Gabe Davis...best deep threat in the NFL?

[Big Turk]

I am honestly not sure how Davis keeps doing it. He only runs a 4.54 40 which is average speed for a WR and certainly not the type of speed that would make you think he has the ability to consistently take the top off a defense, but yet here we are.

 

Since Davis has come into the NFL, he ranks 4th with an average of 18.0 YPC. The only 3 players ahead of him are either fading players like DeSean Jackson who is currently a UFA, Henry Ruggs who is no longer playing and likely never will again, and John Ross who is a bit player and a one trick pony.

 

All of them are speed guys. Looking at the receivers directly after him, you have Marques Valdez-Scantling, Donovan People-Jones and Breshard Perriman. Again all speed guys...

 

Davis doesn't fit the mold of a deep threat but yet he is one of the best ones in the NFL and consistently gets open deep.

 

So my question is how?? Is he simply great at setting up CBs with moves to get them turned or to slow down and then runs by them or does he have much faster play speed than what he ran in the 40?

 

I don't think anyone thought when we drafted him we were getting the NFL's best deep threat(by the numbers at least...I would still pick Hill obviously if I had to have one play) but yet he has turned into the big play WR for us.

Edited October 10, 2022 by Big Turk

[78thealltimegreat]

40 time isn’t always the ideal way to determine a deep threat. Route running, anticipation, hands, and most importantly football speed. There’s a ton of guys who can run a sub 4.40 but having that ability to do it in football pads is a different animal. He reminds me very much of Alvin Harper from the Cowboys glory days but with better hands. 

[Aussie Joe]

That second TD wrestling the ball away will stay with me for a while 

[Bob in STL]

11 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

I am honestly not sure how Davis keeps doing it. He only runs a 4.54 40 which is average speed for a WR and certainly not the type of speed that would make you think he has the ability to consistently take the top off a defense, but yet here we are.

 

Since Davis has come into the NFL, he ranks 4th with an average of 18.0 YPC. The only 3 players ahead of him are either fading players like DeSean Jackson who is currently a UFA, Henry Ruggs who is no longer playing and likely never will again, and John Ross who is a bit player and a one trick pony.

 

All of them are speed guys. Looking at the receivers directly after him, you have Marques Valdez-Scantling, Donovan People-Jones and Breshard Perriman. Again all speed guys...

 

Davis doesn't fit the mold of a deep threat but yet he is one of the best ones in the NFL and consistently gets open deep.

 

So my question is how?? Is he simply great at setting up CBs with moves to get them turned or to slow down and then runs by them or does he have much faster play speed than what he ran in the 40?

 

I don't think anyone thought when we drafted him we were getting the NFL's best deep threat(by the numbers at least...I would still pick Hill obviously if I had to have one play) but yet he has turned into the big play WR for us.

Good point for a thread.

 

He uses size and his moves (reading coverage) to get open and gain separation.   His "game speed" is pretty fast.  

[Buffalo716]

Everybody thinks 40 time is the measure of a deep threat… but historically , the best deep threats we’re not smaller guys running 4.3s

 

typically they are 6’2 or 6’3 guys… long striders who can track a ball downfield without losing speed AND battling a DB for the ball

 

McKenzies 4.3 speed does nothing for his ability as a deep threat because he has trouble tracking a ball 40 yards over his shoulder while fighting a DB

 

TO , Eric Moulds , James Lofton , Moss, are prototype deep threats 

 

Davis is in that mold … His hundred time would be much better than his 40 time

Edited October 10, 2022 by Buffalo716

[Process]

We are a completely different offense with a healthy Gabe on the field. 

[Saxum]

13 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

I am honestly not sure how Davis keeps doing it. He only runs a 4.54 40 which is average speed for a WR and certainly not the type of speed that would make you think he has the ability to consistently take the top off a defense, but yet here we are.

 

Gabe worked on acceleration during the off-season.  He will be running with DB covering him and then he cuts and accelerates which makes DB needing to adjust and allows him to get ahead of faster player.  Reminds me of a race car move.

[george c]

Where did you get that 40 time from, the combine? 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

Dude has been training his tail off since getting to the  league and was a deep threat in college.

also top speed is meaningful. Derrick Henry is one the fastest guys in the game, but his 40 is NFL pedestrian

 

[Alphadawg7]

11 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

I am honestly not sure how Davis keeps doing it. He only runs a 4.54 40 which is average speed for a WR and certainly not the type of speed that would make you think he has the ability to consistently take the top off a defense, but yet here we are.

 

Since Davis has come into the NFL, he ranks 4th with an average of 18.0 YPC. The only 3 players ahead of him are either fading players like DeSean Jackson who is currently a UFA, Henry Ruggs who is no longer playing and likely never will again, and John Ross who is a bit player and a one trick pony.

 

All of them are speed guys. Looking at the receivers directly after him, you have Marques Valdez-Scantling, Donovan People-Jones and Breshard Perriman. Again all speed guys...

 

Davis doesn't fit the mold of a deep threat but yet he is one of the best ones in the NFL and consistently gets open deep.

 

So my question is how?? Is he simply great at setting up CBs with moves to get them turned or to slow down and then runs by them or does he have much faster play speed than what he ran in the 40?

 

I don't think anyone thought when we drafted him we were getting the NFL's best deep threat(by the numbers at least...I would still pick Hill obviously if I had to have one play) but yet he has turned into the big play WR for us.

Honestly…Davis is just another example of how 40 times are not remotely as relevant to a players performance as people on this board make it out to be.  
 

Football isn’t about running in a dead straight line with shorts on and no pads or defenders.  It’s why it’s maddening when people claim Devin is too slow when he has excellent change of direction and acceleration speeds allowing him to play faster than people think just because they have a bias towards his 40 time.  

 

Davis has become an excellent route runner, probably has a lot to do with Diggs, and he beats his man with his feet giving him separation.  And to be fair, it also helps having Diggs on the other side drawing a lot of attention too.  
 

Jerry Rice ran like a 4.71 forty, didn’t impact him and no one thought he was slow for example.  
 

Davis is becoming a beast, still don’t think he’s even reached his ceiling yet either.  

[BillsVet]

Josh's accuracy on deep throws is so much better this season.  He had missed some in 2020-21, but this season is vastly improved so far.  Taking nothing away from Davis, but it's Allen hitting on throws that he previously did not.

[Warcodered]

It's not just about outrunning people, DBs have to stick to WRs that's not just keeping up that's going at the same speed whether that's faster or slower. I'd think there are other ways of creating some space and it only takes a little bit of a head start.

[HappyDays]

There are opportunities for him in this offense that wouldn't be there in others. Against cover 2 defenses you can get behind the safeties. Since that's pretty much the only defense we face and defenses are focused on Diggs and Allen's legs it gives Davis those chances. I think we had some deep chances against Baltimore that Allen didn't even look at and it appears that we made that a priority this week.

[Big Turk]

55 minutes ago, george c said:

Where did you get that 40 time from, the combine? 

 

Yeah, 4.54 at the combine

54 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Honestly…Davis is just another example of how 40 times are not remotely as relevant to a players performance as people on this board make it out to be.  
 

Football isn’t about running in a dead straight line with shorts on and no pads or defenders.  It’s why it’s maddening when people claim Devin is too slow when he has excellent change of direction and acceleration speeds allowing him to play faster than people think just because they have a bias towards his 40 time.  

 

Davis has become an excellent route runner, probably has a lot to do with Diggs, and he beats his man with his feet giving him separation.  And to be fair, it also helps having Diggs on the other side drawing a lot of attention too.  
 

Jerry Rice ran like a 4.71 forty, didn’t impact him and no one thought he was slow for example.  
 

Davis is becoming a beast, still don’t think he’s even reached his ceiling yet either.  

 

Valid points...Davis is sneaky fast...like you don't think he is going to get by you but then in the blink of an eye he is ahead of you by 2 or 3 yards..

 

Rice however isn't correct...that 4.71 was incorrectly reported...multiple people there said Rice ran between  4.55 and 4.59...still not "fast" but at least average.

 

Also, Rice never seemed to get caught from behind so I imagine his play speed was similar to Davis' where it was much faster than his 40 time

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Big Turk

[1ManRaid]

1 hour ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

40 time isn’t always the ideal way to determine a deep threat. Route running, anticipation, hands, and most importantly football speed. There’s a ton of guys who can run a sub 4.40 but having that ability to do it in football pads is a different animal. He reminds me very much of Alvin Harper from the Cowboys glory days but with better hands. 

 

Yeah, Gabe has an extra 2 inches and 10+ pounds (of muscle) over the average NFL WR (6'2" 210+ pounds vs 6'0" 200 pounds) so I imagine the encumbrance of the pads affects him less.

 

He's also "got that dog in him" to be the best he can be, so there's that for what it's worth.

Edited October 10, 2022 by 1ManRaid

[WyoAZBillfan]

Whelp, Jerry Rice wasn’t  fast either and look what he was during his time. Gabe is likely benefiting from working with the breast QB in the game, one of the best #1 WR’s in the game and a ton of hard work. 
Go Bills!

[Rc2catch]

Hey great game.. But I’m not putting any titles on him. 
Tyreek is definitely more deadly getting behind coverage deep imo. Jefferson is on fire 20-40 yards down the field. 
Gabe reminds me of Mike Williams in LA. He has the same kind of knack to get behind coverage. 

[Royale with Cheese]

Some people have game speed.

[gordong]

We are going to have to enjoy Gabe...cause he is playing himself right off this roster.. unfortunately.

[Cheektowaga Chad]

Might sound weird but the fact he doesn't have the burning speed gives him more chances without saftey help