New York Jets’ No. 1 WR Robby Anderson had the play of the night on Saturday. But it wasn’t exactly what it appeared to be.
With all the hoopla at wide receiver, there seemed to be a sense of panic around New York Jets fans. Quincy Enunwa (neck) is out for the season. Both Brandon Marshall (New York Giants) and Eric Decker (Tennessee Titans) are gone like the wind.
So what’s left of this unit?
Inexperience, mystery and hope.
That hope evolved on Saturday night into excitement. Jets fans didn’t have to wait long either, as it happened on the very first drive, courtesy of Robby Anderson.
A 53-yard reception that was nearly a score — nonetheless it led right to a touchdown on the same series to Charone Peake. On the surface, it was spectacular.
I was at home watching this game and the very first thing I did with the magic power of DVR was looking back at the tape. It was exactly what I thought.
Anderson wasn’t pressed at the line of scrimmage, as he ran right by newly acquired Logan Ryan. The competition level is intriguing, as Ryan is a high-level player.
When I broke down his tape last year, I had a ton of concerns about Anderson’s pro football potential:
- Inconsistent hands
- Slender frame (durability concerns)
- Getting past press coverage on the line of scrimmage
Of course, it’s not all bad. Anderson is fast and can take the top off a defense. Perhaps with consistent quarterback play, he’ll find more consistent results.
But I can’t be the only person who saw him struggle last season when corners got up in his grill. He needs to prove that he can beat that on a weekly basis, something he’s going to see a lot since he’s towards the top of the depth chart.
Expectations of Anderson are high. Fans — including myself — think he can get the job done. The team, too, has high expectations for the young pass catcher — maybe even too high. The former undrafted product from Temple University is now a number one wide receiver on an NFL team.
He’s come a long way from last season. But with all the bigger names on the roster now removed, Anderson needs to step up. Christian Hackenberg’s development relies upon it.
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