Big Blue Huddle

Quote from: AP44 on December 27, 2022, 06:54:01 PMI may be in the minority, but I am not a huge Bellinger fan. I think he's a solid and could be a very good 2nd TE. As a receiver, I just don't see anything special.

If Michael Mayer in 223 or Brock Bowers is available in 2024, I wouldn't even hesitate to take them.

Interesting. I like Bellinger myself. I think TE is a position where rookies very seldom shine, and I have generally liked what I have seen from him (save for the ugly fumble the other day. And while I agree that he's not the second coming of Travis Kelce, I think he could end up being a solid all-around NFL TE in the Kyle Rudolph (in his prime) type mold.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 27, 2022, 06:58:18 PMInteresting. I like Bellinger myself. I think TE is a position where rookies very seldom shine, and I have generally liked what I have seen from him (save for the ugly fumble the other day. And while I agree that he's not the second coming of Travis Kelce, I think he could end up being a solid all-around NFL TE in the Kyle Rudolph (in his prime) type mold.

That's a solid write up. If he continues to improve his blocking - he may end up a solid starter but for once I'd like to see him break some tackles and get some chunk gains lol.

The TE seam pass is something that we need in this offense. Forget Bavaro who was a master of it but guys like Boss and Ballard just seemed to get a few of these catches when we needed them the most.

As I said on draft night, I was down on the field during SD walk through...the man has the softest hands I've seen/heard.  There's no thud, there's almost no sound at all.  He's a good blocker; although, he doesn't have much twitch.  I loved the pick that evening and I still love it now.  He just needs more opportunities. 

Quote from: AP44 on December 27, 2022, 07:03:56 PMThat's a solid write up. If he continues to improve his blocking - he may end up a solid starter but for once I'd like to see him break some tackles and get some chunk gains lol.

The TE seam pass is something that we need in this offense. Forget Bavaro who was a master of it but guys like Boss and Ballard just seemed to get a few of these catches when we needed them the most.

Good point. We haven't seen nearly enough of that since the days of those TEs you mentioned.

Quote from: AP44 on December 27, 2022, 06:54:01 PMI may be in the minority, but I am not a huge Bellinger fan. I think he's a solid and could be a very good 2nd TE. As a receiver, I just don't see anything special.

If Michael Mayer in 223 or Brock Bowers is available in 2024, I wouldn't even hesitate to take them.

I don't think Bellinger is an All Pro type TE but could see him becoming a Kevin Boss like solid productive TE.

Quote from: AP44 on December 27, 2022, 07:03:56 PMThat's a solid write up. If he continues to improve his blocking - he may end up a solid starter but for once I'd like to see him break some tackles and get some chunk gains lol.

The TE seam pass is something that we need in this offense. Forget Bavaro who was a master of it but guys like Boss and Ballard just seemed to get a few of these catches when we needed them the most.

A guy that was on pace prior to a significant eye injury to put up some solid numbers as a mid/late round TE pick isn't anything that excites you! Ok!  If not for the eye injury and time off we would be having the convo he could be the steal of the draft.

Quote from: Slugsy-Narrows on December 27, 2022, 07:16:51 PMA guy that was on pace prior to a significant eye injury to put up some solid numbers as a mid/late round TE pick isn't anything that excites you! Ok!  If not for the eye injury and time off we would be having the convo he could be the steal of the draft.

I don't know about biggest steal in the entire draft but I've been impressed with him given he is a day three drafted rookie playing a position where guys usually take a year or two to figure out the NFL game at.

Quote from: kingm56 on December 27, 2022, 06:52:17 PMPFF say something differently; the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. 

WAR is actually an advanced PFF metric.  Look at the bottom right corner of the chart

https://www.pff.com/war

Quote from: TrueBlueFan on December 27, 2022, 06:36:29 PMTo everyone saying we don't have talent at RB, WR, and TE, what are you all basing that on? It's not PFF grades, it's not stats, so what is it?

We have a 1250yd 10TD pro bowler at RB, many here claim Bellinger is a very good find in the draft (I agree) who has played well, at Tight End, Slayton is posting WR2 numbers, him and Hodgins are both outplaying many of the WRs people wanted them to trade for, their PFF grades are also higher than many of the receivers, they are graded amongst the top half of the league. Hodgins in recent weeks has been a TD magnet.

So again, if we have no talent or weapons, what is that being based on? Because it seems to me we have several along with an Elite LT

Richie James is a journey man WR because he is consistent.  He is shifty and has quickness but as we have seen, inconsistent hands.

Hodgins has been productive but having top end speed and being shifty he is not.  Which kind of needed to create separation as a WR.

Are they hard workers yes.  Won't dispute that but you also need talent on the field.  Look at Woolen from the Seahawks.  That size and speed combination is going go create problems for any WR going against him.

Using Hodgins on that INT thrown, could DJ have thrown a better ball?  Yes absolutely.  But if you have a WR that is faster, quicker that throwing window would not be as tight as it was throwing to Hodgins.  Faster and quicker players by talent alone is enough to win their match ups.  For our coaching we have more of scheming guys open than players winning in individual match ups.

Quote from: GMenRF on December 27, 2022, 07:54:23 PMRichie James is a journey man WR because he is consistent.  He is shifty and has quickness but as we have seen, inconsistent hands.

Hodgins has been productive but having top end speed and being shifty he is not.  Which kind of needed to create separation as a WR.

Are they hard workers yes.  Won't dispute that but you also need talent on the field.  Look at Woolen from the Seahawks.  That size and speed combination is going go create problems for any WR going against him.

Using Hodgins on that INT thrown, could DJ have thrown a better ball?  Yes absolutely.  But if you have a WR that is faster, quicker that throwing window would not be as tight as it was throwing to Hodgins.  Faster and quicker players by talent alone is enough to win their match ups.  For our coaching we have more of scheming guys open than players winning in individual match ups.

I agree with your Richie James evaluation. He can be dangerous but he can also be a liability.

I think Hodgins might be better than you're giving him credit for. I'm not 100% sure of that yet but I'm really liking what I'm seeing from him. I'm not suggesting we have another Larry Fitzgerald on our hands or anything, and I agree that he's not very fast, but he's big, he seems to be a good route runner, and his hands seem really good. I want to see more of him.

Quote from: Rambo89 on December 27, 2022, 05:33:10 PMIt is a fact for those of us who actually watch the games.

So, no actual measurable fact.

And it is remarkable that PFF is almost universally regarded, here, as opinion, but YOUR eyes produce"facy".

Quote from: AZGiantFan on December 27, 2022, 08:24:55 PMSo, no actual measurable fact.

And it is remarkable that PFF is almost universally regarded, here, as opinion, but YOUR eyes produce"facy".

You're right AZ as always you're never wrong and all knowing 

Quote from: GMenRF on December 27, 2022, 07:54:23 PMUsing Hodgins on that INT thrown, could DJ have thrown a better ball?  Yes absolutely.  But if you have a WR that is faster, quicker that throwing window would not be as tight as it was throwing to Hodgins.  Faster and quicker players by talent alone is enough to win their match ups.  For our coaching we have more of scheming guys open than players winning in individual match ups.

You understand that INT was thrown behind Hodgins not in front of him making what you said make zero sense.

You rarely know what a TE is until year three. That's when they all tend to blossom into what they become as a pro for the remainder of their career.

Quote from: DaveBrown74 on December 27, 2022, 08:07:50 PMI agree with your Richie James evaluation. He can be dangerous but he can also be a liability.

I think Hodgins might be better than you're giving him credit for. I'm not 100% sure of that yet but I'm really liking what I'm seeing from him. I'm not suggesting we have another Larry Fitzgerald on our hands or anything, and I agree that he's not very fast, but he's big, he seems to be a good route runner, and his hands seem really good. I want to see more of him.

I agree with you.  Even Nick and Dan rave about him breaking down the tape vs. the Vikings.
https://youtu.be/0ntUIdxHMq4

He may not top end speed but as they alluded to, he manages to create space with his technique.  It may not necessarily be a lot but enough for DJ or any QB to work with.  Most importantly out of Slayton and James, our most sure handed WR on the field.

I like him as a complementary WR playing with a true #1.