Is Jakobi Meyers a Good Route Runner? An Analysis of the Patriots’ Wide Receiver

Introduction

Jakobi Meyers has become an important player for the Patriots in recent seasons, especially after a breakout year in 2020. However, the question remains: is Meyers a good route runner? In this article, we will analyze Meyers’ route running abilities and compare him to other NFL wide receivers.

What is Route Running?

Before we dive into Meyers’ abilities as a route runner, let’s define what route running actually means. Route running refers to the specific patterns or routes that a wide receiver runs on the field. These routes are designed to get the receiver open for a pass from the quarterback.

There are many different types of routes that a wide receiver can run, such as slants, posts, curls, and go routes. Each route has a specific purpose and requires different skills from the receiver. A good route runner must be able to quickly and precisely execute these routes to get open for a pass.

Meyers’ Background

Before we analyze Meyers’ route-running abilities, let’s take a look at his background. Meyers played college football at North Carolina State University, where he was primarily a quarterback. However, he also played some wide receiver and caught 168 passes for 1,932 yards and 6 touchdowns in his college career.

Meyers was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He initially played mostly on special teams but gradually earned more playing time at wide receiver. In 2020, Meyers had a breakout season, catching 59 passes for 729 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Meyers’ Route Running Abilities

Now let’s dive into Meyers’ route running abilities. Overall, Meyers is considered to be a good route runner by most NFL experts and analysts. However, like any player, he has both strengths and weaknesses in this area.

Meyers’ Strengths as a Route Runner

One of Meyers’ biggest strengths as a route runner is his ability to read defenses and adjust his routes accordingly. He has a good understanding of coverages and can make quick adjustments to his routes to get open.

Meyers is also known for his precise route running. He can make sharp cuts and change direction quickly, which makes it difficult for defenders to keep up with him. He also has good footwork and can sell his routes effectively, which helps him get open.

Meyers’ Weaknesses as a Route Runner

While Meyers is a good route runner overall, he does have some weaknesses in this area. One of his biggest weaknesses is his lack of top-end speed. This can make it more difficult for him to get open on deep routes, which is an important skill for wide receivers. Meyers also lacks ideal size and strength, which can make it harder for him to win contested catches.

Meyers’ route-running abilities are also impacted by his lack of experience as a wide receiver. He played primarily as a quarterback in college and did not have extensive experience running a wide variety of routes. While he has made significant progress in this area since joining the NFL, he still has room for improvement.

Comparing Meyers to Other NFL Wide Receivers

To get a better sense of Meyers’ route running abilities, let’s compare him to other NFL wide receivers. One way to do this is to look at his route running grade according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), a popular football analytics website.

According to PFF, Meyers had a route running grade of 79.7 in 2020, which ranked 20th among all NFL wide receivers. This indicates that Meyers is a good route runner compared to other players in his position. However, it also suggests that many other wide receivers in the NFL are better route runners than Meyers.

Analysis of Meyers’ Route Running Statistics

Another way to evaluate Meyers’ route-running abilities is to look at his route-running statistics. One useful metric for this is yards per route run (YPRR), which measures how many yards a wide receiver averages per route run.

According to PFF, Meyers had a YPRR of 1.84 in 2020, which ranked 66th among all NFL wide receivers with at least 50 targets. While this is not a particularly high YPRR, it is important to note that Meyers was playing with a quarterback (Cam Newton) who struggled with accuracy and consistency in 2020. If Meyers were playing with a more consistently accurate quarterback, his YPRR could potentially be higher.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jakobi Meyers is generally considered to be a good route runner in the NFL. He has many strengths in this area, including his ability to read defenses and his precise route running. However, he also has some weaknesses, such as his lack of top-end speed and his relative lack of experience as a wide receiver. When compared to other NFL wide receivers, Meyers is a good but not great route runner.

FAQs

1. Has Jakobi Meyers always played wide receiver?

 No, Meyers primarily played quarterback in college and was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

2. What types of routes is Meyers best at running?

 Meyers is particularly good at running routes that require quick cuts and changes of direction, such as slants and curls.

Thank you for reading.
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