It doesn’t take much time when watching Davante Adams to realize just how good of a wide receiver he is. The first-team All-Pro led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions in only 14 games, connecting time and time again with Aaron Rodgers at all levels of the field.
For most casual observers, it’s his body control and strong hands that stand out when watching Adams. But it’s his work before the ball is thrown his way that sets him apart. He has an unmatched feel for how to get open, and his releases at the line of scrimmage are second to none.
Sean McVay likened Adams’ work at the line to Allen Iverson’s killer crossover, preventing defenders from bumping him off his route initially.
“I guarantee you this guy’s an unbelievable basketball player, too. I mean, when you watch him get parallel and work edges on people at the line of scrimmage, when people come up and try to bump him, it’s almost like you can envision Allen Iverson crossing somebody up with a basketball in his hands,” McVay said of Adams on Sunday. “He’s just got great body control, (inaudible) acceleration, good ability to get in and out of cuts. I mean, this guy, his numbers are what they are because he’s a special player. Matt does a great job moving him around and I think the rapport that you see that exists between he and Aaron is second to none.”
He’s not the biggest, fastest or strongest receiver in football – not like DK Metcalf or Julio Jones. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Adams isn’t necessarily a physically imposing player. But he’s a technician at the line, at the top of his routes and at the catch point. And it’s why he caught 115 of the 149 passes that were thrown his way this season.
“He could do everything,” McVay said. “I think he’s one of those guys, you see guys get parallel at the line of scrimmage, verse bump, work edges. He can play outside. He can play in the slot. He can run after the catch. He can track the ball down the field. There are no limitations in what he can do, but I just think his consistent, aggressive hands, the rapport that he and Aaron have.”
Fortunately, the Rams have a guy named Jalen Ramsey on defense, who’s arguably the best player at his position. Ramsey has already proved he was worth the $100 million contract he signed this season, but he can once again show exactly why the Rams gave him all that money this weekend.
This is what they paid him for, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t lock down Adams just like he did against Metcalf, DeAndre Hopkins and Allen Robinson.
