Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowser
What is Rashee Rice for us going into the '24 season and beyond? Does he have the physicality to be our true "X" in this offense, or is he going to morph into the "Z" guy going into motion and lining up in the slot more often than not? Andy seems to like the Desean Jackson sized guys for his Z receiver, but with the production Rice has put out in his rookie season, what will he bring the next few years, and because of that, how will we draft AROUND him at the receiver position?
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Reid has evolved those tags so much over the years that it's hard to identify it really.
I use the 'z' designation as the strong-side WR in 11 personnel. Typically your first read and can work every blade of grass on the field. X receiver is weak side but with a slot in his pocket; typically going to work middle/intermediate with the slot designed to pull some coverage off him (or vice versa). This is not even kindergarten level stupid; this is pre-school simplistic but it's how I use the terminology for the sake of conversation.
In that sense, I think Rice is more of an X mold. But we've used that shitty little speed receiver from Indy in that role in the past (when we had Bowe as the Z). As you noted, he used to use Jackson in that role with Maclin as the Z. But when we had Hill at Z we used Watkins at X.
Honestly, I think in a perfect world, we get a different guy to play the Z who can be that guy who challenges everywhere. And I think that's probably what we'll try to do. We'll try to develop that Hill/Watkins setup. But if it doesn't work out, you could get away with Rice as your Z with a speed threat at X; more akin to Avery/Bowe or even Jackson/Maclin.
Short answer? We'll work with what we've got.