Steve Smith better than Anquan Boldin at after-the-catch running?

[SeattleCard]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playo...&id=2298090&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Quote from Clayton:

The Bears used a lot of Cover 2 and Cover 3 schemes that often gave Smith free releases from the line of scrimmage or had him in areas in which one cornerback had to contain him for 10-15 yards. That's not wise. Smith is the Panthers' offense. He's the best run-after-the-catch receiver in football, so the key is disrupting him in routes and making sure he is double covered.

Steve Smith is amazing. But better than Anquan after the catch? That is debatable I would think...

 

[kerouac9]

Yes. Without a doubt yes. Not even close.

 

[Shane]

Yes. Without a doubt yes. Not even close.

That coming from a guy that thinks Reggie Wayne is a better WR than Q.

Oh wait or a guy that said Q was no better than 5 or 6th best #2 in the league. Or a guy that said he would have no more than 80 or so catches this year. Wow imagine if Q played in all 16 games.

All that said I think hes better too. But not in the "not even close category"

 

[Chaz]

Faster yes, stronger no.

 

[Russ Smith]

I gotta go with K9 here, Boldin is phenomenal, but teams know week after week Carolina is going to throw those short passes and Smith still burns them. Anquan had 2-3 incredible runs after catches this year, Carolina, SF, but Smith to me is tougher after the catch because of the speed.

Not a knock on Anquan, with TO not currently active, Boldin is the 2nd best after the catch IMHO.

 

[Redsz]

I think Steve Smith leads the NFL in YAC.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/bycategory?cat=Receiving&conference=NFL&year=season_2005&sort=28&timeframe=ToDate

Q is still one of the best in the NFL though. And Smith will never be able to run over guys like Q does.

 

[football karma]

Smith is far better at making one guy miss, and then running away from everybody

Q may be the toughest runner after the catch and possibly the most physical wr in the game

 

[Assface]

I gotta go with K9 here, Boldin is phenomenal, but teams know week after week Carolina is going to throw those short passes and Smith still burns them. Anquan had 2-3 incredible runs after catches this year, Carolina, SF, but Smith to me is tougher after the catch because of the speed.

Not a knock on Anquan, with TO not currently active, Boldin is the 2nd best after the catch IMHO.

The reason teams can't stop Smith is his blazing speed. If guys don't give him a cushion he'll burn 'em deep and when they do back off he leaves their jock on the field when they try to tackle him. Covering him is almost a lose/lose situation.

I'd agree with your rankings, Smith and Boldin being 1 and 2.

 

[Russ Smith]

The reason teams can't stop Smith is his blazing speed. If guys don't give him a cushion he'll burn 'em deep and when they do back off he leaves their jock on the field when they try to tackle him. Covering him is almost a lose/lose situation.

I'd agree with your rankings, Smith and Boldin being 1 and 2.

Exhibit A Eric Green.

Of course Anquan broke about 5 tackles for a td himself in the same game.

I was surprised to see how much YAC Santana Moss had too, quite a bit more per catch than Anquan, similar to Smith he's so quick and fast I guess people back off.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

That coming from a guy that thinks Reggie Wayne is a better WR than Q.

Oh wait or a guy that said Q was no better than 5 or 6th best #2 in the league. Or a guy that said he would have no more than 80 or so catches this year. Wow imagine if Q played in all 16 games.

All that said I think hes better too. But not in the "not even close category"

I agree. If I want a tough third down catch, give me Q.

If I want a home run threat, give me Steve Smith.

Toughness and Strength vrs Speed. You can go rounds all day in that regard. Both are in or close to the top 10 WRs in the league.

 

[football karma]

I suspect Moss benefits from a top tier running game. If the D has a safety in the box, that is one less guy to deal with if you catch a pass in the secondary.

Smith is impressive -- no real running game -- Carolina's YPC is almost as bad as the Cards-- and he doesnt have a Fitz on the other side of him

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I must admit that Smith is certainly the best RAC guy in the NFL... Imagine if Quan had his speed, he'd have 2300 yrds and around 25 TDs..

 

[Pariah]

Better runner-after-the-catch than Q? Yeah. But it's a lot closer than K9 would have you believe.

As soon as I read the title of the thread I wondered how long it would be until K9 pipped up. I got my answer right away: Not long.

 

[Sandan]

Yes. Without a doubt yes. Not even close.

This is close to a permaban offense or at least public tar and feathering - Heretic

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Yes. Without a doubt yes. Not even close.

Wrong.
You could have even had an arguement but to say not even close is pure folly.

Plus you have the rep for just plain being out for Boldin's neck.

I think Steve Smith is a better receiver but I have yet to see him do anything remotely close to what Boldin does with the ball in his hands.

There are plenty of WR that can out run a defense. But very few that can run THROUGH a defense.

Heck Smith isn't better that Santana Moss after the catch.

But once again as stated above Smith is the better receiver. His route running, and reading the defense is where he is tops in the league.

 

[Bobcat]

Yes. Without a doubt yes. Not even close.

But Q gets hit by other teams players while smith is untouched. If Smith was ever hit like Q is, he would be stopped in a NY minute. Great speed but really cannot take a hit like Q.

Bobcat

 

[Russ Smith]

Wrong.
You could have even had an arguement but to say not even close is pure folly.

Plus you have the rep for just plain being out for Boldin's neck.

I think Steve Smith is a better receiver but I have yet to see him do anything remotely close to what Boldin does with the ball in his hands.

There are plenty of WR that can out run a defense. But very few that can run THROUGH a defense.

.

The thread is about running after the catch, no?

Why does it matter if Smith breaks tackles or outruns the, the outcome is the same, Smith standing in the endzone with the ball in his hands.

Saying he's better than Anquan is not a knock on Anquan, Smith this year was just amazing.

 

[az jam]

This year it is Smith. Many thought that he should be the NFL MVP.

 

[stretchthefield]

Blasphemy...

No one can be compared to the Quan!

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Q is a much better runner in traffic. He's a threat to take an 8 yard slant into a 25 yard back breaker.

Smith is flat out scary one on one. Any corner that is on an island with him probably has wetted their pants.

2 different styles of running. Smith is probably better, but Q is way more exciting.

 

[Cardiac]

The true question that provides the answer is:

Would you trade Q for Steve Smith? I would make that trade for a couple of reasons.

Smith would provide us with the deep threat this team needs. Smith is a better YAC receiver than Q.

Q is phenominal but Smith may be the best receiver in the NFL right now.

Smith can out run just about every player in the NFL but Q can't break tackles against just about every player.

Both are top notch receivers who make huge plays for their teams, Smith is just a bit better.

 

[phillycard]

Wrong.
You could have even had an arguement but to say not even close is pure folly.

Plus you have the rep for just plain being out for Boldin's neck.

I think Steve Smith is a better receiver but I have yet to see him do anything remotely close to what Boldin does with the ball in his hands.

There are plenty of WR that can out run a defense. But very few that can run THROUGH a defense.

Heck Smith isn't better that Santana Moss after the catch.

But once again as stated above Smith is the better receiver. His route running, and reading the defense is where he is tops in the league.

agreed Rugby! I'm guilty myself of underestimating just how murderous he is. He anhialated the Bears single handedly!

 

[CronosCard]

"..And in this corner.."

How many years has SSmith played in the league, and what did he do his 1st year[which we know didn't match Q's since noone in history did], his second, and his third? Q has 101, 56, and 104 catches his first 3 years, for 1377, 850+-, and 1400+-. No one has ever done that..People somehow forget that about Q...
This year?
SSmith no doubt, although I would still take Q.. Overall???

 

[NEZCardsfan]

Smith had 1800 return yards in 2001

Became a Starting WR in '02. Nearly 900 yards

Over 1100 in '03.

Went on IR in the season opener '04.

Then the '05 season.

It's just something to debate. A trade will never happen. This isn't fantasy football or something. Just chatter since it will be a long offseason.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Remember SS is a great punt returner, so he has tools that Q doesn't. Q isn't going to run away from as many as SS will, but Q will run over more than SS will. Two different recievers in my book, hard to compare the two. Their RAC yards come in different ways.