Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba bring "Big Game" ability to NFL?

JSN's rare ability to get open and create yards after the catch make him one of the most productive receivers in HS/College history: Seaside Joe 1537

Ever since devoting a day to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Tuesday, I can’t get my mind off of one fact above all others: He has a rare ability to produce the one thing that every football coach would naturally most desire, which is the ability to “take football here and move it down there”. It is easy to overcomplicate the game of football—and these days that seems to be all that many analysts are concerned with doing anymore—but that’s basically it, right?

Golf: Put ball in hole down there.

Basketball: Put ball in basket.

Swimming: Swim.

Football: Move ball further downfield or prevent that from happening and say, “What a NASTY thing to do! How dare you move the ball against, me! ME!”

Sure, you’ve got to block well. You’ve got to tackle well. And you’ve got to make good decisions. There are countless variables involved with achieving the goal, but the goal is simple: Apart from taking a knee, an offense always wants to move the ball downfield on the next play whether it’s 100 yards or one chain link.

You can make the argument that yards and touchdowns are overrated. In some cases, that would be true. Just as true as Patrick Mahomes leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns and being cited as the game’s current best player. Just as true as Jerry Rice referred to as the all-time best receiver. Just as true as Richard Sherman being the NFL’s best cornerback when it was impossible to gain meaningful yards by throwing in his direction.