Here's Why Cameron Meredith Is Special and Nobody Notices

The Cameron Meredith value to the Chicago Bears can't be overstated. With Alshon Jeffery gone the former undrafted free agent is needed more than ever. His 888 yards in 2016 was a revelation. Something nobody saw coming. It's a testament to the work done by the front office to scout him and the coaches to develop him that it came to be. That and the man's own natural competitiveness and work ethic to succeed. It's incredible to think that just five years ago he was playing quarterback in college. Now he has a chance to become the best wide receiver on an NFL roster. Another reason the game of football is such an amazing thing to watch at times. The question is though do people really see why this young man is so good? Dan Durkin of The Athletic (subscription required, but worth it) did a superb breakdown of why Meredith was the best receiver the Bears had in 2016 and why he could be poised for a career year in 2017. Among his many notes there was one he raised that may be the most undervalued about him. Something that many receivers today don't show enough of.

Cameron Meredith value lay in willingness to go over the middle

"Meredith's willingness to operate over the middle of the field combined with him being a natural hand catcher allowed him to turn short throws into run-after-the-catch opportunities. When a receiver catches the ball with his hands, he has a chance to make a move after he's secured the ball, which can lead to missed tackles. By my charting, Meredith averaged nearly 10 yards per catch (32 receptions for 304 yards) on high-percentage, quick throws — bubble, drive, hitch, now quick out, spot, tunnel and whip routes. This is a testament to his elusiveness to make the first tackler miss and his open-field vision to find a crease in the secondary."

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cameron-Meredith-fights-his-way-for-a-32-yard-catch-NFL-Videos.mp4"][/video]

Meredith is not some fluke

This is clip shows a bit of what Durkin is talking about. Though not a short throw, Meredith showcases his willingness to cut back towards the middle of the field. He has three defenders converging on him. If the route or throw are wrong, there is a good chance he gets absolutely blasted. Instead the timing is perfect, he catches it with his hands and immediately becomes a runner looking for the first tackler to dodge. According to Sporting Charts, Meredith had 287 yards after the catch in 2016. That's an average of 4.3 extra yards on every reception. For those who might like to know that was a better average than A.J. Green, Larry Fitzgerald, Alshon Jeffery, Antonio Brown, T.Y. Hilton, Demaryius Thomas, and Jordy Nelson. Pretty good company to keep. He's got size and speed and his experience is growing every day. Why do people continue to see him as an afterthought? They won't for much longer.