3 reasons Knox won't be the #3 WR: AKA Knox is a stud

[CjayC]

The truest statement of the day was made by Cutler. Something among the lines of

"I told Johnny Knox "congratulations" you're not a rookie anymore".

Its true. Defenses are going to start keying in on Knox. He's not some unknown Div. 2 WR anymore. He's a guy that will beat you if you take him lightly, as he's clearly emerging as the Bears #1. He's going to get a lot of attention from now on. It'll be interesting to see how handles being treated like a #1.

The rook is learning fast. He's learned to help his QB. When Cutler was on the run, he came back and started running parallel to him numerous times. I like to see that.

[blumeany]

The play that impressed me the most was the one where his route was taking him one way and he saw Cutler scrambling and switched direction and got open. That's a major improvement over last week, and showed that this kid -at the very least- 'gets it'.

[SportsWorld]

I never realized that Bears took Knox with a pick they got from Denver in the Cutler trade. That just makes that trade look better.

[ChronicKerr]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football ... 22.article

Great Article on Knox

[NoahISmyNinja]

If Knox supplants Bennett as the no.2 and has a really good year, I'm thinking the Bears will have the fastest tandem in the nfl. It will at least be nice to see on Madden. i'm thinking Knox 98spd and Hester 99spd

[SportsWorld]

They said during the telecast Sunday that Knox might be faster than Hester. I think you have to put Knox as the #2 WR either this week or next week. He looks much better than Earl Bennett.

[Cliff Levingston]

They said during the telecast Sunday that Knox might be faster than Hester. I think you have to put Knox as the #2 WR either this week or next week. He looks much better than Earl Bennett.

If Knox establishes himself as our best receiver, then what we should do is put Bennett opposite him and use Hester in the slot and in the return game. On the outside, Bennett = possession guy, Knox = big play/field stretcher. Since Hester isn't really physical at all, the slot would be the best spot for him where he wouldn't have to deal with nearly as many jams and it would open up the whole field for him.

[tclg]

I like CL's idea I mean Hester has that deep speed threat but he is not really a receiver yet. Bennet looks to be a solid route runner with solid hands. I think every team needs a guy like that

[Cliff Levingston]

I like CL's idea I mean Hester has that deep speed threat but he is not really a receiver yet. Bennet looks to be a solid route runner with solid hands. I think every team needs a guy like that

It's a tough proposition for this year though:

1. They've got a lot invested in Hester as their "#1 receiver." Putting him in the slot means taking him off the field for some snaps that he'd otherwise be playing since we don't use the 3 WR set all that much.
2. You're putting a lot on the shoulders of a 5th round rookie WR.

We all know how stubborn this coaching staff can be, so we shouldn't hold our breath even if it does make the most sense.

[Howling Mad]

They said during the telecast Sunday that Knox might be faster than Hester. I think you have to put Knox as the #2 WR either this week or next week. He looks much better than Earl Bennett.

I was going to say something around draft time about this, but I would've been lambasted if I did.

I think Hester had a horrible 40 time at the combine and Johnny Knox didn't do so well either. Comparable to history I don't think these two are even in the elite times. But yea I agree Knox is faster.

Chris Johnson put up the best 40 time ever recorded in the combine, but several coaches still have Knox faster than Johnson.

During ACU pro day, Knox ran a consistent high-4.2 time. CONSISTENT. Scout reps from half of the NFL teams came to watch Knox. Just Knox. To put that into perspective...teams don't usually send scout reps to ACU day. They'll hire area consultants to report or read the briefings, but they usually don't send glorified scout reps. This is the day Knox made into the late rounds.

Too bad so sad for a bunch of NFL teams because the Bears had already put this guy on their radar way before pro day.

[CjayC]

Knox had a great 40 time at the Combine. That's part of the reason why he even garnered interest from so many teams at his pro day.

Knox ran a 4.34 officially at the combine. His unofficial time was a 4.25 which was the fastest hand clocked. Very elite 40 time either way

Knox's 40 run starts @ 2:15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGc0tCCzkmA

Playing in Texas, one has to wonder why Johnny Knox with his freakish athletic ability ended up going to JUCO for 2 years and a D2 school and not one of the lower ranked D1 Texas schools like UTEP, Baylor, or a TCU. One would have to think it was either academic problems coming out of High School or the competition he played in High School was just THAT bad which I doubt. You don't have his kind of talent and then end up not going to a big school, even if the competition you played was garbage.

Heyward-Bey had the fastest official time at the combine this year at any position. He ran a 4.30. Knox had the 3rd fasted 40 time at the combine behind another WR named Mike Wallace who ran a 10th of a second faster

Hester had a lousy(For him) 40 time at the combine when he ran. He ran somewhere in the 4.4's, then went back to Miami and ran 4.3's IIRC. They say Miami has a faster track than what they use at the Combine. Hester's fast either way. As mentioned a million times before there aren't many guys that can stop on the dime like Hester, and then start up full speed again.

[Howling Mad]

Knox had a great 40 time at the Combine. That's part of the reason why he even garnered interest from so many teams at his pro day.

Knox ran a 4.34 officially at the combine. His unofficial time was a 4.25 which was the fastest hand clocked. Very elite 40 time either way

Knox's 40 run starts @ 2:15

Elite to me is 4.2ish Randy Moss type time. 4.3 doesn't mean eleite. It's fast but not elite. The Knox legend is 4.1ish Thats Bo Jackson territory. There's a huge difference between 4.3, 4.2, 4.1.

During his pro day and his combine workout he was never close to 4.1 although the rumors said hes that fast.

That 4.25 is an average of several hand clocks, which I'm assuming, varied greatly anywhere from 4.1 to 4.3. I don't have much faith in hand clocks and accuracy.

By regular standards he did great, by the rumor, he wasn't quite that fast.

[Howling Mad]

Thanks for the vid Cjay, I've wasted time watching him run over and over.

Let's bump Knox's draft thread.

[emperorjones]

There's a huge difference between 4.3, 4.2, 4.1.

Not doubting you at all BeP, but coming from where I stand and wondering what my time would be I found this hilarious!

[CjayC]

4.3 is elite IMO. How many guys can do that? Anything in the 4.4's is a VERY good time. When you get into the low 4.3's is when you start bordering on freakish, and just outright natural ability.

4.2 is FREAKISHto me, but hardly relevant, because there's not enough guys that actually time as fast as they run a 4.2

Moss runs(Or ran) a 4.2 and you can tell.

Chris Johnson runs a 4.2, and he's a blazer, but some people consider DeAngelo Williams even faster on game day.

Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson are both dominant receivers. Andre runs a 4.45, Calvin runs a 4.33. The difference on game day in terms of results and burning Corner Backs is ambiguous for the most part(Though I'd give an advantage to Johnson if its just speed)

[SportsWorld]

Thanks for the vid Cjay, I've wasted time watching him run over and over.

Let's bump Knox's draft thread.

viewtopic.php?f=156&t=900668
Nothing but good vibes from all of you. I gave the at the beginning because I didn't know who he was nor did I know where Abilene Christian was.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/joh ... b-overview

Analysis
Positives: Adequate height with wiry upper body strength and good muscle definition in his arms. Not your typical slight small-school receiver. Good initial quickness off the snap to get into his route. Reliable hands; snatches the ball and adjusts to poor throws. Gets up to high-point and secure the catch. Sinks his hips and displays quick feet going into and out of routes. Has good vision and is elusive running in the open field. Works hard to block downfield, and will sustain and even dominate against smaller corners. Experienced as a punt returner.

Negatives: Thin through the hips and legs. Gets a lot of his yardage after short routes, screens and swing passes. Lacks elite speed or quickness, but had enough to be special at the FCS level. Easily tripped up in the open field. Does not switch the ball to the outside hand. Despite his strong effort, he lacks the bulk and strength to be effective against NFLdefenders. Dances and runs backward too much after the catch or on returns -- will not get away with that at the next level.

I'm going to have to trust BEP more on these. He ensured us Forte and Knox would be good.

[Howling Mad]

If I ran the 40 you could prolly add up 4, 3, 4, 2, 4, 1...that would be my time. So out of shape these days.

I guess you have to look at it by position. So in general 4.3 would be elite, expect for the WR and CB positions. A bunch of guys come in and put up a 4.3 and get no interest, which is probably why Knox was able to be snatched in the 5th round. 4.3 is fast, you're absolutely right, but these days it doesn't turn heads like it use to.

If Knox put up a 4.2, I'd say, he would've been a 3rd or 4th rounder. Even when the Bears took him in the 5th, it was considered high, but the Bears are known to grab players they like early.

[ChronicKerr]

Great draft profile on Knox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNFsIp26RlY