Craig Lyndall is a smart guy, which is why I include links to most of his articles, despite the fact that he's wrong about a lot of things.
In this one, about the wisdom of re-signing Travis Benjamin, his logic is irrefutable. Unlike some alleged analysts, Craig comprehends that the Rabbit isn't a number one receiver.
But he considers Benjamin a number two outside receiver, as well as a slot guy. He regards the quality of the cornerback as the lone challenge, and ignores the routes and types of coverage.
Travis Benjamin (and Andrew Hawkins) have been forced into playing outside by injuries (and Dwayne Bowe). Outside receivers are often pressed, and physically leveraged outside.
That puts the cornerback roughly between the quarterback and receiver. A good cornerback can bump and jostle a small receiver toward the sideline with his body. It prevents the little guy from getting to full speed as he struggles for balance. He's not where he's supposed to be, and when the passer does find him, any throw is contested, with the cornerback having the advantage.
This is as true for the Z as for the X. Outside is outside.
Slot receivers can be munchkins because they have a two-way go, and are very hard to press. They can't be leveraged outside, because they'll simply go with the leverage, and turn it into a footrace. They also have more room outside.
Travis Benjamin is a slot receiver.
Craig thoughtfully mentioned Josh Gordon as a potential number one, but again ignored Pryor, and seems to think Benjamin is a better number two (Z) than Rodney Hartlinefield.
Craig seems to think any receiver who lacks world class speed shouldn't bother showing up, and that speed trumps height and catch radius...and everything else.
He talks about a "complete overhaul", and describes a team all but devoid of playmakers.
This is common. There are only eleven players on an offense, and six of them are linemen and a quarterback. Of the five remaining, is Barnidge a playmaker? Gordon? Duke? Travis?
Okay, that's four. Why do you keep chanting this mantra? And what is to rebuild? I even left out Andrew Hawkins, and Crowell, who's had a number of explosive plays himself.
Craig is smart, but stubborn. Analysis isn't a series of annual cliches, repeated.
"Playmaker" is a cliche. A label. A box. A good player is a good player. A tall guy with average speed who is money on third down belongs. A guy who gets three carries of over ten yards in a game makes a difference.
Ok I'm sorry. I'm confiscating the phrase "playmaker". You're overusing it. It doesn't mean anything any more. It will be returned to you when you can use it responsibly.
But Craig is right about re-signing Travis Benjamin.
This article on Jared Goff by Nick Master isn't bad, but he screws up badly on the stats. He cites Goff's 14-23 w/l record as a reason for concern.
He mentions (as an aside) his first 1-11 season, then a "but still". No, stop right there. He was a first year starter, and eleven of his twenty three total losses came in that year. He got better in his second season, and became elite in his third. That is what matters.
Nor did he play in a vacuum. No quarterback can single-handedly win a game (well except maybe Cam Newton).
Real scouts will study how he handled blitzes, checked down, used his eyes, placed the ball; his completion percentage, yards per attempt, third down pass efficiency, etc.
Not wins and losses. He played for a small school, and it's a team sport.
Besides, he won most of his games and the Armed Forces Bowl last year.
Goff entered one of the worst teams in college football, and three years later left with a championship. What rational person is concerned?
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