Player Spotlight: Pierre Garcon

Photo: USA Today Sports

Setting the Stage

Pierre Garcon is of Haitian decent and attended high school in Greenacres, Florida, earning letters in football and soccer. Even though Garcon was athletic and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, he did not receive a single scholarship offer. Unlike his Mother, a Haitian immigrant that worked two jobs and looked for others to support her children, Garcon wasn’t a hard worker on the field and also had poor academic standing.

His working habits turned around completely as he spent a year at Norwich University, a military school in Vermont, but he longed for an improved football program and transferred to Mount Union College, a Division III school in Ohio. In his three seasons there, he averaged 67 receptions, 1,121 yards receiving and 16 TDs and was named D-III All American two years. Garcon also ran track at Mount Union and had career bests of 10.61 and 21.69 in the 100 and 200 meters respectively.

Garcon was invited to attend the 208 NFL Combine and posted impressive numbers. He +was not small, measuring 6’-0” and 210 pounds. He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and had a 36.5” vertical and 10’-5” broad jump. The combination of his athleticism and hard work during college was rewarded as he was drafted in the 6th round by the Colts and signed a $1.8 Million four-year contract.

The small college player made the Colt’s roster, but played very little as a rookie. He managed only four receptions, but they came on four targets, with three catches coming in the final week’s game, as many starters set out. The next season, Garcon played a larger role in the Colts offensive success, but still ranked only 5th in team receptions, behind Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, and Joseph Addai. Injuries to both Collie and Clark in 2010, increased Garcon’s role and he seized the opportunity tying for 2nd in team receptions. In 2011, the last year of Garcon’s rookie contract, Peyton Manning missed the entire season and the Colts offense struggled mightily, but Garcon produced a career year with his most targets (134), catches (70), yards (947), and tied his career high with 6 TDs.

That production, especially without Manning allowed Garcon to sign a $42.5 Million five-year contract with Washington. Many believed that Garcon was vastly overpaid and that he was really just a role player on a highly productive offense.  In his first game with Washington, Garcon made a 99-yard TD reception, but was injured on the play. His 2012 production proved to be a great disappointment, as he missed six games and had the fewest receptions since his rookie season. Garcon was called out by the Washington Post’s Jason Reid as the incredible disappearing receiver, both for his inability to overcome injuries and his lack of availability for interviews.

Garcon thrived in 2013, his second season in Washington, even as Robert Griffin III III struggled to match the success of his rookie season. Garcon led the entire NFL in targets (182) and receptions (113), even while facing consistent double teams due to the lack of respect for the team’s other receivers.

Garcon knew that his targets would decrease in 2014 as Washington acquired DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts during the off-season, but the lack of consistent quarterback play and decreased offensive production overall impacted Garcon particularly. He had his lowest yards per catch (11.1) and TDs (3) since his rookie season. Despite his lack of success, Garcon still led the team in targets (105) and catches (68).

His career statistics are provided below:

Looking Forward to 2015

Washington made significant changes prior to the 2014, bringing in Jay Gruden as the new head coach and Sean McVay as offensive coordinator. McVay is a young up-and comer, but the assignment was his first coordinator position. Gruden had recent quarterback success increasing Andy Dalton’s production and most were excited about him helping Robert Griffin III III achieve a come-back last year. That didn’t happen as Griffin struggled early and then missed several games with an ankle injury. Washington slipped from 9th in offensive yards per game in 2013 down to 13th last year. Similarly, their scoring dropped from 23rd in 2014 down to 26th. Their lack of consistency at the quarterback position greatly contributed to that slump.
 
Washington was only one of two NFL teams without a quarterback coach in 2014 and Gruden hired Matt Cavanaugh for that position this year. The quarterback play will be critical to Washington’s success this year. Griffin not only needs to stay healthy, he needs to reduce turnovers and return to the success that he had as a rookie back in 2012. Cavanaugh’s ability to guide Griffin and work with both McVay and Gruden will be the key to Washington turning their offense around this year.

Positives

• Garcon is a skilled and experienced receiver, who led the NFL in receptions two years ago
• The entire Washington offense is in their second year in the system and should be more efficient
• Despite his production decline in 2014, Garcon led the team in targets and receptions
• Pre-season commentary has frequently mentioned getting Garcon more involved in the offense this year

Negatives

• Washington’s offensive effectiveness has declined significantly the past two years
• Garcon averaged a low 11.1 yards per reception last year
• The offense’s effectiveness has fallen as their number of rushes has decreased and the team may refocus their game plan on running the ball more

Projections

Final Thoughts

Garcon is a hard worker that wants to overcome his struggles from last year. Despite his decreased production, he led the team in both targets and receptions. The team is looking at moving him around and actively talking about getting him more involved. The key to his production will rest with improvement in quarterback play, specifically how Robert Griffin III III does this year. One thing seems highly likely is for Garcon’s targets and receptions to increase from a year ago, giving him an excellent chance to outperform his current ADP, which for ppr scoring is WR46.

Other Viewpoints

Mike Jones on WashingtonPost.com “Observations from Practice”

Garcon appears to have switched wide receiver positions and spent the bulk of the day playing the ‘Z’ rather than the ‘X.’ He used to line up on the left, and now is split out to the right. Coaches plan to make a greater point of getting Garcon the ball, and this is part of the plan. Jackson lined up at the ‘X’ today. Jamison Crowder rotated in and out with Andre Roberts in the slot.

Dan Roth on YardBarker

After adding DeSean Jackson following his unceremonious release from the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Redskins entered the 2014 NFL season with what appeared to be one of the best wide receiver tandems in the league featuring Jackson alongside Pierre Garcon.The season’s results, however, indicated otherwise.

Jackson delivered on expectations, topping 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in seven NFL seasons. Garcon, on the other hand, had one of his worst seasons to date. The 28-year-old Mount Union product caught 68 passes for 752 yards and just three touchdowns in 16 games last year—a precipitous drop from the 113 catches for 1,346 yards and five touchdowns he had the season before.

Liz Clarke on WashingtonPost.com “Pierre Garcon, Redskins’ ‘forgotten man,’ is expected to make resurgence

When the Redskins got back to work this offseason, Garcon frequently lined up split out wide to the right of Griffin rather than in his customary spot to the quarterback’s left. According to wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, it represented an attempt to diversify the offense and get players comfortable with other roles.

And both Hilliard and Gruden gushed about the work Garcon was putting in. Heading into his eighth NFL season, Garcon, who’ll turn 29 in August, didn’t miss a session of optional workouts or the mandatory minicamp.

“I’m impressed, especially with Pierre,” Gruden said, asked his impressions of Garcon and Jackson, who exercised his right to skip several of the optional workouts. “Pierre has been here every day, working his tail off, doing a great job.”

Hilliard was even more effusive, calling the 6-foot, 216-pound Garcon “a stud” for his effort in practice, the tough yards he gains after catches and his willingness as a blocker.

Zolan V Kanno-Youngs, USA Today “Haiti’s Woes aren’t news”

Garcon said there is constant corruption when it comes to help in Haiti and it has inspired him to have his hands on everything he pursues — whether it be footballs, his "Spinfire" pizza restaurants, or his foundation. Instead of just signing checks for charity groups, Garcon has physically helped rebuilding an orphanage in Northwest Haiti and a school near Port au Prince.