Why not Devery Henderson?

by KC Viking on Mar 2, 2009 3:46 PM CST Comment 17 comments

With the possibility of signing TJ Houshmandzadeh apparently diminishing with each passing moment, why not consider a younger, faster, and possibly more affordable WR option named Devery Henderson?

After a slow start, Bernard Berrian was solid for the Vikings in 2008. He finished the season with the second most yards per reception in the NFL (20.1). Devery Henderson led the league in that category with 24.8 yards per catch. BB converted 34 first downs out of 48 receptions (70.8%, good for 24th in the league among those with 20+ receptions), and Devery Henderson converted 27 first downs out of 32 receptions (84.4%, good for 2nd in the NFL among those with 20+ receptions). Chester Taylor was a great receiving threat out of the backfield and had an impressive 8.5 YAC (good for 10th in the NFC among those with 20+ receptions in 2008, and the top-ranked Viking). Devery Henderson was 11th on that list with 8.4 YAC. Berrian only had 1 more reception of 20+ yards in 16 additional receptions.

Sometimes statistics like these can be one-year blips from having a good year or as by-products of a system, but in Devery Henderson's case, his career average per reception over 4 seasons with more than 1 coach/system is 21.6, and he achieved 20+ yards/reception in 3 of his 4 NFL seasons. Berrian, on the other hand, enjoyed his best season in that regard in 2008, thanks in part to one 99-yard reception (18.4 avg without it). Based on the numbers alone, it seems as though Devery Henderson is able to stretch the field and get yards after a catch well enough to move the chains, even in the silly Chilly/Bevell smother-the-receiver-short-of-the-first-down-marker-on-third-down offense. Henderson's numbers could decline a bit from the system, but they should also increase because of the quality of the opposite receiver (and maybe, just maybe, the long-awaited unveiling of the real KAO).

Some teams can cover Bernard Berrian, especially when the only other options are Visanthe Shiancoe and Bobby Wade (or even Sidney Rice, assuming he is ever healthy enough to start again), but I doubt that very many teams could cover Berrian and Henderson...or Berrian, Henderson, and whomever else.

Although he has not returned kickoffs or punts in the NFL, he was a returner in college, and of course the Vikings could improve their special teams play in 2009 (20th in team KR average, tied with the Lions for 24th in team PR average). Adding talent certainly can't hurt the Vikings' cause in 2009.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Why not?

The Vikings pursuit of TJ Houshmadzedah has to be internalized as admitting the roster needs improvement at the position. BB is great, but the Vikings other outside receivers just don’t get the job done.

Henderson would be an upgrade for the simple fact that he has played and perfomed. If he were able to do in purple what he has been able to do, he would be a welcomed addition.

by LoveHate on Mar 2, 2009 4:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I like it

And it’s odd to me that his name hasn’t been brought up more in free agency talks. I had to double-check to make sure he was an unrestricted free agent. If Housh falls through (unfortunately most signs seem to be pointing that way), I think Henderson would be worth pursuing. Having the top two yards/catch receivers from 2008 can’t be a bad thing.

by ericj69 on Mar 2, 2009 4:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would like it

Henderson is a very good option as well. Has alot of talent and very deadly. Just ask those that played against me in my fantasy team, hehehehehehe

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"

by VikesFaninNM on Mar 2, 2009 4:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

THink he just became a very good target

Via the NFL, it’s official, Housh is going to Seattle.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"

by VikesFaninNM on Mar 2, 2009 5:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

WHY NOT Devery Henderson??......

….. because he isn’t good enough. This guy is simply not consistent enough and that’s why he is not a viable starter yet. He has speed but his concentration, route running and hands are not there. If he couldn’t be more reliable catching passes from arguably one of the NFC’s absolutely best quarterbacks, then how do you expect he would excel with Sage or T-Jack trying to hit him??? There is no reason to panic on the WR issue. I say draft one in the 2nd or 3rd round. Right now, this team ought to exhaust any possibilities of getting a QB in trade… if there is any real possibility for that.

The sad truth is, we blew it with Housh, because of our pathetic quarterbacking as much as anything. So stupid to have put the team in this unenviable position when we really should have had either Cutler or Quinn from recent drafts. Now, we have to pay the penalty over and over, for stupid mistakes of the past. I’m trying to remain optimistic, but I am not excited to have the three QBs we have, the WRs we have and the draft class does not match up well with our needs.

Time to put our heads down and draft smart and then pray.

by misterdizz on Mar 2, 2009 6:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not really

I have to disagree witht he consistancy. From a purely stats point of view, it does look like that. If you look at the numbers, Brees likes to mix it up, throw to anyone and everyone. Yes, one season he is up, next down, but if you look at everyone else, they reflect this trend as well while Brees numbers seem to be very consistant….out of this world for the most part. I’ve watched Henderson alot because Ive used him in fantasy alot and he would be great here even with an average to above average QB. How many record breaking stats did Trent Dilfer have with Baltimore to win the Superbowl? None, but was smart enough to not turn it over and placed it in the receivers hands when he did pass. Yes, I know they were a run orientated offense then. Kerry Collins isnt all that super either, and he’s been to the Dance using what he’s got. It doesnt mean you have to be Superman, but definately can’t be T. Jackson either. Sage, who knows. But in either case, Henderson would fit in nicely and give us a very definate offensive air threat along with Berrien.

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk"

by VikesFaninNM on Mar 2, 2009 8:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

we didnt pass on in Cutler he was off the board.

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff222/LeoGetz25_2007/Peterson28-1.png

by aceinthecorner on Mar 2, 2009 7:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Henderson

I really don’t have a very good feeling about this guy. He has been pretty inconsistent and do we really need two deep threats because i believe that if all we were lookin for was a deep threat then we already are set with Berrian. Rather we need to be focusing on a bigger and more of a possesion receiver to complement Berrian. B/c as long as Chilly still hold the reigns the vikings are gonna be stuck with the same run, run, pass offense with nine in the box at all times and with the qbs we have we need a strong veteran presence who can catch a clutch 5 yard first down when we need it not one who will run down the field fifty yards and have sage or tjack just toss up a prayer into triple coverage

by alldayson28 on Mar 2, 2009 9:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

We need a posession type reciever, not a speed guy.

Sure, Devery can strech the field, but that is not what we need.

The reason we wanted TJ Douch is because of his hands, route-running and experience. We already have a burner, we don’t need another.

I would chose Sidney Rice over Henderson because of that fact. Not because Rice is better.

by Bjorno on Mar 3, 2009 12:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Speed Burner

True, the Vikes have a fast runner, but we also need him to play at the QB position from time to time. T-Jack can’t be in both places at once. :)

Seriously, BB is a good WR, but fast is not one of his claims to fame. I got tired of watching him being escorted through his routes by a couple defenders at a time, or being pulled down from behind because he lacks the breakaway speed to get away.

BB’s proper slot is #2, not #1.

by DCPurple on Mar 3, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But do you really think Devery is the answer?

Last year after the trade, people in purple were touting his speed.

Now that you mention it, I don’t remember him blowing by anyone who did not blow the coverage.

Can he really be a #1 guy?

by Bjorno on Mar 3, 2009 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

By that I mean that the people in purple were touting BB's speed.

Not DH’s.

by Bjorno on Mar 3, 2009 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WR Answer

I really don’t know college football players very well. When draft time comes around, I pay attention to who’s who and look over their stats and read their reviews, but I don’t know them well enough to be sure on recommending any of them. Just never had much interest in college-level amateurs (yes, yes, I’ve heard a thousand arguments about how wonderful they are, and none of them have convinced me that a college football game is worth watching all the way through).

But I do know that if you go back and watch BB’s highlights, you’ll see what I mean. The man has good hands if the football gets to him, and he has great instincts on taking advantage of the opposing secondary’s mistakes. But unless they make those mistakes, they’re all over Berrian.

If we had someone faster, that person could complete their route quicker, get open faster, and give whoever’s quarterbacking the team, a quicker window of opportunity to get the ball to him. Which means more yardage, fewer sacks while the QB is looking around for someone to get open.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Berrian… but I see him more as a #2 guy. If the Vikes had a speedster who could outrun most of the secondarys in the #1 WR position, it would open up a lot for AP too, because the safteys couldn’t come down to fill up the box. Win-win, offensively.

by DCPurple on Mar 4, 2009 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just to clarify

I didn’t mean to imply that Devery Henderson could bump BB to #2 as Housh may have done, or even that DH should be the #2 guy (but I think that is a possibility). At WR#3, the Vikings have nobody who can stretch the field. Henderson could definitely come in as a third receiver and catch 30-50 balls in mostly 3rd down situations for the team while loosening up the defensive coverage on Berrian on 30-50 more such plays.

As someone else already pointed out, the VIkings have basically admitted that their current WRs require some improvement, and I’m suggesting that DH could be a cheaper option to upgrade the quality of WRs by a significant amount (though not at all as much as Houshmandzadeh would have, at least until he slowed down and couldn’t get open anymore).

by KC Viking on Mar 3, 2009 4:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, DH is back with the Saints,

It would be nice to see Sydney and Aundrae pick up some slack, but it almost seems like childress is afraid to use them. Save for Sydney who has had some injury issues.

Allison is not even used as a return threat, even though he has the only kickoff returned for a TD since Mewelde returned a punt in ’06 I think. Yet he averages like 28 yds a return.

I am in the same boat as far as college football is concerned. One of the draws of the NFL is there are only so many games in a week.

In College, there are so many teams with different colleges at different levels of play that it is hard to keep track.

I spend enough time on NFL forums and following the Vikes already. I don’t need another obsession.

by Bjorno on Mar 4, 2009 5:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

College Level

That’s a big part of it for me; too many teams, too many “Bowls”, half the time you’re comparing apples to oranges and unless you know all the ins and outs, you just don’t know how to judge it properly.

Maybe if there was one ultimate collegiate playoffs between all their little “Bowl” winners, and a final game, I could get much more interested. At least that way you could finally compare the teams and players head-to-head.

I think it would help a lot of the NFL pre-season started in the 1st week of May; that way the regular season could start in, mmm, what… August maybe? That would work. A lot of wear and tear on the players tho.

by DCPurple on Mar 5, 2009 9:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FA Bust

I know we’re only a week into FA, but it’s really looking like a bust for the Vikes. At this point, most of the prime players are signed or re-signed (e.g. Devery Henderson), and all that’s left are the leftovers that no one much wanted.

That leaves the trade option…. or the draft.

by DCPurple on Mar 5, 2009 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs