Sixty to eighty catches for Avant?
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Sixty to eighty catches for Avant?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Eagles receiver Jason Avant was a blog favorite of MTC during the 2008 season.
We loved his toughness. His hands. His knack for finding the first-down marker on third downs.
Avant was a reliable target and a pleasant surprise.
But is he ready to make the leap to the next level?
NFL.com's Pat Kirwan sure thinks so. He includes Avant on a list of wide receivers who will step up and make 60-80 catches in 2009.
Here's the write-up:
Unless you talk with an Eagles coach or Donovan McNabb, you might not realize how much this franchise likes Avant. One Eagles executive called him the best slot receiver in the NFL. With all of the attention focused on DeSean Jackson and rookie Jeremy Maclin, Avant should have a very productive year. He has improved his receptions totals in each of his three NFL seasons, from 7 to 23 to 32 last year.
I'd be stunned if Avant jumped to the 60-80 catch range, and that's not a knock on him. I just don't think he'll be given the opportunities, considering that Jeremy Maclin is now in the mix and the offense will spread the ball around.
I'm also not knocking Kirwan. I like the guts. His list would be no fun if it included Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson.
Avant had 32 catches for 377 yards and two touchdowns last season, which was his third in the NFL. DeSean Jackson was the team's leading receiver and the only player to notch 60-plus catches.
In 2007, the Eagles had three players (Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown) with 60-plus catches.
What are your expectations for Avant? Is Kirwan's projection realistic?
If he repeats last year's performance, not only in terms of statistics, but in terms of reliability and success on third down, that will be just fine with me.
Comment removed.
reading some of hte responses, I thought it was just igglegreen and lonewolf4 who doesn't have a clue about talent, those thoughts still remain the same but lj23, you are totally lost. You do not know what the heck you are talking about.— bigphilly12- Avant is one of the reasons that this was one of the only offseasons in Reid's era that I didn't complain about not having another receiver--though I was thrilled to get Maclin. Avant is a great complement to Curtis and Jackson. Sixty catches might be high, but you never know.— jayheezy
- Avant only needs about 40 catches. Baskett has to get some, Jackson and Curtis will get most! And who cares how many catches Avant gets? Will McWhiner get us into the Super Bowl this year with his new "weapons"??
- It kinda depends on how other teams defend the Eagles, don't you think? If they double Avante, I'm thinking he might not reach that number.— MikeP
- in andy's spread the ball theory, no chance of 60 catches.....— nuggett
- This is the best receiving corps we have had in years. It is AR's dream. I don't see avant catching more than 25-30 balls, he will be the 4th receiver on this team. Like Sheil, said, not a knock on him, just don't see a number 4 receiver getting that many looks.
30-40. don't forget curtis missed what 6-7 games last year? and the addition of maclin/mccoy will surely take away from some of the balls thrown his way.60-80 is a huuuge reach. don't get me wrong i love avant, but with all the new weapons around here and as i said before curtis being there all year (hopefully) his targets will surely drop— MPatt24- Great hands but wont be thrown to as much. He will finish the year as the 4th wrs is Maclin is all that. Avant is our 3rd down go to guy though and Curtis was injured so who knows. 48catches 4tds— fman727
- 43 catches, 411 yards, 4 TD's. Write it down, lock it in.
- Well, Greg Lewis is gone and that's about 8 catches a year that will need to be spread around the rest of the receiving corps, and Reggie Brown is as good as gone, so there's another 12 catches ... no, can't see it happening. Avant increases his total to a very respectable 45. If he gets above that, than DJax will see his production drop. Even Andy can't throw the ball 60 times EVERY game, can he?— CaptMorgan
- Avant is worthless? Lol. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Just keep in mind how funny it is that some people can pretty much disqualify themselves as having any real football knowledge in one statement. The ONLY thing Avant does not have have that you could want in a receiver is speed. Aside from that particular shortcoming, Avant has solid hands, is an excellent downfield blocker, is tough and physical in traffic, gives great and dependable effort and is one sick route runner. Keep in mind you only get to see the route running ability if you go to Lehigh and watch practice, you attend a game in person and actually watch only him or the occasional replay on TV. Do that, and you will see what I am talking about. Again, his only knock is his speed. As to the 60 - 80 cath thing. I would love for him to get that much love, but I just don't see him seeing that many balls barring a major injury to either DJax, Curtis, B-West or J-Mac. I think Antonio Freeman's numbers from 2002 is a good model (46 rec. 600 yds. 4 TDs). that's a little under 3 rec./game. That's about right.— CV
- 60 to 80 sounds about right. For his career.— mikeyboy
- Comment removed.
- Posted by Defenestrating AJS 12:08 PM, 05/27/2009 "Avant had 32 catches for 377 yards and two touchdowns last season, which was his third in the NFL." Whoops, those numbers may have been third on the eagles but the not the NFL... They were refering to his 3rd season with the team...— 10denC 2devast8
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