Watkins had me fooled

[Memoriesdk]

I was ecstatic when we got him and thought he would be a difference maker. But he's been meh with the Chiefs and Cooks has shown what a stud wide receiver could do in this system. Watkins was evidently not one.

So far with the Chiefs he only has 176 receiving yards and a touchdown.

 

[HellRam]

He has around 50-60 rushing yards as well. And he did not play the last game pretty much, a series or two. When he's on the field he's been apart of their offense.

The big misconception about Watkins is that he is a deep threat WR. Irconicaly thats the part of his game that is most lacking. Watkins is more of a possession WR with top end speed and agility. Even in college Sammy's bread and butter was the short game. In Reid's offense, they way they are using him( backfield, slot, they move him around). He's going to produce quality numbers. The Chiefs offense is too stacked for him to put up monster numbers IMO. In McVay's offense there really wasn't a roll Watkins could excell at. Cooks fits what we needed. A true downfield threat and more.

Watkins isn't elite and probabaly never will be. But he's a better football player then what he showed with the Rams last year

 

[yrba1]

Dodged a bullet for sure when we offered him a new contract and he declined. Cooks is gonna look like a bargain deal if he can maintain his production throughout his contract.

 

[RamDino]

Cooks is way better than Watkins, and time will prove that the Rams made a couple of great decisions.

 

[Ramlock]

He has around 50-60 rushing yards as well. And he did not play the last game pretty much, a series or two. When he's on the field he's been apart of their offense.

The big misconception about Watkins is that he is a deep threat WR. Irconicaly thats the part of his game that is most lacking. Watkins is more of a possession WR with top end speed and agility. Even in college Sammy's bread and butter was the short game. In Reid's offense, they way they are using him( backfield, slot, they move him around). He's going to produce quality numbers. The Chiefs offense is too stacked for him to put up monster numbers IMO. In McVay's offense there really wasn't a roll Watkins could excell at. Cooks fits what we needed. A true downfield threat and more.

Watkins isn't elite and probabaly never will be. But he's a better football player then what he showed with the Rams last year

He fits that Air Raid they're running ...and times running out!

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I was ecstatic when we got him and thought he would be a difference maker. But he's been meh with the Chiefs and Cooks has shown what a stud wide receiver could do in this system. Watkins was evidently not one.

So far with the Chiefs he only has 176 receiving yards and a touchdown.

And the media still thinks he is putting up stats like he did in Clemson. Watkins gets far to much respect for his college feats. He is Tavon 2.0, only a little better.

 

[96GS#007]

One thing he had....and Cooks certainly has as well....are really strong hands. The slants into the end zone with SW were money in the bank.

His downfall was, IMO, a lack of trust. He'd seemingly take plays off or cut off his routes. Really hard to be an integral part of the offense when that occurs.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

In all fairness to Watkins, he got traded into the season last year, and might be a little slow mentally. That wouldn't have been enough time to learn the system and have an impact,. Physically he's great though.

 

[MachS]

Deandre Hopkins became the receiver we all thought Sammy would become. Cooks a much better pro and an amazing job by our front office to get aggressive and go get him.

 

[Adi]

Hes a rare talent but he is not a superstar because of the inconsistency. If Mcvay cant change his ways , idk if anyone can

 

[jacktheripper85]

In all fairness to Watkins, he got traded into the season last year, and might be a little slow mentally. That wouldn't have been enough time to learn the system and have an impact,. Physically he's great though.

By the time it would have taken Watkins to learn McVays system we would all be watching football games being played on Mars.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

By the time it would have taken Watkins to learn McVays system we would all be watching football games being played on Mars.

Okay, he's not THAT slow though, haha. Give him an entire offseason and maybe.

 

[jrry32]

Cooks is a much better WR. It's not even close. We're seeing what a #1 WR can do in this offense.

 

[MrRiceGuyRJ]

I was definitely a massive Watkins supporter. And I did definitely like him. But I guess I have to trust McSnead because they got the player that fit their system and it has definitely showed. I'm incredibly happy with how Cooks has panned out thus far

 

[Soul Surfer]

In all fairness to Watkins, he got traded into the season last year, and might be a little slow mentally. That wouldn't have been enough time to learn the system and have an impact,. Physically he's great though.

9 touchdowns is not too shabby and Watkins dominated that first San Francisco game.

But yeah, I'll definitely take Cooks over Watkins.

 

[RamFan503]

Watkins is more of a possession WR with top end speed and agility. Even in college Sammy's bread and butter was the short game. In Reid's offense, they way they are using him( backfield, slot, they move him around). He's going to produce quality numbers. The Chiefs offense is too stacked for him to put up monster numbers IMO. In McVay's offense there really wasn't a roll Watkins could excell at. Cooks fits what we needed. A true downfield threat and more.

Though Cooks isn’t exactly what you’d think of as a possession receiver, he kinda is. Most of his receptions in college and in the pros have come on shorter routes than many think. Even last year with over 1100 yards, only a couple hundred came on passes over 20 yards. That leaves a lot of passes caught in that short to intermediate distance. You definitely have to respect Cooks ability to go deep but he sets defenders up with the full route tree. And if you play him tight and miss on the tackle, watch out.

 

[Ram65]

I thought the Rams could get more out of Sammy. Water under the bridge for the Rams. He was doing good for the Chiefs before getting hurt. Cooks is the Rams man. Waldron was just saying that all three starting WRs can pretty much do the same things. That allows the Rams to move them all around and create mismatches. Cooks is a perfect fit for the Rams offense.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I was a big Watkins fan last year--I think he was a bigger part of our success than he got credit for. But of course now I'm ALL in on the Cooks train. While I thought we needed that different type of option SW provided us, the coaches are saying the interchangeability of the 3 identical style players we have now is a strength, and yeah I can see how that's the case.

 

[HellRam]

Though Cooks isn’t exactly what you’d think of as a possession receiver, he kinda is. Most of his receptions in college and in the pros have come on shorter routes than many think. Even last year with over 1100 yards, only a couple hundred came on passes over 20 yards. That leaves a lot of passes caught in that short to intermediate distance. You definitely have to respect Cooks ability to go deep but he sets defenders up with the full route tree. And if you play him tight and miss on the tackle, watch out.

No doubt. Cooks is a much more rounded WR, from routes to timing. I won't lie I use to be a big Watkins fan (till that playoff game). However, I think Sammy will work for what KC is doing and Cooks the same for us.

No debate Cooks is the better player.

 

[Akrasian]

I was a big Watkins fan last year--I think he was a bigger part of our success than he got credit for. But of course now I'm ALL in on the Cooks train. While I thought we needed that different type of option SW provided us, the coaches are saying the interchangeability of the 3 identical style players we have now is a strength, and yeah I can see how that's the case.

Yes, it's pretty nice when the guy who is supposed to be a possession type slot receiver turns out to be a serious deep threat. Means there are 3 guys they secondary always needs to worry about going for a long TD - so there is no way to adequately guard any of them. Let Higbee continue blocking well while improving as a receiver, and with Gurley, there will be no team in the league that can defend all the targets consistently.