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Training Camp Battle: 4th and 5th WR

by WhiteKnight84 on Aug 1, 2011 12:27 PM EDT

While this certainly isn't as important of a battle as the one for Right Guard or Nickel Back, the departure of Jenkins leaves us with a log jam of unproven players battling for 1 or 2 roster spots at the WR position behind White, Jones, and Douglas. Weems will certainly make the roster, but will probably be looked at more for his special teams value than his offensive prowess. You have to believe that he will be given every shot to be that 4th guy, but his size limits him, as we already have an undersized Douglas who would be on the field in 4 and 5 wide sets. Here are some highlights on the guys I noticed at training camp this weekend who should be in contention for the spot(s).

First off... Brandyn Harvey WILL NOT make the roster. I know he is a Falcoholic favorite, but the kid just doesn't look good. He makes routine drops when reaching for the ball out of his breaks, and seems to either lack burst or run his routes lazily. Size or not, he isn't NFL ready from what I've seen the last two years at Falcons Training Camp.

Andy Strickland is another guy who lacks size, but seems to be a high-effort kid. He made some nice catches in 7-7 yesterday and even got called out by Smitty for making nice breaks to the ball. Strickland is very shifty but will have to do a LOT to make the roster over the others in this group.

Kerry Meier would be the clear favorite to be our last WR if he hadn't blown out his knee last year. What I will say about Meier is that he catches the ball well, and runs crisp routes. He may be another year away, though, as we have seen with other knee injuries on this team.

... the guy who stood out, to me, and should definitely be given a shot to make this squad is.... wait for it.... P.J. Gore! I had never even heard of him when we picked him up and he runs last in the WR group, but he has size and thickness to him (as opposed to Douglas' chicken legs). He runs his routes smoothly, and even though he was often catching balls from Froman, he didn't drop a single ball yesterday. He made a great catch on a deep ball, battling against Franks in the endzone, and made some toe-tap catches along the sideline pretty routinely.

Based on what I saw at practice this weekend, I would go with Meier and Gore, but only if we carry Weems as a special teamer... that being said, I don't think we'd do that and I'm sure that Meier know the playbook better than Gore, so the undrafted rookie has a ways to go, but he certainly looked the part to me.

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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Not going to comment on the 5th position

because I don’t know our depth at UDFA beyond names and schools (haven’t looked at much UDFA tape at all yet) but Kerry is the obviou choice for 4th spot, I always thought he was drafted as the Michael jenkins posession successor and playing a handful of snaps each game will give him a good chance to come back from his injury slowly. I wouldn’t imagine we’d see a lot of special teams duties from him just the handful of snaps per game to get him back up to game speed again. Couldn’t see anyone else getting snaps ahead of him (aside from perhaps Weems on really desperate long yardage plays where we need speed over hands).

by Turner_The_Burner on Aug 1, 2011 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Nice scouting report on Gore

He’s this year’s Harvey. Hopefully he can stick.

by Dave Choate on Aug 1, 2011 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

Weems and Meier

I don’t think we carry more than 5 WRs on the 53 man roster. It’s not like we run a ton of 4 WR sets. Weems will be fine playing special teams and the occasional passing play. Everyone of the other guys you mentioned will need at least another year to develop to be considered for the roster. Who knows though, maybe one of them will surprise, especially if Meier isn’t 100% yet.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Aug 1, 2011 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Especially if Jaquizz makes the roster – he will be another option in the passing game that Turner has never really offered.

by The DW on Aug 1, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say the battle is between #4

with Meier and Weems. The loser taking the 5 spot. Meier had his injury in TC last year, so he should be good to go for light duty.

IMO, Julio was drafted to replace Jenkins as a true #2 for now, taking over #1 when Roddy retires (slows down, or moves on). Meier was drafted to replace Finn. So on paper, our receiving core is a lot better this year.

Our 5 wr sets really won’t be true 5 wr sets, because Tony G will be split out, and if Murlarkey has learned anything from Sean Peyton, Quizz should be out there too. So really Meier and Weems would only be out there in select sets.

Of course this is based on the fact that Meier and Weems have a better knowledge of the playbook and won’t be as raw because of their experience. I’m not at their camp so I can’t say who is more ready.

by Whyte Bler 000 on Aug 1, 2011 10:15 PM EDT reply actions