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Everyone seems to be blaming Chris Watson and in turn Jerry Gray and GW for this horrendous idea and that dreaded scheme word of putting poor terrible Chris on the best team's WRs and watching them manhandle him. Several posters seem to think Gray or GW should be fired, if not change the entire defense because of it.
Phooeey, I say!
Let's look at the games:
The Jets best receiver by far is Wayne Chrebet. His big play? He schooled Clements (or was it Winfield) for a wide open 21 yard TD. The other Td was against Prioleau by Brecht for 1 yard. Chrebet caught 5-58 passes, with few if any against Watson. Moss caught 1-17 and Coles 4-32. He hardly played a hand in that loss.
The Vikings have Randy Moss, and this was before they imploded. Watson covered him off and on and while he had numerous catches, 11-110 or so he was held in check. He had a 2 yard TD. Several oher guys were covering him on his catches as well as Bates who hurt us and Kleinsasser? The culprit on the defense that game? The run D, but we won anyway by stopping them 3 and out twice in OT.
The Broncos? It's a toss up but Rod Smith and McCaffrey are both excellent receivers. Rod Smith's memorable play? Schooling Winfield (or was it Clements) for a wide open 25+ yard TD. McCaffrey's big playin a 3-34 day? Deep down the middle and crushed by Prioleau. At the very most, Watson gave up 6 catches for 60 yards and no scores and no big plays. Reason we lost? The TD by Smith and Portis running wild. Watson actually played quite well in that game despite getting picked on.
The Bears best receiver? Marty Booker. Leading the league in yards receiving? What did he do against Watson and the Bills? 4-82 and no scores. His longest play? 33 yards against Bostic the one play that Watson went out. He was a non-factor and it was likely his worst game this year. The Bears threw for 188 yards and we won.
The Raiders best receiver? I'd say Tim Brown although you may argue Jerry Rice. Rice's two big plays? Beating Winfield deep for 33 yards. Side-stepping Clements for a TD down the sidelines. Rice had 4-77. Most of those yards were the 33 yard bomb against AW and the 20 yard TD against Clements. Brown was basically a non-factor with 4-55. The guys who killed us? Garner and Porter. Watson again gave up a few passes and a couple crucial third downs but wasn't even close to being the goat in this game. The other Raider TD's? Wire and Prioleau missing assignments on Porter and Garners long catches.
The Texans best receiver? Neither are great but Bradford had two big plays. The 81 yard bomb was against Watson but it didnt hurt us bad, we gave up a FG and it was more a perfect pass than bad coverage IMO. Watson CLEARLY blew the Gaffney TD, who isnt their best receiver, as Chris actually made four bad plays in one (soft coverage, slow reaction, poor close, and then missed tackle) You cannot play a play worse than that. But that was the only one. Bradford caught an 18 yarder i think on 3rd and 18 but it was a terrific pass and terrific catch on the sidelines. And again, we won the game.
Watson has not played well, period. That is not what I'm saying. But he has played the equal of his more highly regarded counterparts, and has gotten little help from anyone. He hasnt cost us one game himself. The defense needs help but you cannot IMO come close to blaming it on Watson, or the scheme that he covers one side that allows the other teams best receiver to abuse him. Or any receiver for that matter.
Phooeey, I say!
Let's look at the games:
The Jets best receiver by far is Wayne Chrebet. His big play? He schooled Clements (or was it Winfield) for a wide open 21 yard TD. The other Td was against Prioleau by Brecht for 1 yard. Chrebet caught 5-58 passes, with few if any against Watson. Moss caught 1-17 and Coles 4-32. He hardly played a hand in that loss.
The Vikings have Randy Moss, and this was before they imploded. Watson covered him off and on and while he had numerous catches, 11-110 or so he was held in check. He had a 2 yard TD. Several oher guys were covering him on his catches as well as Bates who hurt us and Kleinsasser? The culprit on the defense that game? The run D, but we won anyway by stopping them 3 and out twice in OT.
The Broncos? It's a toss up but Rod Smith and McCaffrey are both excellent receivers. Rod Smith's memorable play? Schooling Winfield (or was it Clements) for a wide open 25+ yard TD. McCaffrey's big playin a 3-34 day? Deep down the middle and crushed by Prioleau. At the very most, Watson gave up 6 catches for 60 yards and no scores and no big plays. Reason we lost? The TD by Smith and Portis running wild. Watson actually played quite well in that game despite getting picked on.
The Bears best receiver? Marty Booker. Leading the league in yards receiving? What did he do against Watson and the Bills? 4-82 and no scores. His longest play? 33 yards against Bostic the one play that Watson went out. He was a non-factor and it was likely his worst game this year. The Bears threw for 188 yards and we won.
The Raiders best receiver? I'd say Tim Brown although you may argue Jerry Rice. Rice's two big plays? Beating Winfield deep for 33 yards. Side-stepping Clements for a TD down the sidelines. Rice had 4-77. Most of those yards were the 33 yard bomb against AW and the 20 yard TD against Clements. Brown was basically a non-factor with 4-55. The guys who killed us? Garner and Porter. Watson again gave up a few passes and a couple crucial third downs but wasn't even close to being the goat in this game. The other Raider TD's? Wire and Prioleau missing assignments on Porter and Garners long catches.
The Texans best receiver? Neither are great but Bradford had two big plays. The 81 yard bomb was against Watson but it didnt hurt us bad, we gave up a FG and it was more a perfect pass than bad coverage IMO. Watson CLEARLY blew the Gaffney TD, who isnt their best receiver, as Chris actually made four bad plays in one (soft coverage, slow reaction, poor close, and then missed tackle) You cannot play a play worse than that. But that was the only one. Bradford caught an 18 yarder i think on 3rd and 18 but it was a terrific pass and terrific catch on the sidelines. And again, we won the game.
Watson has not played well, period. That is not what I'm saying. But he has played the equal of his more highly regarded counterparts, and has gotten little help from anyone. He hasnt cost us one game himself. The defense needs help but you cannot IMO come close to blaming it on Watson, or the scheme that he covers one side that allows the other teams best receiver to abuse him. Or any receiver for that matter.
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