Worst WR corps to play in SB?

[Brian wolf]

86 Giants or 79 Rams ... even with Bavaro the Giants receivers were bad. At least the 2015 Panthers had a good year from Olsen and Ginn Jr. I look at Olsen more as a receiver than tight end.

Edited* I understand the Patriots being mentioned but Troy Brown was good and clutch as a punt returner also.

[74_75_78_79_]

Don't forget Freddie Soloman on the 49ers! 98 Falcons had two receivers over 1K yards.

I'd say SB 4 Minnesota. Gene Washington was just okay and he was #1. I have to say I don't remember that team, so there's a caveat to my answer. Anybody remember that team well? 79 Rams - that's of course a really good answer also. But I remember thinking Preston Dennard was pretty good.

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That wasn't fair for me to not bring up Solomon. It's just that compared to how their WR corps was once Rice came aboard. Yes, no disgrace at all. No, not '81, but another thing is that 1984's run-game overshadowed their WR corps.

I didn't know that about the '98 Falcons. I don't disrespect them, but I still can't name any of their WRs (or TE) without looking it up.

[Brian wolf]

With Renaldo Nehemiah, Clark and Solomon had their last great season together in 1984. Walsh got rid of Nehemiah after the SB, which I felt was a mistake. He was getting better but they kept Wilson instead.

The 2000 Ravens were up there with the 79 Rams and 86 Giants. Stokely had a big TD in the SB though. Sharpe was still a top huge receiver/tight end.

[7DnBrnc53]

I see a lot of hate out there for the 1979 Rams. On You Tube, CCC Productions said that they were the worst SB loser ever, which is laughable.

Now, it seems that their WR's are getting the hate. However, it's not really fair.

On opening day, their starters were former Pro Bowler Ron Jessie and former Vietnam Vet Willie Miller (who had 50 catches in 1978). However, Jessie only played in (and started) six games that year, and Miller only played in (and started) three. So, guys like Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy had to replace them. Those guys did a solid job, and they were joined by rookie (and future Pro Bowler with Houston) Drew Hill and future Charger playoff hero Ron Smith.

For worst WR core to make a SB, I would nominate the 1994 Chargers. They had Tony Martin and little else.

[Bryan]

I see a lot of hate out there for the 1979 Rams. On You Tube, CCC Productions said that they were the worst SB loser ever, which is laughable.

Now, it seems that their WR's are getting the hate. However, it's not really fair.

On opening day, their starters were former Pro Bowler Ron Jessie and former Vietnam Vet Willie Miller (who had 50 catches in 1978). However, Jessie only played in (and started) six games that year, and Miller only played in (and started) three. So, guys like Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy had to replace them. Those guys did a solid job, and they were joined by rookie (and future Pro Bowler with Houston) Drew Hill and future Charger playoff hero Ron Smith.

For worst WR core to make a SB, I would nominate the 1994 Chargers. They had Tony Martin and little else.

Yeah, the 79 Rams had to go pretty deep in their roster to find healthy players. They had a 3 time pro bowler at TE and a 5 time 1000-yard WR on the bench.

[7DnBrnc53]

Yeah, the 79 Rams had to go pretty deep in their roster to find healthy players. They had a 3 time pro bowler at TE and a 5 time 1000-yard WR on the bench.

I don't know why Young was on the bench with the Rams. Knox and Malavasi wanted to start Nelson over him (for some reason. They also inexplicably started Cappeletti over Cullen Bryant at FB), and then he was traded to SF in 1980 (where he started for two years until they got Russ Francis in 1982, and then he went to Seattle).

[Brian wolf]

Nelson was chosen over Young as a blocker but Young was as good as their receivers and should have been called upon more in the passing game. Bill Walsh got him as much for leadership as ability and was key to their first championship. He helped the Seahawks in similar fashion.

Good call on the 1994 Chargers, 7D ... Jefferson was strictly a deep threat. Martin had speed and ability, helping the 1998 Falcons as well but didnt like to get hit and went out of bounds too often, rather than getting more yardage.

[JohnTurney]

I see a lot of hate out there for the 1979 Rams. On You Tube, CCC Productions said that they were the worst SB loser ever, which is laughable.

Now, it seems that their WR's are getting the hate. However, it's not really fair.

On opening day, their starters were former Pro Bowler Ron Jessie and former Vietnam Vet Willie Miller (who had 50 catches in 1978). However, Jessie only played in (and started) six games that year, and Miller only played in (and started) three. So, guys like Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy had to replace them. Those guys did a solid job, and they were joined by rookie (and future Pro Bowler with Houston) Drew Hill and future Charger playoff hero Ron Smith.

For worst WR core to make a SB, I would nominate the 1994 Chargers. They had Tony Martin and little else.

That the Rams had to go deep into roster -- but that is kind of how they had to roll that year. They were backups who had to play but (1) they di upgrade the guys that got hurt in some ways and (2) even so they were mediocre pros from then on.

Waddy had speed but no hands. Dennard had good hands but average speed.
Drew Hill is only one who had a better-than-average NFL career.

What I mean by upgrade is that will the younger receivers and Ferregame/Lee they were a more down-the-field passing game. Also, Wendell Tyler replaced McCutcheon -- so there was an upgrade that -- at that point of the season.

In first 11 games Rams were 5-6
PPG = 18.4
Yards per game = 299
rushing yards per game = 153.1
passing yards per game = 146.0
average completion = 11.3 yards
avg attempt = 6.09
average net attempt = 5.38
(Haden and Rutledge, basically -- a little of Ferregamo)

Games 12-20 (incl PO)
6-2
PPG = 21.3
Yards per game = 306.6
rushing yards per game = 157.3
passing yards per game = 149.3
average completion = 16.7 yards
avg attempt = 8.21
average net attempt = 7.54
Ferregame and Lee, pretty much


There were some factors, of course, Rams STs were responsible for a decent number of points but 12 were in the first 11 games, and 18 in last 8 so you can take those from the PPG

-- but the telling thing is the yards per completion ... whether longer passes, or short passes taken a long ways. It was more like the 73-76 Rams where they ran the ball but also took shots but threw 9 fewer times a game, too.


Haden just couldn't get it done. He was not a strong-arm guy and for a short passer was not that accurate .. (he was no Greise -light)

The defense was getting to the passer more, starting in game 9 -- but there is a bit more about that team ...
sp anyway -- the young guys got downfield enough to be productive, but were still not what I would call stellar.

By 1979, Jessie and Miller were getting older Miller was decent in the red zone ... Ressie would have some good grabs but I don't think they scared anyone ... so even if they were healthy by SB time, they may not have upgraded the corps.

I don't know who will be settled on but I am sure 1979 Rams WR corps is in the conversation as worst WR group in SB .. I think Ferregame able to get ball deep was the factor ... even as a green QB and mistake prone ... Haden was just a guy.

[74_75_78_79_]

For worst WR core to make a SB, I would nominate the 1994 Chargers. They had Tony Martin and little else.

But yet Stan throws two 43-yard TD bombs to Pupunu & Martin over Blitzburgh!! Quite SICK!

A bit '91 Rypien-esque that was and WHO WAS Mark's backup/understudy for that '91 World Champ??

And then nothing-at-all vs San Fran's D two weeks later (just that one 7-plus-min Means TD-drive very early on)!

Again, my worst Steeler memory albeit respect for Bobby Ross and, of course, Junior Seau!

I tried to "make sense" of it for quite some time. But you're all right. It WAS an absolute upset!

[Bryan]

-- but the telling thing is the yards per completion ... whether longer passes, or short passes taken a long ways. It was more like the 73-76 Rams where they ran the ball but also took shots but threw 9 fewer times a game, too.


Haden just couldn't get it done. He was not a strong-arm guy and for a short passer was not that accurate .. (he was no Greise -light)

The defense was getting to the passer more, starting in game 9 -- but there is a bit more about that team ...
sp anyway -- the young guys got downfield enough to be productive, but were still not what I would call stellar.

Ferragamo and the Rams WR corps led the NFL in passing TDs in 1980 with 31. Quite the turnaround.