Anquan Boldin Not A Number #1 Receiver?

[Milton145]

[quote]In his annual list of the NFL’s overrated and underrated players, CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco named receiver Anquan Boldin as the Ravens’ most overrated player while guard Marshal Yanda was named the team’s most underrated.

Prisco hasn’t been shy in the past about expressing his opinion that Boldin isn’t a true No. 1 receiver, and it looks like he’s sticking to his guns.

“He’s a good player, but not a great one,” Prisco said. “The Ravens will find out he isn’t a No. 1 receiver. He can’t beat corners deep.”

Boldin hasn’t had much opportunity to show he can excel as the go-to passing target because he played behind Larry Fitzgerald for six of his seven-year NFL career. So he’ll have a chance to prove Prisco wrong come September.[/quote]

Most Ravens fans will make up their face when they see this but others may agree. Hopefully if they disagree they can back it up better than this guy did.

In the newest Late For Work thread, someone hit the nail right on the head. You don't need to run go routes and have blazing speed to be a #1 WR. It all has to do with leading your team in production at your position to be considered a #1 WR. Hence why a lot of people say "Boldin may not be the #1 target on the Cardinals, but he would be on any other team" because when treated as a #1 target, he can put up big numbers as he has proven without Warner and Fitz on the team with him.

I think a comparable player to Boldin is Hines Ward. He doesn't have that blazing speed but he puts up numbers like a #1 WR which is why, despite the fact that Holmes (when he was there) maybe makes more critical plays, he IS the #1 WR in Pittsburgh.

[Ed_Reed20]

You know what's overrated? Labels. People love to classify WRs as #1s, 2 or 3s. When did it stop being about a WR's ability to make plays?

Q has proven through his career to be a sure-handed, game-breaking WR who can make plays all over the field and definitely after the catch. No, he isn't likely to be burn a CBs deep but his ability to get open, find holes in a zone, make tough grabs if need be and work the sidelines more than makes up for his lack of blazing speed.

Prisco is entitled to his opinions but at the end of the day, I could care less. Q is exactly the type of WR this team needs.

[Ravens1991]

Boldin had 101 catches, 8 TDs and 1377 yards as a rookie, as the #1 WR, w/ Jeff Blake as his QB. He will be a fine #1 even if he isnt a constant attacking deep threat.

[Milton145]

I know it doesn't mean much at all, but I think being behind Fitzgerald has slipped Boldin down some people's ideal WR list media-wise and has made him slightly under-appreciated by the media...at least to some anyway.

I know it doesn't need to happen and I certainly don't want it to happen because of injury concerns, but I can expect Boldin to light it up badly for other teams and put up Top 5-10 WR numbers now that he most likely will get more looks and he will still face single coverage since you can't just try to solely scheme only Boldin out since we have so many other options.

[MKdave]

'Behind' is a misleading word there. Fitz and Boldin were virtually always on the field anyway, they just threatened the defenses differently. He plays *with* Fitz, not behind.

[Milton145]

Well yeah I guess the word can be misleading but what I meant was he wasn't getting the looks the team's top receiver would playing with Fitz on the field.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Milton145' date='28 May 2010 - 03:33 PM' timestamp='1275075209' post='415424']
Well yeah I guess the word can be misleading but what I meant was he wasn't getting the looks the team's top receiver would playing with Fitz on the field.
[/quote]

Fitzgerald didn't really separate himself as the better WR till 2008.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='28 May 2010 - 02:41 PM' timestamp='1275075684' post='415429']
Fitzgerald didn't really separate himself as the better WR till 2008.
[/quote]


I think a better way of phrasing that is 2008 was when Fitz had a monster post season, and started to really earn his accolades. Boldin was more effective when on the field all year, until the postseason.
I see Fitz and Boldin as equals. If I had to choose between the two, I'd take Boldin.

[Romo Ravens]

I don't even know what to say to this. As the number one in Arizona, Boldin put up 101 receptions, 1377 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Larry was drafted in 2004, and in 2005, Boldin did even better lined up with Larry as a rookie, posting 102 receptions, 1398 yards and 7 touchdowns. I'm still sure Boldin was the number one threat as well, or at least lined up on the strong side.

There's no way in justifying that Boldin benefitted from having Larry with him on the field, because Q was doing all of this before he was drafted, or when Larry was still a rookie. When Larry started to post monter numbers started in '06, that continued through 2010, where Anquan missed a total of 9 games. Larry was then lined up as the number one because of his ability to stretch the field, mixed with his height.

Whoever says that Anquan is not a real number one, is simply denying the years of 2003 until 2006. Heck, he's probably in the top five of today's number one's. This guy just wants views and comments for his article. He must not get paid enough. I've never even heard of him.

[slugz1]

[quote name='flynismo' date='28 May 2010 - 03:48 PM' timestamp='1275076116' post='415434']
I think a better way of phrasing that is 2008 was when Fitz had a monster post season, and started to really earn his accolades. Boldin was more effective when on the field all year, until the postseason.
I see Fitz and Boldin as equals. If I had to choose between the two, I'd take Boldin.
[/quote]


Well said.

[eandb17]

First of all, even if was not a #1 (which he is) he is still good enough to make it so the defense can't predict which player Flacco will throw it to. That is why we resigned Mason, and got Stallworth and Boldin, to be unpredictable.

[J-man]

That's the same person who calls Troy Polamlu overrated in the same article...

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='flynismo' date='28 May 2010 - 03:48 PM' timestamp='1275076116' post='415434']
I think a better way of phrasing that is 2008 was when Fitz had a monster post season, and started to really earn his accolades. Boldin was more effective when on the field all year, until the postseason.
I see Fitz and Boldin as equals. If I had to choose between the two, I'd take Boldin.
[/quote]
I WOULD disagree with the part about taking Boldin over Fitz. However, I'd actually probably take Boldin also because he's a better fit for us. Fitz may be faster, may be more of a deep threat, may be better at outleaping defenders and embarrassing them.

However, Boldin can still do these things well also. And here's the thing, He's even more physical, he's even tougher, he plays with even more heart than Fitz, and these characteristics are what make the "true" Ravens.

[theFRANCHISE]

As Romo Ravens pointed out, Anquan Boldin was a #1 receiver before Larry Fitzgerald was drafted and no one questioned Boldin's ability back then, so why should his qualification as a #1 receiver suddenly change just because of the other-world talents of his former teammate? Just because someone is not #1 on the depth chart, that does not mean they do not demonstrate starter-quality talent.

That said, critics will always look for a reason to discredit Anquan Boldin, which should actually make him underrated. His former team drafts an All-Pro talent at his position and he's suddenly not good enough to be a #1. He gets hurt in a scary end-of-game play and he's suddenly injury-prone. He gets into [i]one[/i] shouting match with his former offensive coordinator and he's suddenly a malcontent. He demands equal compensation as one of his peers and he's suddenly a diva -- even after he jettisons his agent and backs away from such demands.

Boldin is a team player, a quality individual (from all appearances), and the #1 receiver that the Ravens have always been looking for -- if he wasn't, Ozzie Newsome never would've pursued him, given the front office's propensity for finding solid value without giving up too much.

[Ravenmore74]

With all these Off season additions giving the Ravens more air time ability to add to that monster of a running game.

[flynismo]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='28 May 2010 - 06:07 PM' timestamp='1275088040' post='415513']
As Romo Ravens pointed out, Anquan Boldin was a #1 receiver before Larry Fitzgerald was drafted and no one questioned Boldin's ability back then, so why should his qualification as a #1 receiver suddenly change just because of the other-world talents of his former teammate? Just because someone is not #1 on the depth chart, that does not mean they do not demonstrate starter-quality talent.

That said, critics will always look for a reason to discredit Anquan Boldin, which should actually make him underrated. His former team drafts an All-Pro talent at his position and he's suddenly not good enough to be a #1. He gets hurt in a scary end-of-game play and he's suddenly injury-prone. He gets into [i]one[/i] shouting match with his former offensive coordinator and he's suddenly a malcontent. He demands equal compensation as one of his peers and he's suddenly a diva -- even after he jettisons his agent and backs away from such demands.

Boldin is a team player, a quality individual (from all appearances), and the #1 receiver that the Ravens have always been looking for -- if he wasn't, Ozzie Newsome never would've pursued him, given the front office's propensity for finding solid value without giving up too much.
[/quote]


I think that's what annoys me the most....I'm okay with people under estimating Q. His numbers speak for itself...when he is on the field, he is one of the most productive recievers in the game. That includes his former team mate.
But what I don't like is some people (no one here, that I know of) label him a whiner or as you said, a malcontent, because of that post season incident. I think that is something to admire about him. His competitiveness would not allow him to accept being benched even for a series. That is what you want to see in a leader. I lurk the AZ forum from time to time, because I've always loved Q and Warner....their fans absolutely adored Boldin.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

He can't beat corners deep? Since when is that all that counts?

Quan is a beast, he makes his money over the middle - physicality is his forte; he makes plays that most receivers do not.

I'm happy to watch Quan catch a 15 yard pass then rumble 20 more yards as opposed to launching the ball 50 yards on the fly, especially against good passing defences and as the weather makes completing those passes harder.

[Ravens Lover]

how can you say a he's overrated if he is constantly having at least 80 catches a year and averaging 1000 yards per year

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='Ravens Lover' date='31 May 2010 - 03:29 AM' timestamp='1275229751' post='415929']
how can you say a he's overrated if he is constantly having at least 80 catches a year and averaging 1000 yards per year
[/quote]
Exactly. I was so happy when we acquired him, he's my second favourite player behind Ed Reed!

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='Ed_Reed_Pick_Six' date='30 May 2010 - 10:43 AM' timestamp='1275230583' post='415939']
Exactly. I was so happy when we acquired him, he's my second favourite player behind Ed Reed!
[/quote]
That's a really strong statement!

[TSizzle00]

considering Mason has beaten CBs deep im sure someone with the talent of Q can do a lil better than Mason.

[TSizzle00]

If Mason can get 1,000 yards over and over again on the Ravens im sure Q can.

[Ravenmore74]

If I was playing wide receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald I wouldn't think I was number 1 either.

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='Ravenmore74' date='30 May 2010 - 05:14 PM' timestamp='1275254048' post='415992']
If I was playing wide receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald I wouldn't think I was number 1 either.
[/quote]
He had #1 WR stats before Fitz was even drafted.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='RavensAllTheWay' date='31 May 2010 - 05:41 AM' timestamp='1275237663' post='415955']
That's a really strong statement!
[/quote]
I've always loved his game, physical receiver, tough guy, fierce competitor.

[Radinho84]

Q gonna have a monster season this year that should destroy every criticism. i don´t cara about a guy´s opinion that says that two of the most physical players (Q and troy) that play the game with the heart of a lion are overrated. i just hope every dfensive coordinator thinks the same way!!! Q might be the best fit for the ravens of all wr out there playin the game right now. and the best thing: we combine him with derrick mason. that guy was our passing offense all alone the last years and now he won´t get double coverage a lot!!
the thing about guys like Q and mase and all the other hard nosed wr out there is, that they make theire team alot better. they are TEAM PLAYERS and that is what it´s all about. play for your team to win games. not for a bigger contract or to be on the highlight shows every monday but to win for your TEAM.

i am so damn proud to be a ravens fan in these days!!!!!!

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

He fits our team so well, welcome Anquan, we know you'll be great!

[ThRaShMeTaLRaVeN]

I've said this countless times, the league does not like us. At first Q was a huge upgrade and now he's overrated. Its just like Mason. How many 1000 yard and 70 to 80+ catch seasons has he had and still gets snubbed in the pro bowl. I want to see what this guy has to say when Q and D-Money both bring down 1000 yards plus this year.

[ellicottraven]

What is new with this? When it comes to the Ravens at any level we seem to be underestimated in just about everything. Well let the naysayers go on with their naysaying, and Boldin will prove to them how wrong they were about him. Does it really matter though, if they think this way. At the end of the day, it depends on three factors: Cam Cameron and his play calling, Flacco delivering passes that are catchable and lastly Boldin making them by getting open. If any of these variables don't pan out, it won't really matter.
in my book, Boldin, Mason and Stallworth make up the most dangerous receiving corps in the NFL and this will be borne out as the season progresses and the idiot who second guessed Boldin will be eating raven!!!

[Fred Sanford]

Prisco seems to shoot himself in the foot more than anyone and really stands out to me. Clark Judge can be pretty bad at times, too.

By Prisco's logic Cris Carter, Fred Biletnikoff, Raymond Berry, Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, and Don Hutson weren't legit number 1's, since they weren't protypical go-route burners.

"Pardon the Interruption" yelling, "Jim Rome" style theatrics, and provocative statements have supplanted mature writers and commentators like John Steadman. I'd like to see guys like "The Schwab" or Charlie Steiner, who actually know sports, get more airtime or articles. Blame increasingly short attention spans, I guess.