4. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
You can probably start the discussion here:
The list of WRs who have 4,000 rec yards and 40 rec TD since 2016:
– Davante Adams
That's the list. pic.twitter.com/H33al9WGIq
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) July 10, 2020
In fact, that’s almost a case for moving Davante Adams higher up this list, so…maybe forget I said that, Packers fans.
But there is no question that over the past few seasons Adams has played himself into the “top receivers in the game” conversation. With his combination of footwork, releases, and athleticism, Adams is one of the game’s top talents at the position. Matt Harmon, who devotes the bulk of his work to studying the position for his Reception Perception series, posted this after studying Adams’ 2019 season:
Davante Adams established himself as an elite receiver the last two years in #ReceptionPerception.
2018:
79.5% success rate vs. man coverage
79.6% success rate vs. press2019:
78% vs. man
81.3% vs. pressGet full access to 2019 RP data in the UDK here: https://t.co/qRCH0a8lzO pic.twitter.com/KnuFQhFvFw
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) July 14, 2020
That line of analysis, based on the film, is great insight into what makes Adams so dangerous as a receiver. There are almost no holes in his game, from the snap to the finish he is a complete study at the position.
Watch this touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions, working out of the right slot:
That’s just filthy. Adams slow plays this route to perfection, using multiple gears as he sells the shallow route and then just explodes on the corner. But he is facing off coverage here, and as Harmon found with his film study, Adams is also very effective against press alignment.
As he is on this play:
Ross Cockrell tries to get a jam on him, but it comes much too late. Adams has already won the route, and then makes a tremendous adjustment on the throw to complete the play.
Sure, the Packers lost in the NFC Championship Game, but here is Adams getting Richard Sherman all turned around on a big play late in that game:
A few weeks later, Sammy Watkins would use a similar move on Sherman for a huge play late in Super Bowl LIV.
Adams is among the game’s elite at the position. This is one of those cases where the numbers – and the film – do not lie.