Calvin Ridley: WR1 in the 2018 Draft

In honor of my dear friend Kevin Turner’s first post on this site, I have some recommending listening while you read this.

SpottieOttieDopaliscious by Outkast.  Fire it up.  Let the horns go to work on you.

Now then, as you’re settling down with your sourdough pretzel bites for the National Title Game tomorrow, keep a sharp eye on #3 from Alabama.  His name is Calvin Ridley and he is what we call Good at Sporting.  I don’t want to get your hopes up because it’s doubtful he’s available for the Cowboys to pick at #19 but we’re here to be prepared for anything.  That’s why I’m typing in the bunker beneath my pantry.

When it comes to wideouts, I’ve drifted away from being a big fan of size.  I now lean more toward guys who can create separation against man-to-man coverage, regardless of how big they are (or aren’t).  That’s where Ridley shines.  I’ve prepared a couple of gifs (from draftbreakdown.com) for you just so you can see what he looks like running.

What I want you to notice here is the subtle—yet definitive—change of direction and suddenness he has.  He starts his route to the inside of his defender and on about his third step, his foot goes in the ground and he changes his stem to the outside. He has a great feel for setting up defenders to win in his routes.  Poor Florida State man gets beat on an out route by about ten yards.

This one is here because running fast is always a plus.  Calvin Ridley runs fast.

The measurables, via NFLDraftscout.com

Height:  6005 (six feet plus 5/8 of an inch)
Weight:  190
Estimated 40 time: 4.48
Strengths:

• Ability to easily vary speed in routes to set up defenders.
• Change of direction.
• Runs the entire route tree.
• Deep threat ability and not just because of speed.  He can track the ball and adjust.
• Good after the catch making tacklers miss.
• Can line up inside and out.
• Can get off of press coverage with quickness and technique.
• Great brakes (breaks also works here) at the top of routes when he gets DBs turned.
• Short area quickness.
• Level of competition is as good as it gets.

Weaknesses:

• Age.  It’s a weird thing to list but he’s 23 years old.  A lot of guys come in to the NFL at 20 or 21 so you project an ability to keep improving.  To be fair: if he’s a finished product, the product is just fine.
• Build.  He’s a little lean.  It hasn’t been an issue so far, as evidenced by his playing 43 games in his three seasons at Alabama.
• Catch radius is average.  He makes some really nice catches, but also had some drops on balls you’d expect him to haul in.
• Production.  59 catches for less than 1,000 yards doesn’t scream superstar, but this might be more a product of QB play and how Alabama plays than an indictment on him.

This is going to be a deep draft for the sort of receivers the Cowboys should be interested in, and Ridley is the best of the bunch.  The Cowboys need to find guys that are better and more versatile route runners, and Ridley is surely that.  He comes with the ability to win on routes at every level, including the deep ball (which the Cowboys having been lacking lately).

Say a little prayer for 18 teams before the Cowboys not picking him.

Your feedback in the comments (or on the Tweeter @JC1053) about players you’d like to hear about (or literally anything else on your mind) are always appreciated.