Liked Sims from the get go. Was very disappointed in some o his blown blocks last year. If he stays consistent he can be a phenomenal #2 TE.

He is most deadly at the goalline (see Falcons game). Hope the coaches don't sub him out for Lynch at the goalline.

 

I've liked Sims from day 1, also. In fact, I had us taking him in my 2013 mock draft. I just don't see how some people could so easily dismiss the guy. He has good speed and exceptional athleticism for someone his size. You don't just flippantly let that walk away. I thought all the guy needed was a more aggressive attitude, body refinement, and experience to become a great #2 TE.

 

Also... as a UGA fan, I wasn't all that thrilled with the Arthur Lynch draft pick. Lynch was a bit of a disappointment for the Bulldogs. He let the team down in some clutch situations.

 

that lynch pick looks like a waste of resources right now

 

CRYSTAL BALL: Arthur Lynch will be cited by anti-Hickey guys down the road.

 

Down the road?

I don't know that I would call myself anti-Hickey but that was a pick I didn't get from the time it was announced.

 

lol. I just mean we're DEFINITELY gonna hear it cited a lot in anti-Hickey arguments. It will be boilerplate... like the Jeff Ireland and second-round-picks thing.

 

this is by no means a hickey bash though, i think he has done a good job so far

 

One thing (among many) that annoys me about Joe Philbin?

He never actually gives you anything to get excited about a player. Him saying that Dion Sims is catching the ball well and playing fast may be the most introspective he's gone on a player.

You can see he felt like he gave too much information because Jordan Tripp information was about him being a professional. He says that about EVERYONE. He likes the way they compete, etc.

I just wish he'd say something like, we really like Lamar Miller because he can hit the home run. His speed is a weapon and we want to get him in space. Jordan Tripp really does a great job a running around to the ball, he's a fast guy, but we're working on him shedding blocks and playing the run better.

It's just so annoying to always the the, "He competes...first one in, last one out..He's a professional...cares and loves playing football" spiels.

 

The name I will remember for that pick is Lache Seastrunk. If Seastrunk quietly flushes out then my ire about the Arthur Lynch pick will probably be lessened even though I had dozens of other players I'd have liked better than Lynch.

 

What's disappointing to me about that is he didn't used to be like that. He was different when he was with Green Bay, and even in 2012 he was different. I think this is a byproduct of his relationship with Dawn Aponte.

 

Same here. The scouting staff went with their gut feel that if they got him to drop 20 lbs he would be a completely different player. Mike Sherman alluded to the same, he was unimpressed with him as a college prospect and said the front office had a theory about what he could look like if he dropped weight.

We're seeing that experiment play out. Despite these reports of him looking OK, I'm still not optimistic. Game tape will always change my mind about a player. Reports and coachspeak about a guy will rarely do so.

 

I think you have to also include the media frenzy over the locker room last year as well. i would be reluctant to "give too much away" too if I had to deal that constant preasure plus try to keep the team together.

 

I like the interest in Steve Maneri. A good blocking tight end is very much a cost effective method of improving those kind of issues.

 

I dont think so.....I mean...no GM nails every pick. So far...alot of what Hickey has done....looks good. I think youll hear that if we are losing....and players not making an impact, but over all....I think most people think Hickey has done a solid job so far.

 

As a 4th rounder skill player at a position with a steep learning curve...Sims starting to 'get it' in year two would be right on schedule.

 

I agree... it'd be crazy to complain loudly about the guy today!

I'm just sayin' sooner or later the haters will arrive.. maybe in year two or three or whenever, and I'll lay money the Lynch thing is a go-to example they'll use with frequency.

By the way, even if we make the AFC Championship game two years from now, there will be a few people who just don;t like Hickey's approach and claim it was despite him, that the coaching or a few holdover players did it.

I'm actually curious to see if any of the Pro-Ireland guys try to give Ireland much of the credit for success down the road.

 

My hope is that Sims can handle the in line TE stuff, allowing the staff to move Clay around to different spots. In the slot for bubble screens, blocking for WR screens or matchups vs LBs, out wide as a receiver so defenses have to declare man or zone pre snap, or if defenses get cute and go nickel, in the backfield as FB or as a 2nd TE in the run game. I can hardly think about it without salivating.

 

Edge blocking is the reason they drafted Arthur Lynch in the first place so it makes sense.

 

I was under the impression that Lynch was more of a special teams guy.

 

Could be...but I think the LBs have to significantly improve for that...'cuz I think the secondary's going to be sending a TON of business their direction.

 

I did not have a problem with the Lynch pick. We could carry 4 TEs and they need some competition. Most mid round picks can be 2nd guessed though with a player or two that those of us doing the 2nd guessing would have personally preferred. I never liked the Gillislee pick last year with Ellington still on the board, for example.

 

They need a capable edge blocker that can move around a bit, especially for this offense. Sims is more in-line. Clay is not a good wing blocker. Egnew is better but just unreliable mentally.

 

We should all get more excited about Sims. Lazor used a lot of 2 TE/H-back sets in Virginia and I'm sure he'll do the same this year. I expect Sims and Clay moved a lot during plays either on the line on the same side or split standing up detached from the line or from the FB position. I think Sims will catch a lot of balls in the flat and sitting in zones. We should expect a lot of action from Sims this year.

 

We cannot know the behind the scenes stuff, but just from watching them play and work out, Ellington looked like a solid 3rd rounder IMO, and Gillislee no better than a 6. It appeared to be an obvious mistake the minute the pick was made, but many other teams passed him too and drafted a different RB.

 

Teflon Thiggy!

Reason why I like his game is he has shown he can make impact plays on ST, up 2012, down 2013, would love to see him flash in the preseason. Special Teams if they are good should win a team 2-3 games either by impact plays, onside kick recoveries, blocked FG or punts, and long returns.

Also think Lynch would be a natural for that FB/TE role in this offense

 

Nothing makes a rabbit run like fear of losing a roster spot

Real pity of Thigpen is his game in the CFL was a lot broader than just "returner"

 

Speaking of , his former team had a upnt return for a TD against Winnipeg last week , the players name? Q McDuffie from Florida ;)

 

I know he let some folks down, but I think he has good potential. Not ready to give up on him, and I am a UGA graduate.