J. Kapp 11 wrote:I'd say a 77.9 QBR allowed is pretty solid, especially when you're playing across from the best cover corner in the NFL.
I think Trae Waynes was drafted right about where he should have been.
Numbers are nice, but I think we also need some context here over the last four games; specifically who has he been going up against?
To set the stage,
prior to week 6 Waynes allowed the fifth-most receptions and the seventh-most receiving yards to opposing receivers, per PFF. What caused this turnaround? Let's dive in a little bit.
Week 6 vs. GB:
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (1 drive) Brett Hundley thereafter.
Perimeter WRs: Jordy Nelson, DeVante Adams
Analysis: Brett Hundley was/is abysmal, in no way ready to play in that game and is not a good quarterback (yet). GB has a couple of solid starters (Nelson/Adams) but Hundley was/is so terrible it didn't matter. He wasn't really a threat.
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Week 7 vs Baltimore:
Quaterback Joe Flacco
Perimeter WRs: Mike Wallace (Rhodes) and Michael Campanaro. Maclin was out this game.
Analysis: Joe Flacco is terrible and the entire Baltimore offense is inept (30th in total offense). Flacco currently rates #27 in the NFL in passing yards; 8-10 TD/INT ratio and is averaging a terrible 5.3 YPA. Micael Campanaro has 27 career receptions. In essence Waynes was going up against one of the worst QBs in the league and was covering essentially a 3rd or fourth-string wide receiver.
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Week 8 vs. Cleveland
Quarterback: DeShone Kizer
Perimeter WRs: Ricado Lewis, Bryce Treggs
Analysis: See above (Flacco summary) but these guys are even worse.
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Week 9 vs. Washington
Quarterback: Kirk Cousins
Perimeter WRs: Josh Doctson, Maurice Harris
Analysis: This was Waynes' best game out of this stretch given the level of quarterback play. He allowed that one long TD but I'm not going to hold that against him too much. It was a good play by Cousins and Harris. That said, the level of WRs he was going up against weren't anything to write home about, especially with Pryor an afterthought and Doctson not yet establishing he's anything special. Harris had just been called up from the practice squad.
Final thoughts:
So yes, Kapp, he has performed well during this stretch but he was going up against some of the worst QB/WR combos in the league, many of them backups to third/fourth stringers. That's why I'm skeptical he's improved as much as people say. That said, Woods and Watkins will represent his biggest challenge with a red-hot QB in Goff. I don't expect Waynes to hold up nearly as well as in this stretch. Of course, I hope I'm mistaken. I fully expect Waynes to allow at least one touchdown pass and will probably have great position on a number of other receivers only to fail to get his head around and make a play. He'll probably also have one PI/holding but make a couple of nice tackles.
I really want to be wrong tomorrow.