Damiere Byrd

[Sugedatdude]

Byrd is our best deep threat, plain & simple. Defensive coordinator's have to account for him when he is on the field. He draws attention, which leaves other options open.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

Example? Outside of the LSU and UT throws, I don't remember him dropping anything this year. He fumbled after catching a bubble screen against Mizzou.

I don't know them off of the top of my head honestly, but I know there have been more than 2. Byrd doesn't get that many targets anyways, and a lot of them have been on slip screens, so those numbers are misleading. I'm not referring to just this year either, it's happened his whole career. Wasn't it his very first catch that was a wide open post route TD vs UK in 2011 that he dropped? It's not just that he drops passes, it's that he drops big passes on down field throws and most of his drops have not been on super tough catches. I went back and watched the LSU drop several times and it was not like it would have been a circus catch. Bottom line is that the coaches are limiting his PT and it's pretty obvious why. DL and Byrd are the only players who have had consistent problems with drops and they have both had their PT cut back. Guys like Bruce, Ace, and Jones have sure hands and that's why they are on the field. Byrd's drops have been egregious- I can't think of a single drop that Ace, Bruce, or even Jones has had that has been on par with the type of drops that Byrd has had. It's not necessarily the number of drops that he's had, it's the combination of the amount of drops and the types of drops they've been.

Don't get me wrong, people. I love Byrd. He was one of my favorite players during his first offseason here when he was burning defenders and tearing it up. I just can't act like his hands are not the main thing holding him back. I am really pulling for him to soften those hands up, because I think if he does, he can be big time weapon.

[bigduff32]

Shall we go back to all the times he has had everyone beat over the last two years and let the ball go right through his hands??

[Garnet Gamecock]

Originally Posted by LegalCock

Hey, the guy saved like 5 touchdowns this season on special teams. Not bad for a sophomore. He's a good gamecock, and I hope they can get him more involved in the offense or defense.

You are right... There are some games that we might have even LOST without his heads-up play on special teams. No question.

[PageUSC]

Originally Posted by Garnet Gamecock

You are right... There are some games that we might have even LOST without his heads-up play on special teams. No question.

You're right! I know he saved atleast 2 TDs. Wasn't 1 in the Vandy game? We could of lost against Vandy if not for that.

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

I don't know them off of the top of my head honestly, but I know there have been more than 2. Byrd doesn't get that many targets anyways, and a lot of them have been on slip screens, so those numbers are misleading. I'm not referring to just this year either, it's happened his whole career. Wasn't it his very first catch that was a wide open post route TD vs UK in 2011 that he dropped? It's not just that he drops passes, it's that he drops big passes on down field throws and most of his drops have not been on super tough catches. I went back and watched the LSU drop several times and it was not like it would have been a circus catch. Bottom line is that the coaches are limiting his PT and it's pretty obvious why. DL and Byrd are the only players who have had consistent problems with drops and they have both had their PT cut back. Guys like Bruce, Ace, and Jones have sure hands and that's why they are on the field. Byrd's drops have been egregious- I can't think of a single drop that Ace, Bruce, or even Jones has had that has been on par with the type of drops that Byrd has had. It's not necessarily the number of drops that he's had, it's the combination of the amount of drops and the types of drops they've been.

Don't get me wrong, people. I love Byrd. He was one of my favorite players during his first offseason here when he was burning defenders and tearing it up. I just can't act like his hands are not the main thing holding him back. I am really pulling for him to soften those hands up, because I think if he does, he can be big time weapon.

I don't recall any other than the two listed. Maybe you're really not so much in love with byrd and have to exaggerate in order to prove your point that he sucks, which he does NOT and it is only in your mind that he has so many drops.

You're probably one of those fans that are so irritating to sit near, loudly exclaming to anyone within earshot, Spurrier needs to get him out of there, or move him to cornerback, which is not a good position since he is too small for it.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by yazoo

I don't recall any other than the two listed. Maybe you're really not so much in love with byrd and have to exaggerate in order to prove your point that he sucks, which he does NOT and it is only in your mind that he has so many drops.

You're probably one of those fans that are so irritating to sit near, loudly exclaming to anyone within earshot, Spurrier needs to get him out of there, or move him to cornerback, which is not a good position since he is too small for it.

Calm down, old man. I'm actually nothing like that. I've never once taken any issue with his size or suggested he should be moved to defense, nor did I say anything of the sort in this thread. I am a big proponent of Byrd and I was hyping him up to be a big contributor after watching every practice of his true freshman preseason in person. The guy has been inconsistent catching the ball and I just wrote a complete rational paragraph explaining my point. Anyone who thinks Byrd doesn't need to improve his hands simply hasn't been watching the games or is just refusing to admit the obvious because of some skewed sense of loyalty to the player. I believe that Byrd has dropped wide open passes more than any other current receiver on our roster, except for maybe DL. That's the bottom line. I am hoping like hell that he fixes this one part of his game, because if he does, he can be a lethal player. Find someone else to make brash, false assumptions about and quit attacking me personally.

Oh and I sure as hell never said that Byrd "sucks"... wtf... this is the same ridiculous logic you exhibited by labeling anyone who thinks Byrd needs to improve aspects of his game as a "byrd-hater".

[b381l]

I think Damiere has had a few drops and has just lacked consistency.
Maybe SOS has lost some confidence in him. Didn't he make a mistake running back a kickoff and maybe have a fumble as well. He doesn't look that elusive to me either. It's the same with DL....just doesn't catch the passes that are thrown to him. Granted, neither have had that many opportunities this year, but you got to do better than that.

[scgamecocks1984]

Originally Posted by PageUSC

Good point! I forgot to say that in my post even though I was thinking it. Haha

And yea no one is a "Byrd hater", we all want him to be successful. Pointing out that he faded out towards the end of the year does not mean you are hating on someone.

Jones and byrd are both Slot receivers though???

[CoverTwo]

Jones plays the B, Byrd plays the Z (slot)

[b381l]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

Jones plays the B, Byrd plays the Z (slot)

So why do you think he hasn't gotten more opportunities this year.

[CoverTwo]

Already explained that in a earlier post in this thread

[ZenUSC]

Originally Posted by CockaThaWalk

Start DT, then he'll get some catches.

I thought Shaw was holding the ball too much too. He had 6 completions one game. It looked like Damiere was not completing patterns thinking Shaw was not going to throw to anyone anyhow. Byrd was an excellent special teams player. In that area he's already there. Play DT, I agree. He has the arm and makes use of his recevers. Why have Ace and Ellington but never throw to them?

[Dizzy01]

Byrd is used as a decoy on a lot of plays. When he comes in there are essentially two plays run where he either comes on a reverse or just runs as deep as he can. On most of these plays he's rarely the primary target and he's being used to pull a safety deep and open up more of the middle of the field.

All of the receivers and TEs have had drops at inopportune times this season the main difference is with his limited reps Byrd has less opportunity to make people forget a play.

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

Calm down, old man. I'm actually nothing like that. I've never once taken any issue with his size or suggested he should be moved to defense, nor did I say anything of the sort in this thread. I am a big proponent of Byrd and I was hyping him up to be a big contributor after watching every practice of his true freshman preseason in person. The guy has been inconsistent catching the ball and I just wrote a complete rational paragraph explaining my point. Anyone who thinks Byrd doesn't need to improve his hands simply hasn't been watching the games or is just refusing to admit the obvious because of some skewed sense of loyalty to the player. I believe that Byrd has dropped wide open passes more than any other current receiver on our roster, except for maybe DL. That's the bottom line. I am hoping like hell that he fixes this one part of his game, because if he does, he can be a lethal player. Find someone else to make brash, false assumptions about and quit attacking me personally.

Oh and I sure as hell never said that Byrd "sucks"... wtf... this is the same ridiculous logic you exhibited by labeling anyone who thinks Byrd needs to improve aspects of his game as a "byrd-hater".

Your paragraph might arguably have been rationional, son, but it lacked any substance of any nature whatsoever.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by yazoo

Your paragraph might arguably have been rationional, son, but it lacked any substance of any nature whatsoever.

OK. Damiere Byrd doesn't need to improve his hands. I'm sorry, everyone.

[Emery]

I don't know where the blame here lies but when our number 3 WR by receptions has 5 more receptions than tackles (12 rec and 7 tackles) something is not quite right. And the fact he hasn't caught a pass since the LSU game at the beginning of October.

[Cheezy]

Is he related to Ronnie Garvin?

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

OK. Damiere Byrd doesn't need to improve his hands. I'm sorry, everyone.

If that was what you said, I would have agreed with you. There is no receiver who does not need to improve. However, your premise was

I believe at this point that he has been passed by Nick Jones on the depth chart at his position. I know we definitely threw the ball to him in the UT game because Shaw hit him perfectly in stride and he let the ball hit him in the face... probably one of the reasons that his PT seems to have been reduced.

You agreed with the OP's highly critical post on Byrd

Where has he been? The guy hasn't made a catch since the LSU game. I've barely since him on the field. At one point, he was really stepping up, but then just went cold. Any ideas?

That constitutes byrd-hating in my book . . . and it is unfair to the young man. But, you are entitled to your opinions. I am entitled to mine . . . byrd-hater.

[B&GSpur]

I'll go with the coaches, they call the plays and review the plays. If they think he is not getting the job done, so be it. If he were getting the job done on his end, the coaches would have more trust in him and he would be getting more PT.