How Maclin's first 2 seasons stack up
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How Maclin's first 2 seasons stack up
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
When the Eagles traded up to nab Jeremy Maclin with the 19th pick in the 2009 draft, it came as a surprise.
The previous year, the Birds had taken DeSean Jackson, who surpassed all expectations as a rookie, catching 62 balls for 912 yards. A surplus of talent at wide receiver was unheard of during the first nine seasons of Andy Reid's tenure as the Birds' head coach. There was the season-and-a-half stint with Terrell Owens, but other than that, the lack of weapons for Donovan McNabb was an annual topic of discussion.
Now, nearly two years after the Birds selected Maclin, wide receiver is arguably the biggest strength on this team. Jackson is looking for a new deal as he enters the final season of his rookie contract. Jason Avant is signed through 2014. And Maclin still has three years remaining on his rookie deal.
In two seasons, Maclin has 126 catches for 1,737 yards and 14 touchdowns. Three receivers were taken ahead of Maclin in 2009, and six were taken overall in the first round. Here's a look at how they stack up:
| Player |
Rec. |
Yds. |
TDs |
YPC |
| Darrius
Heyward-Bey (7th) |
35 |
490 |
2 |
14.0 |
| Michael
Crabtree (10th) |
103 |
1,366 |
8 |
13.3 |
| Jeremy
Maclin (19th) |
126 |
1,737 |
14 |
13.8 |
| Percy
Harvin (22nd) |
131 |
1,658 |
11 |
12.7 |
| Hakeem
Nicks (29th) |
126 |
1,842 |
17 |
14.6 |
| Kenny
Britt (30th) |
84 |
1,476 |
12 |
17.6 |
Maclin's numbers play out favorably compared to his peers. He's tied for second in catches, and trails only Nicks in yards and touchdowns.
Of course, there are other receivers from the '09 draft class that have played well. Most notably, Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace, who was taken with the 20th pick in the third round. He has 99 catches through two seasons and beats out all the guys listed above with 2,013 receiving yards.
Here's how Maclin's numbers through his first two seasons compare to some other receivers that got off to good starts after the Eagles drafted them.
| Player |
Rec. |
Yds. |
TDs |
YPC |
| Mike
Quick |
79 |
1,565 |
14 |
19.8 |
| Fred
Barnett |
98 |
1,669 |
12 |
17.0 |
| Reggie
Brown |
89 |
1,387 |
12 |
15.6 |
| DeSean
Jackson |
125 |
2,079 |
11 |
16.6 |
| Jeremy
Maclin |
126 |
1,737 |
14 |
13.8 |
Note that Quick's numbers should probably have an asterisk. He was a rookie during the shortened, nine-game season in 1982. In 1983 and 1984, Quick totaled 130 catches for 2,461 yards and 22 touchdowns.
But however you want to slice it up, Maclin's off to an impressive start and has put himself in select company.
Last season, he led the Eagles with 10 receiving touchdowns, which were four more than the next guy (Jackson with 6). Digging a little deeper, Maclin was by far the Eagles' best receiving threat in the red zone. Seven of his 10 touchdowns came inside the opponents' 20. No other player had more than one touchdown catch in the red zone. That says quite a bit about Maclin's ability to get open, considering he's listed at just 6 feet. Overall (not including the second Cowboys game), the Eagles' offense was 15th in red-zone offense, scoring touchdowns on 52.83 percent of their chances. That number and rank would have been a lot lower without Maclin.
In case you missed it, in yesterday's post, I tried to make sense of James Urban's departure.
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Not a big deal, but can you please explain to me how Maclin has 126 catches and 1737 in the first table, but then has 125 and 1726 in the 2nd table? what happened to that 1 catch for 11 yards?— danlands- Not a big deal, but can you please explain to me how Maclin has 126 catches and 1737 in the first table, but then has 125 and 1726 in the 2nd table? what happened to that 1 catch for 11 yards?— danlands
- Didn't Britt get most of those receptions, yards and TD's in the fourth quarter of that game against our secondary last year?— vaphillyfan1
- Whoops, fixed the mistake on the chart for Maclin. Thanks for the heads-up. --SK— skapadia
- and his success is predicated on DeShawn being opposite him....so pay the man fools....— nuggett
fools...u y'all fools....— The Philly Shadow
What this proves is the eagles didn't need to move up to draft Maclin because there were quality receivers at the spot they were at. Of course. if they didn't move up, they would have drafted an undersize pass rusher instead of Percy Harvin.— ej610- Please respect the work of the professionals because we do this for a living and we are trying to get quality players
- I think DJacks being on the field has a bit to do with Maclin's success. I see him as an above average receiver, but not elite. Outside of DHB, I think he was the receiver with the least talent and/or upside taken in the first round. Is there any way we could get a breakdown of how he's faired without DJax in the game? Either out or not on the field?— Philly4Eternity.gov
- Philly4Eternity.gov seriously? the least talent in the 1st round? The guy was a 2x All-American at Missouri, came into the draft with a way higher pedigree than Desean. Trust me, Maclin hasn't even scratched the surface yet of what he'll become in this league. Just be happy the Eagles drafted him (after years of Todd Pinkstons, Freddie Mitchells, Billy McMullens, etc)
- @Alex: Your example is a bit extreme; No other receivers had 1000 yards receiving when TO was here because they were garbage. Freddie Mitchell or Pinkston with 10 TD's? Let's be serious. I don't care if Jerry Rice was the #1 on the other side, neither of those guys would catch 10 TD's. They were definitely not as talented as Maclin. And, if I can recall, when TO was here, BWest was our 2nd best receiver and of course he was a running back. @ Stikola: I see the rest of those receivers (except DHB) as gamebreakers. Maclins college creditials are there for sure. No question on that. I just don't see the upside compared to the other guys drafted in the 1st round with him. He's surely better than the McMullens and the Reggie Browns of the word. But until Maclin starts dictating coverages, beating double coverages, or out jumping DB's for the ball, I'll cant call him elite.— Philly4Eternity.gov
Maclin is a very good receiver, though something can be said about DJax presence on the opposite he has earned the recognization now pay DJax.
as long as kk not qb, maclin will be star— wolf 4- eternity, who in that first round is dictating coverage? Nicks, maybe? really your hate for macklin is rediculous! you just sound stupid!— sgamble077
- It's def lookin like this could turn out to be a pretty ridiculous draft class for wr. And that's only the 1st round. Check back in 5 yrs
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