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Jaylen Waddle Will Tempt Teams at the top
BY CIAN FAHEY
@QBDataMine
Alabama is developing a reputation for being a wide receiver school.
Since Julio Jones was drafted in 2011, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy have all gone in the first round. Ruggs and Jeudy are still in the early stages of establishing themselves but both look like they will be long-term starters in the NFL.
Jaylen Waddle was a teammate of Jeudy and Ruggs last year before becoming the primary threat for Alabama this year. Waddle is projected to be a 1st round pick in the draft and even though it's clear that Ja'Marr Chase is the best receiver prospect in this class, Waddle has the straight-line speed that teams are desperate to add.
The Kansas City Chiefs may have lost the Super Bowl because of offensive line injuries and Patrick Mahomes' bum ankle but the stock of the space and pace approach on offence is only going up.
It's hard to argue with a team choosing a Tyreek Hill type of player to alter the identity of their passing game even if it is high up in the first round.
Similar to how Hill looks like he's moving at a different frame rate to NFL players on Sundays, Waddle looks like he's in fast forward when going against SEC defenders in college. If he gets level with a defender, he's gone.
He lines up in the slot here on the left side of the field. The defence is set up to contain this route. They have a defender over Waddle but he's just occupying space rather than setting up to jam him at the line. That first defender shows as if he's staying with Waddle but then passes him off to the outside defender.
Georgia are playing zone but the outside defender gets drawn to the outside receiver.
All it takes is that one step for him to be beaten. The safety to that side of the field trusts his cornerback because he had an advantageous starting position. He focuses on the receiver releasing infield so he comes forward, clearing the space in behind for the quarterback to loft the ball into.
The ball is well thrown but it's not leading him directly down the sideline. Waddle has to read it in the air and drift infield to run through the catch point before continuing on towards the endzone for the score.
Gamechanging speed is when the defence is scared to call specific coverages just because of your presence. Hill has straight-line speed and he changes direction with no effort. That allows him to run a variety of routes.
On this play, Waddle begins in the slot and shows a skinny post route. The deep safety comes forward hard, which opens the space in behind for Waddle to aggressively cut up into. The speed with which Waddle changes direction leaves the safety for dead. He has no shot of stopping this play and the recovering defensive back can't bring him down even after the ball placement forced Waddle to wait on the ball.
Waddle reaccelerates after catching the ball to sprint away to the endzone.
You might wonder why the safety was so aggressive coming forward. When you know that Waddle is on the field, and especially in the slot, you don't want to give up that space as the last line of defence. But if you sit off of him he'll still generate big plays after catching the ball in front of you.
On this play, he gets open relatively easily because he runs a shallow slant route against off-man coverage. The defender is picked off by the vertical release from the backfield, which gives Waddle space and a one-on-one with the deep safety.
The deep safety has an angle to close on the ball and force Waddle out over the sideline. Waddle doesn't care. He just accelerates to the point that the defender's angle disappears. He can reach out to try and pull Waddle down as he falls out of bounds but the receiver is strong enough to shrug it off.
It's another touchdown from deep where the quarterback didn't have to make a difficult throw.
Having that ability to accelerate is hugely valuable and the aggressiveness with which Waddle approaches contact is also hugely valuable. He won't shy away from contact or be timid working against linebackers when working the middle of the field. If he takes big hits, he might get hurt but he's not likely to be impacted outside of that.
That's an important detail for a smaller, speed-based receiver.
Unlike many of the fast receivers who come into the league, your Tavon Austins or Ted Ginns, Waddle also shows off great vision as a ball carrier. He's more like a running back than a wide receiver when he gets the ball in space. Alabama lined him up in the backfield at times to use him as a decoy or put the ball in his hands.
He starts this play in the slot and catches a bubble screen. The quick step acceleration he shows to take the first defender out is outstanding but the cutback infield after that and then the second cutback is what turns this play from an easy first down into an easy touchdown.
You can find speed at receiver in different rounds of the draft. You can't find receivers with speed who can be used in different ways.
Putting the ball in Waddle's hands as a ball carrier is an option. Lining him up in the backfield is an option, as is lining him up outside the numbers or in either slot. He can be a field stretcher and he can be a possession receiver. But the most surprising part of his college tape? He's also a big ball receiver.
Waddle's highlight plays at the catch point primarily come from him getting on top of the defender with his speed to then work back through the ball in the air. This is a perfect example of how one strength sets up another strength. He gets a step early on the defender and stresses him so much that he can never even consider the ball in the air.
Only Waddle is catching this ball and at worst he's likely to get a defensive pass interference penalty. He didn't need to hope for the penalty as he showed off strong hands and good ball skills to attack the ball at its highest point.
The same thing happens here as Waddle gets a step on the defender early when Auburn sends a blitz after the quarterback. Blitzing any offence with Waddle in it is dangerous. Giving him space is daring him to threaten the endzone.
While this play is similar because he gets separation early, the adjustment at the catch point is far more difficult.
Waddle has to turn the wrong way and stop while extending his body into the air. This time the defender is in a position to attack the catch point and come across Waddle's face. Waddle absorbs that contact and maintains control of the ball through the ground.
Regardless of where he winds up, Waddle will have a big impact on whatever team he joins from the moment he steps on the field. His presence alone will make all of his teammates' jobs easier.
BY CIAN FAHEY
@QBDataMine
Alabama is developing a reputation for being a wide receiver school.
Since Julio Jones was drafted in 2011, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy have all gone in the first round. Ruggs and Jeudy are still in the early stages of establishing themselves but both look like they will be long-term starters in the NFL.
Jaylen Waddle was a teammate of Jeudy and Ruggs last year before becoming the primary threat for Alabama this year. Waddle is projected to be a 1st round pick in the draft and even though it's clear that Ja'Marr Chase is the best receiver prospect in this class, Waddle has the straight-line speed that teams are desperate to add.
The Kansas City Chiefs may have lost the Super Bowl because of offensive line injuries and Patrick Mahomes' bum ankle but the stock of the space and pace approach on offence is only going up.
It's hard to argue with a team choosing a Tyreek Hill type of player to alter the identity of their passing game even if it is high up in the first round.
Similar to how Hill looks like he's moving at a different frame rate to NFL players on Sundays, Waddle looks like he's in fast forward when going against SEC defenders in college. If he gets level with a defender, he's gone.
He lines up in the slot here on the left side of the field. The defence is set up to contain this route. They have a defender over Waddle but he's just occupying space rather than setting up to jam him at the line. That first defender shows as if he's staying with Waddle but then passes him off to the outside defender.
Georgia are playing zone but the outside defender gets drawn to the outside receiver.
All it takes is that one step for him to be beaten. The safety to that side of the field trusts his cornerback because he had an advantageous starting position. He focuses on the receiver releasing infield so he comes forward, clearing the space in behind for the quarterback to loft the ball into.
The ball is well thrown but it's not leading him directly down the sideline. Waddle has to read it in the air and drift infield to run through the catch point before continuing on towards the endzone for the score.
Gamechanging speed is when the defence is scared to call specific coverages just because of your presence. Hill has straight-line speed and he changes direction with no effort. That allows him to run a variety of routes.
On this play, Waddle begins in the slot and shows a skinny post route. The deep safety comes forward hard, which opens the space in behind for Waddle to aggressively cut up into. The speed with which Waddle changes direction leaves the safety for dead. He has no shot of stopping this play and the recovering defensive back can't bring him down even after the ball placement forced Waddle to wait on the ball.
Waddle reaccelerates after catching the ball to sprint away to the endzone.
You might wonder why the safety was so aggressive coming forward. When you know that Waddle is on the field, and especially in the slot, you don't want to give up that space as the last line of defence. But if you sit off of him he'll still generate big plays after catching the ball in front of you.
On this play, he gets open relatively easily because he runs a shallow slant route against off-man coverage. The defender is picked off by the vertical release from the backfield, which gives Waddle space and a one-on-one with the deep safety.
The deep safety has an angle to close on the ball and force Waddle out over the sideline. Waddle doesn't care. He just accelerates to the point that the defender's angle disappears. He can reach out to try and pull Waddle down as he falls out of bounds but the receiver is strong enough to shrug it off.
It's another touchdown from deep where the quarterback didn't have to make a difficult throw.
Having that ability to accelerate is hugely valuable and the aggressiveness with which Waddle approaches contact is also hugely valuable. He won't shy away from contact or be timid working against linebackers when working the middle of the field. If he takes big hits, he might get hurt but he's not likely to be impacted outside of that.
That's an important detail for a smaller, speed-based receiver.
Unlike many of the fast receivers who come into the league, your Tavon Austins or Ted Ginns, Waddle also shows off great vision as a ball carrier. He's more like a running back than a wide receiver when he gets the ball in space. Alabama lined him up in the backfield at times to use him as a decoy or put the ball in his hands.
He starts this play in the slot and catches a bubble screen. The quick step acceleration he shows to take the first defender out is outstanding but the cutback infield after that and then the second cutback is what turns this play from an easy first down into an easy touchdown.
You can find speed at receiver in different rounds of the draft. You can't find receivers with speed who can be used in different ways.
Putting the ball in Waddle's hands as a ball carrier is an option. Lining him up in the backfield is an option, as is lining him up outside the numbers or in either slot. He can be a field stretcher and he can be a possession receiver. But the most surprising part of his college tape? He's also a big ball receiver.
Waddle's highlight plays at the catch point primarily come from him getting on top of the defender with his speed to then work back through the ball in the air. This is a perfect example of how one strength sets up another strength. He gets a step early on the defender and stresses him so much that he can never even consider the ball in the air.
Only Waddle is catching this ball and at worst he's likely to get a defensive pass interference penalty. He didn't need to hope for the penalty as he showed off strong hands and good ball skills to attack the ball at its highest point.
The same thing happens here as Waddle gets a step on the defender early when Auburn sends a blitz after the quarterback. Blitzing any offence with Waddle in it is dangerous. Giving him space is daring him to threaten the endzone.
While this play is similar because he gets separation early, the adjustment at the catch point is far more difficult.
Waddle has to turn the wrong way and stop while extending his body into the air. This time the defender is in a position to attack the catch point and come across Waddle's face. Waddle absorbs that contact and maintains control of the ball through the ground.
Regardless of where he winds up, Waddle will have a big impact on whatever team he joins from the moment he steps on the field. His presence alone will make all of his teammates' jobs easier.
