They had a HOF running back that could do it all, too. That offense was flat loaded.
Yes, they did. Marshall was a gifted runner who could have also been a stand out receiver. In Todd Gurley, they have a potential all-time great/HOF-er who has good hands too. I still don't have a good feel for how good his hands really are yet. However, I have seen video of him catching passes down field.
The 1999 Horns had two legitimate #1 receivers in Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. Ricky Proehl led the Rams in receiving the year before as Isaac lost game time due to problems with his hamstring muscles; so Ricky had #1/#2 receiver status too. The Wizard of Az was too small to be a legitimate starting receiver, a fact he found out the hard way when he later bolted to Detroit and endured some pretty nasty injuries (how many times have you ever heard of a dislocated hip injury). However, Az was probably the most exciting #3 receiver in the entire league.
With Kenny leading by example, Brian Quick started coming into his own last season. I doubt either has the route running smarts of Torry or the inimitable Isaac, although Kenny has proven to be pretty good at shaking defenders on long routes. Sted has showcased his stellar hands on Game Days, but has yet to truly break out as an NFL receiver. Tavon has been too bottled up for the overwhelming part by DC's to do as much damaged as we hoped, although when he gets a chance to do his thing, he fully lives up to the Mr. Excitement label.
Cookie is potentially more dynamic as a pass catcher than 1999's Ernie Conwell, Roland Williams, or Jeff Robinson, although his blocking leaves a lot to be desired. Conwell, the decathlete-strong workout warrior was an unofficial OL guy and could flat out stop larger DE's in their tracks with sheer brute strength. Lance Kendricks is a much better blocker than Cookie, but still falls well below Ernie's lofty standard.
Does Nick Foles even begin to approach the timing and razor-sharp accuracy of Special K? Certainly, Horns fans would that he gets somewhat close for that, combined with a dynamic rushing game, would transform this team until legitimate playoff contenders.
GRob is the modern day analog of 'Lando Pace, and he has quite a ways to go to reach that standard. He will have plenty of help, having to face off with The Mighty Quinn every practice session just as perennial Energizer Bunny, Chris Long, will conducting his own training with rookie Rob Havenstein. 1999's Adam Timmermann gives way to the modern day Rodger "Beetlejuice" Saffold, and he will be matching wits with Aaron Donald in practice. The other starting OL positions still need to be sported out on the practice fields.
It will be most interesting to see this team grow week by week in 2015.
