Stat of the Day: 100 Receptions

by John (obviousman) on Nov 11, 2009 2:44 AM PST in Statistics Comment 14 comments

I was around, and a San Diego Chargers fan, when LaDainian Tomlinson caught 100 passes in a season. I remember that being one of the most frustrating 4-12 teams in history. Anyways, I got an e-mail last night that I was perusing this morning when I saw this....

Rivers’ top two receiving threats -- TE ANTONIO GATES and WR VINCENT JACKSON -- are tied with 42 receptions apiece and can challenge RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON’s franchise record of 100 receptions in 2003.

What?!? While it's possible that I just forgot this stat, I am fairly certain that I remember his 100-reception season as a record for a running back. I had no idea that no WR in the history of the Chargers has ever caught 100 balls in a season. That's amazing, especially considering how potent the Bolts offense has been over it's history.

More to the point, only 1 of the top 3 Chargers' spots in terms of receptions is held by a WR. Here's the list.

LaDainian Tomlinson, 100 rec (2003)
Tony Martin, 90 rec (1995)
Antonio Gates, 89 rec (2005)

That's unbelievable! Even with Gates and VJ getting the majority of the catches this season, each of them is on pace for only 84 catches by season's end.

By comparison, the Denver Broncos have had 6 WRs with seasons of 100 receptions or more. The New England Patriots have had 3 WRs with 100+ catch seasons in the last decade alone. The Colts have had 5 seasons like that, with 4 coming from Marvin Harrison. Even the Chicago Bears' Marty Booker caught 100 passes in a season once. The youngest team in the league, the Houston Texans, already have 2 seasons of 100+ receptions from a WR.

This begs the question.....which teams in the NFL have never had a 100+ reception season from a WR? It has to be rare, right? Maybe not as rare as you'd think. Here's a list of them.

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I'm willing to betVJ cracks 100,he's just that gangsta~!

HUSTLE MADE ENT. NEW TRACK...CHECK FOR IT...NOTHING BUT THAT KILLA CALI FIRE FO SHO!!! http://www.myspace.com/jayoh1ne

by Gorditoe1 on Nov 11, 2009 2:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Doubt it

That would mean that he’s getting 1.5 times as many balls thrown his way as he does now, and I don’t see that happening. Especially not since the Chargers upgraded the 2nd receiver from Chambers to Floyd.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Nov 11, 2009 3:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be awesome

My fantasy squad needs all the points it can get >:-)

But I have to agree with John, Rivers has a diverse array of weaponry available and he’ll be spreading the ball around

If the Chargers don’t get the running game going, however, who knows?

Insert advanced emoticon here >:-)

by theGEN3RAL on Nov 11, 2009 8:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Rivers doesn’t spread the ball around very much as it is. More than 50% of his passes have been completed to Jackson or Gates. Darren Sproles is the 3rd leading receiver and is averaging a little more than 3 catches per game.

I was saying it like…..I don’t think Rivers could possibly throw to VJ any more than he currently does.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on Nov 11, 2009 8:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I want to say

that one of the reasons we’ve not had anyone catch over 100 passes is because our offense is based on deeper routes that lead to bigger gains and thus shorter drives. Those other teams—Pats, Broncos for example, run a system that based on dinking and dunking down the field. That takes longer, with more plays, and thus more passes to be caught.

We're boned.

by maestro876 on Nov 11, 2009 8:45 AM PST reply actions 2 recs

And I think that's been historically true of a lot of the good Charger offenses

Air Coryell didn’t dink and dunk down the field. They went vertical and spread it between both WRs and the TE. The Gillman Chargers can’t quite compete because they didn’t play as many games, plus they actually did have a pretty solid running game.

However, the 1990s Chargers were much more of a running team with basically one top WR. If the Chargers were ever going to pass it to a WR 100 times, it was going to be then because there was no one else to throw it to. Fortunately, the running game worked well enough that they never had to.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

are receptions more important that recieving yards?

"It dont matter if you win or lose your still a loser... said the Chargers Fan"

by ChargersWitch on Nov 11, 2009 9:47 AM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Touchdown receptions sure as hell are

Defense, Im talking to you! You want to kill this Osweiler fella...Come on defense, FOCUS god dammit!

I respect you Juju, you and your gorgeous brilliance

by CaDuck on Nov 11, 2009 10:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the importance of either is being debated

It’s just more of an observation that elicits some fun discussion.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

oh I was curious thanks

"It dont matter if you win or lose your still a loser... said the Chargers Fan"

by ChargersWitch on Nov 11, 2009 8:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

2003 LT

Was the only time any player ever in the history of the NFL had 100 receptions and over a 1000 yards rushing.

I would have never guessed that 100 receptions is the Chargers record. I would have thought that the Air Coryell days would have produced one. But when you think about it, Fouts really spread the ball around.

by Jonny Dub on Nov 11, 2009 9:49 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

interesting

Gerald Wallace is the best player the Bobcats will have..... EVER
rest of the team=*yawn*

by raysfan81 on Nov 11, 2009 2:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I didn't know either.

I think Vincent Jackson could do it this year. Hes really showing his true colors this season. If Drew Brees didn’t have options, he could give someone that milestone with the Saints as well. Did anyone notice that Darren Sproles has 25 receptions this season as well? He could really become a threat.

When lightning strikes, horses run.

by Flow on Nov 11, 2009 10:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

VJ has been thrown at 63 times this year, with a little high catch percentage he’d be on target for that milestone.

What’s amazing is that KC didn’t get the milestone last year. They threw it to Dwayne Bowe 157 times, but he couldn’t turn that into 100 receptions (he had 86). Similarly, in 2007 Braylon Edwards came up 20 catches short while being targeted 153 times for the Browns. Colston was 2 catches short in 2007 for the Saints (144 targets).

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 11, 2009 11:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs