I HATE this comparison. I play nothing like Welker. If anything I would compare the way I play to Davone Bess, or former NYG Steve Smith during '08-'09 seasons.
Which brings me to the point. Analysts need to stop comparing Amendola, another white, short receiver, to Wes Welker.
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Here are some of the key differences I've noticed:
1. Welker is a physical receiver.
You have to be physical running quick slants over the middle, or sitting in the gap in a zone defense. Welker is superb on plays that are not making any YouTube Highlight videos anytime soon. He uses his body as well as any WR I have seen. He creates separation between the ball and the defender by pivoting on a dime and boxing out like Dwight Howard in the paint, all at top speeds.
Amendola has just not been willing to body up with defenders so far in his career like Welker has. This lack of physicality will give defenders better position on the football and more chances to break up plays.
2. Helping out the QB.
True Amendola is shifty, and quick out of his breaks like Welker is. However, Amendola is always looking for the big play. He gets separation out of the break and then runs to open field wanting to be led by his QB for big gains. While this seems logical, it is not always the smart thing for a WR to do.
After he gets separation, Welker does not run in the direction that will most likely lead to him making a big play. He runs to where it will be the easiest for his QB to make the throw. He often cuts hard, back towards the line of scrimmage, or across field, into his QB's throwing lanes. He doesn't wait for the ball to come to him. He simply goes and gets the football.
3. Ball skills and security
Amendola has a pretty impressive catch rate (receptions/catchable passes). However this is with a pretty small sample size of targets relative to Welker, and after watching game tape, Amendola's ball skills are not up to par with Welker's.
Amendola catches the ball against his chest too often. This could be a problem on fast passes thrown across the middle into traffic. When the ball is caught with the body first, it is easy to lose possession upon immediate contact by a defender. This is because the ball is not properly secured by the hands at 2 pressure points. You know those passes where you swear the receiver should have held on to the ball because it seemingly went all the way into his belly. Yeah, it was in his stomach, just not in his hands.
Welker gets the ball at it's highest or first available point, and then quickly tucks the football into his body. He also does a fantastic job of covering the ball up with both hands when he senses high traffic. These may seem like small nuances to the casual viewer, but can make all the difference in the flow of a game. Because Welker excelled at the little things, he gained Brady's full trust.
Now this brings us to the key similarities I have noticed between the two WRs:
White. Short. WR. Texas Tech.
I could make more comparisons about the two, but this article is about how they are different. Question anyone that makes the assumption that Welker and Amendola are similar players. Ask them why they think this is true. I firmly believe Amendola will fall short of analysts expectations in 2013.
Insert Kenbrell Thompkins, the true star of this article.
If you haven't heard of Kenbrell Thompkins, everyone's favorite sleeper pick, then you are probably A) playing fantasy Fรบtbol not Football, or B) drifting off into space further than Sandra Bullock in the new GRAVITY trailer.
In a recent Yahoo article, Brad Evans captions a photo of Kenbrell, "Thompkins' sleeper label just expired." I beg to differ.
Thompkins' is currently the 34th receiver coming off the board, according to Fantasy Football Calculator's ADP. I fully believe he will crack the top-20 at the position this year and will emerge as the Patriots' leader in receiving yards and receptions.
Kenbrell is a physically gifted WR at 6-1, 195 lbs, with massive hands that make an NFL football look like the 2-colored Nerf ones we all used to play with back in elementary school. He has already locked up a starting spot as the Patriots primary outside WR and deep threat. He gets off the line of scrimmage quickly, catches the ball at its highest point when downfield, and controls his body nicely in traffic.
Plus, he has earned Brady's trust as they have developed excellent chemistry in the preseason to the tune of a 13 catch, 142 yards stat line. Yes, it's "only" the preseason, but that was also done in about 6 quarters of football, against first team defenses.
I am fully aware of the other weapons the Patriots have available. Vereen taking away targets in the passing game. Dobson not far behind on the depth chart. Gronk dominating targets when he comes back from injury.
Thompkins will be the go-to guy at the beginning of the season when it's time for a big play. Tom Brady has a nack for making good, although unheard of WRs, great. Once Kenbrell gets going in 2013 he will not slow down and can realistically lead the Patriots in receptions and yards. Think around AJ Green rookie numbers. The difference being: AJ had Dalton, Thompkins has Brady.
Amendola is going in the late 3rd/early 4th round according to his ADP. Let someone else take the risk on him there and instead try to build RB depth with Eddie Lacy, Lamar Miller, or Giovani Bernard at this point in the draft.
Target Kenbrell as early as the 6th round and draft with confidence.
2013 Reservations for Danny Amendola: 76-855-5
2013 Reservations for Kenbrell Thompkins: 88-1075-9
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