STRENGTHS
Tyler is a prolific, productive receiver. He has the size and good straight-line speed. He catches the ball when it’s thrown to him and that is the best attribute ANY receiver can have. Tyler has the size to move the chains and the strength and speed to make yards after the catch by breaking tackles. He has a big catch radius and will adjust to the ball in the air. Inside the red zone or making first downs, he is a matchup nightmare. He’s a good blocker, willingly helping his teammates on running plays sweeps and screens. Tyler is the type of receiver that every team game plan’s for, thinking they will be able to shut him down but once the game starts he still finds a way to impact using his strong hands and strong body to move the chains and make touchdowns.
CONCERNS
Tyler has very good straight-line speed but is stiff in the hips when running routes and that means he will have to use his body more than he does at the college level and catch contested passes more than he has at the college level. Injuries are a big concern because with less fluidity in his route running that usually means he will take straighter hits when he is tackled. To be more specific if Tyler wants to stay on the field he will have to improve his vision and lateral change of direction skills. He can do it.
BOTTOM LINE 1.75
Tyler reminds me a little bit of Hall of Fame, and Former Bills receiver Andre Reed. He has that same long gait and upward style of running. They are both the same size and although Andre wasn’t considered fast, both Tyler and Andre have that sneaky speed that allows them to run faster than you think they can because, of that smooth gait. For you younger guys, Tyler should remind you of former NFL Receiver Eric Decker. When Eric wasn’t injured he impacted. Tyler will have to stay healthy to impact also, and gaining fluidity running his routes and not getting hit hard when he is tackled will be the key. Eric ran upright and with less vision and lateral agility and he struggled to stay healthy. Andre ran upright but had more fluidity to not take big hits, and he stayed relatively healthy and got to super bowls and the hall of fame. Tyler needs to improve his prereferral vision and this will improve his lateral agility and yes there is a drill that will help him. When you improve a player’s prereferral vision you improve that player’s quickness to react laterally improving his fluidity not to take big hits. Tyler has the potential to become a “franchise” receiver with a little more work on his route running skills.
