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RamsFanSince69
Sammy excelled in 3 routes - Post (QB rating 143.9), Hitch (110.7), and Slant (128.9). He literally did not get enough passes thrown his way. He also did not drop a pass in the regular season. I really really want him back in horns next year.
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theramswire.usatoday.com]
No one will tell you Sammy Watkins was an elite receiver in 2017. He caught just 39 passes for 593 yards and eight touchdowns, putting up numbers you’d expect to see from a No. 2 or 3 receiver.
Part of the reason his stats were so disappointing was that he was hardly targeted by Jared Goff. He only had 70 passes come his way all year, which only ranked fourth on his own team. When the ball was thrown in his direction, he was reliable. Watkins didn’t drop a single pass in the regular season, making difficult grabs in traffic.
He’s arguably at his best when going over the middle with defenders all around him. And according to Pro Football Focus, the numbers are there to back it up. He was dominant on these three in-breaking routes, ranking well above average in terms of passer rating.
Watkins did a lot of damage in the red zone on slant routes, showing off his strong hands and willingness to go over the middle. Unfortunately, he struggled to get open on out-breaking routes, partly because Goff wasn’t all that sharp throwing to his left, which is where Watkins primarily lines up.
[attachment 3427 Sammy_3_routes.jpg]
