Snakeeyes007
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- Apr 30, 2009
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I'm totally picking up what you're putting down.
The sentiment is similar to having young players one really likes, but we don't have room for on the 53 man. The hope is that they will go unnoticed by other teams and we can sneak them onto the practice squad. This year, there is less a chance either Tate or Baldwin go unnoticed around the league, particularly with Harvin out, making it harder to keep the band together after the season. Thinking big picture, that is a sad thought.
With our run first (and often second) approach, coupled with poor line play and average QB play in 2011, and how conservatively we started the season last year, many 'experts' speak of our receiving core, particularly Sidney Rice, as overpaid and underwhelming. That simply isn't accurate. The receiver position, more than almost any other on the team, is highly dependent on their QB to put up great stats. See - Larry Fitzgerald last year. Taken out of context, it could be argued Larry didn't play very well, and thus has diminished value. If Palmer struggles this year, you can bet money that some will start talking about Larry having lost a step. The same applies to our own Zach Miller. For context, here are two quotes from Sando's ESPN article after the Miller signing in 2011:
"Now [Carroll's] grabbed the top pass-catching tight end on the free agent market.
Just 25 years old, Miller was a Pro Bowl selection last season after catching 60 passes and five touchdowns, but he was even better in 2009 when he caught 66 passes for 865 yards and three touchdowns."
Miller didn't forget how to play, or lose a step after joining the Hawks, but did have to stay in and block a ton in 2011, and didn't see many targets besides. Same with the first half of last year. Some experts and fans were surprised when Miller did so well in the 2nd half of the season last year, as though it was an anomaly. It wasn't. He was finally back to doing what he was capable of all along with a solid QB and improved line.
This year, with Harvin out, I expect to see more big games from Rice, Tate, Baldwin, and Miller due to Russell's increased familiarity with them, the pro game in general, and having the training wheels off - letting Russell rip it more often.
To bring it all around, if Harvin were healthy, it’s likely that fewer of our guys would have eye-catching individual WR stats, giving us a greater chance of keeping Top Pot Tate after we win the Superbowl. :icon_new:
The sentiment is similar to having young players one really likes, but we don't have room for on the 53 man. The hope is that they will go unnoticed by other teams and we can sneak them onto the practice squad. This year, there is less a chance either Tate or Baldwin go unnoticed around the league, particularly with Harvin out, making it harder to keep the band together after the season. Thinking big picture, that is a sad thought.
With our run first (and often second) approach, coupled with poor line play and average QB play in 2011, and how conservatively we started the season last year, many 'experts' speak of our receiving core, particularly Sidney Rice, as overpaid and underwhelming. That simply isn't accurate. The receiver position, more than almost any other on the team, is highly dependent on their QB to put up great stats. See - Larry Fitzgerald last year. Taken out of context, it could be argued Larry didn't play very well, and thus has diminished value. If Palmer struggles this year, you can bet money that some will start talking about Larry having lost a step. The same applies to our own Zach Miller. For context, here are two quotes from Sando's ESPN article after the Miller signing in 2011:
"Now [Carroll's] grabbed the top pass-catching tight end on the free agent market.
Just 25 years old, Miller was a Pro Bowl selection last season after catching 60 passes and five touchdowns, but he was even better in 2009 when he caught 66 passes for 865 yards and three touchdowns."
Miller didn't forget how to play, or lose a step after joining the Hawks, but did have to stay in and block a ton in 2011, and didn't see many targets besides. Same with the first half of last year. Some experts and fans were surprised when Miller did so well in the 2nd half of the season last year, as though it was an anomaly. It wasn't. He was finally back to doing what he was capable of all along with a solid QB and improved line.
This year, with Harvin out, I expect to see more big games from Rice, Tate, Baldwin, and Miller due to Russell's increased familiarity with them, the pro game in general, and having the training wheels off - letting Russell rip it more often.
To bring it all around, if Harvin were healthy, it’s likely that fewer of our guys would have eye-catching individual WR stats, giving us a greater chance of keeping Top Pot Tate after we win the Superbowl. :icon_new:
