Like clockwork, the University of Arkansas faithful usually find a way to hit me up with questions — whether it be on the podcast I co-host or on social media — as to how the Razorbacks will generate explosive plays from their receiving corps without the presence of a dominant receiver.

Some still can’t get over a homegrown product like North Little Rock’s K.J. Hill spurning the Hogs for Ohio State University on National Signing Day, others are envisioning a player like rising sophomore Jared Cornelius taking the baton and running with it.

A great deal of people wonder if the Hogs even have the quarterback to properly get any target the ball as they simply don’t believe in incumbent starter Brandon Allen. (But that’s a story for another day.)

I’ve already waxed poetic on how head coach Bret Bielema’s scheme favors “12,” “22,” and even “13 personnel,” as he loves to attack the middle of the field, which makes targets like Hunter Henry, Jeremy Sprinkle and true freshman Will Gragg prime beef.

But I often marvel at how often senior receiver Keon Hatcher is overlooked when he’s a scheme-specific fit for this type of offense.

I’m here to tell you: There’s nothing better than having players who actually fit what you’re trying to do, schematically.

And Hatcher may be that more than any other receiver in Bielema’s tenure as a coach.

Route-running Prowess/Quick-Game Nightmare

The receiver you’ve read me compare Hatcher to the most — on the collegiate level —  is former University of Wisconsin player Nick Toon. In Bielema’s time in Madison, Toon had the distinction of being the highest drafted receiver (albeit in the fourth round).

The 6’4″, 218-pound Toon used his length to excel in the mid-range game for a host of QBs who weren’t considered draftable prospects — outside of his one season spent with Seattle Seahawks’ star QB Russell Wilson, of course.

Topping out with 64 receptions for 936 yards and 10 touchdowns, Toon epitomized what is was like to play the X-receiver role in a Bielema scheme.

ToonOut

Here we see exactly what made Toon so effective in Wisconsin’s pro-style outfit. Being as though it’s a heavy run-based operation, receivers are often the benefactor of aggressive man coverage as defenses load up the box to combat the run.

Toon is running a simple 5-route but darn near causes the corner ankle detachment with how he set it up: quick bend to the inside to provide a quick slant look, then bending it back and stacking the receiver like it’s a 9.

From there, he showed a smooth transition to the out-breaking part of the route while securing the catch before he went out of bounds

HatcherOutVSOffMan

You can see some of the same elements from the 6’2″, 210-pound Hatcher. On this particular sequence we see Hatcher running the same route, this time versus off-man coverage (with a “Bail” tactic).

He pursued the bottom of the route just as aggressive as one might approach a go-route, and then he throttled down and transitioned so crisp that he was virtually in the frame alone.

Had the ball been thrown more toward the sideline he would’ve generated some additional yardage.

My NFL comparison for Hatcher is one of my all-time favorite players, Atlanta Falcons’ star receiver Roddy White (6’0″ 211 lbs). The perennial Pro-Bowl representative has made a career out of being unguardable in the mid-range game.

You can see what I’m getting at in the sequence below.

RoddyBillsDig

This actually looks very similar to how Hatcher sets up his routes. White’s route-running prowess makes up for the fact that he’s not the fastest of receivers; it allows him to play a step faster than his timed speed.

HatcherQuickSlantTDUGA

This particular sequence is just plain nasty. After giving the corner a crossover-dribble move from the jump, Hatcher shielded him from the pass to the point where pass interference would’ve been the only route for the corner to take.

From there he pretty much out-physicaled the corner on his way in for the score.

Which brings me to my next point.

Physicality/Extension Of The Run Game

One of the reason I refer to Hatcher as a scheme-specific fit is due to his ability to manufacture first downs. When your scheme is based on ball control, having a receiving target who can make something out of nothing is paramount.

While fans may long for that vertical threat who can threaten the third-level of a defense, Hatcher should be lauded for his ability to run reverses or break tackles from a simple stick route.

HatcherPhysicalScreen

Here’s a classic example: Despite suspect blocking from teammate Kendrick Edwards on this “Bubble” screen, Hatcher was able to manufacture another five yards after he trucked the corner. In fact, Hatcher darn near sent the CB flying into the first row of seats.

It’s unaccounted for situations like that which separate Hatcher from most finesse receivers.

HatcherPhysicalReverse

How many receivers would take on former University of Mississippi safety Cody Prewitt in the open field by simply lowering his pad-level (as seen in the sequence above)? I guarantee you nine out of 10 receivers would’ve taken the easy way out and went out of bounds before partaking in some serious physicality.

In a collision sport, it doesn’t hurt to have talent out on the edges that’s not afraid to mix it up for your squad. I’ve played on teams with physical receivers just like this and it fires up the entire squad when you witness plays like these.

Hatcher is a phenomenal blocker, an exceptional leaper and a threat to go vertical when the scheme calls for it. But moreover, he’s a quick-game nightmare for a team that likes to work the mid-range game with multiple tight end sets and also trots out the best running back duo in all of college football.

He’s simply a scheme-specific fit for one of the most physical offenses in existence; it’s time Hog fans give this guy props for the things he excels at — which so happens to coincide with what the scheme calls for.

And isn’t that what ultimately matters in this complex game we call football?