Boom or Bust for Browns’ Ricardo Louis
Was the potential the Browns saw in Ricardo Louis at the combine enough to believe he will boom in the NFL? Or will Louis be a one contract kind of player and bust?
With one receiver already in the fold, the Cleveland Browns went back to the well with their second selection in the fourth round (pick 114 overall) and took Ricardo Louis wide receiver out of Auburn University. Louis was not talked about much leading up to the draft, but the Browns likely fell in love with the size, speed, and potential that Louis flashed during both his senior year at Auburn and the NFL combine. Was the potential the Browns saw in Louis at the combine enough to believe he will boom in the NFL? Or will Louis be a one contract kind of player and bust?
Why Louis will Boom for the Browns
Louis looks the part of a number one receiver on paper. Louis is 6’2” and 215 pounds with a 4.43 timed forty at the combine. When Louis started seeing action at Auburn he was used mostly for his speed, often running simple routes whether it be screen plays or straight line downfield routes. Louis was able to grow as a player and become an excellent route runner by the end of his time at Auburn. Louis’ ability to become a solid route runner shows that he is a coachable prospect which is a greatly in his favor to make an impact down the line for the Browns. Louis is good at knowing how to use his body to fake out defenders allowing him to get the jump on defensive backs. Louis has the speed and acceleration to turn it on in an instant being a 0 to 60 kind of receiver. Louis could be a big time threat as a bubble screen receiver or a guy you can get the ball to on an end around. With only one season as the number one receiver, Louis showed a lot of promise by hauling in 46 catches for over 700 yards and three touchdowns. Louis may have had an even better senior campaign if Auburn had a quarterback that could take advantage of Louis’ downfield speed, that will not be an issue in Cleveland if Robert Griffin III is his quarterback.
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Why Louis will Bust for the Browns
To start Louis is a raw prospect that needs time to develop. His biggest problem is focus drops, and though that sounds like something that can be corrected it is an issue that has claimed the careers of former Browns receivers Braylon Edwards and Gregg Little. Louis needs to learn to help his quarterback out and come back for the football when the play either breaks down or when the ball is underthrown. When coming off the line Louis has to understand when to be a speed receiver over being physical receiver. Louis will often try to get physical with a smaller defender that is pressing him over just running right past him.
Will Louis Boom or Bust
When you watch Louis play and look at his size you can see a little Demaryius Thomas in him, but then he drops an easy pass that would have gotten you a first down and you see Greg Little. Louis has a long way to go if he wants to find the field in 2016. I can see Louis being the kind of receiver that is only used in certain speed or spread packages early in his career. What is working in Louis’ favor is that he has already come a long way during his time at Auburn, and having a coach like Al Saunders working with him will only help him to reach his full potential. Louis is likely a few years away from becoming the player the Browns were hoping they were getting as he will need time to work on the glaring weaknesses in his game. Hopefully once Louis is fully developed he can be a solid number two receiever for whoever the quarterback is, but I’m not holding my breath. Even though I love the size, speed, and the ability to be coached, I hate his hands. The focus drops scare me, and even though Louis will likely be better than Vince Mayle, I do not see him developing into a viable receiving option in the NFL. Unfotunately I see more bust potential in Louis than boom at this point.
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