Originally posted by Born49R:
Originally posted by dj43:
Height is not the only reason a "tall" receiver is important. The most important thing is the "catching radius." A 6' guy with long arms or excellent agility may have a larger catching radius than a guy 6'3" without those things.
Michael Crabtree is 6'1" but has long arms, good agility, leaps and attacks the ball. Hence, he plays with a large catching radius which really helps his QB. If you saw the Atl game you say him help Carr on three occasions because of those attributes. He has told Carr to "put it in my area and I will go get it." That is what is needed on this team.
Agree with you. Plus he has huge hands which helps and from my judgement a natural pass catcher. By that I mean he generally keeps his thumbs together when going for the ball. Rare are the times when your pinkies should be together ie. ball thrown below your waist etc. As opposed to McDonald who doesn't seem to me like a natural at all.
And bigger is always better, at least so I'm told.
Nice observations on MC.
This is an area where having Boldin and Crabtree would be a great help. Both of those guys really attack the ball and make plays for their QB. Boldin is perhaps the best in recent years in that regard. Though he has lost a step or two, if the ball is in his area, he will go get it. He is not only strong, it is an attitude that becomes infectious. We need that now.
By comparison, Kerley is just not strong enough to do that. Patton should be more able to attack the ball because he is bigger, however, in 2 or 3 situations that I have observed he waited for the ball to reach him instead of going to the ball. These are things that can be taught, but again, it is going to take time, training and reps. As those things improve, along with Gabbert's stuff, I expect better results.
