Sixty to eighty catches for Avant?
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Sixty to eighty catches for Avant?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Can Eagles receiver Jason Avant (81) make the leap to the next level in 2009? (AP / File photo)
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.
Comments (51)
More catches for Avant means more First Downs for the offense! This will help the offense sustain drives and hopefully lead to more TDs and less FGs and punts. So it is def. a good thing to get him more involved in the passing game. Try to knock him all you want but he produced when given the opportunity and really excelled in the slot position.— USNPatriot- More catches for Avant means more First Downs for the offense! This will help the offense sustain drives and hopefully lead to more TDs and less FGs and punts. So it is def. a good thing to get him more involved in the passing game. Try to knock him all you want but he produced when given the opportunity and really excelled in the slot position.— USNPatriot
- dreamers. reading these comments. it's the year of the run. the NFL is going running and so are the eagles.— JACK V
- an eagles offical called avant the best slot receiver in the NFL. yea, andy reid more than once. it would be an improbability for avant to get 80 throws his way, let alone catches. that's five a game. the guy doesn't play but five to eight offensive plays per game. now maybe if two starters went down.— JACK V
Comment removed.- I agree with Sheil. Avant has been a good player so far, but I think he'll get enough opportunities for 60 catches. Not the way the Eagles use their receivers.— bjrflyeagles
- 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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- 60 to 80 sounds about right. For his career.— mikeyboy
- 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
- 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
- 43 catches, 411 yards, 4 TD's. Write it down, lock it in.
- 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
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- 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.
- in andy's spread the ball theory, no chance of 60 catches.....— nuggett
- 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
- 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"??
- 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
- 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
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- Avant has reliable hands, but no speed. He certainly has the ability to catch 60 to 80 balls, but they won't throw to him that many times because he really can't run with it after he catches it. Maclin, Curtis and Jackson will a lot more balls thrown to them because they can make things happen.— BigDawg13
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Depends if they've found another way to cheat massfan. To me that'll forever be a black eye on that franchise, Brady and Belichek.— tpizza- I want a Birds - Patriots Superbowl rematch. Make it happen, Andy so I can fly my Eagles flag up here in NE after they beat Brady.— massfan
- Agreed peteike, Avant made a lot of clutch grabs last year. Like I said I didn't agree with lj23 on that post. 60 balls may be a tad high though based on how the Eagles spread the ball around.— tpizza
- but deserves to get ripped for such a dumb post. If you watch the games you know hes on the rise unlike Brown hes probably not making this team this year. Avant gets the tough catches and tough yards, with all the 3rd and longs for lack of establishing a run game, we need that type of receiver esp if our TE's dont get it done.— peteike
- Not true 5, lj23 has written some good posts. You don't have to agree with his/her assessment and I don't agree today either but the name calling is unwarranted. Not really needed any day. Thanks.— tpizza
- "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...— Defenestrating AJS
He could catch that if McNabb threw better passes to him, not in the dirt. McNabb is not the best slot passer. He likes the long ball and short stuff, Avant isn't that type of receiver.— ZOSO- Comment removed.
- Peter King, not Pat Kirwan, predicted GLew to have 50 catches.— StopThePanic
- 20-80 catches sounds more reasonable, tic— tommy_the_k
- I hope Avant doesn't have as many 3rd down catches this year, I mean, really, I'd rather see the chains stretched after 1st or 2nd down myself! :) Don't see why he wouldn't get 40 though. We should have 4 receivers with 40 plus catches this season! Well, as long as DM stops throwing them over their heads or 5 or 10 yards short that is!!!— DJ
- That's 4 catches a game for someone who was beginning to look a bit clutch on third down catches by the end of last year...yeah, I can see 60.— Icemannj
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- Dont knock Avant. He was great for Michigan, and has the best hands on the team. He may only be able to take his game so far- whereas DJ and Maclin can go higher, but the Colts needed a Brandon Stokely to win, and we will need Avant. McNabb likes him. He is a class act. And he does everything he is asked to do- crisp routes, finding the 1st down marker, and even some running after the catch. He may not be our top receiver- but he is one of the more important ones the way we spread the ball around. Dont ever compare him to Reggie Brown.— Knock0ut12
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- I think 35-45 is a much more realistic prediction.— ematusko
- avants about as worthless as reggie brown.. if he's lucky he will catch 40— lj23
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- This is the same Pat Kirwan who is predicting that Greg Lewis will have 50 catches this season in New England.— billro3
- 55 catches, 770 yards, 6 TD's for J. Avant. 89 catches, 1330 yards, 10 TD's for D. Jackson. 73 catches, 1050 yards, 7 TD's for K. Curtis.— wondo40
- If he catches 60 passes that means the Eagles are passing more than ever. The Eagles have Jackson, Curtis, Celek, and Westbrook as options ahead of him. I think Avant can get around 40 catches.— coatesvillain
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- 30 to 60 sounds reasonable. I really think that Avant has the best hands of the receiving corps.— tonygreeneagle5
- McNabb will lead the league in completion percentage, touchdowns, yards per catch and passing yards. With the eapons he has now if DM isn't the MVP this year he never will be and u can kiss the SB goodbye. The Eagles stepped up to the plate in the off season and hit the homerun ball. Dis is da year of da Bird!— The Manager
- Avant is an average at best receiver. Curtis, D Jax and Maclin are better and have more talent.— igglegreen
- 60 to 80 catches for Avant is insane. I think he will have a similar season as he did last year, and that is fine with me.— Lemur
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Sheil Kapadia is in his fifth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest
memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with
his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to
discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or
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