"Ideal/great slot receiver"

[NFLExpert49]

I have said this several times before, but it's something that needs to be said repeatedly until the bastardization of the term, "slot receiver," stops.

That slow, late round/UDFA smurf is not the "ideal slot receiver." He's not a "great slot receiver." When you refer to him as a "slot receiver," you are only doing so because he can't play anywhere but the slot. And the reason he can't do this is he simply isn't as talented as other receivers.

Meanwhile, every single receiver who can play outside can also play the slot. And every single receiver does. There is absolutely no reason to pretend that "slot receiver" is a separate position. All it is is the easiest place for a WR to line up and win.

Every single top receiver you can name lined up in the slot plenty of times in his career. The difference is, unlike the slow smurfs who get labeled "slot receivers" in the modern game, the top guys were also needed on the outside, because it takes more talent to win there. 

THIS is what a great/ideal slot receiver looks like:

 

[Elky]

Ok.

[MVPatrickMahomes15]

Alvin Kamara.

[Soko]

ladanian tomlinson is overrated because he might get injured

[ET80]

Sure.

[Kiwibrown]

There are some attributes that limit a players effectiveness on the outside on the outside.

like a lack of height, or top end speed, but if they have other traits like agility and quickness they an be effective on the inside. 

The patriots have proven this year in and year out by utilizing players who are limited like edlemen and Welker. 

It is th same for dbs Boddy-Calheaun for the browns is solid on the inside, so is TJ Carrie, both are less effective on the outside. 

No doubt the best receivers are the best players on the inside like AB, or OBJ.

it is just that some players are limited to being effective in the slot. 

Andrew Hawkins was decent on the sinde with his insane quickness and not that effectie on the outside.

being a great slot player is doing what you can really well, while not trying to be something you are not. 

[Dome]

Michael Thomas is at his best in the slot.

[vikingsrule]

21 minutes ago, Dome said:

Michael Thomas is at his best in the slot.

Same could be said for Adam Thielen.

[jjab360]

You're basically just arguing semantics with yourself lol

[Zycho32]

Would "Slot Specialist" be more appealing to your senses, or is the word 'special' in the term too much of an insult?

[wackywabbit]

Antonio Brown is the ideal slot receiver*

*on the field

[NFLExpert49]

8 hours ago, Zycho32 said:

Would "Slot Specialist" be more appealing to your senses, or is the word 'special' in the term too much of an insult?

The word, "specialist," is too much of a compliment. There is nothing good about being relegated to only the slot. They're not specialists, they're lower tier/limited receivers.

It's like asking who the valedictorian of summer school is. 

[Zycho32]

2 hours ago, NFLExpert49 said:

The word, "specialist," is too much of a compliment. There is nothing good about being relegated to only the slot. They're not specialists, they're lower tier/limited receivers.

It's like asking who the valedictorian of summer school is. 

I see. Now we've gone from 'Role Labeling' to 'Positive/Negative Reinforcement'. I don't mean that as a 'Goalpost-Moving' way, mind you. That's just where the crux of the problem truly lies.

But like it or not, the various media that have spoken the term you are annoyed with does so for a specific reason; it's all part of selling the product. Whether it's the NFL selling the game or a local commentator selling his/her team, it's all about conveying a positive image. The negativity you're endorsing is along the lines of a Trollposter on the internet slamming a team he/she hates.

And while a team may HAVE a short/slow WR lined up in the slot for reasons other to do with his talent(cheaper price, less of a headcase, smarter gridiron brain, etc.), it's defeatist-talk to ever refer to such a player in that way. Especially if you're selling a product. Hence the positivity.

[StocktonSav]

Gotta disagree. Slot receiver is most certainly a specific position and while nearly all elite receivers can play there with varying frequency, not every effective "outside" receiver can play in the slot. You're overlooking differences in the route tree, lateral quickness, and run blocking responsibilities etc. It all depends on what the slot receiver is asked to do on any given play. Any scheme can modify the slot receiver responsibilities to accommodate an outside receiver, tight end, or running back. Doesn't meet that player can excel in every aspect of slot duties.

[NFLExpert49]

49 minutes ago, StocktonSav said:

Gotta disagree. Slot receiver is most certainly a specific position and while nearly all elite receivers can play there with varying frequency, not every effective "outside" receiver can play in the slot. You're overlooking differences in the route tree, lateral quickness, and run blocking responsibilities etc. It all depends on what the slot receiver is asked to do on any given play. Any scheme can modify the slot receiver responsibilities to accommodate an outside receiver, tight end, or running back. Doesn't meet that player can excel in every aspect of slot duties.

Every effective outside receiver can play in the slot. Not even debatable. There is not one thing that playing in the slot demands that playing outside doesn't demand more of. 

Also, if you're going to define slot receiver as a specific position, logically, you have to do the same thing with split end vs. flanker.

But nobody does that, because there's no misconception or agenda involved where that is concerned. Nobody needs to build up athletically limited journeyman-caliber system players where SE/FL are concerned.