Off topic but.....
It appears to me that good hands is the most under rated aspect of a good WR. Everyone focuses on how fast the player can run, how high he can jump, can he get open, but then it is an after thought if he can actually catch the balls thrown his directions.
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For example last year the WR with the highest yards/reception was Mike Wallace who had 19.3 yards per reception. However he was thrown the ball 72 times and only caught it 39 times. Thus only averaging 10.5 yard per time the QB threw it in his direction. (Not bad still averages out to a 1st down per throw). But 6 players had higher yards per target.
The problem with only using one stat when picking examples to support your argument is that you'll occasionally totally swing and miss on one and have it detract a little from what is otherwise a very good point.
Mike Wallace is a good example of the swing and miss...
Wallace has outstanding hands...check the "passes dropped" stats for support. The reason he has a lower receptions/targets ratio is due solely to how he is used, which would be "way the fuck downfield." Of all WRs in the NFL last season, only DeSean Jackson had a higher rate of receptions that went for 40+ yards than Wallace. His hands are fine, but when you're that far downfield, QB accuracy gets a wee bit shaky, and a lot of passes that qualified as "targets" were completely uncatchable balls. Using the receptions/targets ratio should only be part of the equation, with other elements, like drops and usage-indicators factored in as well.
That said, I agree with you completely that receiving skills get glossed over at times. Don't get me wrong, I get giddy over size/speed combinations like Calvin Johnson just like everyone else, but I am definitely a fan of "player skills" even more. It's why one of my favorite Combine events is the WR Gauntlet, where the WR runs down the line, and guys lined up on both sides of him throw short quick passes to him as he moves, one side, then the other, alternating all the way down the line... It's a good indicator of not only how "sure" the receiver's hands are, but also how quick his hands are, how well and how quickly he can acquire a target in flight, plus how well his feet work independently from his head (they dog ya if you go drift off the line).
Some people get juiced about 300 lb O-linemen running 40 yard dashes... I prefer watching the Gauntlet, the shuttle drills and the other player skills drills.
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