Rank the Roster 2020: #17

[YoHoChecko]

I'm confused by the distinction of "he's a small TE/big slot" meaning he isn't a WR or won't play a role.

I agree that I am also kinda down on Funchess as any sort of dynamic addition to the room, but MLF has a history of operating his offense with larger, slower slot WRs. He has a very similar set of skills to Geronimo Allison. Allison also has a low catch rate; I have said earlier i need to see more about Funchess to understand the disparity between his drop rate and his catch rate--his drop rate has had bad years, but has improved somewhat. But his catch rate is no better. Are those off-target throws? Passes defensed? Failure to win contested catches despite his apparent size advantage? I don't know.

But to assume that everyone in the WR group is going to beat out the guy we chose to add to the room seems like a stretch. I would expect Funchess to be our primary "big slot" role which fills in some for Graham and some for Allison, which is a good-sized role. I could see EQSB eating into some big slot snaps and some WR2 snaps. I think EQ is better than Lazard, but it might take time to prove himself without a full offseason.

To me, having EQ, Lazard, and Funchess sorta rotate through the #2/big slot roles, with MVS sprinkled in as a deep threat and Kumerow being an injury failsafe and STer is the realistic usage I see for the season, which is why it's quite difficult to rank them and decide upon a role.

[Yoop]

I'm confused by the distinction of "he's a small TE/big slot" meaning he isn't a WR or won't play a role.

I agree that I am also kinda down on Funchess as any sort of dynamic addition to the room, but MLF has a history of operating his offense with larger, slower slot WRs. He has a very similar set of skills to Geronimo Allison. Allison also has a low catch rate; I have said earlier i need to see more about Funchess to understand the disparity between his drop rate and his catch rate--his drop rate has had bad years, but has improved somewhat. But his catch rate is no better. Are those off-target throws? Passes defensed? Failure to win contested catches despite his apparent size advantage? I don't know.

But to assume that everyone in the WR group is going to beat out the guy we chose to add to the room seems like a stretch. I would expect Funchess to be our primary "big slot" role which fills in some for Graham and some for Allison, which is a good-sized role. I could see EQSB eating into some big slot snaps and some WR2 snaps. I think EQ is better than Lazard, but it might take time to prove himself without a full offseason.

To me, having EQ, Lazard, and Funchess sorta rotate through the #2/big slot roles, with MVS sprinkled in as a deep threat and Kumerow being an injury failsafe and STer is the realistic usage I see for the season, which is why it's quite difficult to rank them and decide upon a role.

I agree, Lazard showed, even with his limited athletic quick's to be the best prospect to take the #2 position, but even saying that I find it impossible to know how these players will shake out, we barely know who Funchess is, I'd bet NO one here has seen him play more then a few complete games, and simply projecting the future of a player based on a spread sheet has probably cost at least a few GM's there jobs, what we do know is that he played well enough prior to the broken collar bone to be given 8 mil. annual to keep playing like that, and all I know is only injury stopped him from actually earning that money, and it may still be a issue, but we wont know that till he starts to play.

and all reports I've read said Funchess plays faster then he times, a trait necessary at slot receiver, he started with a higher floor then everyone we have minus Adams, I have to give that a plus in any evaluation, I really liked the signing, he'll play faster then Graham, and I think he'll be more consistent then Allison, his drops seem to come in bunches, and imo drops are correctable, at least to a extent with most players, we got him cheap, if he rebounds from the injury then we did very well.

[NCF]

I'm confused by the distinction of "he's a small TE/big slot" meaning he isn't a WR or won't play a role.

I see a fine line in that he CAN play some of those snaps, but he's not a guy you want as your #2 on the boundary without other options. I think he uses his body so well and with Aaron as his QB, he can do a lot of things on the boundary that will play to his strengths, but I think his main strengths place him the in the middle more, so I guess we'll see.

[TheSkeptic]

I'm confused by the distinction of "he's a small TE/big slot" meaning he isn't a WR or won't play a role.

I see a fine line in that he CAN play some of those snaps, but he's not a guy you want as your #2 on the boundary without other options. I think he uses his body so well and with Aaron as his QB, he can do a lot of things on the boundary that will play to his strengths, but I think his main strengths place him the in the middle more, so I guess we'll see.

He could be effective, I agree. But will he?

There are several possible reasons for such a bad catch rate:
#1. He is not where his QB expects him to be. How is that going to play with AR?
#2. He can't get separation and the QB has a very small window to throw to. How is that going to play with AR?
#3. He has poor hands or catches too often with his body resulting in drops. How is that going to play with AR?
#4 It is all Cam Newton's fault.
#5. Watch this, you tell me:

[Yoop]

who knows why he failed to break the route off once he saw the double coverage, however that he drew double coverage is a plus to me.

[YoHoChecko]

I see a fine line in that he CAN play some of those snaps, but he's not a guy you want as your #2 on the boundary without other options. I think he uses his body so well and with Aaron as his QB, he can do a lot of things on the boundary that will play to his strengths, but I think his main strengths place him the in the middle more, so I guess we'll see.

I guess all I'm saying is: since when is a slot receiver not a wide receiver? A TE who lined up in the slot more than he does in line is the anomaly. A large WR who lined up in the slot isn't magically "a TE" now.

I agree that I don't want him spending much time on the boundary. His strength is over the middle. He's a possession/slot receiver.

[NCF]

I'm confused by the distinction of "he's a small TE/big slot" meaning he isn't a WR or won't play a role.

I see a fine line in that he CAN play some of those snaps, but he's not a guy you want as your #2 on the boundary without other options. I think he uses his body so well and with Aaron as his QB, he can do a lot of things on the boundary that will play to his strengths, but I think his main strengths place him the in the middle more, so I guess we'll see.

He could be effective, I agree. But will he?

There are several possible reasons for such a bad catch rate:
#1. He is not where his QB expects him to be. How is that going to play with AR?
#2. He can't get separation and the QB has a very small window to throw to. How is that going to play with AR?
#3. He has poor hands or catches too often with his body resulting in drops. How is that going to play with AR?
#4 It is all Cam Newton's fault.
#5. Watch this, you tell me:

You watch this, and you tell me.

[YoHoChecko]

#5. Watch this, you tell me:

Honestly confused; that's a really bad throw behind him toward the safety.

Like, yeah, could he have won that contested catch situation? Yes. But the throw stunk. This doesn't make a very clear point on your side.