Yeah, it’s easy to pick Terrelle Pryor as the Browns’ breakout player this season for the simple fact that it will be his first time with a good shot to contribute as a wide receiver. I’m expecting this kid to catch more than a couple of passes here and here. I’m expecting him to actually vie for a starting position and have a good year statistically.
In his fifth NFL season, Terrelle Pryor is ready to produce ... as a Browns WR
The transition to wide receiver isn’t easy, but Terrelle Pryor is picking up the position quickly and his athleticism shines through.
Start with the fact that Pryor is 6’4, 233 pounds and runs like a gazelle. It’s true that he still probably has a long way to go when it comes to the nuances of the position, but we already know from his time at quarterback that as long as you put the ball in his hands Pryor can make good things happen.
There just aren’t many wide receivers his size with his kind of athletic ability. That gives him an advantage, particularly on things like jump balls. With his size and speed you can also send Pryor on a bunch of go routes and just chunk up a 50/50 ball and let him go get it. That’s not even mentioning what kind of weapon a tall, athletic receiver like that can be near the goal line.
That’s just the beginning.
Pryor is a good enough runner with the ball in hand that you can use him on screens and smoke routes. Just get him the ball in space and let him work one-on-one against a corner -- he’s likely to be much bigger and maybe even faster than that corner, too.
You can also use him on all of your “gadget” plays like end arounds and reverses just to give him the chance to run with the ball without actually having to throw it down field to him. Oh, and lets not forget that you can give him a throwing option on some of those trick plays because oh yeah “former quarterback.”
The “normal” wide receiver stuff that Pryor may still need some work on may end up just being the cherry on top of all the other stuff he can do well right away this season.
And then there’s Browns head coach Hue Jackson, who just so happens to be one of the best offensive minds in football right now. I am giddy just at the thought of all the ways he will have to get Pryor the ball in position to make big plays. Seriously giddy.
So while it’s already likely that Terrelle Pryor will have a lot more than the two career receptions he has to date by the end of this season, don’t just assume he will be a minor figure in that offense. No guarantees, but I see Pryor having a legitimately big year for the Browns whether he starts or comes off the bench. His breakout season will be a legitimate one no matter how you want to measure it.
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