#this would be an unstoppable pairing on any baking competition

[aguineapigcouldntdothis]

im tempted to lock an ashkenazi jew and an amish/mennonite person in a kitchen with all the ingredients and tools they could hope for just to see what incredible, earth-shatteringly delicious dessert they make

[troped-fanfic-challenge]

And the winner is…

@probably-voldemort !!!

CONGRATULATIONS! You were an unstoppable force in this competition, writing everything from a Dancing Disaster (and reminding us why we all love Clurphy) to a Linctavia revengeful fantasy pet tale to demons in a cozy library (with a great new pairing of Jasper and Josephine) to dropping Annie and Finnick from The Hunger Games(!!!!) into The 100 Universe to see how they fare! That’s four (4!) fics and over 18k words during the weeks of this competition! You deserve the title of TROPED MADNESS CHAMPION! Congratulations!

Check out all the fics below:

'til our fingers decompose (keep my hand in yours)

QR/R1 | Rated T | The 100 | John Murphy x Clarke Griffin | 5.9k

Summary: Murphy's existence post-Disappearance was pretty bleak. Sure, he had his own bakery, and, yeah, he didn't have to worry about his mom's drinking anymore, or studying for math tests, but the fire that came from his hands had blistered and burned his skin beyond any repair that even the best training that any of the kids with babysitter first aid could do and had left them useless and constantly in pain. He couldn't do the baking for his store, or even wash his hair.

And then Clarke came to town!

karma is a cat (purring in my lap cause it loves me)

R2 | Rated T | The 100 | Lincoln kom Trikru | 3.7k

Summary: Once upon a time, Octavia would have been happy with getting a pet kitten from her brother for her birthday. Thrilled, even. But that was before a hydra attacked their apartment, and she and Bellamy were whisked away to a summer camp because apparently their dads were gods? Now, her pet aspirations were more along the lines of unicorns and chimeras and hyrdas. Cool, tough pets that a daughter of the God of War could ride into battle.

So the fact that her brother still bought her a fucking kitten? Well, who to better help with taking revenge on Bellamy than a son of Nemesis herself?

drank with the devil (and forgot my name)

R3 | Rated T | The 100 | Jasper Jordan & Josephine Lightborn | 3.3k

Summary: Summoning a demon was on purpose. Having the demon possess Clarke was an accident. But Josie swears she's only here to honour their deal, and, really, could Jasper have a better wingman than a demon?

soon it will be over (and buried with our past)

R4| Rated M | The Hunger Games | Finnick Odair x Annie Cresta | 5.4k

Summary: A technical malfunction of the Anomaly leaves Annie stranded in the Games for over three years instead of a month. Will she be able to find peace after the Games? Or will she lose herself to the will of the Capital?

All fics for Madness can be found here! Thanks for hanging out with us and happy writing! Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for info about Troped Timeloop, and a new Trope Exchange Event, coming soon!

xox - S&B

[radiant-reid]

The Gingerbread Competition

Summary: A gingerbread competition gets serious at the Reids

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader (fluff)

Word Count: 1.1k

Masterlist | Navigation

Like many families, the Reids have traditions. They have the normal ones, like the birthday boy or girl gets to pick whatever they want for dinner, but they also have... unique ones.

It would be easy to see the annual gingerbread decorating competition as a normal tradition. It's pretty typical for families to do, but like everything about them, the tradition is odd.

"Which kid are you picking?" Spencer asks, walking into the bedroom to see his wife pulling on a Christmas-themed sweater.

It's only 8 am, but the game has begun. And it's a serious game. It started years ago when they first got together. Spencer felt like he wasn't bringing enough to the relationship with his minimal familiar traditions, so he made her a gingerbread house, just as she was making her own for him.

As naturally competitive people, a contest broke out, and the bragging rights and accolades exponentially increased.

It's Y/n's turn to get the first pick this year, and she's been training the troop of children to ensure she wins, and takes the crown from Spencer. "Morgan." She decides.

It's a quick choice. Outperforming her siblings by age and the smallest number of legos put in her mouth this year, Morgan Reid brings dedication and competitiveness to the table. Plus, she's interested in chemistry like her dad, perfect for a baking challenge.

"Who's your first pick?" She prompts, stepping closer to him so they're toe-to-toe in the middle of the bedroom.

"Toby." He chooses.

As expected. "Oh, I know all about your secrets, Reid." She says, pointing a finger at his chest. "Getting him that bridge building set for his birthday, training up your own gingerbread structural engineer."

Spencer doesn't deny it, knowing he's been caught. "Yes because I know you would pick Morgan, so I figured why not build my own secret weapon?"

She laughs at his description of their sweet five-year-old boy. "I'm taking Eden."

He gasps, recoiling in mock shock. "Ouch. That's low, Reid. Taking my little baby."

"You call them all your little baby." She reminds him, although she knows what he means. In her three Christmases, Eden has been on Spencer's team every time. Even for her first Christmas, at four months old, she was on his team.

"Still, in your attempt to cause me emotional distress, you've left me with Toby and Aspen. Twins. They are unstoppable together. It usually freaks me out when they work out of the same brain, but it's a double threat."

She shakes her head slowly and menacingly. "You know what else they do well together?" He shakes his head. "Argue. Morgan's so good with Eden."

He groans, throwing his head back. "Shit, I knew we split them up for a reason." He recalls. "Can we swap?"

"Do you think this is wrong?" She wonders, clenching her teeth. "Drafting our kids so we can compete?"

Spencer wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her body into his. "No. They don't know, and we don't love any of them more or less."

"Yeah, okay." She acknowledges what he's saying. "Now, let's get out there so I can destroy you."

He chuckles. "And our five-year-old twins."

She grins, moving out of his grip. "You're all going down." She hums happily, gesturing downward with her index fingers. "Prepare to be defeated."

He grabs her hands before she can leave, pulling her body right back to him. "Not yet." He hums, leaning down to kiss her. She deepens the kiss with her tongue sliding into his mouth before pulling away quickly. "Tease." He moans, trying to draw her back in.

"Come on, loser." She says, dragging him out of their bedroom. "It's time for you to lose."

They walk out to the kitchen hand-in-hand, announcing the teams to the four kids sitting around the kitchen island, who are eager to compete and completely unaware they've been drafted by their parents.

Then the baking and decorating starts, complete with trash-talking and heavy flirting between Y/n and Spencer. There's some sabotage, of course, and what Spencer calls chemical warfare because of an intelligent move on Y/n's part to 'accidentally' switch the labels on the red and blue food coloring.

"Okay, are you guys done?" Y/n asks team Nobel- named that because of Spencer's influence, not the twins'- as they put the final details on their houses.

Eden and Morgan made great teammates, and team Winner's gingerbread house is, in their opinion, a winner.

"To win? Yeah." Spencer says, pushing their house forward.

"Okay, sit behind them." Y/n directs the kids into the camera view. They sit on the bar stools with wide smiles as they wait to have their picture taken.

Spencer stands next to her out of the frame. "Smile." He cheers. "Then a silly one."

Both pictures get taken and then sent to the official judge to determine a winner. "Can we eat it now?" Toby asks, smiling hopefully as all four of them watch the gingerbread in awe.

"Hmm, I don't know," Y/n says, looking up at Spencer with mock thoughtfulness. "What do you think?"

"I think yes." He decides, snaking his arms around her waist from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder.

The four of them dive in, breaking the houses down as they grab a piece to eat. "This one's better." Eden determines.

"They're made with the same recipe, little one." Spencer reminds her.

"No, our one's better, daddy." Morgan backs her little sister up.

He pouts behind Y/n as he walks them closer to the countertop, picking some gingerbread up to feed to her. "It's pretty good." She agrees with what Morgan's saying.

"That was ours," Spencer informs her.

Before she can tell him off for tricking her, her phone chimes. "Oh, we have a decision." She says mysteriously, stirring up excitement as she takes her phone out. They wait eagerly for the answer in silence.

Spencer reads the text message over her shoulder: My sweet godchildren! I miss you all so much even though I saw you yesterday. And you know I hate this job since I'm going to upset half of you so please tell everyone that I adore both of the houses the same amount. However, I am slightly leaning toward the one on the left. Have an amazing Christmas, wonderful Reid family xx

"Aunt Penelope says we won!" Y/n tells Morgan and Eden, who cheer happily.

"But she loves both of them," Spencer adds.

They walk around the bench to hug the four of them, each picking up two of their children and embracing in one big family hug. "Go team Reid." Y/n and Spencer say in unison, leaning forward for a quick kiss while they celebrate the perfect moment.

Tell me what you think

Taglist

Join here

@anonymous-reading @bingereid @measure-in-pain @archer561 @la-vie-en-amour1 @cynbx @spencers-dria @hardpartybasketballshepherd @ilovespencerreidmarryme @mrsobrien888 @parahmur @averyhotchner @honkroselyn @randomwriter1021 @bunnyweasley23 @rebeccasoutlook @teenwaywardasgardian @bubb1eana1ee @icequeen6666 @are-y0u-sirius @psychomanias @this-is-doctor-and-its-calm @jswessie187 @k-gallacher @morganwilliams @vaella1821 @ndubes04 @juneballoon999 @tiaras-amongst-trash @onceinadifferentdimension @criminal-reid @yikesyikesyikes95 @80strashbag @ilovespencerreidmarryme @citylights31 @ssavanessa22 @thedancingnerdmermaid @doctorspenceryeet @camreid @canadailluminate @lethpartridge @ssagube @spencerreid-mgg @nightlockcornucopia @allexthakatt @silverhetdanes @aperrywilliams @g-l-pierce @reidswhoree @beepbooptoop @silverhetdanes @kyanyakya @katiejozeisler @matthewwhore @megnotfound @80strashbag @mrsobrien888 @morganwilliams  @j-cat @440mxs-wife @hueycat2004 @gspenc  @icurasthefallenangel @iheartspence @ssavanessa22 @bisexual-virgin @thecraziestcrayon @katesreading @cance1medaddy @kuolonsyoja @alexlovescriminalminds @kahootlobbymusic @nomajdetective @idonotexiste @drayshadow @justalittleweirdoo @a-little-bit-of-everything19 @spencesscarf @lhhluvr @holding-on-to-my-youth @averyhotchner @mugi-chwan95 @gspenc @navs-bhat @idkbubs @mochionly  @nessy-nygma @nani-2305 @casfellinlovewithhumanity @shinyanchorface @nbyrd390 @drayshadow @hot-dino-nuggies @averyhotchner @simonsbluee @collectiveuniverses @meggie-m00n @allthecolorsneverseen @sassymoon @nomajdetective @exmachina187 @exhaleli @lucymfer @stumbleonmywords @reeid @hopefullawyerfishprofessor @graktung @sir1usblacksgf @pinkcoffeecup  @luckyladycreator2 @fairyellieee @malboroniightz @kateyee @corefleur @maybe-not-this @starrylang @citylights31 @baby-bi-bi-bi-yeah @ssa-uglywhore27 @kitkatkaitin @rocketxgirl @navs-bhat @bellarkeselection @strugglingtodoshit @joy-soul-gallery @venomsvl @harry-is-my-sunflower @luckyladycreator2 @egglantine23 @holding-on-to-my-youth @misselsbells06 @starrylang @lokisel @gryffi-ndor @lilibet261@idkbubs @slutalexis46 @glimmering-darling-dolly @kodiakwhiskey @rocketxgirl @mochionly @goldentournesol @xdsage @missusstark @spaceygirly1 @holding-on-to-my-youth @insomniacbeth @nbyrd390 @shirleyrose @airedale17  @tanyaherondale @buckys-estrella @geekykeen @lovingsherlockmolly @rory-cakes @muwun-blossom @jetblckdreams @i-wanna-be-conan-obrien @reidsbookmark @way-too-addicted-to-fandoms @idfvc @sammypotato67 @tanyaherondale @1-800-brain-and-heart @stcrrjoon @this-is-doctor-and-its-calm @wholesome-beans @frickin-bats @chaoticevilbakugo @goldeng1rl8 @arrowurboat @itzyourgurlnihya @belongwithreid @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @spencer-reids-mismatched-socks @addievermore  @harrymybelovedd @chimpmunk @i3k2ts @axen-gers @gxrlwithluv @finny-of-the-rear @greengarsstuff @altsvu @jakiki94 @narryl0ver @justreadingficsdontmindme @hobireasns @goldentournesol @kbakery @kaitieskidmore1 @twofacesoftheworldbutnotsome @chaoticconnoisseurgiver @kbakery @twofacesoftheworldbutnotsome @geekykeen @thisbitch-6 @andreead @kayleea122 @xoxospencerreid @dirtytissuebox @xoxospencerreid @jaydahlynne @sultrypotter @awhoreforspencerreid @sprinh @doe-eyed-fallen-angel @kamilaxq @beans-beanz @malindacath @halloween-is-my-nationality @kenny-0909  @mexicosuitrry @lucyysthings @iheartfinnthehuman101 @vane28282 @mente-sindescanso @lucyysthings @tatespillows @cecethoughts @manuosorioh @matthew-gray-gubler-lover @barbietiingz @grandhideoutavenue @feelinlento @i3k2ts @malindacath @luredwithpretzels @sanaz1dlol @ant-mans-tacos @mente-sindescanso @yumuramma @bubblebuttwade @bellarkeselection @spenceswifewhore  @barbiekatz @itseightbeats @neptunes-curse @sucker1-1punch  @nyx2021 @stilinski-void-04 @dirtytissuebox @daydreaminrry @mysticfalls01 @furiousladyking @gildedstarlight @halloween-is-my-nationality @reidsmexyconverse @scargarcia-magshotchner @wdytminy @rio-reid-whoreee @lovelyxtom @b3ast1706 @slvdsjjk @beenz-beenz @alltoowell-lilysversion @la-reine-des-enfers @mochi-moons @itzliyalupin @queenofrandom @ryswritingrecord @ynbutbetter @thxtmarvelchick @allthingsfashionn @justlivinginadaydream @liltimmyst @catertotshitposts @max-mml @crynroom @sugarcoated-lame @lilibet261 @bts-sugaplum @dezibou @a-marlene-s @crynroom @tracysnook @spencersprettyslut @alexxavicry @reidingspence@melonmochi @thicksexxualtension @haylexo10 @rosaliedepp @bport76  @dirtytissuebox @itsmekarlam @saintnourah @liltimmyst @mikkelsenlover @spencer-reid-wonderland @dirtytissuebox @esoltis280  @berenicexd @lyn07 @crynroom @taysatlantic @alphabetbarnes @4margaritasalex  @namelesslizz @allisonslibrary @suckmyass-things @jasminesacademia @littlemoon-fairy @lucy @waywardhunter95 @neptunes-curse @rayrayfrommindless21 @regulus-black-223048 @dingusfreakhxrrington @sluttt444slashersss @little-miss-blinder @fdl305 @feltonswifesworld87

@happymangospot @devilslilbabysblog    /  @bunny-script    / @pauline5525mgg @fanf1ctionwrit1n @j-cat @captainhotchner @ceeellewrites /  @randommmguerr / @sinnxagain / @goofygubler7 / @alotdreamers / @resident-boygenius / @nibb  / @coffeemochicat

@reidsbookclub @gublerstwilight @k-k0129 @spookyspence @eevee0722 @iamreallytryingiswear @dontcallmekittens @gublur @countingthestarsinfinitely @xhopingthis-worksx @claryandjacelover @spencersjello @mikewizkalifa @actingchica @almost-a-ladybug @foodsarcasmandyou @illegallygingerr @darkacademicwhore @uhuhuh @alexxavicry @probablycryingg @awkwardnesshabitat @black-veil-baby @uwu-queen-420  @one-sweet-gubler @whovianayesha @buckys-doll17 @gubedawnreid @parahmur @whovianayesha @i-wanna-be-conan-obrien @kierstiniscrying @simonsnowsblog @usuck @geekykeen @i-wanna-be-conan-obrien @sexy-dumpster-fire @j4sephluv @sophneedsfandoms @asantos7783 @hotchandspencearedilfs  @kitkatkaitin @allthingsfashionn @spideyjass @sammypotato67 @dimpledsmilex3 @vincentvanshoe @nervous-plant @safespacespence @agirlinherhead @maraudersminds @hopelesslystuc @bakugouswh0r3 @ilovespencerreidmarryme  @elnmop @ah-blossom @bellam47 @matthewgraygublerlover @liltiana-ann @happypixy380 @aaija @arrowurboat @reidsonlyangel @xreaderandshits @alohastitch0626 @nyx2021 @assemblemotherfuckers @idjit-sonovawitch @hwngslove @nycreid @helen-with-an-a @sia2raw @hufflepuffwhore13 @pastelbabygirl19 @blomfildsbeauty @hagridsmomma @differentavenue @grxnde-dwt @indecisive-asexual-stuff @hufflepufftruffle @alexxavicry @eichenhouseproperty @musethekitten @langcvn @cucufk @paperbackprettyboy @spencersprettyslut @devilslilbabysblog @padf00ts-l0ver @honey-stark @spencemylove @an0bra1n @jordierama​ @amurderofcrowsinatrenchcoat @bellenotthebeast​ @cynbx​ @darkenwolfie​ @conniesanchor @cloudxxs @jellycolors

@sydneekomspacekru  @ccosmic-illusion @majooooooooooooooooooo 

[g4r-b4ge]

bff!jimin - bts imagine

omg i can see this this is amazing

ok so

jimin over here

is soft™

dont even deny it

you met in middle school

bc you were partners for a science project

and you couldnt get enough of each other

so each day youd be like “hey jimin wanna come over to my house and play mario kart?”

and hes like “h*ck yea”

mario kart is like your thing

jimin isnt really a competitive person but when it comes to mariokart

thats where friendships are ruined

his secret strategy is being in last place but not far from the others and get the rocket n save it until he gets to like 5th or 6th place and then use it so he can just blast past the one whos in 1st place

it drives everyone fucking nuts

jimin is more of the type to stay and comfort you if someones being an ass rather than confronting them

youve never actually see him genuinly angry tbh

like sure youve seen him rage in mariokart

but thats it really

jimin is alot like jhope would be

really soft for you and would give you the world

“jungkookie, y/n is better than you at bowling”

“whAT DID YOU JUST SAY????!!!”

even tho you seem like a soft and loveable pair, you have your fair share of schemes

just really small ones that arent really obvious but when you notice you get really pissed

you once replaced all the pictures on the wall with images of bang-pd

it took them like 3 weeks to notice

comeback periods are the time where you need to be careful

you have to constantly remind jimin to eat and sleep and just take care of himself

but at the same time you need to be careful to not pester him too much bc this is the time where he needs his space and focus without any distractions

so really the best you can do is send him reminders via text and stop by with lunch for him here and there

but when promotions are over and they get some vacation days

you make sure to take them all on some kind of trip

you often get jimin to teach you some of the choreography

which usually ends in you chasing him around bc he made fun of how stiff and awkward your movements were

when one of the members are having a bad day or something bad happened

the two of you combine into some kind of unstoppable sunshine force

like you two always know when something is wrong

its like a 6th sense

so its usually like “hyung y/n and i brought you some chocolate and we also baked cookies and brought your favorite movies for you”

“what? why?”

“youre sad and stressed”

“h ow th e fu c k”

you just love taking care of the ppl you love

but you need to remind each other that you dont have to push your own problems aside for someone else

you guys are just too nice and pure for this world :’)

[lycraspleen3-blog]

Eagles Film Room: Grading JJ Arcega-Whiteside

In the summer of 2018 I asked fellow Bleeding Green Nation contributor Benjamin Solak for a 2019 prospect to watch. The first name he gave me was JJ Arcega-Whiteside, the wide receiver from Stanford. As it turns out, the Philadelphia Eagles would select him 57th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. It’s that early exposure to Arcega-Whiteside that led to me being over the moon about the selection.

The first game Ben directed me to was Stanford’s 2017 Alamo Bowl Game against TCU. He was truly dominant when given opportunities to make plays.

The performance instantly put Arcega-Whiteside on my radar. His basketball background was readily apparent and I was pleasantly surprised by his quick footwork. We had a big, strong player on our hands that understood how to maximize his athleticism with technique. This gave him a leg up on other prospects with impressive physical profiles but hadn’t figured out to do with all that size and speed.

Even when he wasn’t thrown the rock, he consistently created stacks in the vertical third and flashed separation ability in the short-to-intermediate areas. Not to mention – and this is a reoccurring theme – the attention he garnered from the safeties. Once they got bit a couple of times, defensive coordinators felt inclined to send as much help to their corners as they could. Despite the attention, Arcega-Whiteside compiled 63 catches, 1,059 yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to being a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2018.

That’s not to say Arcega-Whiteside is a perfect, unstoppable wide receiver. If you put on the Notre Dame game from 2018, you’ll see new New York Giants’ cornerback Julian Love give him some issues.

There are areas to improve, like his hand usage throughout his route stem and at the top of his routes, but we’ll get into all that. The major question seems to be, can Arcega-Whiteside create separation?

According to Next Gen Stats, the average 40-yard dash for a top 20 separator in 2018 was 4.46 in the 40-yard dash. Seven of them ran over 4.50, four of them ran sub-4.40. For example, San Francisco 49ers’ rookie Dante Pettis ran a 4.48, but is an excellent technician and came in at 10th on the list. There are other names just below that cluster like Calvin Ridley, Mohamed Sanu, and JuJu Smith-Schuster span from 4.43-4.67 40-yard dash times. The league’s leader in receptions last year, Michael Thomas, ran a 4.57.

Go further down the rabbit hole and you’ll find an interesting average for the top receivers in the league. If you averaged the eighteen receivers with over 1,000 yards last year, they’d measure at 6’1”, 204 pounds and run a 4.48.

Arcega-Whiteside is just as fast, slightly taller and has twenty-one extra pounds of play strength on his frame. Not only did he a run a 4.49 at his pro day, but I’ve been told at least two scouts there had him timed at 4.38 and 4.39 respectively. This can be deceiving though, as his track background lends itself well to these tests. The point is, he’s not slow by any means.

However, straight-line speed isn’t the end-all-be-all in terms of the athleticism required to win in the NFL. Arcega-Whiteside’s 7.23 3-cone reflects the tightness that can show up on certain routes. That’s where his grade suffers. Let’s start with that when analyzing his traits.

SEPARATION QUICKNESS

One area where Arcega-Whiteside will run into problems is when facing off-man coverage when assigned with hard angle cuts. To help make a distinction between the types of cuts, the picture below is from the Ohio State wide receivers manual when Darrell Hazel was on staff with some extra notes on break point technique.

Arcega-Whiteside does well with his technique on most of these coaching points, but comebacks and curls come with an extra step. Those are the most difficult to master, especially if there’s some natural tightness.

Here’s two clips: one where Arcega-Whiteside gets covered up and another where he doesn’t get the throw but settles into the blindspot nicely to create space.

What isn’t taken into account in this grade is that you can win a comeback or curl route a couple of different ways. If there’s some speed scrubbed out of the break, Arcega-Whiteside’s play strength can be a difference maker. One area in his game he can improve is using his hands better at the top of ropes to keep clean and create space. If he does this more effectively, he’ll have more success escorting defenders upfield and out of his hip pocket. This would help him neutralize any advantage in short area burst the defender may have.

Clean, quick footwork allows Arcega-Whiteside to fare much better with speed and vertical cuts. This helps him produce in the red zone and other areas of the field despite being labeled as a jump ball specialist.

Overall though, he’s not particularly explosive out of his breaks, and thus the adequate grade. Technique and his understanding of leverage help mask this weakness in terms of on-field results.

Separation Quickness Grade: 3 of 7 (Adequate)

RELEASE

This is where Arcega-Whiteside sets up future success in his routes. Winning early allows him to consistently stack defenders, which leaves him in a position to frequently win with the ball in the air. He does this with purposeful and crafty footwork off the line. He’ll get his head involved in his fakes too, taking it hard into the fake before snapping off in the opposite direction.

This ability pairs nicely with the RPO slants we’ve seen the Eagles run so often with Alshon Jeffery. Combine that with his play strength and feel for boxing out and you have another big body at 6’2”, 225 pounds to depend on for quick completions in tight areas.

Arcega-Whiteside displays a keen understanding of leverage paired with the technique to displace a cornerback and get them on their heels. Against press or tight coverage, Arcega-Whiteside is often able to release *through* a defender, as opposed to releasing around them. It’s an important distinction.

If you release through a cornerbacks previously occupied space, you’re in control. Arcega-Whiteside is fantastic at doing this against inside, outside, and head-up alignments. Once he goes through a cornerback, he’s able to stack them. Once a cornerback is stacked, he doesn’t stand much of a chance in the air against the power forward.

Releases don’t just happen against press coverage; they’re an integral part of winning against off coverage as well. For instance, you need to get outside against a defender playing off and outside. Arcega-Whiteside shows the ability to attack that leverage and create a window.

Arcega-Whiteside consistently wins clean off the line and as an added bonus it aids him when setting up for contested catches at all levels of the field. It’s one of the best parts of his game should translate nicely to the NFL.

Release Grade: 6 of 7 (Above Average)

CATCHPOINT/BODY CONTROL

Nobody in college football had more contested catch wins (19) than Arcega-Whiteside did in 2018. He also drew 14 penalties. How does he do it? The basketball background helps, especially when paired with his superb tracking skills.

There’s always concern that when a contested catch maven makes the transition, the results won’t translate. I don’t believe that to be the case with Arcega-Whiteside. His excellent process when setting up jump balls shows a nuanced understanding of how to create windows at the catchpoint. Additionally, he isn’t passive when the ball is in the air. He’s a true high-pointer; aggressively attacking with a “my ball” mentality.

Filling out the route tree, Arcega-Whiteside was heavily utilized on back shoulder fades that took advantage of his releases and body control. If he won a clean release, he very frequently geared it down. This is what he was coached to do. It led to come tighter windows in some cases, but it often didn’t matter.

Overall, a lot of Arcega-Whiteside’s “contested catches” weren’t much of a contest. He won them often and you can clearly see why from his film.

Catchpoint/Body Control Grade: 6 of 7 (Above Average)

MENTAL PROCESSING

When going back through Arcega-Whiteside’s tape, I realized my initial grade may be too low. Before we get to why that is, let’s talk about what mental processing means for a wide receiver.

There are several things that fall under this umbrella. Reading coverage, altering routes, recognizing leverage, spatial awareness, finding zone voids, and so on are all factors baked into the the mental processing grade.

In the clips above, not only does Arcega-Whiteside win a clean inside release by attacking and threatening leverage to get the cornerbacks on their heels, but what he does next makes it all click. Recognizing the safeties over top, Arcega-Whiteside alters his routes. Getting “skinny” by flattening vertically or bending outside keeps him away from the safeties and also stacks the cornerbacks.

Arcega-Whiteside checks all the boxes when it comes to football intelligence.

Mental Processing Grade: 6 of 7 (Above Average)

YARDS AFTER CATCH

Arcega-Whiteside didn’t get his stats padded by bubble and tunnel screens; in fact, he didn’t get any catches in that manner. That’s encouraging when you look at his production, but also points to a weakness in his game.

This is where lack of lateral agility really shows up. That said, when he does get extra after the catch, it’s because he’s not easy to bring down. If he embraces his physicality with the ball in his hands like he does in the air, there’s room for improvement. He’s flashed that ability, but it needs to show up more often for him to over-perform his initial grade.

Yards After Catch Grade: 2 of 7 (Marginal)

Other areas where Arcega-Whiteside grade above average include play strength, hands, and competitive toughness. For wide receivers I include blocking in two buckets (play strength and competitive toughness). While great blocking technique is great, I’m also concerned with the willingness and the strength to hold up against bigger defenders. Arcega-Whiteside has excellent technique and gets after it. He never takes a play off.

This will help the offense on bubble screens, outside runs, and even inside runs. Last season we saw the Eagles use a “sniffer” in the run game, which places a wide receiver between the tackle and tight end to create an extra gap. Arcega-Whiteside would be excellent in that role.

Overall, Arcega-Whiteside projects as a starting caliber X receiver by year two that can contribute at all levels of the field in year one. That was my summary of him before the draft, so obviously his situation in Philadelphia may delay production you typically associate with those expectations.

My final evaluation of Arcega-Whiteside resulted in a firm second round grade. For where he was selected, he represented great value. Arcega-Whiteside gives the Eagles a great insurance policy that fits snugly in the offense.

Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/5/2/18525605/eagles-film-room-grading-jj-arcega-whiteside-philadelphia-stanford-wide-receiver-film-nfl-draft-2019