Last week in this column, I wrote about a potential Stephon Gilmore matchup in the guise of DeVante Parker. Despite Parker picking up an injury, I think he had the better of the Patriots Defensive MVP with 4 catches on 4 targets for 47 yards, before a re-occurrence of his hamstring injury.
This week, the matchup that most intrigues me is another potential Gilmore matchup, this time its sophomore wide-receiver DK Metcalf. Looking at Metcalf’s production last year, I think he surprised many. He was seen more as a “workout warrior” with insane measurables in the vein of Darrius Heyward-Bey, so lots of teams turned their noses up at him in the draft, where he eventually fell to the Seahawks in the third round.
The 2020 season told a different story though, as Metcalf showed a side of himself that many draft analysts had said he would struggle with in the NFL; the ability to get open through his running of crisp routes. Metcalf proved he is the real-deal, and not just a physical specimen.
Looking at his 2019 game log there are two games that stand out as outliers in the negative category for Metcalf and that was both of the Cardinals games. In these games he managed a combined total of 1 reception from 4 targets for a total of 6 yards. For context, in the other 14 games Metcalf averaged 4 catches a game from 7 targets for 64 yards. It looked like the Cardinals predominantly used a combination of the diminutive Kevin Peterson, and Budda Baker playing slightly off man coverage to counteract Metcalf’s physicality. Rather than engage, the defensive backs just turned and ran with him. Wilson rarely looked in his direction.
-
Ep 164: Patriots Pick Up Win, Week 14 Discussion
by Full Press Coverage on December 10, 2023 at 3:53 pm
Another point to note is that on running plays, despite his size, Metcalf is kept on the sideline (in the snaps that I watched). Despite his physical prowess, it looks like the Seahawks offensive staff don’t seem to trust him in the running game just yet.
With all that being said, Metcalf had an outstanding season for a rookie. Overall he had 58 catches for exactly 900 yards, averaging 15.5 yards a catch with 7 Touchdowns. He then stepped it up in the playoffs with a huge performance against the Eagles where he had 7 catches for 160 yards and TD – an NFL record for a rookie Wide Receiver in the playoffs.
It is clear Metcalf can play, but he can also be marginalised from a game too. I think Gilmore will follow him all over the field as Tyler Lockett will most likely lock-up with Jonathan Jones or JC Jackson. Last week against the Falcons, Metcalf lit up the scoreboard again with a big performance. I think Russell Wilson is sensible with the ball and will know where Gilmore is at all times. If that means he’s in the same vicinity as Metcalf, don’t expect much in terms of targets for the Ole Miss alumni.
–Luke O’Brien is a Staff Writer for Full Press Coverage and covers the New England Patriots. Follow him on Twitter @lukeobrienNFL
-
Ep 181: HOF Semifinalist Tiki Barber Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:13 am
Hall of Fame semifinalist and former Giants running back, Tiki Barber, […]
-
Ep 180: Hall of Fame Class Of 2024 Semifinalists Discussionby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Ira and Clark dissect the 2024 Hall of Fame class semifinalists. Learn […]
-
Ep 179: Hall of Famer Drew Pearson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 178: Patriots, Eagles, 49ers, and More With Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on November 18, 2023 at 3:00 am
Former NFL executive Joe Banner returns to the show to talk with Clark and […]
-
What to look for in huge Eagles vs Cowboys matchup tonightby LandryFootball.com on December 10, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Eagles vs Cowboys will have a playoff feel as well as playoff implications […]
-
NFL Week 14 Game Previewsby LandryFootball.com on December 9, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Several Week 14 games could be impacted by weather, which has been […]
-
Ep 317: Week 14 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 4:04 am
-
Ep 316: Week 13 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 4:08 am
-
Ep 315: Week 12 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:46 am
-
Ep 314: Week 11 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:18 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
In this solo Senra show, your host Kyle Senra talks about the upcoming […]
-
Ep 199: Week 13 Instant Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 11:32 pm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
-
ROP Recap Preds 2 Habs 1 Game 28 2023-24 NHL Seasonby Charlie Saunier on December 11, 2023 at 3:49 am
ROP Recap Preds 2 Habs 1 Game 28 2023-24 NHL Season Learn more about your […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 833by Charlie Saunier on December 10, 2023 at 8:01 pm
Ep 833 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 4-0 L At Leafs Preview Canadiens & […]
-
ROP Recap Leafs 4 Preds 0 Game 27 2023-24 NHL Seasonby Charlie Saunier on December 10, 2023 at 7:29 pm
ROP Recap Leafs 4 Preds 0 Game 27 2023-24 NHL Season Learn more about your […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 12-10 - Canadian Struggles Continue as Hurricanes Lose 4-3 to the Canucksby Full Press Coverage on December 10, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Full Press Hurricanes - 12-10 - Canadian Struggles Continue as Hurricanes […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 12-8 - Big win over Columbusby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm
A different ending as the Blue Jackets gave us all a scare but the Isles […]
-
Full Press Wild - 12-8 - Recapping the Wild shutout loss to the Canucks.by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Loss, Vancouver, shutout, win streak broken. Learn more about your ad […]
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
Ian and John react to the Patriots win over the Steelers, Belichick's […]
-
12/5 - MNF Reaction, Endless QB Debatesby Full Press Coverage on December 5, 2023 at 11:28 am
Ian and John discuss the Bengals OT victory over the Jags and more […]
-
12/4 - Chiefs/Packers, Patriots, and Week 13 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Ian and John discuss the Packers win over the Chiefs, the Patriots […]
-
12/1 - NFL MVP, Week 13 Picksby Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 2:18 am
Ian and John discuss the ever-changing MVP race and give their predictions […]
-
11/28 - MNF Reaction, State Of The NFLby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 3:49 am
Ian and John react to Monday Night Football and discuss more of the state […]
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Ian and John recap Thanksgiving weekend, discuss Jalen Hurts' moment, and […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep. 325: Missouri S&T Baseball Coach Todd DeGraffenreidby Full Press Coverage on December 11, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Ep. 326: Mercyhurst Univ. WBB Brooklyn Kohlheimby Full Press Coverage on December 11, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Ep 164: Patriots Pick Up Win, Week 14 Discussionby Full Press Coverage on December 10, 2023 at 3:53 pm
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Pacers vs Lakersby Broken Controller Media on December 9, 2023 at 11:00 am
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 12-8 - The New Irish Prime Minister?by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:55 pm
-
Rockets at Nuggets - Mavericks at Trail Blazers - Clippers at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Cavaliers at Heat - Bulls at Spurs - Kings at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 3:15 pm
-
CM Punk and Randy Orton Return To WWE as Momentum Swingsby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss […]
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Review and Roman Reigns Inflated Title Streakby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he breaks down AEW Full Gear 2023. What […]
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Kevin Nash had quite a journey to the NWO. In part one of our two-part […]