dougthonus wrote:Dresden wrote:Burton was good last season when he was healthy. I thought Gabriel was good last year, too. I think their receivers are good enough, with Robinson, Miller, and even Wims has shown potential. Plus there's Riley Ridley who hasn't even had a chance yet. They do need tight ends in a huge way though. Shaheen has been a massive disappointment.
I think only Robinson looks like a good receiver. No one else in that group is helping the QB and our receivers (at least a week ago) were leading the league in drops collectively.
Agree.
Miller showed good rapport and potential while healthy last year. Yesterday was a huge performance, but it wasn't simply that Miller was spectacular individually; imo it was again he and Trubisky just looking in sync. Miller didn't demolish anyone with his routes or speed, and some of the catches were a lil too close for comfort; but he did run good routes and was in the right places at right time and did secure the ball. I've always been intrigued by Wims for a similar reason, he does important things well (Miller does have some big potential skillsets that Wims probably doesn't).
Wims offers a bigger target radius that makes it much easier for Trubisky to make a comfortable 8yd throw. With A-Rob and Wims, Mitch looked very strong getting ball out to 1st/2nd read. Miller and A-Rob offer some over-the-top passes or breaks across the middle for 10-20 yd plays. But those require Mitch to be on point, something he really hasn't been at all this year. Last night he was, and I think the protection was a big difference for Mitch too. I'm VERY skeptical last night was a sign of our o-line getting that much better as much as it was a sign of a weaker defense in Det (but hey, props to winning the battle regardless).
I'll also say I like Gabriel. He's a really cool piece to have. He was used a lot more creatively last year though. Not only is he fast, he's got above-average hands, and he's a pretty nice route runner. STILL, he's not what Trubisky needs as the #2 outside receiver. I think Gabriel is a better overall receiver than a youngin like Wims, but everything I've seen says Wims is a more important piece for Trubisky on 1st and 3rd down. That said, Gabriel should be run out there both as a gadget kind of player and for tradiational sets occasionally to keep defenses on their toes.
Last year, Nagy's play-calling had the sum of the parts playing above their realistic talent evaluations individually. A-Rob is the only one you'd think of being a primary weapon any other 10+ win team. This year, they are playing much closer to the talent level of the individual parts. I'd expect Gabriel to be the #2 WR on a 7-8 win team, or Miller for that matter (at this point in career) ... and Trubisky individually looks like a 7-8 win QB. But the talents each of them does possess is so diverse that together, when called correctly, they can be a 10+ win offense (even with a Defense like this year that is super strong holding but not necessarily takeaways).
