Do we think Petras can best Stanley's first year numbers? (assuming a full schedule)
Petras inheriting compared to Stanley:
WR - better
RB - wash
Line - better?
TE - not two 1st rounders in the room, but still good
Stanley 1st year numbers:
PCT: 55.8
Yds: 2432
TD: 26
INT: 6
QBR: 135
Wins: 8 wins
It's near impossible to say, since we haven't seen Spencer play much but a fun discussion topic since we have nothing else to discuss.
I'll take Petras in PCT, Yds & Wins (9). I see a lot of TD's coming from Goodson and Sargent in the redzone that Stanley was able to get to TE's in 2017.
As you are suggesting and another poster explicitly stated ... Petras is entering into a better situation than Stanley was facing back in 2017 in terms of the quality of his receiving corps.
In '17, Fant was a TR SO and Hockenson was a RS FR ... so even though that TE duo developed into a pair of first rounders ... they weren't "there" yet at that point. In '20, I think that we're all optimistic about what LaPorta is capable of doing ... however, while we're excited about the overall "potential" of the TE room ... the guys there are still awful "green."
An understated attribute of Wadley was that he was arguably our best receiving RB since Albert Young ... and possibly even Ronnie Harmon (he obviously wasn't Ronnie's equal - but he was impressive, all the same). Are the '20 RBs as good in the receiving game? I'm not certain ... but Goodson and Sargent, at least, have resumes that suggest that its within their arsenal.
One of the greatest contrasting groups is the WR corps (obviously). In '17, VandeBerg was still not 100% from his foot issues. We otherwise primarily relied upon a walk-on transfer in Easley and two TR FR in Ihmir and Brandon.
However, here are a few other factors that may play to the advantage of Petras in '20 ....
- Stanley was protected by 2 freshmen OTs in '17. In contrast, the most likely scenario in '20 has Petras protected by a 5th year SR in Jackson (and multi-year starter) at LT and either a pretty experienced 4th year JR in Kallenberger or a veteran SR in Cronk at RT. The interior OL in '17 wasn't too bad ... largely powered by Welsh and Daniels. However, I feel like the '20 interior OL stacks up pretty well compared to the '17 group.
- Stanley had to learn a new O going from the '16 season to the '17 season. In contrast, Petras will benefit from continuity of scheme.
- Lastly, not only did Stanley have to learn a new O (and the new language that goes with it) ... but the Hawks also essentially had an all-new staff on the offensive side of the ball too. Presumably the staff is now better at what they've been doing now too.