STRENGTHS
Denzel is a tall, long-legged, long arm receiver, with a bit of a nasty streak. He does an excellent job adjusting to the ball in the air, catching the ball with a set of very strong hands. He has excellent long speed (because of those long legs) to catch the deep pass, and is strong off the line because of his long arms and wiry strength. He is too big to try to push him off his routes and is a solid and willing blocker. Denzel is a big mismatch when lined up on the inside or the outside. He is a very smart route runner and when the ball is in the air he has that, “It’s all mine attitude”. Denzel has the potential to be a franchise receiver for the team that selects him and it’s obvious when you turn on the film and see him play.
CONCERNS
Penalties, Penalties, Penalties, Fumbles, Fumbles, Fumbles, Denzel has to learn to run routes without pushing off with an extended arm. Also, Denzel can be manipulated into trash-talking and “acting out” on the field, after the whistle. Simply put, that nasty streak is a gift and sometimes a curse. He also has to stop holding the ball lose, when fighting to gain more yardage after the catch. When he does that, all I can picture at the next level is a bunch of hyenas fighting over a dead carcass when they strip him of the ball. He doesn’t do that all the time but, when he doesn’t hold the ball high and tight, because of his height, that ball is in the face of his defender and too inviting not to try attack and strip him of the ball.
BOTTOM LINE 1.64
There is no doubt about it, the team that selects him is going to have to live with some of his antics. Peer pressure and maturity should overcome that gifted and curse of a nasty streak but it might take some time. Denzel reminds me a little bit of Bengals A J Green when he plays with maturity and runs his routes without thinking he can just push off to gain separation. The truth is, Denzel doesn’t have to push off when running any route. My guess as to why he pushes off so much is that he likes to be physical, and he knows he can beat his opponent to the ball and, it’s a way of knowing where his opponent is to be able to beat him to the ball. That’s a smart football player.
