A.J. Brown, the All-Pro wide receiver for the Eagles, has expressed his desire to end conversations comparing him to CeeDee Lamb. Brown stated on Twitter that the comparisons are unwarranted as Lamb’s game is primarily limited to the slot position while Brown plays both outside and inside. Instead, Brown suggested that Cooper Kupp, who primarily lines up in the slot but has a vastly different playing style from Lamb and Brown, would be a more accurate comparison. Although Brown and Lamb produced similar statistics last season, their playing styles differ significantly. Lamb’s game is heavily focused on slot routes, accounting for a significant portion of his receptions, while Brown runs limited slot routes. As a result, slot receivers are often matched up against less experienced defenders like nickel cornerbacks or linebackers, while outside receivers typically face primary cornerbacks who possess greater speed and physicality. Therefore, while the pass-catching numbers may be comparable, Brown and Lamb’s games are vastly different due to their positions and styles of play.
Fox News: Eagles’ A.J. Brown attempts to put end to CeeDee Lamb comparisons, says they are ‘not the same’
By Chantz Martin; May 4, 2023
Eagles All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown wants to put an end to the conversations comparing him to CeeDee Lamb.
In a series of since-deleted tweets, Brown said the comparisons are not warranted because Lamb’s game is limited to one part of the field.
“He plays slot and I play outside and inside,” Brown wrote.
Brown then suggested Rams receiver Cooper Kupp would be a more accurate player to compare to Lamb. Kupp was named the MVP of the 2022 Super Bowl and earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors for the 2021 season.
Kupp primarily lines up in the slot. Brown added that his style of play is vastly different from players like Kupp and Lamb.
“It’s not the same,” Brown noted.
Brown attempted to clarify his comments in a separate tweet, saying he wasn’t “taking a shot” at Lamb “because he is cold and you’ll know I don’t care about the rivalry either.”
On paper, Brown and Lamb produced similar seasons.
Brown hauled in 88 passes for 1,496 yards, while Lamb finished with 1,359 yards. Although Lamb accounted for 137 fewer receiving yards, he did manage more receptions.
Lamb had 107 over 17 regular-season games.
However, the differences become more evident when you take a closer look at the numbers. Lamb accounted for the fifth-most routes out of the slot among receivers last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
His 92 targets and 71 catches were third-most overall out of the slot.
Brown ran a limited number of slot routes. Approximately 13% of Brown’s receptions originated from the slot, while a whopping 66% of Lamb’s catches came from the slot.
Slot receivers are often matched up against an opposing team’s nickel cornerback or a linebacker. But receivers who line up outside the numbers almost exclusively face cornerbacks.
Nickel corners and linebackers usually do not have the same speed and physicality that a primary cornerback on the outside possesses.
Brown and Lamb play drastically different versions of the same position. So, their games may not be quite as similar as the pure pass-catching numbers reflect.
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