You make a point statistically but Nelson was really the only semi-credible target for most of the year and despite being inconsistent Geno threw a lot of nice passes his way. His productivity this year would certainly decline or remain flat at best with Decker on the other side, Kerley healthy, and Amaro in the middle. He's more of a middling possession backup receiver in my eyes and the offense really needs someone like Hill who could take the top off a defense if it wants a chance to be truly high powered this year. I'd much rather see Hill out there if their statistical productivity would be similar because his speed and height will force the defense to react and help out other receivers and the running game. I really don't want to speculate as to whether Hill can be that guy or not because I really have no idea at this point, but if he could it would be better for the team to see Hill starting over Nelson.
Agreed. I remember Keller constantly having passes thrown behind him and him having to turn around and grab backwards trying to make a great catch while running forward and people would blame Keller for it. That used to urk me so much because it was clearly Sanchez throwing the pass behind him.
LOL. Why are rational people always called homers or "the Stephen Hill fan club"? Why can't it be, the folks the think Hill has a chance to turn it around this year and don't think he deserves being bashed for every mistake? Just because you don't like people bashing players on the team, doesn't make you a homer or whatever descriptor you feel like using.
I agree with all of that but having Decker, Kerley, and Amaro could also work the other way when it comes to Nelson. With Kerley in the slot, Nelson the majority of the time was getting matched up with the other teams top corner and he still pulled in 36 passes in 12 games. Now if teams have to worry about those guys and Chris Johnson in the backfield, it will give Nelson some more favorable one on one matchups that he may be able to thrive in, especially against #2 and #3 corners. As for Hill, I don't think it's a secret that I have been extremely low on him. I love guys with great size and speed, but if all you can do it run in a straight line, none of that matters at all. All it takes to negate that is having the corner play a few steps back, and since Hill hasn't shown the ability to make great catches in traffic, he becomes a non-factor. I would much rather have a possession receiver that can run some solid routes and get open like Nelson, then a guy like Hill who is bigger and faster but never creates separation. Personally if the Jets are looking for a speedy deep threat then I would much rather see Saunders or Ford out there. Saunders in college caught balls over the middle all the time, and Ford has atleast been an average route-runner when he can stay healthy. IF and that's a big IF Hill can figure out how to run some solid slant, post, and comeback patterns then i think the sky is the limit, but I wouldn't count on it.
I have been pretty tough on Hill, but the tallying every drop in practice is a little excessive. His main problem isn't even catching the football, it's mainly just creating separation from defenders. My biggest knock on Hill though is that at times he just seems to give up on a play before it is over. There were atleast 3 or 4 deep passes last year that if he kept running full speed, had a chance to be caught. Even if he hauled in just 2 more balls, that could have been the difference between 8-8 and missing the playoffs, or 9-7 and getting in.
Yeah if you're vacationing there and can jump in the lake to cool off or go boating and throw back a few brews. But if you're stuck in the hot sun without a pool for 2-3 hours at a time, it can be very uncomfortable. I don't know if you ever been to Cortland. But if you have then perhaps you've never driven past a cow pasture there.
The argument with Hill is fairly simple in my eyes. I keep seeing people throw out comparisons and trying to say we are to critical of the kid but it's not that. You don't hear anybody give a shit when a proven commodity drops a ball in practice because we all can agree if it happens it's a fluke. They bring that consistency I'm their game that allows us to know that isn't the normal for said recover. Hill is not a proven commodity. He is someone that has never been consistent and has mainly struggled since being on this team. So far he can't hang with the competition In the NFL. If he was going to make great strides and be on the cusp of making it as a proven commodity it would have happened by now or it would be taking place this offseason. There has been no indication that this type of transformation has or is taking place for Hill. I wish he would put It all together and claim his worth on this team but I don't think that will ever happen at this point. You never hear praise for Hill from the coaches like you do with Decker, Nelson, Kerley. It doesn't happen and it's for good reason. Hill can't play at this level.
Said about everywhere in middle America. Central New York is more beautiful than a lot of the rest of middle America. If you're stuck in the hot sun. For 2-3 hours. Without a pool. Ever been to a cow pasture in Indiana? Texas? Ohio? Central NY is like Athens in comparison. _
You guys are acting like dumbasses and are mischaracterizing my posts. What did I ever say about Central NY or the finger lakes? Oh wait, nothing.
Try explaining THIS as the most important position in American Football. No wonder we can't give it away over seas!
That it's brutal, has rural "odors", is uncomfortable if it's hot out and you don't have access to a pool and apparently the cow pastures are somehow an issue that cow pastures throughout the rest of the country aren't. Other than that, you've been quite complimentary. _