Rookie Spotlight: Jarvis Landry
Jarvis Landry, WR LSU
5’11”/205 Lbs. – 40: 4.77
Hands: 10 1/4”
First Impressions
LSU’s Jarvis Landry has been an enigma ever since the NFL Combine wrapped up in February.
No one expected Landry to blaze a fast forty, wow with physical intangibles or otherwise create a buzz, but since he was touted in some circles as one of the most NFL ready receivers in this year’s rookie class, he performed with many sets of eyes squarely upon him … and he disappointed. Until we see Landry’s career unfold, the question will remain just how good can he be? I’ll admit, after my first tape review prior to the Combine, I expected far better performance come February. His talent is obvious. But watching his Combine performance left me completely uninspired and confused. As an amateur scout, I do place far more emphasis on game performance than Mike Mayock’s “Underwear Olympics” (as he calls it), but when a Combine performance demonstrates something completely opposite to that which I’m expecting to see, I cannot simply ignore it.
A quick review of his last two years of performance show increasing productivity in receptions, yardage and touchdowns, nearly doubling his yardage and touchdown totals from 2012 to 2013 – not stellar numbers in any area, but solid productivity for a receiver in the LSU system. He’s young and will open up the NFL season still only 21 years of age (11/28/92)
Make no mistake here, fantasy ‘experts’ and NFL experts alike are quick to use each others’ research and reviews as their own, often parroting each other to ridiculous extremes. It’s human nature and very easy to do with today’s social networks in play and each ‘expert’ trying to get a one-up on the competition. I can’t emphasize enough that you MUST find resources that put in their own work, tape review and evaluation if you are going to use them as a trusted resource. If your ‘expert’ can’t be accountable to their own methods, successes and failures, it’s time to move to a new resource. Landry is the perfect example for what I’m talking about here. He’s a player who I noticed on tape, wrote off following the Combine because of how poor a day he had, but because of those who I trust in the business continuing to emphasize his NFL skill-set, I have gone back to watch even more tape and with a much more focused eye.
For these reasons, I’m highlighting Landry in order to give all of our readers greater insight on the receiver and his prospects in the NFL. Anyone can focus on Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans, foretelling a high draft selection and fantasy stardom. But where we like to do a lot of our work is in the areas of fantasy rounds two, three and beyond. Receiver has always been my most successful position of scouting, leading to some great selections in rounds three and four. If you as a coach can draft a future WR1 after round two, you’ve struck gold. And it’s very possible to do.
Let’s take a look at Landry and some of his tangible measurements.
At 5’11” and 205 lbs., he has enough size to be a noteworthy receiver if he’s able to successfully transition to the NFL. LSU has always been a good school for budding professional NFL players and Landry is another intelligent player who could perform far better than his size due to his football IQ. It may not help that teammate Odell Beckham Jr. continues to rise on draft boards after an off-season of high praise and even higher expectations. At the Combine, Landry could muster no better than a 4.77 40, concerning for all who took notice. Just as concerning was his 28.5″ vertical jump, which impressed no one. His strength is only average as well. With his pro day approaching on 4/9, he’ll be looking to increase those numbers significantly. This all said, many scouts and NFL talking heads have continued to beat the drum of Jarvis Landry, insisting that his performance numbers need not apply when you watch his game tape.
To his game tape we go.
Tape Review
One thing that really stands out to me is how polished he was as a route runner in both 2012 AND 2013. In fact, his skill-set is nearly identical for both years, leading me to believe his increased production came primarily from greater involvement in the offense rather than his pure development of routes and schemes. This is not a detraction for Landry, but more a statement about his early development.
The second thing that really stands out is Landry’s toughness in all phases of the game. He exhibits very good possession receiver skills, especially with crossing and out patterns. He does not shy away from contact and shows a high degree of physicality. In a blocking role, he seeks out his assignment aggressively and establishes his hands inside the defenders pads very quickly. He blocks to a greater degree than his size would suggestdue to pure will alone. His technique isn’t flawless, but he will be a valued performer in this area at the next level.
Landry tracks the ball well and has a great level of hand-eye coordination, bringing in stretch receptions at a full sprint and making the occasional ‘ridiculous’ catch. Watch the replay at 15:38 on the video below for an example of this. Many have called Landry a natural hands-catcher. While I will not go as far to call him “natural” in this area, he is an adept hands-catcher, consistently snatching the ball well away from his frame. I believe his ball tracking and coordination are bordering on elite and this maximizes hands-catch opportunity. He does have some tendency to double-catch passes on occasion, but not enough to cause concern and, in most cases, still completes the reception.
In route running, he shows keen awareness of defensive positioning and set-up, selling the defensive back on a route that doesn’t evolve, instead dipping his shoulder, dropping his hips and cleanly releasing to the inside or outside fluidly. He’s one of the best short-to-intermediate route runners I’ve seen in some time. His fluidity is impressive. He stems his routes very well and gains separation that will be much needed at the next level. His toughness and fearlessness during and after the catch is noticeable and rare, especially again given his size. Many NFL experts will emphasize separation as the key trait needed for receivers to ultimately be successful. Separation can come from primarily two traits: 1) Speed and 2) Technique. Landry possesses the latter in spades. He has quick feet, fluid hips and uses his hands extremely well.
His leaping ability is not elite, but is far better than his disappointing Combine performance. In fact, I’m shocked he wasn’t able to muster a greater vertical. In game footage, he is plenty capable of high-pointing a ball to, or away from, his frame to secure the reception. He shows a natural ability to locate and elevate to all passes within his radius.
Summary
Long speed, pure size and elite play-making ability are not characteristics that will come to mind when reviewing Jarvis Landry. But as a possession receiver in today’s NFL, called upon to make tough receptions across the middle on key third down situations, he can be successful. I’ll go one step further. My first tape review session did not adequately paint the picture of Jarvis Landry’s potential. My second two sessions, with better focus, enabled me to see what many others have been talking about. In many situations, I drop my grades for those receivers of the “possession” style as their place in fantasy is often diminished. I believe doing so with Landry is going to be a mistake. He has more of an “it” factor than I’ve seen with a player of his particular make-up and I’m going to remain very intrigued if his drafted situation is one with an established and productive quarterback.
With current rookie mocks showing Landry a very late second or early third round selection, he exists purely in the range that tends to intrigue me. I won’t reach for a player of his skill set, but will be excited to select him if he falls anywhere below the late-second round.
You can find Jeff on Twitter at @dlf_jeff
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