The rise of Chase Claypool and what he's on pace to accomplish as a rookie.

[Coach]

In just five games played ( 1 game started ), Claypool has been nothing short of impressive.


24 targets, 17 catches ( 70.8% catch percentage ). Impressive on the surface, but as we drill down, many of the passes his way were of the more difficult variety. He's not catching easy check-down passes. He's converting on deep balls and jump balls. If a short pass is thrown his way, he's making something happen with serious RAC.


Extrapolated over the season, he's on pace for the following:


54 catches
19.7 yards per catch
1,072 yards receiving
19 touchdowns ( Receiving and Rushing )


In my opinion, he will have more catches and yards than what his current pace shows, as he should be getting more targets, but a pace of 19 touchdowns for a rookie is simply amazing. Can he do it?


How rare would this be? Better than TO's best year, Marvin Harrison's best year, or Calvin Johnson's best year. Better than Ward's, Fitzgerald, or Carter's too. Only Jerry Rice and Randy Moss had more touchdowns than this in just one season each of their historic career. This rookie is on pace to be in Gold Jacket company in terms of touchdown scored.


Coach's call. Although he's only played 5 NFL games, it's clear that Claypool has Pro Bowl ability. Whether he advances beyond that depends on his health and QB play, but he sure can become an All-Pro.

 

[wig]

No, he can't do it. He's a rookie. He hasn't learned all the routes yet and at this point teams are going to start providing safety help every time he comes off the line of scrimmage. That will ultimately slow down his production. However, JuJu and Washington both have even BETTER catch %s than Claypool so as long as Ben doesn't get too D.J. happy, the other guys should start getting some great opportunities. And if they capitalize on those opportunities, (we know JuJu can take it to the house if he's got just a bit of space as he has deceptive speed and takes great angles.) that will eventually cause teams to struggle to put the clamps on Claypool while trying to limit the production of the other receivers.

For the first time in forever, we don't have one or more receivers bitching about not getting the ball thrown to them every down. Ben is spreading the ball around and most importantly, he's being very safe with the football. He really does seem as though he wants a team win rather than any overblow stats. I hope that continues.

Cause all of the above - just means more room for Conner inside as well.

 

[TDX27]

He's basically rendered JuJu as a decoy. JuJu started the 1st couple games like he was going to have a good year but has since disappeared, especially in the Clowns game. We need JuJu or someone to step up. Good thing to see Diontae show something when he can stay on the field and it's good to see Washington look good as well. JuJu isn't earning much of a big contract extension right now. Long season, though.

 

[Drink IRON City]

He's basically rendered JuJu as a decoy. JuJu started the 1st couple games like he was going to have a good year but has since disappeared, especially in the Clowns game. We need JuJu or someone to step up. Good thing to see Diontae show something when he can stay on the field and it's good to see Washington look good as well. JuJu isn't earning much of a big contract extension right now. Long season, though.

Don't sell JuJu short as part of Claypool & Washington is due to JuJu drawing attention. Once that attention is shifted to Chase then JuJu opens up,......... It's a round robin game as they can't cover everyone. NICE problem for us to have.




Salute the nation

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Don't sell JuJu short as part of Claypool & Washington is due to JuJu drawing attention. Once that attention is shifted to Chase then JuJu opens up,......... It's a round robin game as they can't cover everyone. NICE problem for us to have.




Salute the nation

Along those lines, I read somewhere (think it was DK's site) that teams are still doubling up Ju Ju and that has left Claypool in so many man on man matchups that Ben HAS to get the ball to him. It's great that Claypool has been able to seize those opportunities. But, let's not start acting like Ju Ju is chopped meat. Once teams roll coverage to Claypool like they have been doing Ju Ju, then JJSS becomes the mismatch.

 

[Coach]

No, he can't do it. He's a rookie. He hasn't learned all the routes yet and at this point teams are going to start providing safety help every time he comes off the line of scrimmage. That will ultimately slow down his production. However, JuJu and Washington both have even BETTER catch %s than Claypool so as long as Ben doesn't get too D.J. happy, the other guys should start getting some great opportunities. And if they capitalize on those opportunities, (we know JuJu can take it to the house if he's got just a bit of space as he has deceptive speed and takes great angles.) that will eventually cause teams to struggle to put the clamps on Claypool while trying to limit the production of the other receivers.

For the first time in forever, we don't have one or more receivers bitching about not getting the ball thrown to them every down. Ben is spreading the ball around and most importantly, he's being very safe with the football. He really does seem as though he wants a team win rather than any overblow stats. I hope that continues.

Cause all of the above - just means more room for Conner inside as well.

Wig,

Why can't he do it? He's on pace for it, and his play more targets. With more targets in his next five games, you'll see more production though another 4 tough down game is unlikely.

Washington's catch% is 65.4%, Claypool's is 70.8% Not to take anything away from James, but he's getting easier targets. As I mentioned its much easier to have a high catch percentage on quick slants. Claypool is converting tougher catches deep or on the sidelines. That makes his catch % even more impressive.

By all account Claypool isn't your typical rookie when it comes to learning. If Ben say he's impressed and Tomlin says he only asks a question once, heck yes he lean more pro routes.

I'm not worried about Washington going diva, or Johnson. Its Ju-ju, in his contract year. Will he be happy 2nd or 3rd in team targets?

 

[Stryker]

Wig,

Why can't he do it? He's on pace for it, and his play more targets. With more targets in his next five games, you'll see more production though another 4 tough down game is unlikely.

Washington's catch% is 65.4%, Claypool's is 70.8% Not to take anything away from James, but he's getting easier targets. As I mentioned its much easier to have a high catch percentage on quick slants. Claypool is converting tougher catches deep or on the sidelines. That makes his catch % even more impressive.

By all account Claypool isn't your typical rookie when it comes to learning. If Ben say he's impressed and Tomlin says he only asks a question once, heck yes he lean more pro routes.

I'm not worried about Washington going diva, or Johnson. Its Ju-ju, in his contract year. Will he be happy 2nd or 3rd in team targets?

I keep watching that deep pass to Claypool. If it was thrown to anyone else, it was incomplete. Ben put heat on it, and I thought, great, another overthrow. Even watching the replays, I'm in disbelief that Chase gets to that ball. Hell of a play for a young receiver. He's enjoying those 1 on 1 matchups on the edge while Ebron and JuJu are pulling safeties to the middle.

And Washington played the X. I didn't think he was capable of it, but he did a serviceable job!

 

[Coach]

I keep watching that deep pass to Claypool. If it was thrown to anyone else, it was incomplete. Ben put heat on it, and I thought, great, another overthrow. Even watching the replays, I'm in disbelief that Chase gets to that ball. Hell of a play for a young receiver. He's enjoying those 1 on 1 matchups on the edge while Ebron and JuJu are pulling safeties to the middle.

And Washington played the X. I didn't think he was capable of it, but he did a serviceable job!

+1

Yes, Claypool is not only very fast, he's tall with long arms and has a 40.5 inch vertical leap, which is better one Lebron James. I want more deep slats, skinny slants, and posts thrown to him. This man turns 50/50 catches into 65/35's. DB's can't match up with Mapletron.

Flaked by Ju-Ju, Ebron and Washington, with Ben getting the ball out so quickly, we have a very hard passing attack to stop!

 

[TDX27]

Don't sell JuJu short as part of Claypool & Washington is due to JuJu drawing attention. Once that attention is shifted to Chase then JuJu opens up,......... It's a round robin game as they can't cover everyone. NICE problem for us to have.




Salute the nation

Maybe.. I'm still holding out hope for JuJu because I like him and have since we drafted him. But, he just looks like he's going through the motions the last couple games. Maybe he is injured. He isn't getting open at all and isn't making any plays when he does get the ball. I hope he ramps it up because this O will be fun to watch with 4 legit WR's, 2 TE's that can catch the ball and multiple backs that can catch as well. I know some of it has to do with Ben having so many options and he has always spread the ball around but, again, JuJu just seems like he is playing slow right now.

 

[Stryker]

You might have missed JuJu's plays, but he had 2 very tough catches back to back. One was flagged for a 15yd facemask on top of it, since his small defender needed help tackling him.

Also that was the first offensive TD drive of the game. 2 big plays that set up Claypool's 35yd catch.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I'm impressed the Steelers are scheming the offense around Claypool. The guy is a fun player to watch and a tough one to defend.