The Evolution of the Slot Receiver

[CloakNNNdagger]

Because of my feelings that the Texans have never really had that SHORT route slot receiver, something that has led to some feeling that our QBs have not been able to read defenses well and find that safety short depth hot read instead of taking sacks. Sure, we saw receivers crossing a mid depth field, but I don't really recall seeing any short crossing routes. Whether because of the types of WRs we have do not have that needed quickness, or because of the scheme........or from what I got the feeling, it was because of both.

Anyway, I came across this great article that takes us to and through the evolution of the slot receiver. A particularly interesting link in this piece refers to the League contemplating widening the field to CFL dimensions to reducing dangerous hits in the middle of the field.

A History of NFL Slot Receivers: Are They Playing with Fire in Today's League?

By Ty Schalter , NFL National Lead Writer Feb 19, 2013

 

[WolverineFan]

Part of the reason would be because of Kubiak's offense. He used TE's instead of slot WR's.

 

[_King_]

I'd release Keyshaw Martin.

I thought Kevin Walter would have actually been a decent slot receiver. The opposite of a Welker type of slot player.

 

[Ryan]

Maybe Posey can become that guy. I think he was extremely underutilized.

 

[Texecutioner]

Maybe Posey can become that guy. I think he was extremely underutilized.

Posey? Are we really still talking about this guy being an active contributor? Lol!

 

[htownfan32]

Posey? Are we really still talking about this guy being an active contributor? Lol!

Posey has constantly flashed the ability, which screams "underutilization" or "mismanagement" to me.

 

[TexansSeminole]

Posey? Are we really still talking about this guy being an active contributor? Lol!

He was actually coming on pretty well at the end of the year last year, if I remember correctly. It's Lestar Jean that will not be coming back.

 

[CloakNNNdagger]

He was actually coming on pretty well at the end of the year last year, if I remember correctly. It's Lestar Jean that will not be coming back.

Ever since his college days, a big knock was that he was a good route runner but consistently tended to avoid hard contact when coming across the middle, and therefore did not make for a functional slot receiver.