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The draft is just two weeks away, which means Mel Kiper is slicking back his hair and Roger Goodell is booing himself in anticipation. To help Steelers’ fans prepare, here’s an A-Z primer on the names, buzz words and pundit-phrases you’re likely to hear as you’re bombarded with information from here through draft weekend.
Accurate Pass Percentage (APP). This is a useful statistic that tracks the percentage of accurate throws a quarterback makes on balls that target and reach a receiver. It’s a better way of examining accuracy than completion percentage since completion percentage is affected by drops, spikes, batted balls, break-ups and receivers who bail their QBs out by making great catches on inaccurate throws. Ohio State’s Justin Fields led the nation in APP at 72.4 while Alabama’s Mac Jones was second at 72.0. The national average was 55%.
Texas WR Preview: How will Sarkisian unlock the Longhorn wideouts?
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Perhaps the most underwhelming position for the Texas Longhorns over the past decade has been at the wide receiver group. Since 2010, only four wideouts have been drafted and that includes Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay, both of whom were taken in the 2020 NFL Draft.
But that could all change under new head coach Steve Sarkisian, who oversaw DeVonta Smith becoming the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991.
While it would be a tall tale to expect that out of the Sarkisian era Longhorns right out of the gate, you can expect to see a jump in production at receiver under Texas’ new head coach.
Jaylen Waddle Declares For the NFL Draft
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Junior wide receiver Jaylen Waddle announced that he is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
The Houston, Texas native racked up 691 receiving yards and four touchdowns in just six games. Waddle suffered a season-ending injury on the opening kickoff against Tennessee. The receiver did return during the national championship game against Ohio State were he registered 34 receiving yards on three catches.
According ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay, Waddle is slated to go No. 17 to the Las Vegas Raiders. If fellow wide receiver DeVonta Smith and Waddle were to be drafted in the first round, that would be back-to-back drafts where at least two Alabama wide receivers were taken in the first round.