An AI Overview offered the information below, but I offer this caveat; First, Thornton's physical attributes and speed for the position stand out. Second, everything in this assessment can be coached up. Three, I'm going with the attributes and would leave the coaching and mentoring to the coaches and players. Four, with Nico out wide and the veterans in the Slot....Thornton's (WR2) job would be to take defenders downfield while pulling the FS over to help. This would give Nico, the Slots, and TE's a better opportunity to find their openings.
AI Overview
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Dont'e Thornton Jr., a wide receiver from Tennessee, is known for his speed and physicality, but his route-running
needs refinement to become a consistent threat at the next level.
Here's a breakdown of his route-running strengths and areas for improvement:
Strengths:
- Physicality:
Thornton shows an ability to beat man coverage and uses his physicality to his advantage on routes.
- Downfield Threat:
He's a natural deep threat, with good ball tracking and hand-eye coordination.
- Intention and Head Usage:
He demonstrates good intention and head usage to create separation, recognizing defensive leverage to alter his route path.
- Smooth Route Running:
Thornton runs routes smoothly at 6-foot-5, but his route tree isn't as developed as it needs to be.
Areas for Improvement:
- Route Tree Development: While he has the potential, his route tree needs further development and refinement.
- Consistency in Deceleration: He needs to improve the consistency of his deceleration to create separation on an every-down basis.
- Nuanced Movements: He needs to hone his nuanced movements and timing at the catch point.
- Limited Experience: Thornton needs experience, as he played only 534 passing snaps in college.
- Yards After Catch (YAC): While he has the ability to make big plays, he wasn't asked to be a YAC threat much for Tennessee.