthodox first half of their career in the NFL.  Now however Crabtree is starting to be loved by his city, and this can only increase his will to push himself to the next level.  How Moss will do is still tough to decipher, but one thing is for sure; he will take away coverage from the other side.  As the question marks get taken off Crabtree's back, he should become the premier wide receiver for the 49ers of the future.
Edge: Michael Crabtree

Best wide receiver duo: Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks
Note:  I wasn't planning on including wide receiver groups where there's an obvious number one, i.e. the Lions (Calvin Johnson), the Bears (Brandon Marshall), etc.  These two in my opinion together create the best receiving duo based on how talented both of them are.


Here are many others to watch for:

Jets-Santonio Holmes vs. Stephen Hill

Jaguars-Justin Blackmon vs. Laurent Tobinson

Broncos-Eric Decker vs. Demaryius Thomas

Redskins-Pierre Garcon vs. Santana Moss

Buccaneers-Vincent Jackson vs. Mike Williams

Raiders-T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. Denarius Moore
update 8/08/12: Seahawks-Terrell Owens vs. Sidney Rice

As training camp begins and the regular season gets one step closer, these matchups will surely mold many different ways.  Three other teams have primary receivers in contract disputes(Steelers Mike Wallace, Chiefs Dwayne Bowe, Vikings Percy Harvin), and many are still holding tryouts for free agents.

NFL Scouting Report: Matt Barkley Will Shine in the NFL

Matt Barkley says "I'm your man" to the Arizona Cardinals.

With the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select, Matt Barkley, Quarterback, USC.

All Matt Leinart jokes aside, the Trojan Matt Barkley will be the fourth consecutive QB to be picked first in the NFL Draft and the 12th in 15 years.  Although there are only three Super Bowl Rings between those 11 QBs before him (all three owned by the Mannings), the recent success of the previous few first pick gunslingers (Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, and Cam Newton) definitely shows that it's well worth the risk for Arizona.
The Cardinals, who finished last season with an average record of 8-8, are in need of a true franchise quarterback.  Kevin Kolb and John Skelton were swapped three times throughout 2011.  Both finished below 2,000 passing yards, 82.0 in QB rating, and only Kolb had more touchdowns than picks(Kolbs 9/8 to Skeltons 11/14).  This is doomed to continue into next year, only adding a third QB in rookie Ryan Lindley to the mix.  With the combination of this gloomy three-headed mess, an aging defense, and a consistently inconsistent running game, Arizona will hit the ground hard next season, only to look up and see their luminary.
At 6'2" and 220lbs., Barkley is a little on the short side for an NFL quarterback, but that hasn't stopped him from having two out of three stellar years at the football factory USC.  From his freshman season to his junior, Barkley has:

Larry Fitzgerald hasn't reached double digit touchdown 

receptions since Kurt Warner retired at the end of the 2009

season. 

• added almost 1,000 passing yards
• increased his completion percentage by 10%
• nearly tripled his passing touchdowns
• halved his interceptions thrown

Matt Barkley Career Stats
Season  CMP  ATT   YDS   CMP%  TDs INTs
2011    308  446  3,528  69.1  39  07
2010    236  377  2,791  62.6  26  12
2009    211  352  2,735  59.9  15  14



Barkley's 2011 season stats look Aaron Rodgers-esque.  His unusually rapid progression should continue, even without the talented Matt Kalil protecting him.  While good college numbers don't always translate into success at the professional level, Barkley will have the necessary tools in him and around him to not just survive, but thrive in the NFL.  The legendary Larry Fitzgerald and newly-acquired Michael Floyd will be yearning for a ball to finally hit them right in the chest.  Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, although he has used veteran QBs for all of his five years with the team, could use a witty young gunslinger with an accurate and strong arm to turn things around.

I know it's nearly a year away.  Arizona may not even have the first pick in the draft.  Barkley could get injured his senior year.  Many possible events could throw this off.  This is simply what I believe to be a very educated guess as to what could happen.  The Cardinals find their hero, and Fitzy could be fitting himself for a long-awaited, well-deserved ring in 2014.