First off, Edwards should have his eyes checked. It could be some sort of depth perception problem. That might explain the poorly timed jumps. But I tend to agree with others who have said that Edwards has the "yips" and is therefore choking when he has an easy catch to make. I just read a really good essay by Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point) about the difference between choking and panicking in the sports context. He talks about Greg Norman's collapse in the 1996 Masters tournament. It's a must read for understanding what's happening to Edwards. Here's one relevant quote: Panic, in this sense, is the opposite of choking. Choking is about thinking too much. Panic is about thinking too little. Choking is about loss of instinct. Panic is reversion to instinct. They may look the same, but they are worlds apart. http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.htm
To be honest, I think for Edwards it is really is a function of confidence. He drops one long all then he starts thinking about it, and thinking about it, and thinking about it, and he drops it again. On those short passes he only has time to react, not enough time to think and second guessing, on the deep balls he has all day to worry about screwing up again. That said I seriously doubt next year he has that problem. If he wants to be the superstar, which he seems to want to be, he will go into the offseason pissed off about it, and he will work hard to get those thoughts out of his head. Come next year he won't have those problems. Obviously I would prefer that problem to dissapear by next week, but it will take time to get his mind fixed.
He starts thinking too much. He also makes extra moves to get to the ball. The last two should-been TDs against the Bengals he dropped he decided to make extra moves rather than running smoothly into the endzone. He tried to circle the ball and dive or jump for it, when both balls were perfectly thrown in stride. I don't have patience for dropped TDs that don't make the kid look good. Edwards can finish his career somewhere else. Get me a taller version of Coles for Sanchez and he'll thrive with ease.
He seems fine making catches with his thumbs together, just not with his pinkies together. For at least the rest of this season they need to make sure he doesn't have to make any catches over his shoulder.
Time to think and get nervous on deep, floating balls. He catches the quick stuff he only has to react to and not think about.
I think if there's a more viable option on the FA market, ala Marshall or someone else, we let Edwards walk.
I have a friend who is a Browns fan and he warned me about this. He said he'll make an amazing catch and drop an easy one. He told me many many times he wanted to jump through his TV and kill Edwards.
He's choking. I don't care how you define choking or panicking the facts are that he has been a drop machine for most of the last 3 seasons now and it's not getting better. Nobody doubles him any more because the resources are better used on Cotchery.
He's dropped balls that hit him in the chest when he was running short to medium range routes also. He's just not reliable. The question for the Jets is whether or not he's Steve Sax, and might recover, or whether he's Steve Blass and is toast.
I agree with you all, but when do you give up on him? He's a physical prescence, gets open, and blcoks tremendously. Frustrating.
braylons presence is big enough where we should try and keep him but definitely NOT overpay or even think about giving him a decent contract. I don't think a team out there will spend big on him. I also have to think he likes it here after being in Cleveland. Who wouldn't want to play for Rex? even though he drops passes the opposing team still can't ignore him because he's physically as gifted as any WR in the NFL. we still need a true #1 i think it's about time we draft a big time WR for a change. Wheres our DeSean Jackson???
i think edwards should spend all off season learning how to play safety. Hes fast big and athletic and could definetly hit harder then that pussy rhodes.
Remember when Tiki Barber had a huge fumbling problem that was "uncorrectable"? Who did the Giants bring in to help with that and is there anybody the Jets can bring in to help Edwards with his hands/concentration? Jerry Rice maybe? Edwards is so talented but everytime a ball is thrown in his direction I can't help but hold my breath thinking he's gonna drop it.
2007- 13 drops (led league) 2008- 14 drops (TO led league?) 2009- 6 drops This was the stat streamed by NBC in yesterdays game. Not exactly a drop machine this year. I am not saying I am happy with his improvement, but he is improving. I was always told if you can touch it, you better catch it.
NO....NO..NO.. He can't connect when his head is back and his chin is up...it's a flaw correctable by practicing. When he's running down the field and he gets a 40 yard strike, he can snatch it and keep going. He just has a problem with the big lob...
See above.He's VERY reliable. He has one small problem, it's just magnified because he's a deep threat.
This is what we knew we were getting when we made the trade for Edwards. Despite his drops, he's still a huge positive for this offense.
