Which rookie Wr has the best hands? (1 Viewer)

[Biabreakable]

As I have been looking over the numerous rookie Wr prospects for the upcoming 2007 draft I have been noticing that there are so many of them that are 6 feet tall or better, and also there are so many many of them that run 4.4 40 times.

So what will seperate this deep group of talented Wrs from each other?

When it is all said and done its the hands. The Wrs who can make the clutch catches on 3rd down and gain the confidence of thier Qbs and coaches who will always start and always have the opportunity to make plays.

So please rank the rookie Wr prospects based on who has the softest hands and who will catch the highest percentage of thier targets. This can be somewhat dependent on thier Qb and the routes they run I know, but without knowing this just assume that each Wr will have the same supporting factors.

I am not talking about circus catches either. While a Wr who can make difficult catches is great they have to make the easy catches look easy too. If they can do both then they probobly deserve to be ranked highly in regard to this.

Who really has the best hands? And how would you rank them just considering this aspect of thier skill set?

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.

Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.

But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

 

[Biabreakable]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Thanks for getting this started Bloom.So how would you rank the Wrs just using this part of thier skill set?BallCalvin JohnsonJarrettRiceBoweMeachemGinnIs how I gather your statement so far.I have been reading that Gonzalez is a very natural reciever (the way he catches the ball) and that he also has nerves of steel. Which is an important part of making clutch catches in traffic. This is somthing I have seen from Bowe.. is that he drops the ball when he hears footsteps.What about some of the other Wrs such as Allison, Higgins, Jacoby Jones, Jason Hill, Steve Smith, Craig Davis and others. Where would you (or anyone) rank them with these other Wrs on the basis of thier ability to catch the ball?

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Thanks for getting this started Bloom.So how would you rank the Wrs just using this part of thier skill set?BallCalvin JohnsonJarrettRiceBoweMeachemGinnIs how I gather your statement so far.I have been reading that Gonzalez is a very natural reciever (the way he catches the ball) and that he also has nerves of steel. Which is an important part of making clutch catches in traffic. This is somthing I have seen from Bowe.. is that he drops the ball when he hears footsteps.What about some of the other Wrs such as Allison, Higgins, Jacoby Jones, Jason Hill, Steve Smith, Craig Davis and others. Where would you (or anyone) rank them with these other Wrs on the basis of thier ability to catch the ball?

Gonzalez is definitely a guy who will go over the middle fearlessly, Steve Smith also has a lot of courage going into traffic.Hands can be a subjective skill to evaluate. Rice, Johnson, and Jarrett have great hands in the sense that they can catch the ball contorted in three directions, or hanging in the air. Ball has great hands in that he seems to catch the ball without even thinking about it. Meachem's hands aren't lacking anything, he just hasnt been eye-popping the way the others have. That being said, he's likely the #2 WR off the board at this point.Davis is also prone to concentration lapses, and is the rawest of the first day WRs. Hill has terrific hands. Jones is also very raw, but natural. Allison had great hands during Senior Bowl week, I confess I didnt get to watch him much at East Carolina.

 

[JohnnyU]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.

Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.

But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Everything I've read says Ginn has GREAT HANDS.From NFL.com Prospect Profiles

OVERVIEW

A standout return specialist and defensive back in high school, Ginn teamed with his roommate, Troy Smith, to give the Buckeyes one of the most dangerous pass/catching combinations in the collegiate ranks.

"Here is guy who came to us as a return specialist and defensive back and has developed into a very good receiver," Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel said. "He has always had great hands and he has become a very good route runner. With his speed, he is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball."

I doubt Ginn's strength to get off the line and he doesn't like to go over the middle. He will take a few years to develop, but hands aren't his problem.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.

Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.

But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Everything I've read says Ginn has GREAT HANDS.From NFL.com Prospect Profiles

OVERVIEW

A standout return specialist and defensive back in high school, Ginn teamed with his roommate, Troy Smith, to give the Buckeyes one of the most dangerous pass/catching combinations in the collegiate ranks.

"Here is guy who came to us as a return specialist and defensive back and has developed into a very good receiver," Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel said. "He has always had great hands and he has become a very good route runner. With his speed, he is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball."

I doubt Ginn's strength to get off the line and he doesn't like to go over the middle. He will take a few years to develop, but hands aren't his problem.

I agree that hands aren't his problem. I don't agree that he has "great" hands.That same quote says Ginn is a very good route runner, and we know thats just not true. Ginn is an ok hands catcher, but he's not outstanding, certainly not on the level of the rest of the first round rated WRs. I don't care what Tressel says, hands are not a strong suit for Ginn. They're not a weakness, but they're not a strength either.

 

[Biabreakable]

I'm looking for more opinions on this.

We have the measurables to compare all these Wrs but those measurables do not include what is probobly the most important thing. The recievers ability to catch the ball and catch the ball in tough situations. Just see Troy Williamson last year. I think Williamson has all the talent one could hope for except in the most critical thing for a Wr to do.

Catch the ball!!

50% of 1st round Wr picks BUST.

Lets share some info on these Wrs hands and try to seperate the busts from the players who can find a role in the league because of thier ability to catch the ball.

 

[beto]

1. Anthony Gonzalez

2. Greg Olsen

3. Calvin Johnson

4. Meachem

5. Jarrett

 

[Biabreakable]

1. Anthony Gonzalez

Really?According to NFL.coms prospect profile they say that Gonzalez

Can catch outside the frame, but will let the ball into his body too much (double catches)

Considering Gonzalez short shuttle 3 cone and 40 time.. along with his purported toughness and nerves of steel.. if he has the best hands then perhaps he could rival Calvin Johnson as a prospect. I really respect your opinion beto and I have no knowledge of college players beyond what I read and hear about them. But if you really think Gonzalez has the best hands out of this deep group of recievers.. wow he is going to be a lot better than I was thinking.

 

[beto]

I'm probably overly influenced by all the clutch catches he made against Michigan.

I have seen quite a bit of Calvin Johnson and Jarrett. Also enough of Olsen to like what I see. Great year to get a WR in dynasty.

 

[obxlegends]

My thought is that Jacoby Jones has one of the best pair of hands in the draft.

Apparently he likes to catch footballs from a JuGGS machine... blind folded.

 

[ChampBailey24]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.

Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.

But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Everything I've read says Ginn has GREAT HANDS.From NFL.com Prospect Profiles

OVERVIEW

A standout return specialist and defensive back in high school, Ginn teamed with his roommate, Troy Smith, to give the Buckeyes one of the most dangerous pass/catching combinations in the collegiate ranks.

"Here is guy who came to us as a return specialist and defensive back and has developed into a very good receiver," Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel said. "He has always had great hands and he has become a very good route runner. With his speed, he is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball."

I doubt Ginn's strength to get off the line and he doesn't like to go over the middle. He will take a few years to develop, but hands aren't his problem.

What did you expect his coach to say?

 

[Wildman]

I agree with Bloom that Ball's hands are the best of the class.

As for what constitutes good hands, I believe there are several things to consider:

1. Can he catch the ball with his hands extended from his body? This means the WR has more control over the ball and can generally make a variety of grabs regardless of his body position or coverage.

2. Can he catch the ball with his hands while running away from the QB? He has good coordination and concentration. He's more likely to catch the more difficult routes downfield: corner routes; skinny posts; etc.

3. Does he show good technique where his hands are properly positioned for balls throw above the waist/below the waist? It's interestng how common it is for players to use the wrong technique and drp passes that should easily be caught. This technique is important as the coverage gets tighter and the throws more pinpoint in accuracy at the NFL level.

4. When he catches the ball with his hands does he bobble the ball/double catch it, or does he establish control right away? If you can't snatch the ball, you're more prone to lose it after a hit or you'll have more trouble bringing in difficult grabs where you have to make a play in man coverage with the ball thrown up for grabs

5. Can he catch the ball with his hands in tight coverage or taking a hit as the ball arrives? This is where a lot of players tend to fall back to body catching the football. Meachem demonstrated this tendency on film in a few games I watched.

When I use this criteria, Ginn and Meachem do NOT have good hands. Hill, Smith, Johnson, Walker...good hands. Jarrett? Good hands.

 

[Double_J]

Bowe looked a lot better after Lasik surgery. Buster Davis imo is the better of the two though. Much more consistent hands with more speed. Comes down to what you want in a receiver. Do you want a homerun threat or a Keyshawn Johnson possession guy? Personally, I wouldn't take Jarrett in the first round. Too many other guys that are just better than him. They just didn't play for the media's favorite team. Johnson is clearly the best in the class followed by Meachem imo. As deep as this class is, I wouldn't take a WR in the first unless it was Johnson. Too many other guys that are a lot a like.

 

[Biabreakable]

I agree with Bloom that Ball's hands are the best of the class.

As for what constitutes good hands, I believe there are several things to consider:

1. Can he catch the ball with his hands extended from his body? This means the WR has more control over the ball and can generally make a variety of grabs regardless of his body position or coverage.

2. Can he catch the ball with his hands while running away from the QB? He has good coordination and concentration. He's more likely to catch the more difficult routes downfield: corner routes; skinny posts; etc.

3. Does he show good technique where his hands are properly positioned for balls throw above the waist/below the waist? It's interestng how common it is for players to use the wrong technique and drp passes that should easily be caught. This technique is important as the coverage gets tighter and the throws more pinpoint in accuracy at the NFL level.

4. When he catches the ball with his hands does he bobble the ball/double catch it, or does he establish control right away? If you can't snatch the ball, you're more prone to lose it after a hit or you'll have more trouble bringing in difficult grabs where you have to make a play in man coverage with the ball thrown up for grabs

5. Can he catch the ball with his hands in tight coverage or taking a hit as the ball arrives? This is where a lot of players tend to fall back to body catching the football. Meachem demonstrated this tendency on film in a few games I watched.

When I use this criteria, Ginn and Meachem do NOT have good hands. Hill, Smith, Johnson, Walker...good hands. Jarrett? Good hands.

Nice Post Wildman. Has anyone seen the rookie Wrs ranked this way?

Sporting News breaks down skills like this but when looking at thier magazine I only saw them going in depth like this on thier top 2 ranked Wrs. CJ and Ginn (btw they say Ginn drops too many passes and muffs too many punts) but after those 2 they only give blurbs on strengths/weaknesses instead of giving a numerical rating on hands (that I could make a list from).

So has anyone seen a list like this?

 

[Wildman]

I agree with Bloom that Ball's hands are the best of the class.

As for what constitutes good hands, I believe there are several things to consider:

1. Can he catch the ball with his hands extended from his body? This means the WR has more control over the ball and can generally make a variety of grabs regardless of his body position or coverage.

2. Can he catch the ball with his hands while running away from the QB? He has good coordination and concentration. He's more likely to catch the more difficult routes downfield: corner routes; skinny posts; etc.

3. Does he show good technique where his hands are properly positioned for balls throw above the waist/below the waist? It's interestng how common it is for players to use the wrong technique and drp passes that should easily be caught. This technique is important as the coverage gets tighter and the throws more pinpoint in accuracy at the NFL level.

4. When he catches the ball with his hands does he bobble the ball/double catch it, or does he establish control right away? If you can't snatch the ball, you're more prone to lose it after a hit or you'll have more trouble bringing in difficult grabs where you have to make a play in man coverage with the ball thrown up for grabs

5. Can he catch the ball with his hands in tight coverage or taking a hit as the ball arrives? This is where a lot of players tend to fall back to body catching the football. Meachem demonstrated this tendency on film in a few games I watched.

When I use this criteria, Ginn and Meachem do NOT have good hands. Hill, Smith, Johnson, Walker...good hands. Jarrett? Good hands.

Nice Post Wildman. Has anyone seen the rookie Wrs ranked this way?

Sporting News breaks down skills like this but when looking at thier magazine I only saw them going in depth like this on thier top 2 ranked Wrs. CJ and Ginn (btw they say Ginn drops too many passes and muffs too many punts) but after those 2 they only give blurbs on strengths/weaknesses instead of giving a numerical rating on hands (that I could make a list from).

So has anyone seen a list like this?

Yes, go to NFL Draft Guys and see my Rookie Scouting Portfolio. There is a link there to order it if you wish.

 

[Biabreakable]

Great. Anyone want to discuss this or..

Wait I don't want to ask any more questions right now when the answers may only be plugs and self promotion.

Just drinking my coffee. It is a free country. I am finishing my coffee.

 

[Wildman]

Great. Anyone want to discuss this or..Wait I don't want to ask any more questions right now when the answers may only be plugs and self promotion.Just drinking my coffee. It is a free country. I am finishing my coffee.

Hey, you asked where and I told you...a plug would have been me telling you how great I think it is --not simply, yes I've happened to have done what you asked for and here's where you can check it out. I can't help it if what I did answers your question after you bought something else...Good luck finding what you're looking for...Enjoy your coffee...may I suggest a beer instead?

 

[The Man With No Name]

bump. Anyone else with a say on this?

 

[KellysHeroes]

rebump

 

[FavreCo]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/jones_jacoby

Tiny hands. I mean tiny.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/johnson_calvin

Huge hands. H-U-G-E.

 

[LHUCKS]

Jarrett

 

[Two Deep]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Didn't Ball struggle mightily with his hands during the combine or am I thinking of someone else.

 

[wannabee]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Didn't Ball struggle mightily with his hands during the combine or am I thinking of someone else.

It was Ball. He looked like Jerramy Stevens going through to gauntlet

 

[titanT]

Paul Williams -Campus: 4.41 in the 40-yard dash … 300-pound bench press … 470-pound squat … 308-pound power clean … 302-pound hang clean … 38-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-5 broad jump … 35-inch arm length … 10 1/8-inch hands … Right-handed.



How would you guys rate his hands? Similar to Rice in that he can make circus type catch except not great consistency?

 

[Penguin]

Great. Anyone want to discuss this or..Wait I don't want to ask any more questions right now when the answers may only be plugs and self promotion.Just drinking my coffee. It is a free country. I am finishing my coffee.

 

[Biabreakable]

Great. Anyone want to discuss this or..Wait I don't want to ask any more questions right now when the answers may only be plugs and self promotion.Just drinking my coffee. It is a free country. I am finishing my coffee.

Thanks for contributing to the discussion. Or what could have been a discussion. Which pretty much fizzled out at this point.

 

[-OZ-]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Did Ball sign with anyone as a UDFA?Any chance he does?

 

[identikit]

Believe it or not, the best hands Ive seen in this class are attached to David Ball, New Hampshire.Of the top rated WRs, I would say Jarrett and Johnson have the best, Ginn probably among the worst (although Ginn doesnt have bad hands, he just doesn't have great hands either). Bowe has good hands but is prone to lapses in concentration. Meachem has good hands, but not circus catch hands like Johnson or Rice.But Ball tops them all. His hands are stone cold natural, kung fu kind of stuff.

Did Ball sign with anyone as a UDFA?Any chance he does?

I believe he's signed with the Bears.Id

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

Mike Walker certainly belongs in this discussion somewhere. Albeit, David Ball is the class of this draft when it comes to natural catching ability. Really a shame he didnt get drafted, hope he catches on somewhere.

 

[tlovyankee]

I am pretty sure Ball was picked up by Chicago the other day.

 

[identikit]

I am pretty sure Ball was picked up by Chicago the other day.

Yes, he was.Id

 

[Poppa]