Cardinals Get An Early Impact Out Of Doucet

by Andrew602 on Jan 12, 2010 10:33 AM MST

We all knew the Arizona Cardinals would likely be short-handed at wide receiver on Sunday, with pro bowler Anquan Boldin doubtful with a sprained knee and ankle. The move would insert Steve Breaston as the 2nd string receiver, but would leave a vacant hole on the depth chart.

Doucet did fill in behind Fitzgerald and Breaston, but not without concern.

The Packers featured the 5th ranked pass defense in the NFL before the playoffs started, and featured a potential Defensive Player of the Year in Charles Woodson.

However on Sunday, Doucet not only caught his first postseason pass, but he also added two touchdowns. It wasn't that long ago that Doucet was catching his first career touchdown pass two weeks before the postseason started. Now he's out plowing through defenders and toppling into the endzone without a helmet.

Ken Whisenhunt's strategy of letting rookies develop before they contribute to the team has been successful for the Cardinals. Steve Breaston, Calais Campbell, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and now Doucet are all benefiting.

With the future of Anquan Boldin uncertain, Doucet could be the next receiver in line to have success in Arizona. Should the Cardinals deal Boldin during the offseason, a line up of Larry Fitzgerald, Breaston, and Doucet would be a legitimate threat.

So what can we make out of Early? He gives the Cardinals something different then what they're already used to. He can surely catch the ball, but it's his field awareness that is surprising. On the first touchdown pass, he took advantage of a double team to Larry Fitzgerald, and streaked into the endzone on a slanting pattern. He's also unexpectedly gifted at YAC(yards after the catch). Doucet isn't built like a tank, yet somehow stayed upright to score his second touchdown, and bullied his way into field goal range within the final seconds of the 4th quarter. Different, is a good thing in this case.

Prior to Sunday, Doucet caught 17 passes for 214 yards and 1 touchdown in two years. On Sunday he caught 6 passes for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns. His career is still young, but it's surely encouraging to see Doucet making an impact already, let alone in a playoff game of that magnitude.

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Doucet's performance spells Boldin's doom as a Cardinal.

Especially if he follows up with another big day in New Orleans. Boldin’s continual injuries tip the scales against his being re-signed for big money. He is a fantastic player who will be missed on and off the field. The fact that Breaston and Doucet have had to earn their playing time on a team with both Fitz and Boldin has undoubtedly contributed to the effort we see on the field from both of the younger two. I hope to see Boldin come back and perform against the Saints but I’d rather a healthy Doucet be on the field than a gimpy Boldin.

by hadrarius on Jan 12, 2010 11:14 AM MST reply actions

True

If Q is 100% I want him out there over anyone. If he’s not then he needs to sit it out.

What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Jan 12, 2010 11:23 AM MST up reply actions

+1

Oh and Andrew, at the end you forgot about his one TD that you spoke of earlier in the article. i.e.,“Prior to Sunday, Doucet caught 17 passes for 214 yards and…” 1 TD in two years.

I wrote a a little bit about Doucet on the fantasy site I write for prior to the game. I had a feeling he would come up big.

http://fantasyfootball.com/wildcard-weekend-sleeper-arizona-cardinals-wr-early-doucet/

http://undrafteds.com/

by Undrafteds on Jan 12, 2010 11:24 AM MST up reply actions

Saw that

Good catch

What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Jan 12, 2010 12:40 PM MST up reply actions

100% Agree

Please don’t put out a half healed Boldin, maybe as a 4th reciever in some situations, but like you said I rather have a healthy Doucet and Breaston utilized better. They were simply unstoppable in that game.

by edbro on Jan 12, 2010 2:39 PM MST up reply actions

I'd take Gator Hands Urban over a half healed Q.

He looked like himself as well on that great 1st down catch of his especially when he lowered that shoulder in an attempt to initiate contact. Has he been dipping in my special sauce or something.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Jan 13, 2010 11:22 AM MST up reply actions

Focus on staying in-bounds next time Jerhame...

…you’ll gain a lot more YAC that way.

Don't waste time or Time will waste you.

by Hawkwind on Jan 13, 2010 2:40 PM MST up reply actions

Absolutely.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Jan 13, 2010 4:46 PM MST up reply actions

and you mean Jerheme not Jerhame right?

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Jan 13, 2010 5:07 PM MST up reply actions

Damn vowels. JergheyspellingofJeremy.

Don't waste time or Time will waste you.

by Hawkwind on Jan 13, 2010 6:24 PM MST up reply actions

I know it was Doucets break out game, but Breaston needs a lot more love!

That being said. I must say I liked him as a number 2. He is faster than Boldin, or at least gives the appearance of a guy who can stretch the field. No doubt Boldin is a beast but neither him nor Fitz are speed receivers. Fitz the go-to/possession/red zone/superman WR, Breaston the deep threat and Doucet as an underneath guy seems like a good trio to me.
I have said this before, I love Boldin and his fire but I think if we can get good value for him we have to trade him.

They are who we thought they were!

by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 12, 2010 12:04 PM MST reply actions

+1

It’s the trio that leaves Boldin hanging.

by hadrarius on Jan 12, 2010 12:07 PM MST up reply actions

Doucet is not the new Boldin

Breaston is the new Boldin. Doucet is the new Breaston.
Depth chart-wise

Bring back the Baltimore Chop!

by dima1109 on Jan 12, 2010 3:23 PM MST reply actions

Early was electric !

Came op clutch in that game

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Jan 12, 2010 4:05 PM MST reply actions

Huge Game When Called Upon

You couldn’t have asked for more from Doucet in that situation. Still, I’ll take a healthy Boldin over Doucet anyday… Time will tell how good Doucet WILL BE… We know how good Boldin IS.

- Never go in against a sicilian when DEATH is on the line!

by Sundevil33 on Jan 12, 2010 4:37 PM MST reply actions

Ehh

I just don’t want us to deal Boldin, and then have this post-season be a one and done for Doucet. I don’t know much about GB’s secondary, but if Doucet goes into OTA’S and training camp looking to add ‘Boldin type muscle’, then I would not mind trading him for a LB/DB/OL
(linebacker if Dansby doesnt return)

by zAIN J on Jan 12, 2010 5:14 PM MST reply actions

+1

David Tyree ring any bells? Or if you like basketball, my old college buddy Jerome James from the Seatle Supersonics. Speaking of Seatle. Isn’t it a coincidence that both Steve Sarkisian and Pete Carroll both left USC for better opportunities and both ended up in Washington. I bet if this year doesn’t go as planned for Steve, he will somehow end up back on Pete’s coaching staff. There both in Seatle for crying out loud.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Jan 13, 2010 11:28 AM MST up reply actions