Come on man. White receivers are typically just as good as black ones because Steve Largent.
Wide receivers
- Thread starter smhawk
- Start date
Come on man. White receivers are typically just as good as black ones because Steve Largent.
The question is not are black receivers, considering the population average, more successful than white receivers, considering the population average? There is not much dispute there. The question is does Matt VandeBerg the individual have the requisite skills to succeed at Big Ten football. Although the population average data cannot be disputed, any given individual has the potential to be an outlier. Everyone deserves to be judged on their merit without people making pre-judgements based solely upon skin color (this goes for altogether trivial matters like judging someone's FB playing ability on a message board, as well as meaningful matters such as judging someone's aptitude for a certain career).
He was obviously undersized coming out of high school but he had some very good athletic measureables (22.5' long jump, 45' triple jump); his top-end speed was only so-so (4.5 40, 11.42 FAT 100m), but not slow by any means. Many have complained that he has seen the field (not so much this year, but last year), but he has been productive when he has been out there. And contrary to what some have argued, that is not because the coaches have drawn up plays to specifically target him; it is because he has earned the confidence of his QBs (both last year's and this year's) and because he is getting open. Keep up the good work.
He was obviously undersized coming out of high school but he had some very good athletic measureables (22.5' long jump, 45' triple jump); his top-end speed was only so-so (4.5 40, 11.42 FAT 100m), but not slow by any means. Many have complained that he has seen the field (not so much this year, but last year), but he has been productive when he has been out there. And contrary to what some have argued, that is not because the coaches have drawn up plays to specifically target him; it is because he has earned the confidence of his QBs (both last year's and this year's) and because he is getting open. Keep up the good work.
NEIChawk
Well-Known Member
hawkfan2679
Well-Known Member
Chosen and I are on the same page on this one. MVB has proven to be a reliable, if unspectacular, entity that definitely has earned CJB's trust. But Tevaun Smith is the closest thing we have to a big-time WR. I watched the game for the first time last night (and on a small youtube screen, so not great quality) but I think I only remember seeing Smith targeted 3 times (once early on a bad throw, once for the TD, and once for the quick hitch). I concur that we need to find ways to get the ball out to him.
SteveGarvey
Well-Known Member
I'll up ya one more......Lance Alworth, San Diego Chargers....
Fred Belitnikof, Ed McCaffery, Wes Welker.....there have been a few here or there......Tim Dwight?
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I don't even know what possession receiver means anymore. They are good at possessing the ball? Isn't that kind of one of the requirements of the position? Like a moving running back? Someone describe what they think the term means.
I look at MVB, and I see a very good athlete. Quick, agile, good acceleration, knows how to get open, great footwork, catches almost every ball that hits him. Doesn't that make him a good wide receiver?
I look at MVB, and I see a very good athlete. Quick, agile, good acceleration, knows how to get open, great footwork, catches almost every ball that hits him. Doesn't that make him a good wide receiver?
trj
Well-Known Member
It is code for white dude. To be honest I didn't think people still used the term anymore. I thought the term now was "guy who moves the chains".
I will flip it on you I am a steeler fan and Hines Ward is one of my all-time favs. Dude couldn't out run a turtle or jump higher than a phone book......he was just tough as nails and he just got open. Vertical routes, horizontal routes he just made plays. If Hines Ward were white he would have definitely got that "possession receiver" label slapped on him.
White basketball players, white receivers, black quarterbacks we have a tendency to ignore the eyeball test and just see skin color and make comparisons to other guys of the same race. If i feel like I am going down that trap I just try and trust my eyeballs....what am I seeing? what can and can't he do whose skill set is similar regardless of skin color.
dahlhawk
Well-Known Member
Great receivers find the ball you don' t have to find them. Smith is not getting open. Against Ill. St. he's lucky he wasn't called twice for pushing off the defender. He doesn't create seperation, maybe because he draws the best defender. A good running game solves many problems. Smith should benefit from defenses having to worry about CJ's running ability, but honestly he needs to run better route.
NCHawker
Well-Known Member
that was a hell of a throw and catch. did i see beathard take a pull off a smoke before he threw that ball? hats off to the OL!
hawkjunkie
Well-Known Member
You are pleased with the WR play? Is the lack of separation, or the improper route running you dig most??
Do notice that on every TD the WRs were covered, and covered well. If it wasn't for CJB, those would NOT have been scores. I may be forgetting but I believe the TE pass was somewhat open, then the fumble with a Vande recover. Regardless, receiving is a huge weakness, and we cannot rely on CJB threading the needle on the run, IMHO... B1G defenses will be a tad bit better.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
McCarron had his man beat on his TD catch. It was a great throw because CJB was on the run to the left, but McCarron had separation on that play. He clearly has his man beat by 1 or 2 steps, that defender had no chance of defending a decently thrown ball.
