Yeah, he can't catch

[Emery]

I won't deny that our fanbase is histrionic, but Byrd gets more discussion than any other player besides the QB.

I'm glad he's progressing and caught a few long balls, but he had 14 catches this year. I just think we should keep it in perspective. I don't understand why everyone is so obsessed about him becoming a great player, I hope he develops but I'm not going to be shocked if not either.

As one of my friends says: he's a huge star on Cockytalk and maybe catches a pass per game.

[LegalCock]

It is because of the speed. All football fans are secretly channeling Al Davis and lusting after the usane bolt - jerry rice hybrid.

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by Glamcock

Byrd has very good hands. That ball was underthrown, and he was fighting a defender to get it. Byrd made some circus catches in the spring, his hands are not the problem. I think he starts thinking while the ball is in the air, and just needs more reps and confidence. The one that hit him in the head, and the one to Jones were balls where both receivers were looking right into the sun. Byrd will be a very good receiver before he graduates.

This is true.

Byrd had ONE bad drop this year and that was Tennessee. I don't get where people are getting the assumption that his hands are bad.

[Roosterboy]

Yes...he is getting better.
He just needs to continue working on consistency.

[Emery]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

This is true.

Byrd had ONE bad drop this year and that was Tennessee. I don't get where people are getting the assumption that his hands are bad.

The problem is when you average one catch per game, a drop every 3 or 4 games will stand out a lot.

[LegalCock]

He had a TD doink him right in the face in the bowl game, no? That will happen when you get in the habit of trapping the ball with your body.

[Don Giovanni]

Originally Posted by LegalCock

He had a TD doink him right in the face in the bowl game, no? That will happen when you get in the habit of trapping the ball with your body.

I see what you're saying, and I agree, but this whole catching with hands vs body thing is puzzling to me. We've all always learned that a player is supposed to catch the ball with his hands, but I remember seeing Dante Hall (when he was at the peak of his popularity because of his kick returns) talk with a guy who was supposed to be the NFL Europe version of him. It showed the other guy fielding a punt that was immediately dropped. Hall started ragging the guy by saying, "The first problem is you tried to catch the ball with your hands." And if you watch most punt/kick returners, they catch the ball using their bodies too. Since the long balls that Byrd is usually going after aren't extremely dissimilar from punts, which way should he be trying to catch it if it's close to his body? Notice I specified if the pass is close to his body, not away from it.

[Flameout12]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

This is true.

Byrd had ONE bad drop this year and that was Tennessee. I don't get where people are getting the assumption that his hands are bad.

Just like Jared Cook...once people decide to hate on someone, they are determined to not change.

[johnmcclane]

haven't read the entire thread... but it seems like he should've come down with the one Dylan facemasked him with.

[Acockolypse Now]

His lack of productivity had more to do with our QB and OL issues than with his hands. He's not the guy that's going to get you 5 tough yards over the middle, nor is he the guy that can make three people miss on a screen.

He's the guy that stretches the defense and gets behind them.

Although those types of receivers don't get the amount of catches that possession receivers do, they're just as important to the offense.

[snoopcockycock]

Originally Posted by Cockholio

It was a little under-thrown, but in the right zip code and Byrd did what he was supposed to do. Go get his damn ball!

not trying to pick at you holio, but, "in the right zip code"???? really? first, he threw it from the 36 yardline of the carolina side. second, he was side shuffling at the time. third, the ball hit byrd in stride, so i don't get the zip code comment. lastly, that ball is NOT under thrown. an under thrown ball makes the receiver stop and wait on it. byrd, only slows a little bit, and leaps into the air to grab it.
fractured scapula, fractured foot and high ankle sprain, and he threw it that far... and you're looking for a reason to criticize it?

[shaka11]

Not trying to start anything. But i dont see anyone ragging about nick jones letting the ball go through his hands in the endzone (albeit tough over the head sideline) during the bowl game (and he had a few bad drops throughout the season). Byrd's drop in the endzone was tough with him having to hop up and make a play over the db (it did hit him in the hands though). On another note, byrd has some hops. I think he's a higher leaper than ellington.

Also, it shows how extremely talented ace sanders is as well.

Passes in the endzone are much more difficult to come down with bc not only do u have to catch the ball but u have to worry about sideline and the back of the endzone.

All in all, as discouraging as some drops may be, i love our short quick athletic recievers. I'd honestly rather have a group of threatening recievers than just one go to guy. And im glad byrd is one of those threats.

[scfanz]

What a pretty play. I can't watch it enough.

[1SCFanInPAUntilNow]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

This is true.

Byrd had ONE bad drop this year and that was Tennessee. I don't get where people are getting the assumption that his hands are bad.

I think it may be the wide open TD he had last year that he dropped. Since it was the first real moment of his career people just assume that he cant catch.

[RphBallCoach]

I remember when Bullet Bob Hayes first played with the cowboys he didnt have the best of hands but man the speed made up for the drops and it also opened up the short game.