They’re talking in Philadelphia about how Alshon Jeffery should make them a lot better in the red zone. With his size, athleticism and ability, he’s almost impossible to cover in the red zone. That’s what’s easy to say in the offseason, anyway.
Those were the kind of quotes flowing in article by Paul Domowitch at Philly.com. Jeffery is supposed to be the missing piece that brings this offense to life – especially in the red zone.
“With Alshon, it’s not only his catch radius,” says Carson Wentz. “He’s also got the strongest pair of hands I’ve ever seen. The thing with Alshon and I, we just need to keep building that chemistry, keep building that relationship.’’
Says quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo: “Alshon has tremendous ball skills. The way he can track a football in the air. Go up with one hand and get a ball.”
“The thing that’s very comforting for a quarterback is when a receiver has a big catching radius,” DeFilippo says. “Where you don’t have to be pinpoint-accurate all the time.”
It all sounds good. But Jeffery had the same size and ability in Chicago and was never much of a factor around the goal line. In fact, the opposite was true. He’s caught only 9 of the last 28 passes thrown his way inside the 10. Of the 42 wide receivers with at least 15 targets in that area over the last three years, only three have caught a lower percentage of passes.
Maybe Jeffery turns things around to some degree. He’ll be their go-to guy, and maybe Wentz is more comfortable this year. But I don’t expect Jeffery will put up top-25 numbers this year.
Here are the 2014-16 numbers, with targets, catches and scores. The “EZ” column combines both touchdowns and 2-point conversions.
| WIDE RECEIVERS INSIDE THE 10 (2014-16) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Com | Pct | EZ |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 24 | 18 | 75% | 9+1 |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 36 | 24 | 67% | 17+1 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 29 | 19 | 66% | 9+1 |
| Mike Wallace, Min.-Balt. | 17 | 11 | 65% | 9+1 |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 27 | 17 | 63% | 8+2 |
| Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 16 | 10 | 63% | 7 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 25 | 15 | 60% | 7+2 |
| Seth Roberts, Oak. | 15 | 9 | 60% | 4+3 |
| Calvin Johnson, Det. | 15 | 9 | 60% | 8 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 24 | 14 | 58% | 12+2 |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 30 | 17 | 57% | 14+2 |
| Roddy White, Atl. | 16 | 9 | 56% | 7 |
| Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 32 | 18 | 56% | 13 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 20 | 11 | 55% | 7 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 22 | 12 | 55% | 6+1 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 46 | 25 | 54% | 15+3 |
| Eric Decker, NYJ | 28 | 15 | 54% | 11 |
| James Jones, Oak.-G.B. | 19 | 10 | 53% | 7+2 |
| Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 27 | 14 | 52% | 14 |
| Michael Crabtree, S.F.-Oak. | 22 | 11 | 50% | 8+1 |
| Mohamed Sanu, Cin.-Atl. | 16 | 8 | 50% | 4+2 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 28 | 14 | 50% | 11 |
| Allen Hurns, Jac. | 16 | 8 | 50% | 5 |
| Eddie Royal, S.D.-Chi. | 18 | 9 | 50% | 5 |
| Andre Johnson, Ind.-Ten. | 21 | 10 | 48% | 7 |
| Brandon LaFell, N.E.-Cin. | 19 | 9 | 47% | 7 |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 24 | 11 | 46% | 7 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 18 | 8 | 44% | 6+1 |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 27 | 12 | 44% | 7+1 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 18 | 8 | 44% | 6 |
| Brandon Marshall, Chi.-NYJ | 28 | 12 | 43% | 9 |
| Rueben Randle, NYG | 19 | 8 | 42% | 5 |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 17 | 7 | 41% | 2+2 |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 39 | 16 | 41% | 9+2 |
| Terrance Williams, Dall. | 15 | 6 | 40% | 5 |
| Anquan Boldin, S.F.-Det. | 23 | 9 | 39% | 5 |
| Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 17 | 6 | 35% | 6 |
| Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 24 | 8 | 33% | 6 |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 28 | 9 | 32% | 8 |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 26 | 8 | 31% | 8 |
| Vincent Jackson, T.B. | 18 | 4 | 22% | 3+1 |
| Jermaine Kearse, Sea. | 20 | 2 | 10% | 2 |
—Ian Allan