Jay Gruden: Other Receivers Need To Take "Advantage Of Opportunities"

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 21, 2011 5:27 PM EST in Stats

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 09: Wide receiver Jerome Simpson #89 of the the Cincinnati Bengals looks for a penalty against the Jacksonville Jaguars October 9, 2011 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

When asked about quarterback Andy Dalton possibly relying too much on wide receiver A.J. Green, Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said:

"I'd probably rely on him, too," Gruden said. "We try to get him the ball as much as we can, obviously. The other guys just have to do a better job of taking advantage of opportunities."

Jerome Simpson, we're looking at you.

The numbers don't lie. Simpson has been targeted 89 times this season, hauling in only 40 receptions for a conversion of 45% this season. He has the lowest conversion of the top five receivers, including Jermaine Gresham, on the team. Andre Caldwell, registering a 54.4% conversion on passes he's targeted, has the team's second lowest and that's nearly 10% higher than Simpson.

	Targets	Rec.	Pct. Comp	Yards	TDs
A.J. Green	98	61	62.2%	1,006	7
Jermaine Gresham	80	46	57.5%	468	5
Jerome Simpson	89	40	44.9%	629	3
Andre Caldwell	68	37	54.4%	317	3
Andrew Hawkins	28	19	67.9%	226	0

At the same time we'd be remiss if we didn't point out something about these numbers. How many are targets that would be impossible to catch? Difficulty of receptions have to be weighed as well, as do poor throws from the quarterback. A perfectly placed throw to Andrew Hawkins on a five-yard bubble screen is surely easier than a reception during a double-team on a pass thrown too high.

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Get the ball to Hawkins more, rack up his stats for the end of year!!!

Who Dey aint tryin to see central bookins!

by NCWhoDey1987 on Dec 21, 2011 5:38 PM EST reply actions

look at babyhawk

meet our new number 3…Hawk and Shipley can be a great compliment to this offense

by ticalcaldwell on Dec 21, 2011 5:39 PM EST reply actions

your going to need to hear Hawkins or Whalen

names called several times for us to have a chance, Dalton seems to have quit on Rome with fewer and fewer targets, but to be successful the wco needs to spread it around A La the colts. so it’s next man in again. another opportunity for a young guy to step in and be a player.

by keithster on Dec 21, 2011 5:52 PM EST reply actions

While SImpson must do better

Everyone says that Simpson should step up, but Caldwell, Lee, Benson, Cochart, Scott, and Pressly are the ones not pulling their receiving wieght.

Simpson is slightly below average, yardagewise, for the number 2 target for a team. Gresham is slightly below average for a third option. But, Simpson gets all the attention because he is the #2 WR. He is 54th in the league in Yardage, which is where a 2nd target should be, though you would like to see him in the top 48. Gresham is 84th which is top 96, though I would prefer top 80.

Leonard, Shipley and Whalen are the only other receivers where they should be as the 6th, 11th, and 12th targets for their respective QBs. I will also give Hawkins a bye since he has played a shortened season.

Caldwell, Lee, Benson, Cochart, Scott, and Pressly are all below where they should be.

For this arguement, I assume that each teams top target should be in the top 32 recievers with 16 being average, 2 in the top 64, with the average 2nd receiver being 48th, three in the top 96, with 80th being average. (32 * n – 16) where n is the team ranking in yards. By that only AJ Green is above average, but most of our team is outside of the range.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Dec 21, 2011 6:00 PM EST reply actions

Are you using total yards or some sort of average/game? Difficult to use this b/c of injuries to players throughout the league and other things that may make them miss a week or more.

by UIsteve on Dec 21, 2011 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

But totally agree, they all need to step up.

The two backs and TE’s should be utilized more.

by UIsteve on Dec 21, 2011 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

Total yards

It is intended as a judgement on how people perform as a part of the passing game. Your point is valid, and that is why I gave Hawkins a pass, even though he is lower than where he should be, he only has 11 games played.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Dec 21, 2011 6:27 PM EST up reply actions

Small sample size, easy catches, all that...

Hawkins has caught 68% of the passes thrown his way. The dude is awesome.

by sexsalad on Dec 21, 2011 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Simpson and his disappearing act.

I wouldnt mind re-signing Simpson in the future if he didn’t become a non-factor in many games. We’ve all said it before.

This year he’s had 2 games with more than 4 catches, 3 games with 4 catches, and 9 with less than 4 catches. Two games he was held to 0 receptions, interestingly against PIT.

Would love to see him sit around the 4 catch/game mark as a second receiver. As per this post, if he were to jump up to normalcy, maybe a 55% completion rate, he would sit at 3.5 catch/game.

by UIsteve on Dec 21, 2011 8:21 PM EST reply actions