They Finally Broke Tendency With DK and it Paid Dividends

[toffee]

Back in the days, Jerry Rice was almost exclusively flanker, now DK is almost exclusively a split end. Different skill set or something else? I never play the game and lack knowledge,

NFL offenses are required to put seven players on the line of scrimmage and the middle five are "covered" and ineligible. Just about everything with modern offenses are a result of that rule.

Back in the day, all seven "line" men would line up next to each other and the two outside would be the Ends who were basically still linemen but eligible to catch passes. Eventually offenses started splitting the ends away from the linemen and that's where the Tight End and Split End designations came from. The Tight End would still act as a lineman while the Split End was an early receiver that would try to catch a pass now and there. In order to follow the alignment rule above there must always be exactly two tight ends/splits ends on the field, one on each side of the formation.

As offenses continued to mature the passing game they started using additional receivers in the place of offensive backs. These additional receivers get to line up behind the line of scrimmage which is a major advantage. A quick receiver on the line of scrimmage could be completely shut down by a physical DB who is allowed to manhandle them right away for the first five yards downfield. However, give that same quick receiver a few steps of cushion and they can blow right past any press coverage attempt. The two main types of these receivers are slot receivers and flankers depending on where they line up.

In today's NFL, the Split End is a big physical receiver who is required to line up on the line of scrimmage and deal with the resulting press coverage. It's a partly sacrificial role and often underappreciated by the fans. If Jaron Brown is getting jammed so Tyler Lockett gets a free release from the slot or flanker position then that's a good trade-off for our club. Back in the day, Daryl Turner put in a lot of physical work at split end that let us play Steve at flanker. Part of what makes guys like DK so exciting on paper is their size + strength + speed lets us play them anywhere on the field.

Thanks dude! So if DK can consistently power thru or blow by the opposing db, he could draw the safety towards his side and create opening.

 

[DomeHawk]

Seeking football education here: Any particular reason why DK is more a split end than a flanker?

The flanker lines up on the same side as the TE behind the line of scrimmage, but the split end and the flanker are still both considered wide outs as they are the furthest out.
...

Back in the days, Jerry Rice was almost exclusively flanker, now DK is almost exclusively a split end. Different skill set or something else? I never play the game and lack knowledge,

They probably want DK on the line of scrimmage because he runs so many go routes.
...
Jerry Rice was considered the "greatest route runner." No comparison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d74k2o8eRAo

I'm also thinking that because DK is so big and strong, he can often Rag-Doll toss aside most press corners who are anything short of Brandon Browner in their size and physicality, and then with his speed, get separation from a now-off-balance corner (Recall Browner throwing Kearse aside on "the pick" in SB49). Plus, with DK's catch radius, a little separation might be all he needs. Opinions on this idea, yea or nay?

The split end needs to be able to hand fight his way off the line if they are playing press, the flanker plays off the line and can't be pressed as easily. The flanker is typically the better route runner and being off the line affords them the opportunity to make some moves to get into their route.

DK hasn't mastered the hand game yet but that shouldn't be expected, this comes with experience and many new NFL WR's aren't really getting good at it until their third year.

ADB was very good at the hands game. He explains how he helped develop his technique here: https://247sports.com/nfl/seattle-seaha ... -53092626/

 

[chris98251]

Seeking football education here: Any particular reason why DK is more a split end than a flanker?

The flanker lines up on the same side as the TE behind the line of scrimmage, but the split end and the flanker are still both considered wide outs as they are the furthest out.
...

Back in the days, Jerry Rice was almost exclusively flanker, now DK is almost exclusively a split end. Different skill set or something else? I never play the game and lack knowledge,

They probably want DK on the line of scrimmage because he runs so many go routes.
...
Jerry Rice was considered the "greatest route runner." No comparison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d74k2o8eRAo

I'm also thinking that because DK is so big and strong, he can often Rag-Doll toss aside most press corners who are anything short of Brandon Browner in their size and physicality, and then with his speed, get separation from a now-off-balance corner (Recall Browner throwing Kearse aside on "the pick" in SB49). Plus, with DK's catch radius, a little separation might be all he needs. Opinions on this idea, yea or nay?

The split end needs to be able to hand fight his way off the line if they are playing press, the flanker plays off the line and can't be pressed as easily. The flanker is typically the better route runner and being off the line affords them the opportunity to make some moves to get into their route.

DK hasn't mastered the hand game yet but that shouldn't be expected, this comes with experience and many new NFL WR's aren't really getting good at it until their third year.

ADB was very good at the hands game. He explains how he helped develop his technique here: https://247sports.com/nfl/seattle-seaha ... -53092626/

He participated in hand fighting drills with the defense, I think I remember him saying the first few times he did it everyone was going what are you doing your suppose to be practicing with those guys, but it helped a lot and I think Lockett got into doing it also. A lot of WR get over matched due to no hand fighting techniques and many DB's and LB's as well as most lineman do it routinely.

 

[toffee]

They probably want DK on the line of scrimmage because he runs so many go routes.
...
Jerry Rice was considered the "greatest route runner." No comparison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d74k2o8eRAo

I'm also thinking that because DK is so big and strong, he can often Rag-Doll toss aside most press corners who are anything short of Brandon Browner in their size and physicality, and then with his speed, get separation from a now-off-balance corner (Recall Browner throwing Kearse aside on "the pick" in SB49). Plus, with DK's catch radius, a little separation might be all he needs. Opinions on this idea, yea or nay?

The split end needs to be able to hand fight his way off the line if they are playing press, the flanker plays off the line and can't be pressed as easily. The flanker is typically the better route runner and being off the line affords them the opportunity to make some moves to get into their route.

DK hasn't mastered the hand game yet but that shouldn't be expected, this comes with experience and many new NFL WR's aren't really getting good at it until their third year.

ADB was very good at the hands game. He explains how he helped develop his technique here: https://247sports.com/nfl/seattle-seaha ... -53092626/

He participated in hand fighting drills with the defense, I think I remember him saying the first few times he did it everyone was going what are you doing your suppose to be practicing with those guys, but it helped a lot and I think Lockett got into doing it also. A lot of WR get over matched due to no hand fighting techniques and many DB's and LB's as well as most lineman do it routinely.

Once DK mastered getting off the line, few DBs can catch him, and the ones that could, probably won't be strong enough to stop him at the line. I can see why Russ and Pete are excited.

 

[justafan]

The more he learns and get more experience he gets you will see his role expand. The natural progression for a rookie hopefully