2021 NFL Draft: Rashod Bateman a true No. 1 wide receiver in Minnesota

[John Galt]

Can we expect you criticize the staff this year, when we see a substantial increase in TE targets? It’s coming.

Since Tyler graduated and all of our TEs are back and a year older, I have little doubt that we’ll utilize them more. A lot of you just need something to b*tch about and it’s hard finding things after an 11-2 season with an all-time great offense.

 

[PitinoFan]

This catch would even make Bateman’s season highlight reel. Imagine what he’s capable of 3 years later!

 

[MNVCGUY]

Right now, it’s debatable as to whether Faalele will be starting in 2020. Our line played its best against Auburn with Schlueter and Andries at Tackle. Picking Faalele in rounds 1-3 at this point is based on potential and not on-field production. He will need to improve significantly in 2020 to be a 1st or 2nd round pick.

The line did play well against Auburn but I will be shocked if a healthy Faalele is not a starter for us in 2020.

He absolutely does need to improve his overall game, has only been playing football for a few years and he has already come a really long way in that short amount of time.

 

[Spoofin]

Since Tyler graduated and all of our TEs are back and a year older, I have little doubt that we’ll utilize them more. A lot of you just need something to b*tch about and it’s hard finding things after an 11-2 season with an all-time great offense.

This post is what we call a hedge JG. Transparent.

BTW - why would we utilize the TEs more? Are you saying our coaches would rather throw to Ko Kieft than to Bateman?

 

[John Galt]

This post is what we call a hedge JG. Transparent.

BTW - why would we utilize the TEs more? Are you saying our coaches would rather throw to Ko Kieft than to Bateman?

Have you ever heard of the Ciarrocca pie?

 

[zman]

Have you ever heard of the Ciarrocca pie?

Hey, leave family members out of this......

 

[BTChamp]

This catch would even make Bateman’s season highlight reel. Imagine what he’s capable of 3 years later!

Damn. Nice athleticism. At 6'7" he'll demand some coverage, especially in the red zone (green zone).

 

[Fan of Ray Christensen]

And every pass to the wide receivers. Wait, Bateman is our best WR so every pass goes to him. So every single play is a pass to Bateman. Sound logic.

The Rashod Ratio?

 

[skauma]

Obviously not worried about Bateman. He'll be a stud, because he is a stud. My concern with the offense is WR2....Gophers have had a WR 1A and 1B for the last two seasons....No one on the receiving corps is going to fill Tyler Johnson's role, so it has to be made up in other ways. Autman-Bell is cool, but no Tyler Johnson.

Autman-Bell presumably steps in to the WR2 role...and I don't doubt he will step his game up with more targets, but I don't think he's capable of Tyler's production...so someone else in the receiving group needs to step up...Spann-Ford? Demetrius Douglas?....Seth Green?

I have a lot of confidence in this coaching staff under PJ, but I don't expect them to replace Tyler Johnson, but rather to adapt to him being gone. Curious to see how it plays out, and which players get featured more. The run game lost some playmakers too. Obviously Mo has shown he can carry that torch, but definitely some depth lost there.

 

[Some guy]

I’m honestly beginning to think this is the assumption made by most people, because “Minnesota.” He’s probably going to run something in the 4.4s.


“He doesn’t appear to have elite speed but is continually running away and separating from defenders to make the catch.”

Yeah that line doesn’t make sense. What does appearing to have speed look like other than running away from people

 

[MNVCGUY]

Obviously not worried about Bateman. He'll be a stud, because he is a stud. My concern with the offense is WR2....Gophers have had a WR 1A and 1B for the last two seasons....No one on the receiving corps is going to fill Tyler Johnson's role, so it has to be made up in other ways. Autman-Bell is cool, but no Tyler Johnson.

Autman-Bell presumably steps in to the WR2 role...and I don't doubt he will step his game up with more targets, but I don't think he's capable of Tyler's production...so someone else in the receiving group needs to step up...Spann-Ford? Demetrius Douglas?....Seth Green?

I have a lot of confidence in this coaching staff under PJ, but I don't expect them to replace Tyler Johnson, but rather to adapt to him being gone. Curious to see how it plays out, and which players get featured more. The run game lost some playmakers too. Obviously Mo has shown he can carry that torch, but definitely some depth lost there.

I'm curious as to why you are so certain Autman-Bell won't be able to replace TJ. Not saying your are wrong, but what have you seen from CAB that makes you think he doesn't have the ability to get it done?

Johnson developed into a really good receiver for us but I have also been very impressed with what I have seen from CAB. He has had limited opportunities to shine due to Bateman and Johnson being in front of him but when the ball has come his way he has made the most of it. Seems to catch pretty much everything, has shown an ability to catch the ball in traffic, and seems to have decent speed. I am really excited to see what he can do in the #2 role with Bateman almost certainly drawing a ton of attention from opposing defenses.

I am also willing to give this coaching staff the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the WR position based on what they have accomplished in a relatively short amount of time in taking a black hole of a position and turning it into a strength.

Tyler Johnson did a great job for us but I am not 100% convinced the passing game will take a big hit without him in the lineup next year. The ball may get spread around a little bit more but we have some really nice potential and a super accurate QB back there delivering them the ball.

 

[skauma]

I'm curious as to why you are so certain Autman-Bell won't be able to replace TJ. Not saying your are wrong, but what have you seen from CAB that makes you think he doesn't have the ability to get it done?

Johnson developed into a really good receiver for us but I have also been very impressed with what I have seen from CAB. He has had limited opportunities to shine due to Bateman and Johnson being in front of him but when the ball has come his way he has made the most of it. Seems to catch pretty much everything, has shown an ability to catch the ball in traffic, and seems to have decent speed. I am really excited to see what he can do in the #2 role with Bateman almost certainly drawing a ton of attention from opposing defenses.

I am also willing to give this coaching staff the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the WR position based on what they have accomplished in a relatively short amount of time in taking a black hole of a position and turning it into a strength.

Tyler Johnson did a great job for us but I am not 100% convinced the passing game will take a big hit without him in the lineup next year. The ball may get spread around a little bit more but we have some really nice potential and a super accurate QB back there delivering them the ball.

Tyler Johnson is one of best two or three receivers in school history. I'm not trying to knock Autman-Bell, just pointing out its unlikely he will reach Johnson's level.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Tyler Johnson is one of best two or three receivers in school history. I'm not trying to knock Autman-Bell, just pointing out its unlikely he will reach Johnson's level.

You may very well be right, but I do think there is a chance that Autman-Bell is going to really open some eyes this year when he is finally given the chance to step into the spotlight alongside Bateman.

Going to be fun to see how it all plays out.

 

[oleboy41]

CAB will be very good next year. I don't think he'll be at TJ's level where you can count on him to be consistently open on 3rd down. He has a big catch radius but he wasn't all that great at making contested catches last year after that Fresno catch. There were a number of 3rd downs where he got fades thrown to him in 1 on 1 situations and didn't come up with it. That's not a knock on him but that does say that he may not be a super star like TJ was.

 

[MNVCGUY]

CAB will be very good next year. I don't think he'll be at TJ's level where you can count on him to be consistently open on 3rd down. He has a big catch radius but he wasn't all that great at making contested catches last year after that Fresno catch. There were a number of 3rd downs where he got fades thrown to him in 1 on 1 situations and didn't come up with it. That's not a knock on him but that does say that he may not be a super star like TJ was.

Obviously stats don't tell the full story but thought it was interesting to see that CAB and TJ had almost identical stats after their first two years of playing.

TJ - 49 catches - 818 yards - 8 TD
CAB - 56 catches - 820 yards - 5 TD

TJ spent those first two years playing in a stone ages passing game with average to bad QB play. CAB spent his first two years in a good passing game but stuck as the clear #3 option behind Bateman and TJ. TJ really took off in his 3rd year of playing when he became a top 2 option in a very good passing attack with strong QB play. In 2020 CAB will be in that same boat.

Remains to be seen if he can take off the way TJ did but there is some definite potential there for him to be a really strong #2 option in the passing game.