Jerry Rice 2.0

[Wolvesfan21]

Is Adam Thielen? Similarities.

Small School- Check

Average NFL WR measurables- Check

Superb Hands- Check

Excellent route running- Check

Rice was fairly highly touted out of school however and was a stud from day 1. Thielen was a FA.

I'll say Theilen is a "generic cheap" version of Rice which is amazing considering most consider Rice the best WR of all-time.

Just thought after another outstanding day, I'd throw up the comparison to who I think he sort of resembles.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Heh, not sure he has the same top end speed......But it's hard to believe in this day and age a guy like him going under the radar like that. I guess there is still hope for late bloomers!

Like Keenum, he played an almost perfect game, then made a crucial drop on a drive that would have helped put the game away earlier. In the end, it didn't matter. He was great.

[TAFKASP]

I bet KAT wishes he played Football so he wouldn't be expected to play defense.

[Monster]

Interesting thread and comp. I have one thing I can't help but bring up...

People think Thielen is just average athletically but it's honestly not true. He ran a sub 4.5 at his pro day and is 6'1". Notice the guy puts moves on people when he has the ball. This guy is actually athletic not just some super smart awesome route runner although he does that too. I don't think people give Diggs enough credit for his athleticism either. These guys don't rely on it but they have it. That's what makes these guys pretty damn good. Looking back you wonder why Thielen didn't get on the field more and maybe sooner. He made plays when given his chances years ago.

[Wolvesfan21]

Interesting thread and comp. I have one thing I can't help but bring up...

People think Thielen is just average athletically but it's honestly not true. He ran a sub 4.5 at his pro day and is 6'1". Notice the guy puts moves on people when he has the ball. This guy is actually athletic not just some super smart awesome route runner although he does that too. I don't think people give Diggs enough credit for his athleticism either. These guys don't rely on it but they have it. That's what makes these guys pretty damn good. Looking back you wonder why Thielen didn't get on the field more and maybe sooner. He made plays when given his chances years ago.

The point is he isn't Julio Jones, Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson.

Athletically he doesn't excel like other top end WR's have like those mentioned above Running 4.3's with a 48 inch vert and 6-3 - 6-5.

Same as Rice who was said to have run a slow 40 and went to a small school. Body wise, I think he is similar to Rice AND Similar playing style as well. Superb hands and route runner. He gets it done with skill. Not to say he is slow, just merely avg amongst NFL WR's (thats not a bad thing).

Rice may have had a little higher top end speed like the other poster mentioned. He didn't seem to be caught from behind much.

[Monster]

Interesting thread and comp. I have one thing I can't help but bring up...

People think Thielen is just average athletically but it's honestly not true. He ran a sub 4.5 at his pro day and is 6'1". Notice the guy puts moves on people when he has the ball. This guy is actually athletic not just some super smart awesome route runner although he does that too. I don't think people give Diggs enough credit for his athleticism either. These guys don't rely on it but they have it. That's what makes these guys pretty damn good. Looking back you wonder why Thielen didn't get on the field more and maybe sooner. He made plays when given his chances years ago.

The point is he isn't Julio Jones, Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson.

Athletically he doesn't excel like other top end WR's have like those mentioned above Running 4.3's with a 48 inch vert and 6-3 - 6-5.

Same as Rice who was said to have run a slow 40 and went to a small school. Body wise, I think he is similar to Rice AND Similar playing style as well. Superb hands and route runner. He gets it done with skill. Not to say he is slow, just merely avg amongst NFL WR's (thats not a bad thing).

Rice may have had a little higher top end speed like the other poster mentioned. He didn't seem to be caught from behind much.

It's always fun to throw out Rice's 4.7 40 time. :) I don't think either Rice or Thielen are "average" athletes. Sure it's the skills and brains that make them great but you aren't great without that regardless of your physical gifts. I think calling both guys average athletes seems unfair. Sorry this has bugged me with Thielen for years. I'd like to see where Thielen has been run down where he wasn't slown down first having to make a catch etc.

[Wolvesfan21]

Interesting thread and comp. I have one thing I can't help but bring up...

People think Thielen is just average athletically but it's honestly not true. He ran a sub 4.5 at his pro day and is 6'1". Notice the guy puts moves on people when he has the ball. This guy is actually athletic not just some super smart awesome route runner although he does that too. I don't think people give Diggs enough credit for his athleticism either. These guys don't rely on it but they have it. That's what makes these guys pretty damn good. Looking back you wonder why Thielen didn't get on the field more and maybe sooner. He made plays when given his chances years ago.

The point is he isn't Julio Jones, Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson.

Athletically he doesn't excel like other top end WR's have like those mentioned above Running 4.3's with a 48 inch vert and 6-3 - 6-5.

Same as Rice who was said to have run a slow 40 and went to a small school. Body wise, I think he is similar to Rice AND Similar playing style as well. Superb hands and route runner. He gets it done with skill. Not to say he is slow, just merely avg amongst NFL WR's (thats not a bad thing).

Rice may have had a little higher top end speed like the other poster mentioned. He didn't seem to be caught from behind much.

It's always fun to throw out Rice's 4.7 40 time. :) I don't think either Rice or Thielen are "average" athletes. Sure it's the skills and brains that make them great but you aren't great without that regardless of your physical gifts. I think calling both guys average athletes seems unfair. Sorry this has bugged me with Thielen for years. I'd like to see where Thielen has been run down where he wasn't slown down first having to make a catch etc.

Again, I sad avg as far as NFL WR's go. Not any NFL WR is an avg athlete, they are all exceptional. I get your point obviously.

It wasn't Rices athletic ability that made him the best ever, nor does Thielen have the size, vert or 40 of a Randy Moss. Randy Moss could maybe still outrun Thielen in a 40, BUT that doesn't mean Thielen wouldn't get open more then a 40 some year old Moss.

Cris Carter was fairly slow (compared to some) as well, but again, he caught everything thrown in his direction seemingly and he also used his route running and talent to get open.

This isn't a rip on Thielen, I was worried it was too much praise to be honest. Comparng anybody to Rice to some would be seen as blasphemous.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I think calling Thielen an average athlete relative to the total pool of NFL receivers is perfectly fair. Look at all the speed merchants out there that simply can't run routes or have poor hands. Obviously he's not average compared to the regular dude on the street!

As for Rice, I get that his 40 wasn't the greatest, but wasn't he known for his speed to the ball once it was up in the air? In other words, I think it is possible for someone to be faster when their is actually something to be chased vs. running a speed trial on an empty track. And may be that applies differently to different people. I just don't know how else to explain Rice's prodigious output.

As for Thielen, if he really did have elite speed on the football field (again, relative to his peers and corners), I think he'd have more TDs. Stil having a great year!

[Monster]

Interesting thread and comp. I have one thing I can't help but bring up...

People think Thielen is just average athletically but it's honestly not true. He ran a sub 4.5 at his pro day and is 6'1". Notice the guy puts moves on people when he has the ball. This guy is actually athletic not just some super smart awesome route runner although he does that too. I don't think people give Diggs enough credit for his athleticism either. These guys don't rely on it but they have it. That's what makes these guys pretty damn good. Looking back you wonder why Thielen didn't get on the field more and maybe sooner. He made plays when given his chances years ago.

The point is he isn't Julio Jones, Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson.

Athletically he doesn't excel like other top end WR's have like those mentioned above Running 4.3's with a 48 inch vert and 6-3 - 6-5.

Same as Rice who was said to have run a slow 40 and went to a small school. Body wise, I think he is similar to Rice AND Similar playing style as well. Superb hands and route runner. He gets it done with skill. Not to say he is slow, just merely avg amongst NFL WR's (thats not a bad thing).

Rice may have had a little higher top end speed like the other poster mentioned. He didn't seem to be caught from behind much.

It's always fun to throw out Rice's 4.7 40 time. :) I don't think either Rice or Thielen are "average" athletes. Sure it's the skills and brains that make them great but you aren't great without that regardless of your physical gifts. I think calling both guys average athletes seems unfair. Sorry this has bugged me with Thielen for years. I'd like to see where Thielen has been run down where he wasn't slown down first having to make a catch etc.

Again, I sad avg as far as NFL WR's go. Not any NFL WR is an avg athlete, they are all exceptional. I get your point obviously.

It wasn't Rices athletic ability that made him the best ever, nor does Thielen have the size, vert or 40 of a Randy Moss. Randy Moss could maybe still outrun Thielen in a 40, BUT that doesn't mean Thielen wouldn't get open more then a 40 some year old Moss.

Cris Carter was fairly slow (compared to some) as well, but again, he caught everything thrown in his direction seemingly and he also used his route running and talent to get open.

This isn't a rip on Thielen, I was worried it was too much praise to be honest. Comparng anybody to Rice to some would be seen as blasphemous.

I think we are on the same page. One thing I think isn't mentioned about Thielen with his athletic profile is the guy plays strong much stronger than many WR's regardless of what body type he is or is perceived to be.

Rice was an unbelievable player. I think he is the greatest receiver of my lifetime because of what he did how long he did it etc. Moss was more talented but I think I would take Rice. If Thielen was 75% of Rice that would be pretty good. I think the idea you were going for is worthwhile. I don't see how Thielen isn't one of the best WRs in the NFL right now. There was some advanced stats that said he was last year and now with a QB with some time to make throws it's become more clear. It's nice to get lucky sometimes.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Interesting thread and comp. I have one thing I can't help but bring up...

People think Thielen is just average athletically but it's honestly not true. He ran a sub 4.5 at his pro day and is 6'1". Notice the guy puts moves on people when he has the ball. This guy is actually athletic not just some super smart awesome route runner although he does that too. I don't think people give Diggs enough credit for his athleticism either. These guys don't rely on it but they have it. That's what makes these guys pretty damn good. Looking back you wonder why Thielen didn't get on the field more and maybe sooner. He made plays when given his chances years ago.

The point is he isn't Julio Jones, Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson.

Athletically he doesn't excel like other top end WR's have like those mentioned above Running 4.3's with a 48 inch vert and 6-3 - 6-5.

Same as Rice who was said to have run a slow 40 and went to a small school. Body wise, I think he is similar to Rice AND Similar playing style as well. Superb hands and route runner. He gets it done with skill. Not to say he is slow, just merely avg amongst NFL WR's (thats not a bad thing).

Rice may have had a little higher top end speed like the other poster mentioned. He didn't seem to be caught from behind much.

It's always fun to throw out Rice's 4.7 40 time. :) I don't think either Rice or Thielen are "average" athletes. Sure it's the skills and brains that make them great but you aren't great without that regardless of your physical gifts. I think calling both guys average athletes seems unfair. Sorry this has bugged me with Thielen for years. I'd like to see where Thielen has been run down where he wasn't slown down first having to make a catch etc.

Lol he was literally run down in the Redskins game. He caught one over the middle, got around the safety and then got caught from behind as he was slightly turning towards the middle of the field away from the other corner and safety who were also going to catch him. He's a great athlete. He's just not that fast. All the fast WR's in the league would have taken that one to the house. I'd rather have Thielen than most of them still.