The No. 1 wide receiver conversation begins and ends with Davante Adams. The Raiders have holes across the roster, but a promising pass-catching group, spearheaded by the star wideout, provides optimism on offense.
Is Davante Adams the best route runner in the league? ???@tae15adams | @raiders pic.twitter.com/tf0vMTeuIb
— NFL (@NFL) June 28, 2023
The Raiders Struck Gold With Davante Adams
Recency bias is a real thing in modern-day society. To avoid succumbing to this trend, let’s look beyond the 2022 season for a better view of the full picture. Triple H may be the ‘Cerebral Assassin’, but Adams mirrors this trait by attacking the defender’s mind with sensory overload. Few receivers possess the vast amount of coverage-beating releases to rival him. No one makes better use of separation distances than the talented receiver in Vegas.
Once the helmet and visor cover his face, Adams becomes the Terminator. Press the former Fresno State Bulldog at the line or try off coverage; it will produce the same result. Being able to assess a defender’s individual coverage strategy and where his help is coming from at the line of scrimmage puts the six-time Pro Bowler ahead before the snap occurs.
Master Of Routes
With the creation of the route tree, the football gods had already done Adams a solid. No. 17 is just built differently, evident by his top-tier body control. He can run every route in the book and executes them better than anyone else in the league by excellently utilizing his masterful technique.
The key to the route-running wizardry demonstrated by the three-time first-team All-Pro is ingenious in its simplicity: Run actual routes and don’t focus solely on drills. Six straight trips to the Pro Bowl proves he is putting us up on game. There is so much nuance to Adams’ game, with every attention to detail factoring in.
Circling back to mastering space and distance, the vision of Adams is damn near like the all-seeing eye. His route running is primarily about timing and spacing. Appreciating the intricacies of elite footwork only further highlights the ability of the 2022 touchdown receptions leader. Mix in out-of-this-world body control and precise cuts, plus the hands created in the Bay, and you have Davante Adams.
Making The Catch
A route is only as good as the finish. Does the receiver catch the ball with 100% of the focus on every route? Defining a catch in today’s NFL varies from game-to-game, officiating crew to crew, and is a lot harder than it should be.
Adams has never been the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest, but he is always first to the ball. No matter what it takes. Be it fighting through defenders, even while being held, or frequently facing double and triple teams — it doesn’t matter; he will find his way back to the ball. Pirouette’s against the sideline, toe-drag swag, late hands, sticky fingers: He has it all.
Generating yardage after the catch separates the good from the great. In the open field, Adams is a monster. When the boost is engaged, no one can catch him. Being able to position himself to receive the ball in stride and continue running no matter what direction or where the route takes him is nothing short of amazing.
Adams Boasts Elite Consistency With The Raiders
Nobody has been doing it as well or for as long as Adams has. Everyone has a good year, few have good years, and even fewer have five good years. Only a select few can produce success as consistently and consecutively as the Raiders’ star has.
Again, with three straight first-team All-Pro selections and six straight Pro Bowl selections, the resume speaks for itself. Six out of the last seven seasons, Adams caught double-digit touchdown passes. While four out of the past five seasons saw the gifted wideout eclipse 1,000 yards receiving. The most impressive part of his ‘22 campaign is this: He did it with someone not named Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback.
There may be other receivers who are bigger, stronger, and faster. Maybe even some with flashier highlights, but you cannot convince Adams that anyone is better. Vegas has a special one.
*Top Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports
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