Was 1995 the best season ever for wide receivers?

[Ness]

What do you guys think? Even in today's NFL with more inflated stats than ten seasons ago, 1995 still holds a huge significance for wideouts. I can't think of a season that has been better. Also, do you think this says something about the teams at the time compared to the teams of today? Here is a list of the receivers from that year, categorized by yardage:

Click here. (http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=true&seasonType=REG&d-447263-o=2&conference=null&statisticCategory=RECEIVING&d-447263-s=RECEIVING_YARDS&experience=null&d-447263-n=1&season=1995&qualified=true&Submit=Go&tabSeq=0&d-447263-p=1)

[SimonRath]

umm.. jesus christ!

[yo123]

WTF Herman Moore had 1700 yards? How did the rest of the NFL let this happen?

[P-L]

The Lions had TWO receivers with at least 100 catches, 1400 yards, and 9 TD.

[Ness]

WTF Herman Moore had 1700 yards? How did the rest of the NFL let this happen?

Brett Perriman and Jeff Graham from the Lions and Bears had over 1300 receiving yards that season. Everyone was ballin.

[P-L]

WTF Herman Moore had 1700 yards? How did the rest of the NFL let this happen?
Herman Moore was a beast. He had a four year stretch when he averaged 1362 yards and 10.5 TD per season. I wouldn't say he was ever an elite receiver, but he was consistently at the top of that second tier.

[yo123]

Herman Moore was a beast. He had a four year stretch when he averaged 1362 yards and 10.5 TD per season. I wouldn't say he was ever an elite receiver, but he was consistently at the top of that second tier.

Yeah but guys who go for 1700 yards are usually elite receivers. Granted I was 4 years old in 1995 but I'm just saying I don't remember him being good enough to do something like that.

[vikes_28]

I love me some Jake Reed.

[WinslowBodden]

Holy **** Metcalf had a 1,200 yard season? Wow.

[Ness]

I love me some Jake Reed.

Yes. He was a good receiver. One of the best that no one ever talks about. It's really a darn shame.

[Jakey]

God dayum...Michael Jackson had time amongst lawsuits and music making to catch 9 TD's for the Browns! Thats impressive!

[M.O.T.H.]

haha. I used to love Carl Pickens.

These numbers are just ridiculous. And Larry Centers was just insane.

As for Moore and Perriman...Scott Mitchell never came close to duplicating these numbers again. It was like that one good year by Derek Anderson. It's just never going to happen again.

[scottyboy]

ahh Chris Calloway, now that's a name to send me down memory lane.

[Brodeur]

Don't forget Scott Mitchell throwing for 4000 yards that year. That is far more amazing than any of these stats.

[RaiderNation]

Tim Brown <3

[CashmoneyDrew]

I don't know much about Carl Pickens in the pros other than he fizzled with the Titans.

College Carl Pickens was a straight beast though.

[holt_bruce81]

lol Isaac Bruce had 1,781 yards receiving with Chris Miller as his Quarterback.

Funny thing is, Reverend Ike didn't even make the Pro Bowl that season.

[fenikz]

Larry Centers > You

[CC.SD]

Hooray Tony Martin and Stan the man Humphries.

[MetSox17]

23 WRs went over 1000 yards... Holy ****, lol.

[Monomach]

23 WRs went over 1000 yards... Holy ****, lol.

That part isn't weird.

Hell, 23 receivers went over 1000 yards this year.

[Ness]

Fitting that Jerry Rice had the most yardage. Too bad he didn't break over 2,000 yards receiving.

[iworshipbender]

That part isn't weird.

Hell, 23 receivers went over 1000 yards this year.

This was before that five yard bump rule

[MetSox17]

That part isn't weird.

Hell, 23 receivers went over 1000 yards this year.

I noticed that, but it was a completely different time, rules-wise. You can't get a finger laid on you these days after five yards without getting penalized.

[no bare feet]

The evolution of defenses and overall athletcism of the defenders have deflated stats. The disbursement of the yards is spread beyond just 2 receivers and a tight end. Most teams only had 2-3 players with 40 receptions or more. It's just the overall evolution of defenses, penalties, game plans and play calling.

[boknows34]

There were rule changes brought in to open up the passing game before the 1995 season and it obviously took NFL defenses time to adjust. I'm almost sure there were as many if not more players with 100 catches in 1995 than in the prior 75 year history of the NFL. What else can explain Scott Mitchell throwing for 4,000 yds and 32 TDs? ;)

[fear the elf]

guy was solid for cinci, though i seem to remember injury issues.

All I can remember about Carl Pickens is him catching 60 yard rainbows from Jeff Blake. I swear to god the ball would go as high in the air as it did far down the field.

[LonghornsLegend]

10 guys over 1300 yards, that's pretty amazing. I used to love Carl Pickens and Herman Moore, memory lane seeing their names. Ridiculous catch totals also, funny because teams seem to be passing alot more these days.

[Addict]

That part isn't weird.

Hell, 23 receivers went over 1000 yards this year.

not really. 20 receivers went over 1000, three tight ends did too.

[Gay Ork Wang]

damn chicago with 2 receivers over 1000? id be happy with like one 900 yarder

[Bucs_Rule]

The Lions offense must have been balling with those 2 receivers and Barry Sanders.

[Gay Ork Wang]

The Lions offense must have been balling with those 2 receivers and Barry Sanders.
when were the lions ever balling

[boknows34]

The Lions offense must have been balling with those 2 receivers and Barry Sanders.

The Lions in 1995 led the NFL in total offense. I'm pretty certain they are the only team in history with a 4,000 yd QB, 1,500 yd RB and 1,500 yd WR.

[Brodeur]

when were the lions ever balling

http://photos.upi.com/topics-Lions-GiantsSack/4784f7405abad8358d09b301fce2af23/S.jpg

He balls young man.

[trkaline]

It was just a bad defensive year...then Ray Ray entered the league and the rest as they say is history....

[yourfavestoner]

ahh Chris Calloway, now that's a name to send me down memory lane.

I remember Dave Brown.

[Brent]

Jerry Rice > your favorite player.

[DMWSackMachine]

For those who were around and following the league that year, this was a big deal while it was happening. Everyone made a big deal about "the Year of the Receiver." During this stretch the record for receptions in a season was broken, iirc, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

Art Monk set it in 84 (again, iirc) at 106. This stood for years before Sterling Sharpe broke it in 92 with 108 (fueled by GB lining him up in the backfield and throwing screen passes to him just to get the ball in his hands; at the time I was furious as I desperately wanted to see Irvin lead the league in receiving--which the league defines as the player with the most catches, not the most yards--and I hated Holmgren for using such a cheap tactic) and then broke his own record by posting 112 the next year.

Chris Carter one-upped him the next year, '94, by posting 122 for the Vikings with Jerry and Terrence Mathis (a forgotten player who was very, very good for a time with the Falcons) posting 112 and 111 respectively.

In 95, a whopping NINE players broke the 100 reception mark, after it had only been done EIGHT TIMES IN THE PREVIOUS 35 YEARS COMBINED. Not only did Herman Moore set the record, edging out Jerry Rice and Chris Carter who both tied the previous season's record of 122, by grabbing a late game pass versus Tampa that gave him the record and the season crown, but he also posted 1686 yards which would have beaten Jerry Rice's previous league record (set in 85) by over 100 yards...except it was only good for THIRD THAT SEASON.

Just a crazy season all the way around, and was a resounding statement that the league was undergoing a dramatic transformation into a pass first league.



Also, for those that are into advanced stats/metrics, consider that the guy who had the 5th most catches and the 4th most yards at 111 for 1603, Irvin, had potentially the best season in league history, according to advanced numbers. Irvin's 636 DYAR, or defense-adjusted yards above replacement, during that season stand way above the competition as the greatest in the 16 year history of the stat--a mouthful considering that that span included a good chunk of Jerry Rice's prime and the entire career of Harrison, Moss and Owens. There have only been 5 other seasons of over FIVE hundred in DYAR (Rice 94, Rice 95, Harrison 01, Harrison 06, Moss 07) history, with Moss' 07 coming in second at 569, still a long ways short of Irvin's 636. 95 was also the only season in the history of the metric to have TWO 500+ DYARs (Rice and Irvin) and was just short of having FOUR of them (Moore and Bruce both posted 470 DYAR).

Phenomenal stuff, just an amazing season for high end receiving years, one that may never be matched again. You had four All Time greats (Rice, Irvin, Carter, Bruce) at the top of their games, some great short-life greats in Moore, Mathis and the Pack's Robert Brooks lighting it up, and the league was just about to get hit by Owens and Harrison (both drafted the following year) and Moss (98).


A true convergence of events.

[Ness]

For those who were around and following the league that year, this was a big deal while it was happening. Everyone made a big deal about "the Year of the Receiver." During this stretch the record for receptions in a season was broken, iirc, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW.

Art Monk set it in 84 (again, iirc) at 106. This stood for years before Sterling Sharpe broke it in 92 with 108 (fueled by GB lining him up in the backfield and throwing screen passes to him just to get the ball in his hands; at the time I was furious as I desperately wanted to see Irvin lead the league in receiving--which the league defines as the player with the most catches, not the most yards--and I hated Holmgren for using such a cheap tactic) and then broke his own record by posting 112 the next year.

Chris Carter one-upped him the next year, '94, by posting 122 for the Vikings with Jerry and Terrence Mathis (a forgotten player who was very, very good for a time with the Falcons) posting 112 and 111 respectively.

In 95, a whopping NINE players broke the 100 reception mark, after it had only been done EIGHT TIMES IN THE PREVIOUS 35 YEARS COMBINED. Not only did Herman Moore set the record, edging out Jerry Rice and Chris Carter who both tied the previous season's record of 122, by grabbing a late game pass versus Tampa that gave him the record and the season crown, but he also posted 1686 yards which would have beaten Jerry Rice's previous league record (set in 85) by over 100 yards...except it was only good for THIRD THAT SEASON.

Just a crazy season all the way around, and was a resounding statement that the league was undergoing a dramatic transformation into a pass first league.



Also, for those that are into advanced stats/metrics, consider that the guy who had the 5th most catches and the 4th most yards at 111 for 1603, Irvin, had potentially the best season in league history, according to advanced numbers. Irvin's 636 DYAR, or defense-adjusted yards above replacement, during that season stand way above the competition as the greatest in the 16 year history of the stat--a mouthful considering that that span included a good chunk of Jerry Rice's prime and the entire career of Harrison, Moss and Owens. There have only been 5 other seasons of over FIVE hundred in DYAR (Rice 94, Rice 95, Harrison 01, Harrison 06, Moss 07) history, with Moss' 07 coming in second at 569, still a long ways short of Irvin's 636. 95 was also the only season in the history of the metric to have TWO 500+ DYARs (Rice and Irvin) and was just short of having FOUR of them (Moore and Bruce both posted 470 DYAR).

Phenomenal stuff, just an amazing season for high end receiving years, one that may never be matched again. You had four All Time greats (Rice, Irvin, Carter, Bruce) at the top of their games, some great short-life greats in Moore, Mathis and the Pack's Robert Brooks lighting it up, and the league was just about to get hit by Owens and Harrison (both drafted the following year) and Moss (98).


A true convergence of events.

Thanks for the insight. I wasn't that old at the time, so I don't remember it being that big of a deal. But I do a lot of research and for a very long time this year always stood out to me. Funny no one ever talked about it.

[Gay Ork Wang]

it's tough to have a 900 yard receiver when your qb keeps throwing the ball to the other team.

burn.
meh, its tough to have that in chicago with anyone. even the mighty Orton

[tjsunstein]

I remember Robert Brooks.

This was when the NFC Central straight balled at QB minus Trent Dilfer's 4:18 TD to INT ratio.

[DMWSackMachine]

Another thing that's forgotten, the following year was the year of the kicker. Go look at PKing stats for 1996, they are insane.

[Saints-Tigers]

Good read DMW, I don't remember it like it was yesterday, but I do remember that season somewhat.

Oh, and I think Herman Moore was definitely elite at points, not Moss/Rice elite, but he was as good as someone like Esteban Ochocinco at points.

[neko4]

Wasnt the run n shoot still an NFL offense at this point, or was it gone?

[DMWSackMachine]

It was just fading away. The Oilers had gone away from it, Buffalo and Atlanta had just started deserting their versions. The Lions were still employing a lot of those elements as, iirc, they did not even have a TE on the team during this particular season.

Most of the top teams did it with traditional and very balanced offenses, though. San Fran had a solid all around offense, obviously. Dallas may have been the most balanced team of all time. Even Detroit featured one of the all time great RBs playing near his peak. Minny was a very good running team as well, though they were definitely a pass happy one.

[scottyboy]

I remember Dave Brown.

I didn't...until now. thanks a lot, dick. :(

[Calvin & Kevin]

Herman Moore was for damn sure an elite receiver - for about 4 seasons.

The Lions' 1995 offense was just about unstoppable, except for Mitchell's tendency to throw for tons of yards in a game and then pee himself at clutch time.

Also, I'm sorry DMW but the Lions weren't running a run-and-shoot in 1995, nor any part of one. They had abandoned the last vestiges of the run and shoot a year or two before and gone back to having tight ends. In 1995 the Lions ran a single-back, three-wide attack most of the time, with Moore and Perriman as we mentioned both going over 100 catches, and Johnnie Morton adding about 40 and 7 or 8 TD's as well.

And who was their offensive coordinator running this scheme? Tom Moore. He basically perfected this scheme with the Lions and then took it to Indy where it's made Peyton Manning one of the all-time greats.