Crazy that this guy doesn't get more praise from around the league. A couple things stick out big time! - Decker ranks among the Top 5 receivers in touchdowns since he came into the league in 2010. He has more TD receptions (46) more than Pro Bowlers Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, Antonio Brown and Jordy Nelson since 2011. - Decker has been dangerous as an inside-outside threat in Chan Gailey’s offense. He’s played 65.8 percent of his snaps (292 of 444) in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. Decker has 66 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games, including 44 catches for 569 yards and four touchdowns in the slot. He has the league’s top WR Rating, which calculates a quarterback’s passer rating throwing to a particular wideout. Jets signal callers have a 120.0 rating when targeting Decker, per PFF. Here's the article: "He has dispelled every imaginable stereotype through the years, including a really weird one, to become an integral piece in the Jets’ December playoff push. He has thrived with flawed young quarterbacks, climbed out of a legend’s shadow and helped a journeyman thrive. He has proven that he’s much more than the locker room Zoolander. Eric Decker isn’t flashy, cocky or so caught up in himself to lose sight of the big picture. He’s dependable and trust-worthy at a position where both are in desperate supply. He is a lot better than anyone has ever given him credit for. “I think he is underrated,” Jets wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s had production every place he’s been. ... He should be considered one of the better players in this league.” Decker has produced with every imaginable quarterback. He played with Kyle Orton, caught nearly a third of Tim Tebow’s career touchdown passes (5 of 17), excelled with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and made Geno Smith look good. Now, he’s helping Ryan Fitzpatrick. Decker has been a constant without any continuity at quarterback in his career. He’s caught touchdowns from five signal callers in six years. It’s easy to overlook him, but he’s far from just a heady player. He might not have mind-blowing explosiveness, but he’s plenty athletic. Little known fact: Decker can dunk a basketball. Decker ranks among the Top 5 receivers in touchdowns since he came into the league in 2010. He has more TD receptions (46) more than Pro Bowlers Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Demaryius Thomas, Antonio Brown and Jordy Nelson since 2011. “Whenever my career is done, I think you’ll look back and there will be a tale of consistency that will hopefully get recognized,” Decker told the Daily News. “For me, right now, it’s not a big deal. I want to be able to be productive for however long a career I have. When I look back, it’ll be satisfying that there was individual success along with team success, for sure.” Decker was a statistical giant with Manning before the Jets signed him last year to be their top pass-catching option. He slid into a more familiar role this year with Brandon Marshall’s arrival. Decker’s most productive seasons in Denver were with Thomas, so he embraced the decision to trade for Marshall. “It’s not an ego burn or anything,” Decker said of moving from the No. 1 to No. 2 receiver this year. “I was actually excited. Also, for some reason, the pressure’s not as much. You feel like you got somebody to work with. It’s more fun and competitive on the practice field. When he makes a play on Sunday, I say, ‘I want to make a play.’ You try to go back and forth. When you have that balance, the pressure is a lot less. When every ball is going your way, that’s when you start to feel, ‘You know ... too much pressure.’” Decker has been dangerous as an inside-outside threat in Chan Gailey’s offense. He’s played 65.8 percent of his snaps (292 of 444) in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. Decker has 66 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games, including 44 catches for 569 yards and four touchdowns in the slot. He has the league’s top WR Rating, which calculates a quarterback’s passer rating throwing to a particular wideout. Jets signal callers have a 120.0 rating when targeting Decker, per PFF. He has been integral to Fitzpatrick’s career revival. “We knew that he had an uncanny ability to separate and get open,” Dorrell said. “He’s crafty.” Decker might not feel the burden to carry the Jets on every play like last season, but he’s proven that he can deliver in the red zone and on the money down. His success on third downs has been critical entering Saturday’s game against the Cowboys. “You know you only can be great when you’re successful in critical moments or pressure-filled moments,” Decker said. “Throughout a game, you get ‘X’ amount of chances on third downs. That’s part of what my role is.” Decker has proven that he’s more than just a product of Manning, but there’s one lingering stereotype. Does Decker not get enough credit because of his appearance? The receiver doesn’t believe it even if his wife sometimes wonders. Center Nick Mangold razzes him with the Zoolander reference from time to time. After all, Decker did have ads for a blue jeans company last year. “He’s a male model,” Mangold said. “He’s pretty.” He’s also been the most underrated receiver in the game for years." http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/mehta-eric-decker-model-success-jets-article-1.2470405
I think a lot of people considered him overrated during his last year in Denver. But now he is very underrated. Weird how that happens. He's an amazing route runner. Doesnt drop passes. He's really cemented himself as a borderline 1WR and outstanding 2. So I guess, thank you, John Idzik?
All justifications why he shouldnt return kicks, revis was a good returner in college and first year but they stopped using him for the obvious reason
Love me some ED. heh heh I'll show myself out. In all seriousness, signing him for 7 million a year for 5 years was a total bargain. He's probably undervalued because he's white, not because he's a model. Tough to outplay that stereotype in the modern NFL, but he's doing it. Decker and Marshall are such a joy to watch. Best tandem in the league at the moment.
And imagine if he didn't drop some easy passes this year. He has, but he's still come up clutch and redeemed himself. Hopefully this can continue for the next couple years.
I think he's found himself in the right place. As the statistics read he's killing it in the slot. He's able to do that because Marshall operates outside the numbers. It's not to say this is a knock against him but we saw last year when he receives all of the attention he can't beat double coverage on the outside. Still, he has to be the best #2 receiver in the league because of how crisp his routes are which allows him to get crazy open over the middle. I'll disagree as he does drop some passes. All receivers do though and especially a guy that solely operates over the middle.
Hell yeah dude. Love me some Deck. I was a big fan of that signing. I debated Decker with 'Dreadmadseen' at the beginning of the season. Wonder if he feels dumb now. I was arguing that Decker is an elite #2...one of, if not the best. And a borderline #1. He would actually be the #1 on quite a few teams. Rams, Eagles, Browns, Panthers, Vikings, Redskins, Saints, Titans, Seahawks etc. http://forums.theganggreen.com/thre...itz-are-ridiculous.85093/page-16#post-3322351
When we acquired him, mark schlereth criticized him saying that he was overrated and that he benefited from playing with the other receivers in Denver. He also said that he was going to be exposed when he would come to the Jets. Well I guess he was wrong.
Wow, I hadn't realized that 2/3s of Decker's snap had been out of the slot. No wonder Gailey hates Kerley, it makes him roll Decker outside way more often than he wants to.
Schlereth is a fucking jackoff, and I hate him. That said, I think it was common knowledge that Decker is a strong secondary receiving option at best, and without a superior receiving threat on the oppo side of the field from him, he's not a very productive receiver. If you asked Schlereth if he was wrong about Decker, he'd say that he's once again benefiting from another receiver on the field, and he'd be right. He'd still be a dickmunch, though.
Yeah, him and Pryor the saving grace of DIckziks time here He's probably undervalued because he's white, not because he's a model. Tough to outplay that stereotype in the modern NFL, but he's doing it. Good for you. did not think anyone on TGG had the stones to say that. "Can white men jump?" Ask Eric D
Well, he was overrated by people that thought he'd be a terrific #1 wideout, just based on his numbers in Denver. Haven't read or heard what Shlereth said back then but I'd assume that's what he was referring to. It's similar to what Randall Cobb is doing in GB and even Wes Welker a few years ago. Decker is more complete but he still needs a true #1 on the other side to take pressure off of him. He's not your ideal #1 receiver but in the slot or even as a #2 you'll struggle to find more than a handful of guys in the league that are better than him.
Says the biggest attention whore on this entire site. (I personally don't think anyone can be anyone else's bitch on the interwebs...but I suppose you could make the case for you being mine after you lose our bet and are gone for an entire year)
I think this, as much, if not more than, the issues of his being white or a model, are why he is underrated. Initially, I didn't want the Jets to trade for him because I saw him drop a lot of passes with the Broncos. I'm now glad they did. He has improved in that regard, but still drops too many passes for my taste. Unless or until he cleans that up, I don't think he will ever be considered as an "elite" WR, but he's still a very good #2 WR and I'm glad we have him.
I look at Decker and cant help but think that if he was playing in GB and or NE he could be leading the league in receptions by now. The guy is money.
