Falcons: Time to start some controversy

[phocis850]

I'm going to say it now and get it over with.

I do not believe HD is the man we need in the slot.

He has shown flashes of what he can do, but for the most part, he is not a factor in our passing game. We all talk about what if's way to often like they are fact. The fact is, HD has been practically invisible this preseason. I completely understand that he is considered the 4th goto receiver, however, for a slot guy he should be getting more catches throughout the season.

IMO, for him to be a viable threat on our offense, he needs to average at least 4 receptions a game. Currently he is not. His best game ever was against the Saints. Though I loved the game and it showed his ability, it was only one game in his 3 years of being on the field.

Thoughts?

[mdrake34]

(08-20-2012 12:31 PM)phocis850 Wrote:  I'm going to say it now and get it over with.

I do not believe HD is the man we need in the slot.

He has shown flashes of what he can do, but for the most part, he is not a factor in our passing game. We all talk about what if's way to often like they are fact. The fact is, HD has been practically invisible this preseason. I completely understand that he is considered the 4th goto receiver, however, for a slot guy he should be getting more catches throughout the season.

IMO, for him to be a viable threat on our offense, he needs to average at least 4 receptions a game. Currently he is not. His best game ever was against the Saints. Though I loved the game and it showed his ability, it was only one game in his 3 years of being on the field.

Thoughts?

Too early to proclaim this in preseason without seeing Koetter's offense in the regular season. He was hurt and didn't play in game one, and the ravens showed an utter inability to stop Julio so we just kept throwing to him, didn't even need the slot receiver. I didn't see the bengals game so I can't comment on that.

[RockHoward]

First thought: Is this really a problem with HD not being able to get open or is it that Ryan rarely had time to go through more than the first option and the safety valve in the progression? Another possibility is that Mularky's route trees may not have helped HD get open.

Additional thought: If the problem is that HD can't get open, then who do you suggest as his replacement?

[Peyton]

I haven't studied the first two games closely enough to have an opinion. But...based on how he played last year, which I thought was really well, and his young age...I'm disinclined at this time to make any snap judgements based on two preseason games.

Plus......I am completely biased based on my prior background with HD.

[papachaz]

agreeing with what's already been said, was it lack of time for MR to find him? was it poor scheme? was it poor route layouts by the former clown OC? was it totally on HD for not being able to get separation? Has his "invisibility" this preseason been because of yet another injury? though this time it was ribs, not the knee.....

I've read someone suggesting that HD be put in at the #1 WR position when the 2's are out there to get a little more idea of what he can do. I totally agree with that, we need to get him some reps IMO.

Also, was the taint game you're talking about the one where he took JJ's place due to injury? or am i thinking of something else

[juraitwaluzka]

Was it the Lions game where he scored on the ~70 yarder by basically outrunning everyone? I think it was right after Ryan came back in after getting his ankle stepped on.

Whichever game it was, it was impressive. My thought is, I don't see anyone currently on the roster that I would want to replace him with. And we aren't going to find anyone on the open market now, so we will just have to sit back and see how things pan out this year.

[Peyton]

(08-20-2012 02:05 PM)juraitwaluzka Wrote:  Was it the Lions game where he scored on the ~70 yarder by basically outrunning everyone? I think it was right after Ryan came back in after getting his ankle stepped on.

Whichever game it was, it was impressive. My thought is, I don't see anyone currently on the roster that I would want to replace him with. And we aren't going to find anyone on the open market now, so we will just have to sit back and see how things pan out this year.

That was a long play down the field on a critical 3rd down but he didn't score. He had a long TD in the preseason where he turned on the burners, I think against the Jags.

[Beef]

First of all, he had sore ribs and they kept him out of the 1st preseason game, which was not his choice. He did an interview on 790 and said it was the team's choice to keep him out, but he really wanted to be in there.

So he's played in 1 preseason game for 2 quarters and caught 3 of 3 pass attempts for 27 yards.

He was only in 3 total plays when Matt was in in the 1st quarter and half of the 2nd quarter and Matt never had a chance to throw to him. Redman came in midway through the 2nd and threw 3 passes to HD, then HD didn't play again after the half if I'm not mistaken.

1 game, 30 minutes, 3/3 for 27... when we're evaluating players and not running normal gameplans, and you've already come to this astounding conclusion?

SMH.

[Peyton]

(08-20-2012 02:59 PM)Beef Wrote:  First of all, he had sore ribs and they kept him out of the 1st preseason game, which was not his choice. He did an interview on 790 and said it was the team's choice to keep him out, but he really wanted to be in there.

So he's played in 1 preseason game for 2 quarters and caught 3 of 3 pass attempts for 27 yards.

He was only in 3 total plays when Matt was in in the 1st quarter and half of the 2nd quarter and Matt never had a chance to throw to him. Redman came in midway through the 2nd and threw 3 passes to HD, then HD didn't play again after the half if I'm not mistaken.

1 game, 30 minutes, 3/3 for 27... when we're evaluating players and not running normal gameplans, and you've already come to this astounding conclusion?

SMH.

One of those catches wasn't even intended for him at all. It was deflected high into the air and Harry made a great catch on it about 10 yards down the field.

[Peyton]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap...-tip-catch