WR Training Camp Battles

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How did Onome Ojo not make this list?

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Hey guys - I was talking with a former coaching colleague who spent a few years in the league (as a player). I actually meant to bring Ja'Lynn Polk up with him earlier this year but forgot, so this time I made sure I did.

I'll cut straight to the chase. My buddy said the word on the street is that the Pats flat-out failed Polk, and that (his WR coach) Tyler Hughes specifically crapped the bed. They overloaded the kid outta the gates and because he's a high football IQ guy, they were expecting him to learn X, Z, slot, all of it, and the packages were changing week to week.

Look, that's not inherently a bad thing, but when you have a rookie WR the first thing you need to do build his confidence. Spreading him thin, watching his targets drop, and then benching him will do the exact opposite and stunt his development. And when a guy who has shown throughout college that he is a technician and student of the game isn't improving, I have to question the coaching.

Anyway, that's the gist of it. I went back and took a look at Polk's film again, and if he's fully healthy I think we got a real darkhorse here. To me, he's a power slot - I'd focus him there more than I would outside.

Take it for what it's worth, but I'll say one last thing: the Saints pro personnel department is establishing a pretty strong track record with reclamation projects. Also, Keith Williams is one of the best WR coaches in the business, and going from Hughes to him should give him every opportunity he needs.

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