I don't know how I can say this any differently. Some of you really need to learn to read more carefully and/or think before you respond. I say this because you just asked the same question that others have and that I have already answered. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with learning MORE things. It's the WAY that Dorrell is TRYING TO TEACH them. Not once have I said that Smith and the others shouldn't learn more things. In fact, I said the opposite. I said I LIKED the fact that DORRELL wants all the WRS to know all the receiving positions, and I listed the reasons why. I'll give you an example and see if that helps clarify matters. Most people were required to take Algebra in middle school or high school. When you took that class (or any class for that matter), did the teacher hand you the textbook and tell you to go home read it and learn it all in the first week? No. They went in an orderly, rational fashion. Perhaps some teachers might have skipped around a little or omitted some part of the text that they didn't think important, but basically they went through the textbook a few pages or a chapter at a time, and they gave you homework, work in class and then tests to help you learn and to determine if you learned. In the course of the year, they worked through most, if not all, of the textbook. What Dorrell in essence is doing is giving Smith and the other young WRs the textbook and telling them to learn the whole thing at once, or all at the same time, on their own. If teachers did that in school, very few would pass classes. The best way is for the players to learn ONE WR POSITION AT A TIME. Lets say that the Jets envision Smith running most of his deep routes from the slot. So in that scenario, he should learn the slot receiver routes and responsibilities first. I don't know if it's called just the slot position, or if it's one of the X, Y or Z receiver positions in the NFL, but let's say it's called the slot and there are 4 WR positions (the others being X, Y & Z). Then when he has that pretty much under control, he should then move on to another position (For argument's sake, let's say the X). Then once he has that pretty much in hand, he moves on to the Y, and then when he knows it, he moves on finally to the Z. Since Dorrell wants depth and flexibility as soon as possible, he could start Owusu with the Z position and move him backwards through the order (the opposite of Smith). With the other receivers he could do something similar, but starting each on a different initial position so that in short order there would be at least 2-3 players that know every position. Eventually, all would know all four positions. Doing it in this way, there's no confusion, players don't lose confidence, and they're able to contribute sooner. You say there's no need to rush them in any sort of starting role. Do you have a crystal ball? How do you know that Marshall won't be in an auto accident before TC ever starts? How do you know Decker won't go down with an injury early? Hopefully, those things won't happen, but they could. Even if there is no rush, you still don't want to do things in a way that is going to confuse players, possibly cause them to fail/not develop, or in a backwards, ignorant manner.
How else do you teach someone all the things they need to know without.. teaching them all the things they need to know? You're saying they're going about it the wrong way when you really have no clue how they're going about it.
If indeed I did get too aggressive, I'll tell you why. In essence, it's your sentences that I bolded. You are repeating the same thing that most of the other responders in this thread have and that I have already responded to. You missed the point entirely. How many posts have there been in this thread before your above response? And you still have no clue what I said. That is maddening. I never said that they should be taught the bare minimum. I NEVER said they should be babied. As I told Kurt, I said the exact opposite. My problem with Dorrell is NOT that he's expecting the WRs to learn all the positions. It's that he's expecting them to learn them all at once. If you can't understand the difference, then I can't help you. I can take the heat just fine when the responses demonstrate that they have read and comprehended what I posted and then show clear rational thought as to why they disagree with me or think I'm wrong. I have a problem with people who can't read, or who don't take time to read completely or carefully, then respond arguing against something I haven't even said. I have a problem with posters who repeat the same wrong responses as others, when I've already clearly demonstrated that is NOT what I said. In this case, the problem isn't with me, but with you. You're not dumb. I don't know if you are being lazy and didn't read my entire post, skimmed it, skipped the others posts or what, but your responses in this thread are way below your norm. Pedagogy is an area of expertise for me. I've been studying and teaching for almost 40 years. I know what I'm talking about, so it's frustrating when people try to dispute what I know is correct, and it's clear from their responses that they have no idea what they're talking about, especially when they're trying to argue against something I didn't even say.
I am fully aware of what you are saying. We just aren't on the same page, wherever we get on that page is unseen at this time. In my opinion, Dorrell is correct in saying a receiver should learn all of the positions. I don't think Dorrell is saying to MASTER all of the facets of being a WR right away, but receivers should have a decent amount of knowledge when it comes to playing in the slot, flanker, learning the route tree, etc. They are establishing what the receiver needs to learn because when training camp arrives, there won't be time to go through all of that shit - it will be time to integrate players into the offense. Honestly, my opinion on the situation has nothing to do w/ the other users. When it comes to developing players, I believe you should throw the book at those players early on and EXPECT them to at least have some decent knowledge about the receiver position in the NFL. I am not asking them to master it or even be above average, but I want to establish a floor, I want to have that first coat of paint on the wall if you catch my drift. They have all summer to learn - they will have time to go back and master and improve on being a NFL receiver as the season continues. If they are struggling, then that's OK by me, as a position coach, we can go back and work on the things you are struggling with. That's what teaching is about no? Example, Marcus Mariota is learning EVERYTHING right away as an NFL QB, he is expected to know the basics - it's being taught to him, and while he may not be great at it, he is laying the ground work to become a complete player in this league. That's why I threw the baby comment out there. Pedagogy, is awesome and you know I am happy for you doing your thing in regards to that - I'm a Network Engineer, but I went to school for Psychology, and I believe you need to establish some sort of ground work - that may include the basics of being a receiver and learning the things they are learning now. I think this is also Dorrell's expectation with Devin Smith.
I think the one positive of this is how strict Dorrell seems as WR coach. That's what the Jets WR coaching staff has been lacking. Sanjay-friken-Lal was one of the worst coaches I've seen. The best WRs have a physical and aggressive nature going up for the ball. As for Devin Smith I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Of course he is going to have to adjust and the staff knew that when they drafted him. Even if he's unable to play the other positions then I guess he'll just be our deep threat one trick pony.
My intent in creating this thread was not to make a big deal out of it, just state that it was the first hint that not all was as it should be with this CS, and I thought that the situation bore watching. Hopefully, it's a non-issue, but if Smith and the other young receivers struggle mightily and aren't able to contribute much this season, then we have a likely reason why, instead of sitting around wondering what happened.
Most receivers don't even bring it together until year 3. Considering we have one of the worst QBs in the league right now, no one should expect much from Smith year 1. I would rather him learn as much as he can in practice and then just run what he's good at in game. There's a reason why he wasn't a 1st round pick on anyone's boards. I also think he is by no means gonna end up to be the next version of Stephen Hill.
NC valid points, we don't want Smith, to be overwhelmed. At the same time, what happened in the past is the past CS overwhelmed him with bad habits and horrible teaching. Let's see what this CS has.
NC, I've always liked and agreed with many of your posts. I'm a retired Vocational Teacher, 24 years (in from industry to teach). My best teacher training professor was from West Point. His methods didn't come from the book, but from working overseas in the oil fields teaching Arabs. They didn't even know what a screw driver was, but he made competent service mechanics in 4 to 6 months. The secret was practice, practice, practice. Teach one thing a day, practice, practice, practice, review it the next day and add something new. Continue to add new things every day with constant review. Nowhere in the article did it say Dorrell was going to make them run 10 different routes one after another on the same day. I hope he is able to set up a schedule that will follow this method of constant growth. That should be a positive in all WR.
Confident? I'll take anything over what we had in Rex Ryan, cheerleader. Just last summer Rex was gushing over Clyde Gates ("he is all the way back from injury!"). Rex also spent much time at the podium bragging up the likes of Dexter McDougle and a few years ago Garrett McIntyre, who was on his, I don't know, 4th or 5th NFL team, and several other nobodies. I personally LIKE the fact that Bowles has kept his mouth shut and challenged his players to learn several positions. I always thought Rex the cheerleader praised his players too much leading to complacency and lack of effort because the players felt so secure. I'll take the Vince Lombardi approach anytime of telling EVERY player that a new year means last year is over and nobody better rest on past laurels. There is a reason why the Super Bowl trophy is named after him.
Thanks for your response, but I don't get it. I wasn't criticizing Bowles, I just said I had some concerns with the WR coach and his methodology with the WRs, particularly as it concerns Devin Smith. Hopefully, Smith is smart enough to handle it. No one, I repeat, NO ONE is happier that Rex Ryan and his staff are gone. I think Bowles is going to be a GREAT HC and a HUGE improvement over Rex. I've just seen the same approach taken with Jets players before and it has rarely worked. Maybe this group of WRs will be able to handle it and it will be a non-issue. Hopefully so. I'd rather be wrong.
I had thought that I was the happiest that Rex and Co. were gone, but you may have me beat. LOL! Always enjoy your posts.
