I'm worried about the slot position

So your saying that while Bess did what he could as well as he could, but by his shortcomings, we limited the position of slot?

 

Top 3 guys on my board, makes sense.

 

[video=youtube;4J3GbO-h6lw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J3GbO-h6lw[/video]

Here is Chad Bumphis highlights for you

 

That's why I don't get this whole gnashing of teeth.

Bess was not an excellent slot receiver. He was mediocre. I don't know what skills people think he possessed that make him some great slot receiver that Hartline, Gibson, Binns or Mathews don't possess, other than he was 3 apples tall.

So basically we didn't get worse at the slot, but we did get better at WR overall.

 

No I agree with you and Chris on most of your points when it comes to Hartline playing a traditional slot role, but we don't have anyone who jumps out at us as being capable of spending 80% of the time there like a Randall Cobb so unfortunately it seems like we'll be operating a slot by committee. Don't forget I had a major man crush on Tavon Austin to satisfy this very role so it's not like I'm banging the drum for Hartline as the answer here. I just feel he does have some strengths to his game (hence being rewarded with a $30M contract), some of which can be applied in the slot in certain roles. In the terms you're speaking of- the traditional underneath stuff, I too would rather see someone with greater physicality and/or playmaking skills.

 

if he has some traits that the can designed from the inside out then so be it, i dont necessarily see them in relation to what my idea of a slot is, I mean it's the coaches motto to have everyone running each other routes when need be, I just think that they thought that Bess's route tree isn't necessary anymore and they would rather replace it with a new wrinkle in the scheme.

 

to a degree yes, IMO, which is why we were ready to use our 1st on Tavon Austin even though we had Bess rostered. Even w/o drafting Austin we still traded Bess, so I think that alone answers the question. Obviously Bess had his strengths in the slot that Hartline falls short of, but likewise, Hartline has strengths from the slot that Bess falls short of, too.

 

Twitter and Pro Football Talk.

I doubt anyone knew what Miami's intentions were besides Miami.

Even if true it's my opinion Bess was out the door the minute Gibson was signed. Bess was an average at best WR, and is exactly what was wrong with this team offensively the last 4 years.

 

Darlington saw Miami's board, hence his initial comment about our draft plans. Not to mention, not a soul has disputed any of this after it became public.... not Ireland, not Ross, not Philbin, no one.

 

So you think we are hurting at the slot position? That's the basis of this.

 

I wouldn't necessarily say we're hurting, but we're obviously not excelling either. Nothing from what we currently have can duplicate what we would've been like with Tavon Austin, which is probably why we were prepared to trade up for him before the opportunity for Dion Jordan presented itself.

 

You are comparing adding a playmaking machine like Tavon Austin too drafting Boyce in the 4th round. Sounds stupid to me. If it was such an urgency why did we make 5 selections prior to that?

Did they WANT a more explosive guy?? Ofcourse, who doesn't....but we are going to be just fine at WR if we stay healthy.

 

I get that Bess had limitations, I also get what he did well, I think we're spinning wheels here, I think we just have to look at it as who is the better receiver between Bess /gibson because we don't know really how Sherman is going use that position from here on out.

 

I haven't read through the whole thread, so forgive me if this is already posted, but I'd bet that Miami's offense will utilize Dustin Keller and Charles Clay quite a bit from the slot as well. I think we'll also see Lamar Miller and Marcus Thigpen get reps there also.

Plus, with Philbin wanting all the receivers to know all the positions, I wonder if Mike Wallace doesn't get quite a bit of reps out of the slot. You can utilize his speed on crossing routes, quick screens, etc. like the Packers with Randall Cobb. Also, you can line him up off the ball as well to give him more space to operate coming off the snap. Hartline has also seen time in the slot in the past; heck, even Brian Daboll had him operate there from time to time.

Despite not having a specialized "slot receiver", I think Miami will have plenty of packages and formations using different guys that in all actuality, mitigates not having a true slot receiver (not that I'd consider Davone Bess as purely a slot receiver anyway).

 

See I would consider Bess as slot as slot gets, I there there's some perimeter routes he could run effectively but I see how his type of athleticism and strength works on the inside.

 

rs in punt return yardage.

Danny Amendola has averaged 10.5 yards per return on 89 punt returns in his career, and in college he returned 116 punts for 1283 yards which is an 11.1 yard per return average. He's marginal with the football in his hands?

Wes Welker returned 152 punts for 1761 yards in college at Texas Tech. In the NFL he's returned 241 punts for 2417 yards. He's marginal with the ball in his hands?

At Marshall, Troy Brown led all of Division 1-AA in both punt and kick return average. In the NFL, he returned 252 punts for 2625 yards. Marginal with the football in his hands?

The difference between the perimeter and the slot is that on the perimeter you're often asked to get open, and as a result of your getting open you end up with an opportunity to run after the catch. But the run after the catch opportunity is more predicated on how well you got open. In the slot, you're already for the most
part schemed open by all the spacing you have underneath and the three-way go that you have, and from
there you've got to make your mark on the play by how well you transition to running after the catch and are able to keep the defense from properly putting a lid on you. ing to catch something like 65% of all the passes thrown your way, which is 6% higher than the average number on the perimeter. Getting OPEN is less of a problem. It's more about what you do after the catch. That's why the NFL likes punt returners for the slot. It's not a coincidence that most of the guys you just named as your epitome of a slot receiver, are not just punt returners in their career, but big time standout punt returners.[/QUOTE]

I get what you saying but I think punt return angle is only one aspect. Crabtree and Boldin aren't punt returners, yet are great slot WRs. Mostly because of their strength but still. I understand there's a prototype for slot WRs and the YAC is why the more shiftier guys are sought. But I still believe Hartline can get the job done. He won't turn alot of 5 yard catches into 20 yac but he'll move the chains, which is ultimately what you want, 9 times out of 10.