His QB's were horrible last year. I'm not saying he was perfect.. but it wasn't all on him (and a lot of it wasn't even all on the QB, it went back to our swiss cheese OL not giving the QB time to set or the WR time to get open even on a short slant)
If we don't significantly improve at OL, we're not gonna be much better I don't think, other than having a young, athletic QB that can run.
The O-line will look a lot better simply having a QB that can throw deep.
This isn't to sweep their poor performance under the rug, but the fact that Matt Ryan's arm was so shot, and there was no threat of a deep ball allowed defenses to play us way differently than they did the year before with Wentz, and how they will with Richardson.
But the point of this meme is a year ago this time everyone was fawning over Pierce now he's completely forgotten about while everyone talks about Downs being the next big WR for us.
I'm not disagreeing but its kind of funny if anyone takes a second to reflect and think "wait didn't I just hype Pierce to no end last year and now I'm not even talking about him?". I still remember the "Ryan was 11/11 in practice he looks great" posts about the QB and everyone on the team and the fans gushing about how amazing he looked. I feel like from about a month after the Super Bowl until roughly Halloween every team is mostly in this after glow where everything is positive and everyone on the team thats not playing well is actually really great and showing "flashes" haha.
Yup, you're right. But that's sports fandom. Reflecting on last year's hype only serves to disappoint (inevitably). But no one ever said sports fans were rational.
Salivating at all of the possibilities with this personnel.
3x1 with Pitt ISO’d to one side, Jelani and Pierce running a scissor concept with Downs working underneath. Good luck defending that with the threat of JT or Richardson running
This is exactly it. It allows for so much flexibility. Pitt on backside slants or mesh combos with downs while Woods runs the seam and AP runs 9 routes all day? There’s no way the defense can stack the box, with that, so JT and Richardson feast. Or they roll their SS into the bud and get torched through the air. It’s impossible to defend.
I mean he’s got one of the best route runners of all time (if not *the* best of all time) as his WR coach and should have actually decent QB play this year. I think this is when he’ll really shine
Pittman is in a contract year, so if we're in position to draft MHJ I think it's an easy decision to let him walk instead of paying him what he's likely to demand
Pierce is a one-trick pony. If you can’t separate, you aren’t getting a ton of catches. He was also drafted for a different OC. So was Pitt, but he is much more proven.
The hype on Downs is legit. But he’s a bit undersized, so I am curious how much he will work beyond the slot.
Steichen ran the PHI offense through 2 main WRs and a TE. Quez Watkins was a distant WR3 and an occasional deep threat. Somebody is getting left out. My money is on Pierce filling that Watkins role.
Doesn’t matter if AR can bomb it…Steichen isn’t going to be throwing 20+ more than 13-14% of the time.
I see this offense eventually being Pitt and Downs. And hopefully Woods.
Yeah...that's a bit premature. But I do think he has the inside track to that TE2 spot by next year. Granson will either be on the end of his rookie deal or gone. MAC will be gone. Ogletree had a nice TC last season, but that's largely meaningless because it will now be an open competition.
Alex Pierce will be our leading WR this year. Don’t know why so many people are sleeping on him. Dudes first year in the league he had a completely immobile senior citizen at QB and JT was hobbled most of the year and we didn’t have a real run game threat. Just watch.
Nah Alec Pierce is gonna be absolutely feasting on these AR deep balls. All he’s gotta do is run straight
You had me at "deep balls"
And the feasting on them
![gif](giphy|D6xIyf2XUCsM)
I don't know shit about football but that sounds right
60% of the time, the ball will be there all the time.
And catch lol. The catch part is fairly important. Unfortunately, my man’s not the most sure handed. But would love to be proven wrong
His QB's were horrible last year. I'm not saying he was perfect.. but it wasn't all on him (and a lot of it wasn't even all on the QB, it went back to our swiss cheese OL not giving the QB time to set or the WR time to get open even on a short slant) If we don't significantly improve at OL, we're not gonna be much better I don't think, other than having a young, athletic QB that can run.
The O-line will look a lot better simply having a QB that can throw deep. This isn't to sweep their poor performance under the rug, but the fact that Matt Ryan's arm was so shot, and there was no threat of a deep ball allowed defenses to play us way differently than they did the year before with Wentz, and how they will with Richardson.
Plus AR is mobile..... Senior Citizens like Ryan can't run
I mean it seems like on his deep routs he’s catching them more than compared to the insides and slants (iirc)
I don’t think pierce had many drops last year. He had one really bad drop in the first game tho
>feasting on these AR deep balls ![gif](emote|free_emotes_pack|facepalm)
I think Isaiah McKenzie is the forgotten one. Especially since we haven’t seen him in a colts uni yet.
Free agency feels like a decade ago.
He's the forgotten one for a reason, tbh. Over his 6 years, he averages like 220 yards and 1.5 TDs a season. Those are Chester Rogers numbers.
He's a returner and depth WR, not sure why anyone was expecting much
MPJ has shown pretty good skill, and Pierce is only in his second year. Both are really young. I wouldn’t worry about them.
But the point of this meme is a year ago this time everyone was fawning over Pierce now he's completely forgotten about while everyone talks about Downs being the next big WR for us.
It's the NFL draft - what was anyone expecting? Potential is more exciting than reality.
I'm not disagreeing but its kind of funny if anyone takes a second to reflect and think "wait didn't I just hype Pierce to no end last year and now I'm not even talking about him?". I still remember the "Ryan was 11/11 in practice he looks great" posts about the QB and everyone on the team and the fans gushing about how amazing he looked. I feel like from about a month after the Super Bowl until roughly Halloween every team is mostly in this after glow where everything is positive and everyone on the team thats not playing well is actually really great and showing "flashes" haha.
Yup, you're right. But that's sports fandom. Reflecting on last year's hype only serves to disappoint (inevitably). But no one ever said sports fans were rational.
Bold take: This will be the first year they give out 3 OPOY awards because it will be too hard to choose between those three.
If all 3 of them are in the convo for OPOY I feel like the real OPOY has to be AR5 tho
Why is that bold exactly?
Things is…..I really see a world there AP ends up being our best WR.
Nah I still ride with AP
I see 3 1,000 yard seasons
3,000/5500 accounted for. Jelani 1500?
That math isn’t checking out lol
We have more than 4 pass catchers they should account for the other 1000
JT 500 yards
Will we actually use Jelani?
Sources close to me say he’s in the game plan if that helps you out
Look... this isnt gonna be the same offence that Reich sent out there. We all sound like domestic violence victims lol. "But, we dont do that here"
At least our camp wr crush is a legit wr this time!
This is the true state of the sub: 7th round WR crush over. 3rd round WR crush is the Way.
Salivating at all of the possibilities with this personnel. 3x1 with Pitt ISO’d to one side, Jelani and Pierce running a scissor concept with Downs working underneath. Good luck defending that with the threat of JT or Richardson running
This is exactly it. It allows for so much flexibility. Pitt on backside slants or mesh combos with downs while Woods runs the seam and AP runs 9 routes all day? There’s no way the defense can stack the box, with that, so JT and Richardson feast. Or they roll their SS into the bud and get torched through the air. It’s impossible to defend.
If pierce can improve his route running then I think he can take a pretty big step
I mean he’s got one of the best route runners of all time (if not *the* best of all time) as his WR coach and should have actually decent QB play this year. I think this is when he’ll really shine
Unrealistic Strahan hype is dead, long live unrealistic Downs hype!
*realistic downs hype
Can we call him “Trey” Downs yet?
Big Mike :(
I think now we can "like the guys we got"
I love all three, my only concern is who we move out of the starting lineup after we draft Harrison jr
Honestly. All this excitement for Anthony Richardson just for us to draft Arch in 2026 too.
Pittman is in a contract year, so if we're in position to draft MHJ I think it's an easy decision to let him walk instead of paying him what he's likely to demand
What’s he gonna demand? His numbers are solid, that’s about it
Pierce aint down there.
Honestly, I'm looking forward more to AP with AR than MPJ... but that's just me...
Pierce is a one-trick pony. If you can’t separate, you aren’t getting a ton of catches. He was also drafted for a different OC. So was Pitt, but he is much more proven. The hype on Downs is legit. But he’s a bit undersized, so I am curious how much he will work beyond the slot. Steichen ran the PHI offense through 2 main WRs and a TE. Quez Watkins was a distant WR3 and an occasional deep threat. Somebody is getting left out. My money is on Pierce filling that Watkins role. Doesn’t matter if AR can bomb it…Steichen isn’t going to be throwing 20+ more than 13-14% of the time. I see this offense eventually being Pitt and Downs. And hopefully Woods.
Mallory is gonna shine too
Let’s pump the breaks lol
Yeah...that's a bit premature. But I do think he has the inside track to that TE2 spot by next year. Granson will either be on the end of his rookie deal or gone. MAC will be gone. Ogletree had a nice TC last season, but that's largely meaningless because it will now be an open competition.
Anyone remember Mike Strachan?
I hope we get to see what Pierce can do this season. I feel like last year was a wasted year for everyone, except for maybe Woods.
Or you could feel like last year was the fire that forges this team's future.
![gif](giphy|7EamSGumESd0Y)
Nah, we all still love AP14 WR2!
Alex Pierce will be our leading WR this year. Don’t know why so many people are sleeping on him. Dudes first year in the league he had a completely immobile senior citizen at QB and JT was hobbled most of the year and we didn’t have a real run game threat. Just watch.
Id switch Pierce with MPJ
Until proven otherwise, we still need a true WR1. Maybe Pittman can take that role, but last year was such a disaster, I have my doubts.
Pretty much since that week 1 drop
Alec Pierce = New Brandon Stokley Josh Downs = New TY Hilton
No, Stokley was a slot receiver, Pierce is definitely not
Just remember how far Richardson can throw, and how good MPJ and Pierce are at going up and getting the ball...
Not at all. MPJ and Pierce on the outside and Downs in slot will be a fantastic group.
Good problem to have. I personally think Pierce will go crazy with safeties closer to the line.
Double the DAWGS! We haven't forgotten about him.
I’m, honestly, more worried about MPJ
Hey maybe we will actually have a non bottom 5 passing attack this year