Did you catch any of the 2019 Steelers by chance? Diontae Johnson ... another 3rd round draft pick from last season. Balling.

3quan Smith better do something. No excuses. He's about out of chances ... unless you want him to be more of a blocker .

I’m thinking his last hoorah shyyt or get off the pot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lol if only.

Trequan has single coverage whenever MT is on the field and hasn't done squat.

Seems we drafted him in the 2nd round to be only useful during run plays.

Did you catch any of the 2019 Steelers by chance? Diontae Johnson ... another 3rd round draft pick from last season. Balling.

3quan Smith better do something. No excuses. He's about out of chances ... unless you want him to be more of a blocker .

I’m thinking his last hoorah shyyt or get off the pot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Payton, and Carmichael's, total commitment to Thomas in play design is reminiscent of their dependence upon Jimmy Graham several years back. It might not be a bad thing for Thomas to miss a game to force Payton to get some other receivers, like Smith, more involved.

I’m not so sure that it’s a top down paradigm that’s in play wrt MT#13. Yes, there is definitely a “dependence”. But CGM isn’t the #1 read on every play now, no different from Jimmy Graham not being the #1 read then. It’s very simple, it’s a cerebral QB who gets “locked” in with an individual, and regardless of playcalling and/or the game plan, will, out of habit, or trust, or whatever reason, go through his reads until he gets the guy he likes, maybe it’s a trust thing, I don’t know. I know I read a stat the other day that stunned me, and I can no longer find it. Since MT#13’s arrival, he has more targets and completions than ALL other WR’s who are on the roster now, or who have left. COMBINED.

That’s not a system, imho. That’s a HOF QB recognizing he’s got a young superstar of a WR, one that refuses to fail, and he looks to feed him the ball, every time he can. Nothing wrong with that, it’s actually smart..., unless you no longer have him all of a sudden, like now. Regardless, it’s my belief that DB#9 knows how to spread it around, and now he will be forced to. I truly hope we have a healthy vertical game with DB#9 under center. I’ve grown weary of gadget plays, and dink/dunk, but that’s just little old me. I want to see Brees to Cook (or any other on our team) for 46 yards down the sideline 17 times a game! (17 is a bit excessive, hyperbolic, but I think you get my point).

I would be curious to take an in depth look at the all 22's and see how often he is open when on the field. As I pointed out earlier, on all designed plays there are designed options #1 through #5. As long as Thomas is on the field he is going to be that first option much more often than not. Sanders would be #2 and then Cook or Kamara. Smith could be open every single play and never see the ball because of play design. Once again, a QB does not throw the ball to the most open receiver ... unless there is a totally blown coverage. They throw the ball to the FIRST open receiver in the play's progression.

At this point Smith's job is to be that 4th or 5th option. Undoubtedly there are a few plays where he might be up that option list a little higher and there may even be one or two plays per game where he is option #1. The only way he is going to be a six or seven catch guy on our current roster is for others to not be doing their job.

A 3rd rd draft selection is your 4th or 5th option? ... Taysom is doing what TS should be doing in this offense.

AG - TQS is exactly who he is. He’s a low upside WR who is a solid blocker who struggles significantly to get separation. He does nothing particularly well...he’s not a burner and won’t be winning deep unless he’s left open, he doesn’t win contested passes over the middle of the field, and does little after the catch. He’s pretty much the definition of “meh”. He’s just good enough to be on an NFL roster but not someone you’re thrilled about having a significant role.

That IS his role, however. That is far more on Payton and Carmichael than it is on Smith himself. You are far too hung up on draft position. It matters not whether he was drafted in the 1st or undrafted. He is playing the role he is given. With Thomas out his role will undoubtedly change to some degree, as will the role of % most others.

And I have a feeling you are projecting "struggling significantly to get separation" as a reason for few targets. That's why I think it would be a good idea to verify that is indeed a fact by checking out the all 22's. I think you would be surprised how often he is indeed open.

Then why spend a third round pick when you can get that production from an undrafted rookie free agent?

And when you continually blow your Day 1, Day 2 picks on specialized downfield blockers, you limit your success on the field before you even take the field...

Further, look at draft history, most, nearly all All-Pro, HOF talent is gone in the first two days, so it doesn't follow that it doesn't matter where a player is picked; gaffing there eliminates the talent pool from your roster...

All-Pros and HOFers on Day 3 and as UDFA are the outlier, not the norm...

It was a bad pick then, there were better players that met stronger needs for this team, and once again, Payton's weakness is shown as a Draft Manager...

Payton's a great offensive coordinator, but when it comes to personnel decisions, the team really needs a stronger GM who can override Payton on draft day and make the smarter moves...

Belichick wisely listens to counsel; Sean could learn to exercise some humility and understand spreading out the decision making and trusting guys like Ireland to get him the players for success...