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When the Tennessee Titans drafted Arkansas vast receiver Treylon Burks within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL draft — shortly after buying and selling A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles — reviews were mixed. Regardless of running away from secondaries within the SEC throughout his closing yr with the Razorbacks, a 4.55-second 40-yard sprint on the Scouting Mix in Indianapolis led some analysts to consider that he was too gradual to be a real vertical menace on NFL Sundays.
The truth that Burks was working away from these secondaries, and working that 40-yard sprint, whereas weighing 255 kilos appeared to be ignored in that evaluation, however that could be a dialogue for one more time.
For a lot of, nevertheless, Burks appeared like the best Brown substitute. Through the draft course of, Brown was a typical participant comparability for the Arkansas receiver.
His NFL profession, nevertheless, obtained off to a slower begin than Titans followers had been hoping for. Burks, who suffers from bronchial asthma, handled “breathing related issues” throughout the crew’s rookie minicamp. However he was prepared for the beginning of coaching camp, having labored on his conditioning, and tips on how to deal with his bronchial asthma, over the summer season.
However then he suffered a wrist damage throughout the Titans’ first preseason sport, which brought on him to overlook time throughout coaching camp. He returned as camp wound down, and was within the lineup in Week 1, however solely noticed 16 targets over his first four NFL video games.
Then, one other setback, as a turf toe injury suffered in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4 noticed Burks head to Injured Reserve.
Burks returned to the Titans final week, in Tennessee’s 17-10 win over the Denver Broncos. However the efficiency Titans followers — and maybe these analysts that predicted NFL success for him — had been ready to see got here on Thursday evening. In opposition to the Green Bay Packers, Burks hauled in a career-best 7 passes for 111 yards.
However it was what he did on two performs particularly that speaks to the form of game-breaking menace he might be within the NFL.
The primary large play got here on Tennessee’s opening drive of the sport. With the Titans going through a third and seven on their very own 20-yard line, they had been in peril of opening the competition with a three-and-out.
Burks aligns as the center receiver within the journeys formation to the left, and runs a deep put up route. The defender overlaying him performs with inside leverage, so the rookie does an excellent job of getting excessive of the defensive again. However as he’s working throughout the sector, Tannehill’s throw is to his upfield shoulder, forcing Burks to regulate vertically.
Which he does to perfection:
Not solely does Burks alter his path completely, however he is ready to observe this throw over his shoulder, whereas cornerback Keisean Nixon tries in useless to rake his arms and knock the ball away.
The massive achieve units the Titans up in Packers’ territory, and they’d end the drive with a landing to take an early 7-0 lead on the highway.
Nevertheless, the play that may illustrate finest Burks’ means to emphasize defenses within the vertical passing sport got here within the second half. With the Titans going through a 1st and 10 with simply over two minutes remaining, and holding a ten-point lead, they went for the knockout punch.
Utilizing a jumbo “13” personnel package deal, with two tight ends within the sport together with an additional deal with, Le’Raven Clark, aligned as a good finish, the Titans used play-action to place the ball within the air. Burks, the one vast receiver within the sport, runs a go route in opposition to Jaire Alexander.
Watch as Burks erases the presnap cushion, and works proper previous Alexander for the large achieve:
The rookie’s mixture of dimension, pace, and energy stands out on this play. First, he has the straight-line pace to erase Alexander’s cushion. However as soon as he works previous the cornerback, Burks makes use of his body — and his energy — to stack the defender and defend him away from the soccer.
He finishes the play by making the reception, and dragging Alexander for about ten extra yards to set the Titans up with first-and-goal.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill would run out the clock with three-straight kneel downs.
These two performs spotlight simply how harmful Burks might be within the vertical passing sport. His mixture of dimension, pace, and energy makes him a menace on downfield throws. For an offense like Tennessee’s, constructed round Derrick Henry, the play-action passing sport, and explosive shot performs downfield off of play-action, Burks appeared like the best match popping out of Arkansas.
His efficiency in opposition to the Packers makes that appear much more possible.
