Well, it looks like Mushin Muhammed is now out of any equation the Seahawks may have had for improving the recieving corps. Oddly enough, after the Randy Moss trade, I would have bet serious money that the Vikings would have made a strong push to get Muhammed, but instead he's a Bear.
Unfortunately, that still leaves the Vikes looking for a top of the line reciever, and since we already have K Rob and the list of free agent recievers is getting smaller, it looks less and less likely that the Hawks will address this need. In my opinion, if the Hawks don't do something about all the drops, we will be looking at a repeat of the last two years.
So here are my questions,
What would you guys do to fix the drops problem; would you draft a reciever, pick up a free agent, trade K Rob, fire Nolan Cromwell, do nothing and hope everything works out, or some combination of these things. If you want a free agent or a drafted rookie, tell me who.
You're probably right about the fact that they probably won't do much as far as a change in the WR roster, so that means that a change in coaching is needed.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Cromwell's doing an adequite job of working his receivers. As many of you have pointed out, player performance reflects coaching, and to that end it seems to me that our WRs aren't getting the coaching they need.
Saying that though, I would like to point out the list of excuses thrown around for the WRs..... Jackson's Father's death and his subsequent distractions, the problems Robinson's had with his failure to pass drug tests as well as his other rule breaking problems, however if it is a situation where he's dealing with bipolar disorder or some other mental problem, these can be worked out in the offseason with therapy and meds then he could still wind up being a very productive part of the offense.
Then there was Rice who's drops came more as a result of a lack of practice time to get used to teh timing of the routes (after all Matts timing on those routes was based on Robinson's speed, and Rice was no Robinson.
And perhaps some here are right about Matt's delivery, perhaps he is throwing the ball too hard(however I can't beleive that that's a legitimate excuse for the drops)maybe some added time working the QB and WRs together is required to fix this problem.
A lot of the plays are timing plays, and with Robinson out for most of last season and Rice being a new cog in the machine, perhaps this threw off the timing of the passing game. Maybe an extra passing camp is required.
I also think that improved pass protection will help the passing game a lot, the more time Matt has in the pocket the better the chances are of his receivers getting seperation.
I don't believe ANY of the excuses or so-called "reasons" for dropping the ball.
ReplyDeleteBlaming Matt's delivery for the drops is a crock. If he throws too hard, what did John Elway's receivers think? Those receivers had to catch the d*** ball, too. I haven't heard ANYONE say specifically what supposed the problem is with his delivery. I think it's just something people have said because they are looking for answers and there are none.
If anything, it's the dropped balls that affect Matt's game, not the other way around. I remember this past season it was a topic in the blog when he was struggling that he wasn't pulling the trigger well, and he appeared tenetive. It was as though if the receiver had to make a tough catch, he would bypass them as an option. And when he did pass it, he was passing it 'soft' which gives the cover man more time to close on the ball and disrupt the play.
I think it was a product of lost confidence in his receivers. It wasn't until the Monday night game against Dallas that he started throwing the ball with authority, zipping it right in, and the receivers responded by making some average NFL catches.
Another reason blaming Hasselbeck ain't right is because I SICK OF SEEING BALLS DROPPED THAT ARE PLACED PERFECTLY. If they were under/overthrown, behind or too far in front, then I could see where they are coming from. But they are often RIGHT ON THE MONEY, and the next thing you know the reciever is staring at his hands, and then the ball on the ground.
I just happen to think that we have a batch of receivers that, as individuals, they just don't have very good hands. They happened to be all on our team even if they were to sign on to some other team, I bet their personal "dropped ball" rate would stay about the same or improve.
By far the worst case is Koren. If his stats were no longer in the picture, I've got a feeling that the dropped passes we have a reputation for, would suddenly fade into the NFL norm.
Does anyone have any stats on drops?
Blue, I'm glad to hear you blast Matts delivery out of the water as an excuse for the drops, I've had to listen to that cr*p for weeks now at the Times Blog Site. I agree with you 100% his throws are hitting them in the numbers, and in the hands and they can't seem to manage to haul it in.
ReplyDeleteI do however doubt there will be much of a shakeup as I said, there is too much to be fixed in other areas, and I still think that with better pass protection the drops will drop off, that and perhaps, as I said, an extra passing camp.
To get the dropped ball stats I think you'd have to talk to a beat writer, they tend to keep track of such things. It's not a stat that the NFL and most teams keep track of officially. (though they should)
Anyway thanks for the feedback on Matt, I'm glad that there aren't still a bunch of a**' out here blaming him for the drops.
And I still say he's better than McNabb, and Cullpepper as a QB.
Gee Vinny, we have actually agreed on quite a few things recently. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe idea that Matt's delivery is the problem may have a strand of truth, perhaps he does overthrow at times, but mainly I would say it's total crap. How is it that the Broncos recievers never seemed to have a problem cathcing Elway's throws? There have been many QB's Favre, Bert Jones, Marino, the list goes on, who threw a helluva lot harder than Matt does, but those recievers still managed to hold onto the damn ball. The bottom line os that our recievers flat out SUCK ASS! I too have had it with the BS excuses for headcase recievers not catching the damn ball.
Damn! I knew I shouldn't have posted that comment, this is 'not' my opinion, it's one that's been batted around at this and other blog sites.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that if Favre, Cullpepper and Vick's WRs can catch their throws then what the hell is Matt's WR's problems!
Sorry about the confusion, but it's made for a great discussion.