Michael Thomas has a High Ankle Sprain

AsylumGuido · 09-17-2020, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by TheOak

You are trying to rationalize your position rather than recognize that everything you describe about Smith is also true about nearly all the WR in the league. A QB goes through progressions and if Smith was the only guy open that's where the ball went.

A receivers job is to run his route or block, if he is running his route his job is also to get open and catch what is thrown at him. Its simple yet very difficult in a league of professionals. If Smith did that consistently MT wouldn't have the lions share of the catches. No ones job is to put on a uniform and run around the field as some sort of $900k/year decoy receiver.

MT gets open and catches.
TS can catch but cant get open.
Ginn was able to get open because of his speed but couldn't catch for sh1t.

You keep asking why he is on the field.. in short it is because he is serviceable and had a contract but he isn't taking wear and tare off MT which is what he should be doing.

.... When a WR only has 3 more targets and has fewer catches than a backup QB he is not doing his job reliably. Getting open and catching the ball.

Let me put it a different way. Every time Drew has to throw a pass away, none of our receivers did their jobs. If they all did their jobs every play we wouldn't need a running game.

You have to consider that there is a progression to a play, as you yourself pointed out. There is a first, second, third, etc. option built into a play. Brees will throw the ball to the first open receiver in that progression. I would expect that Thomas would usually be the first option. If he is open, which he almost always is, then the ball will come his way. The other options could be open, as well, yet never see the ball. There are, of course, plays designed for others to be the primary option. If they are successful that's when they see the ball on a team with Thomas as the usual first option.

Smith could be open 90% of the time and only see the ball three times a game if Sanders, Cook, Kamara, etc. are earlier options in the designed play.

A QB seldom looks for the "most open" receiver unless it is a totally blown coverage.

With Thomas out some of these other usually open receivers are going to have their numbers rise substantially.

SaintFanInATLHELL · 09-17-2020, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

You have to consider that there is a progression to a play, as you yourself pointed out. There is a first, second, third, etc. option built into a play. Brees will throw the ball to the first open receiver in that progression. I would expect that Thomas would usually be the first option. If he is open, which he almost always is, then the ball will come his way. The other options could be open, as well, yet never see the ball. There are, of course, plays designed for others to be the primary option. If they are successful that's when they see the ball on a team with Thomas as the usual first option.

Smith could be open 90% of the time and only see the ball three times a game if Sanders, Cook, Kamara, etc. are earlier options in the designed play.

A QB seldom looks for the "most open" receiver unless it is a totally blown coverage.

With Thomas out some of these other usually open receivers are going to have their numbers rise substantially.

Exactly this. You can see this with Brees in practice. When he takes a rep, he passes the ball then continues his progression without the ball in his hand. Those represent the other options available if his first or second read isn't open.

One stat that is often discussed with Brees is how little time he keeps the ball in his hands. Generally 2.5 seconds or less. If Smith is the 3rd or 4th read on a play, Brees isn't going to hold the ball long enough to get to that read. With 180 targets last year, MT is generally the first read. Cook the 2nd. The back is the outlet. There simply are not a lot of targets left after that.

Now is Smith an All-Pro? Not by any stretch. All I'm saying is that the offensive staff keeps him out there because he's doing the job they are asking him to do. Note that the targets he does get are generally in the red zone, and that he often scores with them.

We will see now as he's moving up the ladder at least one rung. Let's see what he does with the opportunity.

SFIAH

09-17-2020, 07:43 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,762	Re: Michael Thomas has a High Ankle Sprain Originally Posted by TheOak You are trying to rationalize your position rather than recognize that everything you describe about Smith is also true about nearly all the WR in the league. A QB goes through progressions and if Smith was the only guy open that's where the ball went. A receivers job is to run his route or block, if he is running his route his job is also to get open and catch what is thrown at him. Its simple yet very difficult in a league of professionals. If Smith did that consistently MT wouldn't have the lions share of the catches. No ones job is to put on a uniform and run around the field as some sort of $900k/year decoy receiver. MT gets open and catches. TS can catch but cant get open. Ginn was able to get open because of his speed but couldn't catch for sh1t. You keep asking why he is on the field.. in short it is because he is serviceable and had a contract but he isn't taking wear and tare off MT which is what he should be doing. .... When a WR only has 3 more targets and has fewer catches than a backup QB he is not doing his job reliably. Getting open and catching the ball. Let me put it a different way. Every time Drew has to throw a pass away, none of our receivers did their jobs. If they all did their jobs every play we wouldn't need a running game. You have to consider that there is a progression to a play, as you yourself pointed out. There is a first, second, third, etc. option built into a play. Brees will throw the ball to the first open receiver in that progression. I would expect that Thomas would usually be the first option. If he is open, which he almost always is, then the ball will come his way. The other options could be open, as well, yet never see the ball. There are, of course, plays designed for others to be the primary option. If they are successful that's when they see the ball on a team with Thomas as the usual first option. Smith could be open 90% of the time and only see the ball three times a game if Sanders, Cook, Kamara, etc. are earlier options in the designed play. A QB seldom looks for the "most open" receiver unless it is a totally blown coverage. With Thomas out some of these other usually open receivers are going to have their numbers rise substantially. SaintFanInATLHELL likes this.
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09-17-2020, 09:14 AM	#2
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,787	Re: Michael Thomas has a High Ankle Sprain Originally Posted by AsylumGuido You have to consider that there is a progression to a play, as you yourself pointed out. There is a first, second, third, etc. option built into a play. Brees will throw the ball to the first open receiver in that progression. I would expect that Thomas would usually be the first option. If he is open, which he almost always is, then the ball will come his way. The other options could be open, as well, yet never see the ball. There are, of course, plays designed for others to be the primary option. If they are successful that's when they see the ball on a team with Thomas as the usual first option. Smith could be open 90% of the time and only see the ball three times a game if Sanders, Cook, Kamara, etc. are earlier options in the designed play. A QB seldom looks for the "most open" receiver unless it is a totally blown coverage. With Thomas out some of these other usually open receivers are going to have their numbers rise substantially. Exactly this. You can see this with Brees in practice. When he takes a rep, he passes the ball then continues his progression without the ball in his hand. Those represent the other options available if his first or second read isn't open. One stat that is often discussed with Brees is how little time he keeps the ball in his hands. Generally 2.5 seconds or less. If Smith is the 3rd or 4th read on a play, Brees isn't going to hold the ball long enough to get to that read. With 180 targets last year, MT is generally the first read. Cook the 2nd. The back is the outlet. There simply are not a lot of targets left after that. Now is Smith an All-Pro? Not by any stretch. All I'm saying is that the offensive staff keeps him out there because he's doing the job they are asking him to do. Note that the targets he does get are generally in the red zone, and that he often scores with them. We will see now as he's moving up the ladder at least one rung. Let's see what he does with the opportunity. SFIAH AsylumGuido likes this.
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