Green has made plays for the Bengals week after week because of his athleticism and technique. Here’s a glimpse of what makes him so technically special.
Rookie Scouting Portfolio takes a look at Bengals receiver AJ Green in a very through breakdown of his skills. Matt Waldman, the author, makes a similar claim in the article that I did earlier this year. He believes Green is one of the best receivers in the league, and is better than some top guys like Julio Jones. What Waldman gets into, though, are the technical skills that make Green so dominant.
One skill Green has flashed during his time on the Bengals is his incredible ability to high point the ball. He’s often able to reel in off-target throws by catching the ball high in the air away from the defender. From time to time, this can make for highlight-reel plays. However, it often goes unnoticed as the catches result in mundane plays for chunk gains.
Waldman breaks down why Green is so proficient at these catches in a short video. You can see the video for yourself in this link to his mini-article. On this hook route, Green has clearly mentally plotted his catch before he even goes sup for the ball. His spatial awareness is very strong (a crucial skill), and he senses Broncos CB Aqib Talib behind him on his right.
Once he starts to go up for the ball, he keeps both thumbs together with is hands outstretched. This allows him to box out the defender in a way, while still ensuring a two-handed catch. As soon as the ball is secure with two hands, Green rips his arms down and to the left. This not only keeps the ball away from Talib’s right arm, but also gives him natural momentum to turn and run. Green’s fluid motion on the catch allows him to easily snare the ball and immediately gain extra yardage.
It’s skills like these that can go under the radar. However, we need to recognize them once in a while so we can fully appreciate how great AJ Green is. On a Bengals team that sometimes fails to move the ball, Green is a constant positive. He really is a complete wide receiver – he is not only athletically elite, but his route running and hands are on another level. As Walkman notes as well, his technique is second to none. Overall, that makes a Hall of Fame wide receiver.