Maclin's value to the Eagles' offense
Update: We got an update on Maclin Wednesday evening. He was being tested for lymphoma, but was cleared, and had been suffering from a virus. Here is an updated post on what Maclin's return means for the Eagles and the WR situation.
Maclin's value to the Eagles' offense
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Update: We got an update on Maclin Wednesday evening. He was being tested for lymphoma, but was cleared, and had been suffering from a virus. Here is an updated post on what Maclin's return means for the Eagles and the WR situation.
FROM EARLIER:
As we continue to wait for an update on Jeremy Maclin's health, I wanted to take a look at his value in the Eagles' offense.
Back in February, I wrote about how Maclin's first two seasons have stacked up to his peers. Since entering the league, he's piled up 126 catches for 1,737 yards and 14 touchdowns, while averaging 13.8 yards per reception.
Among receivers who were rookies in 2009, only Percy Harvin (131) and Danny Amendola (128) have more catches than Maclin. Only Mike Wallace (2,013, 16) and Hakeem Nicks (1,842, 17) have more yards and touchdowns, respectively.
Since the start of the Super Bowl era, no receiver who started his career with the Eagles has had more touchdowns than Maclin in his first two seasons. It should be noted, however, that Mike Quick tied him with 14 and did so in just 25 games.
In 2010, Maclin led the Eagles in catches (70), touchdowns (10) and receiving first downs (45).
However you want to slice it up, Maclin has gotten off to an impressive start since the Eagles surprised many and traded up to take him with the 19th pick in the 2009 draft.
RED ZONE THREAT
Maclin's 10 touchdowns ranked tied for seventh in the NFL last season.
And he was particularly valuable in the red zone. Only six wide receivers had more red-zone catches than Maclin, who totaled 11 for 104 yards. His seven red-zone touchdowns (receiving) led the Eagles. No other Birds receiver had more than two receiving touchdowns in the red zone. And no other Eagles player had more than 44 yards receiving in the red zone.
I know everybody wanted the Eagles to add a big target this offseason, but Maclin was extremely effective in the red zone in 2010 - one of the league's best, actually.
BEATING THE BLITZ
We've discussed at length the need for Michael Vick to work on beating the blitz in 2011.
According to ESPN.com, here are Eagles receiving numbers last year on plays when the quarterback was blitzed (note: this includes the Kevin Kolb games too):
| Catches | Yds. | YPC | TDs | |
| Maclin | 27 | 404 | 15.0 | 5 |
| Jackson | 12 | 244 | 20.3 | 1 |
| Celek | 10 | 142 | 14.2 | 1 |
| Avant | 9 | 103 | 11.4 | 0 |
As you can see, Maclin was the Eagles' most reliable receiver against the blitz. Half of his touchdowns came when the opposing defense sent extra pressure.
ADVANCED METRICS
As you likely know by now, I like to look at what sites like Football Outsiders have to say on topics like this.
They really liked Maclin's 2010 season, ranking him as a top-10 receiver. Maclin's catch rate (the percentage of times he made a catch when the ball was thrown in his direction) was 61 percent. You'll recall that Bill Barnwell of Grantland criticized Jackson for having a catch rate of just 49 percent in 2010.
Avant's catch rate was 68 percent, and Celek's was 53 percent.
CONCLUSIONS
If you're looking for speculation on what might be ailing Maclin, you are not going to find that here. His illness is obviously a sensitive topic, and when Maclin and his family are ready to address it, they will. As recently as last week, Andy Reid said they still didn't know what it was. On Monday, Maclin's brother said Jeremy was fine and an announcement would be coming shortly. Howie Roseman said yesterdan on the radio that the Eagles expect Maclin to be a part of their team this year.
As you can see from the information above, Maclin is a big part of the Eagles' offense. He's played in 33 of 34 games (including the playoffs) since entering the league. And according to Pro Football Focus, Maclin was on the field for 978 snaps last year, seventh-most among NFL receivers.
His value in many ways is based on his versatility. Above, I wrote about Maclin's ability to produce and get open in the red zone, but he is also able to make plays downfield. Maclin had a respectable 13 plays of 20+ yards in 2010 (tied for 23rd in the league).
Is he as valuable as Jackson? I don't think so. I detailed last week how good Jackson has been in his first three seasons.
But Maclin is a very good complement. In some respects, he certainly has an edge over his teammate.
If Maclin misses time, the Eagles don't have anyone to replace him. Steve Smith would help in the red zone if he's healthy. Eight of Smith's 11 career touchdowns came inside the 20.
Avant had 10 catches for 76 yards and three touchdowns in the red zone in 2009. And Celek had 10 catches for 86 yards and six touchdowns in in 2009. So, they could help too. But neither is the playmaker Maclin is.
There's no single player on the roster with Maclin's skill set. It would very much need to be several players stepping up. Keep in mind, Maclin had a team-high 116 targets a year ago. That's over seven targets a game. In other words, players like Jackson, Avant, Celek, Smith and Riley Cooper would get more looks.
If Maclin's first two years in the league are any indication, he has a bright future ahead of him, presumably alongside Jackson for years to come.
For now, though, we continue to wait for word on his health and his status in 2011.
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He's a good downfield blocker too. Hope he's OK.— Leegles- I just want him to be okay. I don't need to know what illness he has. I beleive when he is ready to play the Eagles will allow him to play and that is all we should be concerned with.— Blessed8251
The 'catch rate (the percentage of times he made a catch when the ball was thrown in his direction)' stat is completely bogus. The only real indicator that it provides is whether most of the recievers attempts are short passes or deep balls. Of coure DeSean's catch rate is going to be lower because he is the vertical deep ball threat, which of course has a much lower completion percentage than the flanker catching bubble screens and 7 yard slant passes.
- Good work by you again Sheil— dinsdale
- I can't imagine in this "all-in" season if Maclin couldnt play, that The Eagles management wouldn't consider calling on Randy Moss. TO has torched his Philly bridge (but hey, anything IS possible) but Moss could sure help a contender secure the Lombardi trophy. Just a thought, and I hope it doesn't come to it.— mebphila
- Him and DeSean complement each other perfectly...— PhilliefaninAZ
- Good article. My suggestion is that we actually pray for his good health. He seems to need support and the Lord could be his biggest one!— Koons
- Although Maclin is irreplaceable, I have a lot of confidence in Cooper, Avant and Smith. Especially Cooper who should take a big step forward in his second year.— ej610
- Why do people always have to bring religion into stuff? You want us to pray for his good health? C'mon, not everyone talks to the magic man... How about he's got a medical condition and by law he doesn't have to tell the world what it is if he doesn't want to.— philly-born
- If this doesn't tell you how hard it is for African-Americans to get good health care, nothing will. Thanks to Bush and the obstructionist Republicans, who hate Obama because he is black, we are not getting the health care we deserve and should have. If Maclin can't play this year, we know whose fault it is.— eldiablodelsol2009
- It's definitely true that we (black and white) have spotty, overpriced, profit-driven healthcare in this country -- if we have coverage at all. Also true that the Republicans blocked the possibility of us joining the rest of the first-world countries in having a real universal coverage plan. Maclin, as a pro athlete and son of a doc, may not be the best example of this fact though. — FKD215
- Here is a question, if Maclin, Smith, Avant, and Jackson are all healthy and signed, what 3 do you use in 3 receiver set?— camasbud
- eldiablo, your an idiot. Maclin's father is a doctor and I'm sure he got good care. And we don't hate Obama because he's black, we hate him because he is trying to destroy what is great about this country.— Uncle Carm
- With a white mother and a black father Obama is as much white as he is black. Never have seen what the big deal is about his race.— bmayer1865
- SOME people ARE FKN IGNORANT to blame BUSH FOR MACLIN R U SNIFFING GLUE??ITS NOT CUZ OBAMA IS BLACK ITS CUZ HE IS A FKN COMMY GIVING AWAY FREE MONEY— eaglhitz
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