Great game Saturday and we just saw something that has become very common here lately, Devin Smith makes huge plays! When Braxton gets the opportunity to look his way, he breaks deep a lot like Posey used to. Posey was awesome at catching "some" of Pryor's arm punts. Devin seems to be even better than Posey on those deep balls.
but part of me wonders if Devin has the same issues that Posey had at OSU, drops on the short, over the middle balls. He is so good at those deep passes. Maybe Braxton is a part of that but he really needs to grow into being more than a deep threat, to be what we all know he can be. Posey couldn't quite get there. I hope Devin does.
Edit: better now? or can I say rich man's Devier Posey? or how about Devier Posey 2.5892? or how about Devier Posey next generation? DOES IT MATTER WHAT I CALL IT?
One more full year of Pryor to Posey would have been special. Let's hope Smith has a chance to fulfill more of his potential than Posey did. And that he becomes a better blocker; looked like his man took down Philly Brown on a couple of those screens.
Smith is quite a bit faster than Posey, a lot more like a Louis Murphy type in my opinion. He certainly does have a knack for the big play like Posey did though! Once the passing game gets more in tune I would love to see him on a few full speed slants!
rkylet83, did you say Devin doesn't have the knack for big plays like Posey? or Louis Murphy?
Smith has the knack for big plays! Smith is faster, very true. He has all the potential that Posey had. and yes I agree, last year with a full season of Posey and Pryor would have been great. Shame.
I do agree also that full speed slants or straight up post patterns are not being done in this offense or last years when Posey wasn't playing. IDK, is it really that difficult of a play? 20 yard Slant over the middle? When I used to play Madden or college football on PS2 (yep, I don't play games anymore!), one of my favorite plays was trips right and sending all three on layers. One shallow, one 10 yards out and one deep. Throw in a bump or receiver screen every now and then and someone is bound to be open in 3 seconds.
Sad part is that Jerry Rice was probably the best at getting separation over the middle, he used the ref as a blocker!, but today's WR don't learn these techniques.
Squirrel, the only problem is that you were playing Madden. It's a lot easier to get the timing down with your thumb than it is in real life. A slant over the middle takes accuracy, confidence and timing. Miller seems far too hesitant at times to make a throw over the middle.
Corrected Squirrel...don't know why I said doesn't lol!
I totally agree with you. They are hard plays to perform. But if learned properly, can really open up the field.
FWIW, Miller is a starting QB at a major program. If he can't learn how to hit a slant, then there is a problem. I am not asking for him to pinpoint a 5 yard blow by right behind the line of scrimmage. I am just asking for a post about 25 yards out and hit the guy in stride.
I know this is not Madden or NCAA William. I was referencing a play. And just an FYI, I was never a big gamer so for me to run that play in Madden was probably about as difficult as it is for Braxton to hit Smith on a post.
gotcha 83. I figured that what you meant.
I'd like to get Hyde and Hall going early then see some PA down the field. I feel like we don't go downfield much, but when we do we are pretty successful.
P.S. Where has Michael Thomas been? I was hoping for more production.
Smith is good, but at this point in each careers... I think Posey was better. Better hands. Better route runner. Plus Posey was a beast, although Smith is getting pretty big now. I like Smith though and think by his senior year, he's gonna be really good. Especially if we can get some good compliments around him. Phillys alright, nothing special. We have been spoiled with receivers as of late. No really great ones, but a lot of em that have made it to the NFL. I think our best reciever in the last 12 years is probably Holmes and then Michael Jenkins... (speaking of production in the NFL) although Hartline is having a pretty nice year so far.
No, he is Smith 1.0
If we can add Gibson and Quick into the mix with Marshall, Jacobs, Smith, Thomas, and Brown... That will be a solid group in a couple of years. Will make for a good title run Braxton's senior year.
Semantics Ausmos. Point is, is Devin a lot like Posey in that he drops a lot of short patterns but is awesome with the deep ball?
Very true guys. Despite my feelings that this receiving crew is talented, it will be a far cry better once Urban gets more of his players in. I do think Philly and Smith are Urban's type of player. They seem to get theirs.
After that, maybe the cupboard IS empty!
Here is thread # Eleventy Billion comparing a current wide receiver to a past wide receiver with similar skill sets. When will they stop!?!?!?!?!? Why cant Devin Smith just be Devin Smith?
"if irony were made of strawberries, we' d all be drinking a lot of smoothies right now."
Devin Smith is Devin Smith. but he seems to have problems similar to what Posey had. Great at the deep ball, drops short passes.
I don't see why it is a problem to compare. People do it all the time. Might as well say "why do people debate who's better, Jordan or Magic". I say Smith seems a lot like Posey only he has the opportunity to be better in the end.