STRENGTHS
Ricky snatches the ball out of the air like a chameleon flicks its sticky tongue to catch its prey. He is a move receiver who is best used close to the line of scrimmage because of those sticky-like hands. Ricky can be that security blanket receiver that the best quarterbacks count on to make a play at the most important times of a game. He has decent size and speed along with good quickness and when he is lined up in the slot he becomes a match-up nightmare because of his grittiness to free himself up when you need him to. Ricky has a catch range that is adjustable and allows for less accurate quarterbacks to be less accurate but at the same time…successful.
CONCERNS
Ricky is not an outside receiver. He needs the ball in his hands quickly to be effective. He is what I call a light route runner because of his style of running his deep routes. He is obsessive at watching the ball in the air and loses control of his route the longer he runs it. He is better the quicker you get the ball into his hands… it’s just that simple.
BOTTOM LINE: 3.31
Ricky has the size and workout numbers to be used on the outside but his obsessive need to watch the ball in the air makes it difficult for him to play to that size and speed. So how can you take advantage of Ricky’s chameleon-like, sticky tongue-like, hands? He becomes your move receiver/slot receiver who runs the quick short curls, digs, crossing routes, and double move routes that give him the ball quickly and take advantage of his ability to move the ball down the field. Ricky will drop the deep ball but he will not drop the quick route ball. So, Coach Better, take advantage of his talent, don’t ask him to do routes that will not allow him to impact and Ricky will be, oh so fine and make catches that will, blow your mind.
