When will Robert Meachem get on the field? (1 Viewer)

[MadMustaff]

Any info here? I can't find anything.

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

Barring an injury to one of the others, I don't expect to see much of him until 2008

 

[Sidewinder]

Any info here? I can't find anything.

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...p;#entry7666712

 

[saintfool]

From the T-P earlier this month... link

It's difficult not to sympathize with Saints rookie Robert Meachem's plight.

Midway through the 2007 season, he is the forgotten man on the roster. He toils through weekly practices, dutifully carrying out his assignments, struggling to improve physically and mentally.

He willingly accepts the responsibility that goes with being a rookie, whether it's carrying a veteran's equipment or being the lunch go-fer.

Yet on game days, Meachem stands on the sideline wearing a gold T-shirt and black warmup pants. He has never dressed for a regular-season game, each week being among the inactive players on the 53-man roster.

Of the draft picks that went toward the bottom half of the first round last April, Nos. 20-32, Meachem, a wide receiver from Tennessee taken with the 27th pick, is one of two who has not seen game action, the other being Browns quarterback Brady Quinn. Seven of the 13 are, or have been, starters.

"For any competitor," Meachem said, "it's hard to watch. But if you're doing everything you can to help your team win, from Monday through Sunday, when we're winning, it's like you're winning, too, because you're a part of it.

"We're all one. So by us winning and me being a competitor, yes, I'd love to be out there. But the coaches know what's best, and they know what I can do. When they feel like I'm capable of doing what I once did, they'll put me out there."

Meachem's road from Knoxville to New Orleans has been filled with Crescent City-sized potholes.

He arrived for his first rookie minicamp admittedly out of shape, almost immediately sprained an ankle, struggled to get back on the field from that, then irritated the meniscus cartilage in his right knee during minicamp a month later, necessitating an arthroscopic clean-out on June 6.

Meachem reported for training camp six weeks later at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and limped through the month while the Saints' veteran receiving corps, and even some camp-body free agents, made him look feeble.

"This was minor surgery," Meachem said, "but I wanted to hurry up and get to training camp. So I may have rushed myself a little too fast. That probably held me back a little more than I expected."

With Marques Colston, David Patten and company now performing at optimal efficiency, barring injury, it's going to be difficult for Meachem to break his NFL maiden any time soon, although decision-makers are beginning to take notice.

"I mean, for the majority of the offseason and even early on in the season, you could just tell he wasn't healthy," quarterback Drew Brees said. "He wasn't 100 percent, still limping and that sort of thing. But he's coming around. I think you see those bursts, that acceleration, that ability to go up and get the ball. He's made big improvements just on scout team and that sort of thing. Obviously, if there ever came a time when we would work him in, he would, I think, just exponentially get better and better."

Wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson said that early on, Meachem's struggles, including times when he'd catch more passes with his chest than with his hands, were probably connected to his gimpy and slow-healing right knee. And it's still slowing his growth, Johnson said.

"He's just not strong enough right now with his injury, but he's doing fine," Johnson said. "I think he's doing a lot better. You see he's working every day. He's starting to do some of the things that Lance (Moore) did for our scout team. But I think those other guys are starting to get into a groove, and they're starting to play well.

"So it's hard to put a guy in there now. He has a little bit to go as far as getting the little things in the offense. I think if we need him, I think we could play him. But right now, I don't see him being really, fully, 100 percent."

Coach Sean Payton, though, has taken notice of Meachem's improvement, especially, Payton said, in recent weeks.

"The first thing I see is someone who is running better, who's healthier, and it starts with that," Payton said. "You don't really see the gait in his step, and that has helped him. Secondly, his overall knowledge of what we're doing formationally and as an offense has helped him because he's getting more reps. He's doing a good job running the scout team. I'm pleased with the last three weeks."

For now, Meachem said, he relies on tolerance and faith to help him persevere, counting the days until he can pull on a game jersey instead of a T-shirt.

"I feel better and better each and every day," he said. "With me, it's all my coaches and what they see. They've coached in the NFL a long time, and they know what's best right now. I'm just waiting patiently, letting God handle it and letting the coaches handle it."

 

[AB in DC]

Barring an injury to one of the others, I don't expect to see much of him until 2008 2010

Fixed.

 

[FavreCo]

I don't expect to see much of him ever

Fixed.

Fixed.

 

[Couch Potato]

I'm thankful there are so many short term thinkers around. If a player isn't an immediate stud they write him off as garbage. It's one thing in fantasy football I know I can always count on, and when Meachem is putting up great stats by the end of next year I can have a good chuckle -- once again -- at the expense of guys like these.

Of course, by the end of next year when he is producing, they'll be saying they believed in him all along.

 

[Jeff Haseley]

Some news about Robert Meachem. Last week before the Saints game at Carolina, hours before the game, Meachem was on the field practicing and he walked up to Steve Smith, who was also on the field and asked him for some pointers. In a wonderful display of sportsmanship, Smith agreed. They talked about football, about playing WR in the league, passing along some tips and advice, etc. The Fox game day cameras were rolling and managed to catch some of the session, including an interview with Meachem afterwards. They asked him what Smith said to him and he said Smith taught him a lot in just 20-30 minutes of time. Meachem has been inactive 11 straight games. Hopefully this will help him. I have no link, but just wanted to pass on what was aired. Those in the Carolina and Louisiana market were the only ones who saw the pre-game clip of this. It's too bad nothing more was mentioned, because that took some guts to go up and ask the opposing team's star for some tips. Kudos to both Meachem and Smith.

 

[nyftbl_giants]

Some news about Robert Meachem. Last week before the Saints game at Carolina, hours before the game, Meachem was on the field practicing and he walked up to Steve Smith, who was also on the field and asked him for some pointers. In a wonderful display of sportsmanship, Smith agreed. They talked about football, about playing WR in the league, passing along some tips and advice, etc. The Fox game day cameras were rolling and managed to catch some of the session, including an interview with Meachem afterwards. They asked him what Smith said to him and he said Smith taught him a lot in just 20-30 minutes of time. Meachem has been inactive 11 straight games. Hopefully this will help him. I have no link, but just wanted to pass on what was aired. Those in the Carolina and Louisiana market were the only ones who saw the pre-game clip of this. It's too bad nothing more was mentioned, because that took some guts to go up and ask the opposing team's star for some tips. Kudos to both Meachem and Smith.

Whats up Jeff,Mint Hill area here,I posted this in the Sydney Rice thread a few days ago as well and felt the same way. He seems to be saying and doing the right things which is more than anyone could have said during training camp. With the current NO WR2 situation, assuming they dont pick someone up offseason he'll have a great opportunity. What he does with it is another thing, but I'm rooting for him.

 

[Couch Potato]

Hey, I'm glad you guys brought up the Steve Smith talk. I had heard about that and thought it was pretty cool.

I'm guessing something that was mentioned in their little chat was Smith's lack of time at WR in his rookie year. His receiving stat line reads 10-154-0 for the year. Definitely someone to remember when considering a rookie WR a bust due to lack of playing time. The absolute earliest to consider thinking about giving up on a high draft pick WR is mid-2nd year, and then only if there are reasons that make sense to do so, not just stat lines.

 

[nyftbl_giants]

Hey, I'm glad you guys brought up the Steve Smith talk. I had heard about that and thought it was pretty cool.I'm guessing something that was mentioned in their little chat was Smith's lack of time at WR in his rookie year. His receiving stat line reads 10-154-0 for the year. Definitely someone to remember when considering a rookie WR a bust due to lack of playing time.

Good point, Im sure Smith mentioned something to that effect. Anyway that was Stevonne Smith, his ugly twin

 

[Mister CIA]

Some news about Robert Meachem. Last week before the Saints game at Carolina, hours before the game, Meachem was on the field practicing and he walked up to Steve Smith, who was also on the field and asked him for some pointers. In a wonderful display of sportsmanship, Smith agreed. They talked about football, about playing WR in the league, passing along some tips and advice, etc. The Fox game day cameras were rolling and managed to catch some of the session, including an interview with Meachem afterwards. They asked him what Smith said to him and he said Smith taught him a lot in just 20-30 minutes of time. Meachem has been inactive 11 straight games. Hopefully this will help him. I have no link, but just wanted to pass on what was aired. Those in the Carolina and Louisiana market were the only ones who saw the pre-game clip of this. It's too bad nothing more was mentioned, because that took some guts to go up and ask the opposing team's star for some tips. Kudos to both Meachem and Smith.

This makes me think it would be a good idea to bring in a veteran WR to help his development, someone who worked hard to maximize all his abilities - like a Joe Horn type of WR.

 

[Couch Potato]

Some news about Robert Meachem. Last week before the Saints game at Carolina, hours before the game, Meachem was on the field practicing and he walked up to Steve Smith, who was also on the field and asked him for some pointers. In a wonderful display of sportsmanship, Smith agreed. They talked about football, about playing WR in the league, passing along some tips and advice, etc. The Fox game day cameras were rolling and managed to catch some of the session, including an interview with Meachem afterwards. They asked him what Smith said to him and he said Smith taught him a lot in just 20-30 minutes of time. Meachem has been inactive 11 straight games. Hopefully this will help him. I have no link, but just wanted to pass on what was aired. Those in the Carolina and Louisiana market were the only ones who saw the pre-game clip of this. It's too bad nothing more was mentioned, because that took some guts to go up and ask the opposing team's star for some tips. Kudos to both Meachem and Smith.

This makes me think it would be a good idea to bring in a veteran WR to help his development, someone who worked hard to maximize all his abilities - like a Joe Horn type of WR.

They already have done that -- journeyman 33 year old David Patten. Beyond him (and of course Colston), they have bust Devery Henderson, UDFA Lance Moore, and fringe player Terrance Copper. Meachem absolutely will be given a chance to be a starter next year, and in this high octane passing offense he'll be golden. It still blows me away that this isn't obvious to guys like abrecher (who I generally respect). FavreCo I do expect cluelessness from however.