Saints fans opinions on Kenny Stills

[JakeMcAwful]

So I posted over in a New Orleans Saints fan forum to get a feel for what the fanbase thought of our new WR.. I really only wanted a player evaluation and not trade value stuff. I got a few responses so I thought I'd share them - since all we have to go on is highlight videos and stats, both of which can be misrepresentative of the whole product.

The kid has some things you can't coach, speed & athleticism. He's a "go get it" and blow the top off receiver. When he gets open he's normally WIDE open, but not the best in traffic or on short routes.
This is all the eye test and some may disagree.

He's got pure speed and good hands. He's a solid receiver. Only had issues running routes. Good pickup for you guys if you ask me.

Really blossomed this year. Became essentially our go to wideout and developed into much more than a speed guy. Can catch well, although I think Drew had some problems with his routes. Overall a great player

Great #2 WR and a solid deep threat. Route running could be better. Hopefully the trade woke him up and he cuts down on the partying and gives a little more effort in Miami.

He is actually quite similar to Mike Wallace as a player. 6'0" pure deep threats. I think Wallace has a little better ball skills but Stills is every bit the home run hitter that Wallace was.
I don't think it's coincidence that you guys flipped Wallace almost immediately after acquiring Stills. Y'all were able to dump two huge salaries in Ellerbee and Wallace to help pay for the Suh contract, and didn't lose the speed dimension that Mike offered.

He has a tendency to catch the ball with his body when defenders are in close proximity and has average vision after the catch–don't expect him to break or slip tackles. Other than that, he is an exceptional athlete who can explode for large gains or even score if given enough space. This is not to say that he is a one-dimensional receiver. He is a strong route-runner, so you can count on him to make crucial catches.

In reply to above

Lol his biggest problem was running routes..

So the general consensus is that Stills should fill that deep threat role comfortably, and plays with good aggression and hands. However lacks some route running ability. But to be that young and be the focal point of that offense (at least at WR), I think the arrow is only pointing up on him. Thought you guys would be interested!

..Although I truly hope that Wallace doesn't have better ball skills than him, as that one guy pointed out

 

[Hc90]

Id be surprised if Wallace has better hands or ball skills than any receiver in the league . His ball skills are awful

 

[Kdawg954]

I think the work ethic will be crucial.

He, like Mike Wallace did, will have to learn to become a better route runner and make himself available to Ryan in as many ways as possible.

From a speed option, it doesn't look like we've lost too much, but clearly Wallace has more respect around the league than Stills does so Stills will need to make plays and command some of that respect that Wallace had on the field.

Like I said in other threads, I understand the move to get a guy like Stills . . . there is upside there and we dumped the Ellerbe contract. The 3rd rounder is tough but hopefully he produces to where you don't think about it.

My big concern is prematurely trading Wallace with little in return and pretty much leaving us weakened at the WR position. The savings, IMO, just doesn't add up to it being a smart decision on the field.

Stills and Wallace on the outside would of really aided in opening up the middle for Cameron/Clay/Landry/Miller. I would of liked to see it in 2015.

 

[AquaXI]

Route running put him on the outs with Bree's. I hope he clamps down on his weakness and Miami is party city so that too.

 

[ITS!MATEO]

He's 22 years old and has issues running NFL routes.. Not a problem. There really isn't that many receivers that come out of college that are NFL ready when it comes to route running..

I'm excited about seeing this guy run past opposing DB's.

 

[Travis34]

Id be surprised if Wallace has better hands or ball skills than any receiver in the league . His ball skills are awful

You must be new to the nfl then, or just have quite the Wallace hating agenda

 

[Dolfan23]

His routes look pretty darn good to my unprofessional eyes, at least in his highlights. He seems to be pretty shifty in his routes and like the one guy said, when he gets open he's wide open and I think that's because of his breaks on his routes.

So from their opinions the worst cast scenario (on field at least) is that he has alligator arms like Wallace and falls down after a catch like Hartline? Who knew we could replace 2 players with 1 wideout!

 

[Dolfan23]

You must be new to the nfl then, or just have quite the Wallace hating agenda

When the ball is contested Wallace definitely has some of the worst hands and ball skills. How many times have you seen him high point a ball and go get it? Or come back a bit to the ball on a deep route so that he can beat the defender to it? Heck how many times have you seen him actually catch the ball with his hands? Saying he's the worst is probably hyperbole but it's not exactly a stretch to say he's the worst #1 WR in football when it comes to getting the ball in traffic.

 

[cash]

forget the routes, the fans said it himself he will take the top off the defense. this kid is about to go deep, not over the middle

 

[datruth55]

Route running put him on the outs with Bree's. I hope he clamps down on his weakness and Miami is party city so that too.

Overblown issue. It's not like he's coming from Green Bay where there's nothing and partied there and then gets traded to Miami. I've been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras and that place blows Miami, as a party town, out of the water during that time. I'm not concerned with him partying to be honest. I am concerned about the route running comments though. We had that issue with Wallace and in this offense with Lazor where Tannehill is throwing to a spot Dolphins need to be able to trust the receiver to get to that spot on time.

Tannenbaum gave up a 3rd for this kid...if he failed to do the research it would not surprise me.

 

[Hc90]

You must be new to the nfl then, or just have quite the Wallace hating agenda

Ball skills ? I'm sorry but Wallace doesn't have great hands , probably doesn't even have decent hands . Wallace barely EVER makes grabs on badly thrown balls , as a matter of fact he tries to one hand perfectly thrown ones and drops them like he did in the jets game .

Don't tell anyone that Wallace has good ball skills .....cause you're flat out either lying or blind

 

[Travis34]

Did anyone say he did? Ball skills could be better, hands could be better (though he's not that bad at catching) but for you to actually believe he's literally one of the worst in the nfl in those aspects is laughable.

Ted Ginn would like to have a word with you (among countless others)

 

[Penthos]

Ball skills ? I'm sorry but Wallace doesn't have great hands , probably doesn't even have decent hands . Wallace barely EVER makes grabs on badly thrown balls , as a matter of fact he tries to one hand perfectly thrown ones and drops them like he did in the jets game .

Don't tell anyone that Wallace has good ball skills .....cause you're flat out either lying or blind

Agreed, I think the best way can say for sure is, "Mike Wallace has hands." On second thought, can we even say that? I think we can say that because I've seen them in pictures. But it could have been Photoshop. Maybe its best to say, "We're almost certain Mike Wallace has hands".

 

[Kdawg954]

Overblown issue. It's not like he's coming from Green Bay where there's nothing and partied there and then gets traded to Miami. I've been to New Orleans during Mardi Gras and that place blows Miami, as a party town, out of the water during that time. I'm not concerned with him partying to be honest. I am concerned about the route running comments though. We had that issue with Wallace and in this offense with Lazor where Tannehill is throwing to a spot Dolphins need to be able to trust the receiver to get to that spot on time.

Tannenbaum gave up a 3rd for this kid...if he failed to do the research it would not surprise me.

I mean . . . it is Mardi Gras tho

I agree with you though . . . in reality, this guy is coming here to be a #1 WR. The expectation of him being able to build an instant chemistry with Tannehill with him not being a "good route runner" is something to worry about.

When you are giving up a 3rd round pick, you are hoping for an immediate impact if the pick is for a player. We don't have time to wait on him to build chemistry, he needs that almost immediately and in this offense, that requires some pretty solid route running. He's essentially a 2 year rental for the Fins, before we have to decide on a longterm commitment . . . 3rd round pick gives you 4 guaranteed.

Risk/Reward if it works out . . . but of course many people don't look at it like that. It's all works out until it doesn't and then we strike.

 

[Travis34]

It sucks were pigeonholing him as a #1 but imo he's more of a 2. We still need that alpha receiver to help out our wr corps and make it a nice looking unit. Kevin White or Amari Cooper are the best bets, yet we won't be able to draft either without a trade up. Which is why I'm on the Eric Kendricks bandwagon and maybe take a big risk on DGB