Hot take: Shakir should be the starting slot receiver going forward

[DCofNC]

He’s gotta clean up the mental mistakes, but he looks like he belongs with the ball in his hands.  I see a Wes Welker type, hope he continues to get better with experience. If he does, he’ll be the starter.

[Orlando Tim]

Did you actually call your own take a "hot take"? Both Mackenzie and Shakir should see plenty of time on the field over the rest of this year. Shakir is someone I am high on but Mackenzie was the best reciever last year vs Patriots in Foxboro. I don't care who starts as long as both get on field.

[GunnerBill]

I don't think it is that hot of a take. He was always going to take this job at some point. I'd still have a package of man beaters for Isaiah McKenzie, especially in the redzone on those little rub routes, but I think the rotation should be balanced towards Shakir as we move forward.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Both McKenzie and Shakir will get snaps moving forward.  Shakir can play outside also.  He should be the clear WR 4 without a doubt.  McKenzie is still a very good WR/returner.

[Dablitzkrieg]

Not sure this is a hot take.   I like it

[billsbackto81]

Don't know what it is about the kid. He's so fluid, like water. His ability to get by initial contact from defenders directly in front of him is impressive. Also, he has an uncanny ability to always find the soft spots in coverage. I see him splitting time with McKenzie before eventually taking over the slot. 

1 minute ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

Both McKenzie and Shakir will get snaps moving forward.  Shakir can play outside also.  He should be the clear WR 4 without a doubt.  McKenzie is still a very good WR/returner.

This is what separates him from McKenzie. 

[4BillsintheBurgh]

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I don't think it is that hot of a take. He was always going to take this job at some point. I'd still have a package of man beaters for Isaiah McKenzie, especially in the redzone on those little rub routes, but I think the rotation should be balanced towards Shakir as we move forward.

This feels a lil dirty with all these man beaters and rub routes...😄

[buffalo2218]

I referenced his speed in another post. I didn't get to watch the game but kept watching that highlight of Shakir tight roping the sideline. He looked like a blur once he took off, I mean close to Tyreek Hill speed, at least to me. This guy is just gonna get better. I can see Moss being a healthy scratch quite a bit this season if he's not traded by the deadline

[The Firebaugh Kid]

He reminds me of Woods back in the day. Gritty, quick, smart, team player....I love dirty but Khalil needs a ton of looks too. 

[Doc]

Starting over a vet like McK after one game?  Can't see it yet, but it's definitely coming down the pike.  It's a good problem to have.

[LABILLBACKER]

47 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I don't think it's a hot take.  Crowder is going to be out for awhile and he give you more playmaking after the catch.  

McKenzie and Shakir inside will give teams problems.

Once Lil Dirty returns he'll probably see a slight down tick in targets that will now justifiably go to Shakir. This kid is good and will soon replace what Beasley did. I'd also like to see Hodgins get a few more opportunities. 

[bigK14094]

50 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I don't think it's a hot take.  Crowder is going to be out for awhile and he give you more playmaking after the catch.  

McKenzie and Shakir inside will give teams problems.

Crowder has a broken ankle.  He is going to be out a long time.  Maybe the season.  So, McKenzie splitting time at slot makes a lot of sense.

[without a drought]

This isn't a hot take. Should be and will be isn't exactly the same thing. But I can see his playing time cutting into McKenzie's until it is the situation.

 

With Diggs, Davis and Shakir on the field, the line between outside and slot receiver is blurred. They can move anyone anywhere on any given play.

[Logic]

45 minutes ago, GolfandBills said:

Why can’t they both play?  They have different skill sets that just makes our offense even more dynamic.  Why is it always one or the other?

They both CAN play.

But if it's a gotta-have-it down or a key drive and you're coming out in 11 personnel and you're saying "who are my top three receivers?", I think that more often than not, the answer should be Diggs, Davis, and Shakir. 

As others have pointed out, it will probably continue to depend on matchups, as it always has. McKenzie can beat man coverage with great effectiveness.

But again -- when push comes to shove and we need a big play, I want Shakir on the field. 

[FilthyBeast]

This isn't a hot take at all especially when you look at how little Crowder has done before his injury anyway.

 

Something tells me though that Shakir is still going to take a back seat to McKenzie when he's healthy, at least for now.

[John from Riverside]

Once Crowder went down for the year this was happening doesn’t mean that McKenzie’s not gonna get plenty of playing time

[Success]

He has such a burst when he accelerates.  We don't really have anyone else like that - I think scouts call that quickness on the field, as opposed to outright speed.  He's really fun to watch.

 

And pretty clearly at this point a great draft pick. It says a lot about the depth we have and how good of a job Beane has done that we needed to have a few injuries for a player so talented to get a chance.  

 

But I'd agree w/ the OP, and I'd be surprised if the Bills coaches didn't also.  He should be a regular.

 

[RyanC883]

this is not a "hot take."!  I agree he should be the slot going forward.  He seems tough and makes contested catches, etc.  

 

I'd like to see Digs, Davis, McKenzie and Shakir out there in 4 wide.  Good luck defense.  Singletary/Cook in backfield.  IS it a run>?  If not, how do you cover all those guys?  

[LabattBlue]

I guess the people who were proclaiming that Shakir blows(after his 1st action a couple of games ago), have gone into hiding. 😂

[RobbRiddick]

I love the guy. Already has a vet presence and attitude when he speaks and he's fluid when he moves. Reminds me of Cole in that he's great at just finding space

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Beck Water said:

 

It's likely to be both, splitting snaps, the way Crowder and McKenzie did.  The exact split will shift from game to game and depend upon the savvy Shakir demonstrates at filling Crowder's "find the gaps in the zone" role.

Agree. I see Shakir more as a replacement for Crowder. Seems like he can play outside pretty well too. We are going to need him and Lil D both. 

[NewEra]

I don’t think this is a hot take in the least.  McKenzie weighs 18 lbs.  He’s not build to be a full time starter in the NFL.  He’s a good player and can help our team when’s he’s healthy.  Less snaps is key to keeping dirty in the lineup. 
 

that said- shakir can do it all.  He sometimes suffers from lack of concentration, like we saw yesterday, but he’s a RAC beast and a contested catch machine.  Great work ethic and is a culture fit.  
 

I’d like to see Shakir and Dirty man the slot for the next 2-3 years 

[Big Blitz]

He looks like Amon-Ra St. Brown to me - how they look move and play.  

[PrimeTime101]

I don't think its a hot take. he is quicker then McKenzie, Faster than McKenzie, we have not even tried Shakir with gadget plays yet. If he does not take the starting job this week he will soon enough.

[BillsFan130]

You're not that far off in my opinion.

 

I would go more along the lines of splitting reps with McKenzie though. (In which you brought up)

[Solomon Grundy]

1 hour ago, GolfandBills said:

Why can’t they both play?  They have different skill sets that just makes our offense even more dynamic.  Why is it always one or the other?

4 WIDE

[freddyjj]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I know, I know -- it's early, and you'll say I'm jumping the gun.

I don't care. I've seen enough: Khalil Shakir should be the starting slot receiver going forward, even when McKenzie and Crowder return to full health.

At the very least, he should be splitting reps with McKenzie and seeing more playing time than Jamison Crowder.

He runs great routes. He constantly seems to get open. He has relatively sure hands (one bad concentration drop yesterday not withstanding). He offers run-after-catch ability that this offense often lacks. He has the frame and build to withstand the tough over-the-middle work. 

Aside from all of that, he just passes the eyeball test in a way that the Bills' other two slot options do not. Frankly, he looks like a star in the making.

I love McKenzie as a player and am glad he's on the roster, but has he looked like a dynamic full time slot option to anyone over the first four games? He hasn't looked that way to me. I like Crowder, too. He's a solid, dependable veteran depth option. Again, though: he doesn't seem to pop off the screen the way Shakir was.

I have figured all along that Shakir would be brought along slowly, that he'd be more of a contender for starting duties in 2023 or 2024. Given McDermott's M.O., that still may happen. I don't think it should, though. I've seen enough. He's the best option to start in the slot. The coaches always preach getting the best players on the field, regardless of tenure or pedigree. If they're true to their word, Shakir should start seeing more opportunities. I hope he does.

We will be the ultimate judges of this as a hot take or not 😊

 

I agree and see one thing that makes him stand out - 50 of his 98 yds gained have been after the catch.  

Two things he needs to work on - his hands and his run blocking

[Pags24]

I knew Shakir would do his thing once given the opportunity.  He's the real deal, love seeing him out there

[Solomon Grundy]

40 minutes ago, Doc said:

Starting over a vet like McK after one game?  Can't see it yet, but it's definitely coming down the pike.  It's a good problem to have.

Especially with a coach like McDermott. He’s a loyalist to say the least. Lil Dirty has EARNED his position though. Lots of growth from McKenzie 

[warrior9]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I know, I know -- it's early, and you'll say I'm jumping the gun.

I don't care. I've seen enough: Khalil Shakir should be the starting slot receiver going forward, even when McKenzie and Crowder return to full health.

At the very least, he should be splitting reps with McKenzie and seeing more playing time than Jamison Crowder.

He runs great routes. He constantly seems to get open. He has relatively sure hands (one bad concentration drop yesterday not withstanding). He offers run-after-catch ability that this offense often lacks. He has the frame and build to withstand the tough over-the-middle work. 

Aside from all of that, he just passes the eyeball test in a way that the Bills' other two slot options do not. Frankly, he looks like a star in the making.

I love McKenzie as a player and am glad he's on the roster, but has he looked like a dynamic full time slot option to anyone over the first four games? He hasn't looked that way to me. I like Crowder, too. He's a solid, dependable veteran depth option. Again, though: he doesn't seem to pop off the screen the way Shakir was.

I have figured all along that Shakir would be brought along slowly, that he'd be more of a contender for starting duties in 2023 or 2024. Given McDermott's M.O., that still may happen. I don't think it should, though. I've seen enough. He's the best option to start in the slot. The coaches always preach getting the best players on the field, regardless of tenure or pedigree. If they're true to their word, Shakir should start seeing more opportunities. I hope he does.

Last year, yes. That was a major issue with Daboll. That issue is non-existent this year.

[gobills404]

What I loved most about his game yesterday was the different ways in which he made plays.

 

1. Josh throw it into triple coverage and Shakir mosses a LB (ball skills)

2. Catches a short underneath pass and gets 16 yards after the catch (YAC)

3. Just straight up toasts the DB and gets wide open for an easy TD (route running)

 

Such an extremely well rounded player already after only 1 start.

 

 

Edited October 10, 2022 by gobills404

[Rocky Landing]

I'd like to see him on P/KR, and back up McKenzie.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I'm going to join in the "this isn't a hot take" crowd.

 

At this point, I've seen all I need to out of Crowder. In four games he was a cap and roster spot drain. 

 

While I like Mckenzie, I think we have seen his peak as a receiver. I don't want to diminish what he brings, because using him in motion does a whole lot of things to held diagnose coverage but I don't think he's ever going to be a third down machine like Beasley was.

Shakir, while making some early rookie mistakes, has thrived in the last two weeks and has made the most of his time. At this point I think he has more than earned a spot as the starting slot receiver, and McKenzie can be used where we know he is solid.

[LabattBlue]

Was Shakir back for the opening kickoff, or was that someone else who fumbled it?

[Rubes]

The kind of hot take I’ve come to expect on this board would be someone arguing that we should just cut Hyde and keep Hamlin in there next season.

 

 

1 minute ago, LabattBlue said:

Was Shakir back for the opening kickoff, or was that someone else who fumbled it?

Taiwan.

 

[BananaB]

I think he gives Josh a better safety valve then McKenzie. Just think he finds the soft spots in coverage better like Beasley did. 

[Virgil]

100%. McK can be the gadget guy and rotational player.  
 

Shakir showed surprising speed and strength.   He’s going to have down moments, but he’ll learn.  His upside is incomparable to anyone not named Diggs or Davis.  

26 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I don’t think this is a hot take in the least.  McKenzie weighs 18 lbs.  He’s not build to be a full time starter in the NFL.  He’s a good player and can help our team when’s he’s healthy.  Less snaps is key to keeping dirty in the lineup. 
 

that said- shakir can do it all.  He sometimes suffers from lack of concentration, like we saw yesterday, but he’s a RAC beast and a contested catch machine.  Great work ethic and is a culture fit.  
 

I’d like to see Shakir and Dirty man the slot for the next 2-3 years 

18 pounds soaking wet 

[TheBrownBear]

The man has the juice.  It's probably already been mentioned (multiple times), but he reminds me a ton of Andre Reed with the ball in his hands.  Andre-like YAC-ability.   Two WRs with the souls of running backs.  Not sure we've even had a guy like that in the past 20 years.

 

Shakir paired with Diggs and Davis.  Wow, just wow!

9 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Was Shakir back for the opening kickoff, or was that someone else who fumbled it?

Taiwan Jones

Edited October 10, 2022 by TheBrownBear

[Pete]

Shakir>Crowder and it’s not even close

[transient]

That's not a hot take...

...now, this is a hot take.