Devin Hester Can't Catch Very Well! (LOL)!

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 5:25 PM CDT

Recently, regarding a FanPost about Anquan Boldin, I got into a heated exchange with another blogger about Devin Hester's receiving abilities.

This person was basically saying (among other things) that 'quote':

"I'm not saying he (Hester) can't catch. He just doesn't do it well. That is generally why guys play DB. Don't you think that Deion Sanders would have been incredible as a full-time WR? But he didn't cause he couldn't catch.

The above statement was a direct quote from this blogger.

I found this comment laughable. So, I called a friend of mine, Kenny Wheaton.

Kenny was a star DB at Oregon and is generally considered to have made the biggest play in Duck history, what is known as 'The Pick' , when Wheaton made a 97 yard TD interception against Washington which put Oregon into the 1994 Rose Bowl.

Kenny then went on to play three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, from 1997-1999, alongside Cowboy greats like Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders,

I asked Kenny a few questions. Basically he said this:

A). DB's aren't DB's cause they couldn't catch the ball. Usually it was because they were the best athletes on the field. It's MUCH harder to backpeddle and cover a WR who knows where he's going than being the WR himself.

B). Kenny's favorite player growing up was Denver Bronco great Steve Atwater. Guys like Kenny played DB not because they couldn't catch a football (LOL) but because they were great athletes and liked contact.

C). It's harder to catch a punt or kick-off, or an interception, than a ball thrown right at you by a QB. Common sense tells us that (hopefully) a QB is throwing right at the WR. Punts and Kick-Offs aren't nearly as 'aimed.' Interceptions are usually the result of a DB making a great catch on a ball that wasn't thrown directly to them.

D). Regarding Devin Hester, Kenny laughed about the assertion that, while he was a KR and DB in college, his problem going forward as an NFL receiver would be with catching the football. He said that anybody who thinks that is kind of ignorant.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion. That said, the 'opinion' that Hester and other 'DB's' struggle to catch a football is laughable.

Don't take my word for it. Take Kenny Wheaton's. He's 'been there & done that.'

This FanPost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member, and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'm with you Geo.

I have played a lot of football, so no one can tell me differently, DB is more difficult to play than WR. Those who are athletic enough to play the position effectively usually love the challenge of shutting down a big time WR.

And in my opinion, Devin Hester has some pretty good hands. I only remember 2 maybe 3 significant drops last year. Not bad for someone who had never played the position until the NFL.

Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.

by Haightminow on Apr 16, 2009 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks Mr. 'Passion for the Game!'

I just think its’ kind of ridiculous to say that DB’s aren’t WR’s cause they can’t catch very well.

This blogger was making it sound like something out of my childhood: When we use to choose teams for baseball, we’d put the worst kid in right field.

That’s how this blogger was making it sound: Like coaches saw who could catch a football and who couldn’t and made them WR’s and DB’s respectively.

That’s why I called Kenny. And he confirmed my suspicions.

I’m not saying that Hester will be the next Jerry Rice or Michael Irvin.
I am saying that, given a little time, he’ll be an excellent WR for the Bears.

Like you said, to me, the problem wasn’t so much his drops, but it was in the QB getting him the ball.

Nothing would make me happier than to see Hester and Cutler work in tandem to give the Bears some big, downfield plays this year.

I think Bear fans can rest easier now knowing that Devin Hester actually CAN catch an NFL football.

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Is Kenny Wheaton still playing in Canada?

Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.

by Haightminow on Apr 16, 2009 5:49 PM CDT reply actions

I think last year was his last.

He was having some problems with his knees and pretty much had enough with football by this point.

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's my take on this

1). The job of the OC is to design plays to get certain receivers open.
2). The job of the receiver is to get open AND catch the ball.
3). The job of the QB is to get the ball to the open receiver.

If 1 & 3 do their job, I’m not going to lose too much sleep over Hester doing his job.

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:05 PM CDT reply actions

Hester has made some great catches.

He has the ability and speed to get open. With Cutler tossing the rock, he should have a great year.

I do remember a game in 2007, I think it was against the Giants, maybe the Seahawks, when we were down by less than a touchdown late in the game, Griese was QB I think, and Hester was wide open about 60 yards deep and the ball was right in his hands and he dropped it, f**k!

But he has shown some damn good hands, last year against the Eagles, I remember a really good grab for a TD with a difficult pass to catch. I’m not worried about Hester, he will be fine.

Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.

by Haightminow on Apr 16, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

oh no! Kenny Wheaton says so so it must make it true!

you really wanted to start a flame war here?

by tempchad on Apr 16, 2009 6:15 PM CDT reply actions

No tempchad

That doesn’t make it so.

That said, he’s played in the NFL with All-Time greats like Michael Irvin & Deion Sanders.

What, pray tell, are your credentials for your humorous opinions?

(Inquiring minds want to know)!

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions

watching football and

watching dbs drop interception after interception.

are there dbs with good hands? yes.
are there many? no

in fact turn up the volume on your tv when you’re watching next time, and just about every time you see a db drop an interception the commentator will say “that’s why they are a db and not a wr”

by tempchad on Apr 16, 2009 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

I ALWAYS listen to commentators for NFL knowledge and insight (as opposed to players and coaches).

Dude, keep’em coming. I need the laughter. You kill me!

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Ever see a WR drop a pass

right betwen the numbers? Right. So have I.

Ever see a DB drop a pass right in his hands? Right. So have I.

And this proves what, exactly?????

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions

don't reply to your own comments

also, dbs drop more than wr do.

by tempchad on Apr 16, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions

In case you haven't figured it out

WR’s spend almost all their time CATCHING passes (in practice from QB’s, from JUGGS Guns, and in games)

DB’s spend VERY little time actually catching passes; most of their time is spent BREAKING up passes.

It’s really not shocking that DB’s might drop the occasional pass thrown their way.

(You really should try to use some logic here).

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

no. you try some logic and here's your first lesson

can you catch? yes. go play a position where you will be needed to catch
can you catch? no so much. ok go stop that guy from catching

a wr who can’t catch is not a very good wide receiver.

by tempchad on Apr 16, 2009 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions

So

According to you (again) DB’s play that position cause they can’t catch,

And yet, my friend, who made probably the greatest play in Oregon history and played in the NFL says that’s laughable.

Sorry, tempchad. I know that you have a deep history in football (laugh out loud) but I’ll have to go with Kenny’s opinion over yours.

That said. WTF do you do for a living? Are you a football coach? Scout? Ex-Player?

What? What are your (laugh out loud) credentials?

I’ve asked you that before but (of course) you are too much of a ‘coward’ to answer!

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions

what do commentators know. they just get paid to watch and talk about football

good call there.

by tempchad on Apr 16, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

And like HC Jim Mora SR said (to a group of NFL beat writers):

“You don’t know. You don’t know. You THINK you know, but you don’t know.”

What did he mean by that, GeoMak? He meant that, unless you were a lifelong football coach and unless you watched a ton of game tape, you really don’t know.

Trust me, tempchad, the only people who REALLY know are the coaches, the players and the GM’s.

That’s why you would NEVER hear any of them make an IDIOTIC comment like “DB’s are DB’s cause they can’t catch very well!”

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hey what happened? GeauxBears, your in action aren't you?

I thought we were gonna have an all out battle royal here, last man standing. I was ready man.

Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.

by Haightminow on Apr 16, 2009 6:38 PM CDT reply actions

I've said nothing incorrect

or inflammitory or talked about starting a ‘flame war’ (like some people I know).

Mr. tempchad simply made an assertion that DB’s are DB’s and not WR’s because they don’t catch very well.

In the interst of accuracy (and to ease the minds of Bear fans who worry about Devin Hester as a WR) I simply called a friend of mine who actually played in the NFL, alongside one of the greatest WR’s ever\ (Michael Irivn) and maybe the greatest cover corner ever (Deion Sanders)..

I simply told Kenny about tempchad’s ‘theory." After Kenny stopped laughing, he simply said that most DB’s are DB ’s because:

A). Preference. They like contact.

and/or

B). They were the best athletes on the field.

It’s not, however, because they couldn’t (LOL) catch a football!

by GeoMak on Apr 16, 2009 6:48 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Just an outsider's observation here...

But, it would help the quality of conversations if posters would stop replying to their own articles, and stop replying to their own comments. Almost seems like you are talking to yourself.

Just a thought…

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Apr 16, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions