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Triple Threat
Rams' prolific receivers have shot at history
Latest: Friday September 08, 2000 02:27 AM
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Az-Zahir Hakim's 116-yard performance against Denver was only his second career 100-yard game. Elsa Hasch/Allsport |
By Desmond M. Wallace, CNNSI.com
Many NFL observers believe the Rams are a good bet to become the fourth team to repeat as Super Bowl champions in the past two decades.
Part of the reason for the optimism surrounding the Rams is the fact that not only will St. Louis likely boast a 1,000-yard rusher for the 20th time since the 1960s, but the club's versatile offensive attack also has the potential to produce no less than three 1,000-yard receivers.
No team can boast the speed at the skill positions that St. Louis can. With receivers Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim all capable of rendering enemy defensive schemes irrelevant, the Rams' deep threats are as good as any in the league.
In 1999, Bruce caught 77 passes for 1,165 yards while Holt nabbed 52 passes for 788 yards. Hakim came off the bench and still totaled 677 receiving yards and ranked third in the entire NFL in yards-per-catch (18.8).
But it is running back Marshall Faulk who provides the versatility for St. Louis, having set a league record in yards from scrimmage last season with 2,429, which included 1,048 receiving yards.
| Spreading it out |
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Teams with three 100-yard receivers in the same game, regular season, since 1990.
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| Date |
Team |
Receivers |
| 9-4-2000 |
Rams |
Az-zahir Hakim (116) |
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Torry Holt (103) |
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Marshall Faulk (100) |
| 11-23-95 |
Lions |
Brett Perriman (153) |
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Herman Moore (127) |
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Johnnie Morton (102) |
| 11-20-94 |
Vikings |
Jake Reed (121) |
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Adrian Cooper (101) |
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Cris Carter (100) |
| 9-4-90 |
Redskins |
Art Monk (168) |
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Ricky Sanders (132) |
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Gary Clark (132) |
| 10-7-90 |
Bengals |
Rodney Holman (161) |
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Tim McGee (142) |
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James Brooks (109) |
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In the 2000 season opener against Denver on Monday night, Faulk joined Hakim and Holt with 100 yards receiving, marking the first team to have three 100-yard receivers in a regular-season game since Detroit on Nov. 23, 1995. The Cowboys trio of Jay Novacek (104), Michael Irvin (111) and Alvin Harper (108) pulled it off in a playoff game against Green Bay on Jan. 8, 1996, only the second time it had ever been done in the postseason.
Even though 100-yard receiving trios in the same game are few and far between, it was actually the second time in Rams history. Elroy Hirsch (162), Tom Fears (173) and V.T. Smith (103) opened the 1951 season the same way the 2000 Rams did.
Of course, 1,000-yard receiving seasons are fairly common nowadays.
All time, 408 NFL receivers have caught passes for at least 1,000 yards in a single season, including 26 last year alone. But what makes the potential for the Rams to add three names to this list in 2000 historically significant is the fact that only three teams have ever produced a trio of 1,000-yard receivers in the same season.
Most recently, the Falcons triumvirate of Eric Metcalf, Bert Emanuel and Terance Mathis accomplished the feat in 1995.
Back in the early '80s the Chargers' high-powered offense known as "Air Coryell" did it twice. In 1981, however, WR Wes Chander was acquired from the Saints in late September, so his 1,142 receiving yards that season may, in some minds, come with an asterisk.
That Chargers air attack was the first to produce three 100-yard receivers in a playoff game. The trio of Kellen Winslow (166), Charlie Joiner (108) and Wes Chandler (106) all cracked the century mark in the Chargers' epic 41-38 overtime playoff win in 1982 at Miami.
| Terrific Trios |
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The NFL's all-time 1,000-yard receiving trios
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| Year |
Team |
Receivers |
| 1995 |
Atlanta |
Eric Metcalf 1,189 |
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Bert Emanuel 1,039 |
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Terance Mathis 1,039 |
| 1981 |
San Diego |
Charlie Joiner 1,188 |
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*Wes Chandler 1,142 |
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Kellen Winslow 1,075 |
| 1980 |
San Diego |
John Jefferson 1,340 |
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Kellen Winslow 1,290 |
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Charlie Joiner 1,132 |
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* In 1981, Wes Chandler played for the Saints and Chargers.
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