So is Kearse that good or Rice that regressed as a player?

[Smelly McUgly]

I know it's probably some of both, but this year:

Jermaine Kearse: 13 rec on 19 tgts, 18.9 YPC

Sidney Rice: 15 rec on 35 tgts, 15.4 YPC

I know Rice is facing more #1s than Kearse is, but Rice should be good enough to take on those #1s and succeed.

We also just look better with Kearse in the lineup, right? I know Wilson had more time in the pocket, too, which probably has something to do with it, but is it more that Rice was that ineffective or is Kearse legit as guy playing at the X across from Tate?

 

[RolandDeschain]

I don't want to be accused of hating Rice, as I definitely do not; but I haven't been overwhelmed with his performance this year. What game was it where he totally just took that route off halfway through and Wilson got sacked or whatever? Everybody lambasted Rice for being lazy because we could have kept going; I can't recall...

 

[BigMeach]

I think the sample size is too small to say who is better at this point.

What I will say though is I think we struck gold with Kearse.

His problem never was getting open, he was always great at getting open. His size and speed were never a problem either. His problem was dropping balls. This is why he went undrafted.

If he keeps up this ability to catch the ball 95% of the time... Gold found.

 

[DavidSeven]

I don't think that's entirely fair. Rice played against better defenses and during a time when this offense was still trying to find its identity without its starting tackles. We've only now started to find a rhythm on the quick passing game and in protection. Kearse has also benefitted from the re-emergence of our power run game that coincided with Mike Rob's return.

That being said, Kearse has come up big this year when many here expected him to be an afterthought. I have high hopes for him.

 

[Sac]

Rice had more physical talent, but his playing style had him laying himself out for passes and hitting the ground repeatedly, leading to repeated and nagging injuries. Kearse is a lot like Tate in high pointing the ball and making contested catches.

 

[RolandDeschain]

I don't think that's entirely fair. Rice played against better defenses and during a time when this offense was still trying to find its identity without its starting tackles.

We're still trying to find our offensive identity without our starting tackles, lol.

I think the @ Atlanta game was successful far more because we decided to not shoot our own kneecaps out for the first time this year than any sort of newly found offensive rhythm/sync, personally.

 

[DavidSeven]

I don't think that's entirely fair. Rice played against better defenses and during a time when this offense was still trying to find its identity without its starting tackles.

We're still trying to find our offensive identity without our starting tackles, lol.

I agree. But we've started to execute better in the quick passing game, and the rag-tag line has kept Russell much cleaner these last two weeks than it did any time before that.

I think the players (particularly the line and Russell) are executing better. I think that's all there is to it.

 

[TheHawkster]

Kearse really attacks the ball but he's young. There's more to split end than running under deep balls.

Rice is a very smart player away from the ball.
He helps to get other players open and blocks decently, but his brain bounces too hard against his skull too much.

I'll take the kid without a concussion and injury history.
Rice could be a great mentor for how to become a complete WR.
Just don't ask him for tumbling techniques.

 

[Hawks46]

Like Hawkster said, Rice is more polished than Kearse that's for sure. He does a lot of the little things that go unseen, but make a difference. For example, I've seen Rice in position to block downfield a lot. He puts himself in the best spot to make a block. It's not the most physical block, but he's always in the right spot. Rice just seems to have lost a step this year. I know he went to Europe to get his knee taken care of, but he never seemed to have the explosion he had last year. Also, Rice is good at getting jump balls at 6'4", but that was a product of his height. He's not that physical of a guy.

Kearse seems more explosive than Rice. He's better at high pointing the ball because he's thicker and more physical. He's not as polished as Rice was, and he still has a lot to learn, but he's a much more physical blocker in the run game. Kearse has the potential to be every bit as good as Rice was in his prime, plus stay healthier because he's thicker and more physical. Kearse is also damned good at ST, where Rice didn't participate...so we get more value there.

I'm not sure we're going to see Kearse do those amazing sideline catches that Rice was capable of, but not many WRs are able to do that consistently. Rice has better hands than Kearse at this point, but I see progression coming from Kearse. He's definately more productive. I'm actually excited to see Kearse play the rest of the year; by the end of the year we're really going to know what we have in Kearse. I think he's a keeper myself.

 

[Bigpumpkin]

Rice could be a great mentor for how to become a complete WR.

Perhaps....but how much does John and Pete want to pay somebody in the "mentor" role? Does he have another playing year left in him or will he be good at coaching?

 

[Happypuppy]

Rice blocks well which is often overlooked. IMO his knee has been giving him issues. His cuts were not sharp and his speed seemed to be less than in prior years. I believe Rice is a class act and I hope he heals well and can continue his career

Kearse this year at least is playing better.

 

[Throwdown]

Wasn't Golden getting the best corner on teams before Rice's injury?

I think Rice might have unfortunately just been broken down by his injuries to the point where things just don't work like they used to. Either way, I honestly think he was hurting the team moreso than helping when he was out there. He just didn't scare teams like he did, they obviously saw something. But about his injury, maybe those knee's just weren't right at all, and it caused issues with him performance, and the issue with the knee lead to the ACL injury, I know previous untreated injuries can cause worse ones, its been the cause of ACL tears before.

Kearse on the other hand, even in his days at UW was known for making the wild catches, his problem was he couldn't catch the ones that you're suppose to catch 100x out of 100x. I had my doubts about him, even after the lasik surgery, but this dude looks like the eyes were really the issue! I'm ecstatic about him and the way he's come on in wake Rice's ACL injury. Russell trusts him, he makes the plays. The only downside I can think of about Kearse is that he's good for one screw up a game, but then he usually makes up for it by making a big catch or getting a TD.

 

[volsunghawk]

I don't think that's entirely fair. Rice played against better defenses and during a time when this offense was still trying to find its identity without its starting tackles.

We're still trying to find our offensive identity without our starting tackles, lol.

I agree. But we've started to execute better in the quick passing game, and the rag-tag line has kept Russell much cleaner these last two weeks than it did any time before that.

I think the players (particularly the line and Russell) are executing better. I think that's all there is to it.

It does help that the Bucs and Falcons aren't exactly loaded on the D-line. That's played into it as well.

However, it does look like the team flipped a switch about midway through the Bucs game and is invested in a quicker passing game.

 

[hgwellz12]

Combo. But I will be fine if JK takes over from here on out. ..

 

[Tech Worlds]

What exactly would rice mentor anybody in?

We already have receivers that do things the right way in Baldwin and Tate. rice as a mentor adds nothing.

 

[Hawkstorian]

I don't think Rice was ever totally healthy. You lose just a fraction of a step in this game and you're ordinary.

 

[Johnny]

Kearse > Rice


Rice has been 'injured' way to many times throughout his career and has been way to inconsistent for a #1 WR.... He has had only 2 'good' seasons in his 8 year career, One with Brett Favre and the other was last year with Wilson..

I don't understand why people keep defending him like he has been a pro bowl caliber #1 WR his entire career... Lets face it. Rice is a WR that has some talent but he is no where near a #1 WR in the NFL...

 

[The Radish]

Rice has the knack to split defenders and get open for the ball. Last year almost everytime we needed a big play Rice was there.

Kearse doesn't split defenders, he runs right into the group of them and goes up and fights fot the ball. So far he's come down with it.

If/when Rice is healthy he's way better than Kearse. Can Kearse learn the position and learn to get open rather than be the toughest guy in the valley, protect other receivers and runners? Hopefully

:les:

 

[Hawknballs]

No point in a debate here, conversation is over - Rice won't be back or will be back at a HUGE paycut.

Lets just remember some of the great sideline catches Sidney made last year for us and be glad Russell had him around for his first year, because he seems like a good teammate and person, could have been a big diva and complained about having to play with a rookie QB but did not do that. For all intents and purposes his career here is likely over, no reason to do comparisons. Just be glad we have the richest owner in the league so the money we gave him wasn't a huge deal since this current season is the only one where it really did anything to handcuff the cap.

 

[Sarlacc83]

I agree with the people who think something's physically wrong with Rice. Last year, he always seemed to be open, and he's not old enough (27) to worry about an age related breakdown. I think his knee isn't right for the game, and it may not be again. Which makes me sad.