I'm guilty of it too, since we chose the same exact receivers. And I agree about Gates. Some guys just don't seem very driven, and Gates is one of them IMO.
Interesting: Chris Hogan would be the #5 receiver on "our" team, only two votes behind Julius Pruitt for #4.
7-11, open all the time, and that is reflective in the game. But seriously, he has performed consistently in camp, and he can beat the best defenders on the team. He might be the best at separation on the team, or right up there with Bess. You absolutely need a guy like that in the WCO.
I am not a Naanee fan. He would not be one of my six. However, I think he will be one of Philbin's six. The mystery here is Hartline. I just don't see him on the active roster. How can you leave Matthews off? He offers ability on special teams and can catch and run routes. Ditto for Hogan. Wallace and Moore are the real questions marks here as well. They have had some time to develop, but Wallace scares me in terms of falling into bad habits. Moore showed some skill during the Carolina game. I just can't justify Gates. Speed or not. Fuller I like over Wallace if for any other reason in that he has some history with Tannehill (timing). Cunningham is definitely a practice squad guy at this point. Pruitt is probably one of your best special teams guys. I have to believe he has Rizzo in his corner.
Yes. The best defenders on the team....on the 3rd string defense....in the 3rd string secondary.....on the field at that specific time...wearing their numbers.
I have read the practice reports and I know he beat the starting safeties on some routes, including Jones as shown on Hard Knocks. I can't believe I have to defend the guy again, but the coaches reinforce the notion he can get open. That is right out of Sherman's mouth. I realize he practices against some of the guys down the roster line, but he has beaten some of the best as well (eg., Davis). I would like to see him get some reps earlier in the game against other top defenders. If you are using that fact to measure how important he is on the team, let me remind you that Gadsden didn't get many reps early in the preseason games either.
I feel the same way about Matthews and Hogan. In fact I would put a small amount of money on their being the best receivers of this group a few years from now, other than Bess.
For the second time in two weeks I got the feeling that the guy killing Chris Hogan is Ken O'Keefe his position coach. I don't think he likes him. I don't think he buys the hype. Last week while everyone was going in circles praising Hogan, O'Keefe (his position coach, who should be the one praising him rather than everyone else in the room) sat back and just said "He's been good, been good..." His tone made it clear to me that he was leaving something unsaid, something he wasn't comfortable bringing up at a moment when the guy was basically being universally praised in turns by Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line coach and Head Coach. Then this week when Hogan makes that play, O'Keefe says something like "Christ this guy's going to be some kind of cult hero"...which is a back handed compliment if I've ever heard one. And then O'Keefe had no idea who it was that just caught the touchdown.
That stuck out for me too, if you know the play and how the routes are designed you should know who it is that caught the ball, it wasn't like it was a broken play and everybody did their own thing.
As the receivers coach you should also know who is out on the field because it should be your call who is out on the field. Notice Jim Turner clearly showed his authority on who comes out and who goes in when he noted that John Jerry's "playing his balls off" and followed it up by declaring "I'm keeping him in." In the last episode, Dan Campbell knew exactly how many snaps each of his tight ends had taken during the game and lobbied for Les Brown to get in because Egnew already had 9 snaps and Brown didn't have any.
You would think so, maybe he's just a cranky old guy who isn't pleased by anybody, had a few of those in my playing days. Doing a little research I found an interesting note on him, O'Keefe played at John Carroll in college, school of another Dolphins coach long retired.
Does the same apply to Davone Bess? I'm not sure that preseason stats are much of a guage. I think its just as likely that guys like Bess and Naanee aren't getting much because the coaches don't feel they have to prove anything at this point. IMO the coaches are using these preseason games as more of a tryout than a tuneup.
Davone Bess-1 Brian Hartline -2 Legedu Naanee -3 Rishard Matthews -4 Roberto Wallace -5 Chris Hogan -6 Jeff Fuller (practice squad)
yeah, that comment about not knowing who caught that TD was very strange. This is Ken O'Keefe's first coaching gig in the NFL. Him and Joe Phlbin go way back. he was the OC in Iowa the last dozen years. I'm struggling to think of any Iowa wide receivers that made it in the pros recently.
It's one thing if you're the head coach and you've got 90 guys and you're like "who was that?" or even the offensive coordinator and you've got 44 guys and you're like "who was that?" But the position coach? You've got 11 guys. This is your job. You should know who is in and what they're doing.
Has B.J. Cunningham had a terrible camp? Hard Knocks effect of no screen time? Both? Honest questions as I haven't really seen much of anything on him.
Starting to agree on the Matthews/Fuller/Wallace point. The fact that it hasnt fully clicked for Wallace by now makes me want to lean towards going with one of the young guys if on the field performance is similar. Wallace has the physical attributes but just isn't using it. Not sure if its a coaching issue or just a personal issue he has going.
I doubt he has had a terrible camp, just that it has been ho-hum overall. About what you would expect from a 6th rounder. I know it has been said that he struggled during OTAs and was one of the worst WRs, but that he looks like he's been much improved each week of camp. He just hasn't done Anything to jump out.
I believe the guy he had no idea caught the ball was Matthews, but it may also have been Hogan. You make a valid point on OKeefe. It is interesting, but it may be nothing. The cult hero comment may not be a reflection of just how he feels about Hogan. But if Hogan doesn't make the team it sounds like you may have it pegged. I would wager it will be a bugger getting him on the practice squad.
Chances are OKeefe will not be available for comment on the receiver situation, but I do believe his input would be quite enlightening to all of us.
We do know Fuller very well have support from at least from two folks, his qb and the offensive coordinator.
Everyone is assuming Hartline will be on the 53. I would be curious about why some of you assume this. He hasn't really practiced. His injury is somewhat of a mystery, even though we know it is leg related. I think he may be a candidate for the PUP, or worse, the IR.
1) He can't be placed on the PUP list 2) If he's on IR he's still on the roster, they won't be cutting him 3) They may have an option to be placed on the new half-IR list where a guy can come back after 6 weeks 4) It would be stupid to cut him outright based on one camp spent fighting an injury, and I don't think these coaches are stupid, so...
Forgot about the rules changes on PUP. I meant to say "active roster". I dont' believe they would outright cut him. He should be in the future plans of the team.
I am guessing a guy would have to be placeed on PUP prior to training camp to be eligible to return after 6 games into the season? That is my understanding of how it works. Miami for some reason didn't put him on the PUP list. If that is not an option, then the only option is the roster or IR. I guess there isn't a change per say in PUP.
I'm hoping for a Naanee/Wallace tandem to start on Friday. Put Wallace to the test! He had a good week 1 game... I've been pulling for him since we got him, and he feels more comfortable in this O. Naanee and Bess are the obvious starters. I'd like to see Wallace and Hogan make the team. Pruitt makes it. If Hartline gets back by week 1, I will expect him to make the team and be a big contributor this season. Moore, Gates, Hogan, and Fuller, I think battle for that last spot.
I would hope his flexibility as a rb, kr, and wr would give him an advantage over some other guys like Slaton.
Monst, you need to talk about BJ more, because he was the star or practice today according to a couple media guys.
Well, I've banged the drum for a "weapon" type of player who can gain 2k+ all purpose yds, would love it if Thigpen can be that guy. I'd compare him to Leon Washington.
