I think Hill is a freak athlete and a bad football player. We see these guys all the time. They are projects, sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't. He's very unphysical for how big he is, he struggles against press cover and I can't even count how many times he's caught an 8 yd hitch and failed to fight for the first down vs a 190 pound corner. The dropsies don't help. I don't expect anything from this kid anymore, hope I'm wrong about him. He still has time.
The first half of the season has been about Nick Folk not missing FG's, going 12-12 from 40+. 12 for 12 from 40+! It's been about the pass rush. It been about the other two guys in the front 6 in Harris and Davis. It's been about Geno Smith. Everything else is like a side bar at this point.
Thanks! And turnonthejets has some good stuff. And I'd have to take Wilkerson. You just need one lineman to get to the quarterback but all cornerbacks need to maintain their assignments. Revis was definitely very valuable, but wilk might be more.
Great list. My only objection would be Holmes at 12. Based on talent, maybe, but he'll never stay healthy long enough to be really useful IMHO.
This part.. 46. Rontez Miles – The newest Jet has a chance to be a major special teams contributor, and don’t be surprised to see Rex Ryan work him into some defensive packages as well. Makes no sense. Rontez Miles is not at all the newest Jet. Anyway, it's a good amateur list. It's not a real report, and I feel like I could do better, but it IS about projecting how players will be, and not how great the players are right now in the minds of people. Overall, it was a good read, but I disagree a lot with a few of them.
He was just signed from the practice squad to the active roster this week. He is the newest Jet on the active roster, even if he's been with the practice squad since the season started
Austin Howard at #9? Really? He's stepped up but he's not that great and his pass blocking leaves a lot to be desired.
Hill game by game: Bucs - 9 targets, 6 catches, 39 yards. Pats 1 - 8 targets, 4 catches, 86 yards. Bills - 6 targets, 3 catches, 108 yards, 1 TD. Titans - 1 target Falcons - 2 targets, 2 catches, 21 yards. Steelers - 8 targets, 3 catches, 46 yards. Pats 2 - 5 targets, 1 catch, 17 yards. Bengals - 7 targets, 4 catches, 23 yards. Saints - 1 target. Since game 3 Hill has 24 targets, 10 catches, 107 yards. This isn't on Marty Mornhinweg and it isn't on Geno Smith. Other people are catching the ball just fine in the Jets rotating triage at WR. Hill has just disappeared. Not coincidentally Geno's turnovers have gone down as he has stopped looking Hill's way as often. He's basically ignoring Hill except on the underneath routes when he's under pressure and must complete a pass to keep a drive going. He's not ignoring him because he wants too. He's ignoring him because throwing the ball deep to Hill turns into a turnover too often. Hill BTW is the anti-Stedman Bailey. He's huge and he has great physical attributes but he can't outfight his own grandmother for a pass in the air.
Its not all about the drops, ya know. Its about being productive, and being a football player. Hill cant create separation. Everyone says he's a freak athlete, but in my eyes a freak athlete must be able to do something besides run in a straight line very fast. Fluidity and agility is MORE important than straight line speed. This is the major difference in why Hill will never be anything special at the position. Add in the fact that his catching radius is that of a 5'9 WR because he cant high-point a ball and you have the reason why he isnt targeted a lot.
I think people are also underestimating the hit Hill took earlier this year. He needs to find a way to recover but it is possible that between the hit and having way too much asked of him this season could be largely lost after a pretty good start. Edit: Look at the list of Hill's catches above in this thread. It was the Titans game, very early on, when Hill took that hit to the head that I've mentioned. In the NFL there is a lot of discussion of the long term consequences of concussions but less so of the short term ramifications. In hockey it is largely the opposite (although long term is getting more notice). There have been some excellent hockey players ruined by hits to the head. They kept playing but they were never quite the same. I am worried Hill is experiencing that phenomenon. Hopefully he will recover with some time......
The problem is there have been multiple times this season where the announcers noted that Geno missed Hill when he was wide open. Also, a goodly portion of Hill's targets have been long passes which are notoriously low completion and high reward. This isn't to say he has been great, but when you factor in that he is getting pushed up to no. 1 when he isn't at that level yet, probably being covered by the best CB of our opponent, has taken a nasty smack to the head that's seems to have changed his game, and has been missed when open then it just isn't surprising that his stats don't look great. Or maybe I'm just pulling for him.... but I think he will be a pleasant surprise next year barring injury.
Pleasant surprise based on what? 2 good games against the Bills? People were echoing your same sentiments last year. You're grasping at straws now.
Good list in general. I have a few disagreements, but overall not bad. The tone is quite optimistic though- every player who's having a terrible season so far is on pace to have a great second half. Here's hoping...
Honestly, yes. Players have been given contracts based on not much more than fluke performances. Now you may be right, but the biggest dig on Hill coming into this year is that he had the dropsies. Those first two games, and even since then, has shown that he has dealt with that problem. So if he is able to develop further and put (what in my opinion is) this injury related slow down I do think he will be pleasant surprise next year. after all, Geno will have another year under his belt, the offense will have more talent (can it have less?) and Hill will have more experience. Consider this: if he was able to put the dropsies behind him I don't see why he can't overcome some of the bad habits he is showing now. That's my figuring. But you are correct that I am going on a small sample size.
