Battle Red Blog
Welcome to week 3 of the Cyclone tracker!
This is where we follow our resident weather themed duo in rookie receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both out of Iowa State (hence, the “Cyclone” twins).
As always, there will be analysis, projections, commentary, and relevant updates that happen in real time.
Week 3 Cyclones Tracker:
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Name: Jayden Higgins
Position: WR
Projected week 3 storm path: 3.7 targets, 2.3 receptions, 29.3 yards, 0.2 TD’s, 6.2 fantasy pts
Actual week 3 path: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards, 0 TD’s, 0.5 fantasy pts
Total stats through week 3: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 65 yards (16.3 avg), 0 TDs
Assessment: Through the first three weeks, Higgins has amassed “gargantuan” stats of: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 65 yards, 0 TD’s, an average of 16.3 yards/catch, and his longest haul being 28 yards.
This is getting embarrassing to type, but this offense continues not to facilitate Jayden’s growth and potential impact for the team. Him having no touchdowns through three weeks isn’t even the worst part.
The problem is when you struggle to/don’t prioritize a guy with physical traits of: being 6’4”, possessing a 39” vertical, having an 80” wing span, and running a 4.4 40 time.
He’s the spitting image of Nico Collins! Yet, Nick Caley and this offensive unit have not been able to consistently and competently integrate him into an anemic passing attack that ranks bottom 10 in receptions (57 – 25th), yards (599 – 24th), and touchdowns (2 – 29th).
For him to have only five targets on 46 total passing snaps is beyond me. He theoretically has the physical range to fit a myriad of offensive ideologies.
Want a possession receiver? You got it. Looking to take a deep shot on a double move against an over aggressive cornerback? Let’s do it, coach. Need to throw a fade route on a clutch red zone series? Put it in the air and it’s his.
Any of those scenarios would be better than what we’ve witnessed. It’s border line coaching malpractice at this point.
That’s something that Caley and C.J. Stroud badly need to adjust if they want to give themselves even the slightest chance of looking just competitive at this point.
Week 4 Projections: 3.4 targets, 2.2 receptions, 27.1 yards, 0.1 TD’s, 5.8 fantasy pts
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Name: Jaylin Noel
Position: WR/PR & KR
Projected week 3 storm path: 2.9 targets, 2 receptions, 21.4 yards, 0.2 TD’s, 4.9 fantasy pts.
Actual week 3 path: 1 target, 1 receptions, 4 yards, 0 TD’s, 64 return yards, 1.4 fantasy pts
Total stats through week 3: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards (5.5 avg), 229 return yards, 0 TD’s
Assessment: As I mentioned in last week’s Cyclone report, it has truly been a quandary as to why Jaylin Noel can’t seem to find a rhythm in this new offense.
With the return of starting receiver Christian Kirk, it was only natural to assume that touches would become even more scarce for Noel.
However, that’s...
