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Another View of John Ross III
FreeChavez
Member Posts: 3,223
What I see a lot of is gnashing of teeth over ross not seeing the ball of offense. I'll certainly raise my hand in that regard. Where I think we've gone wrong and one move by the coaching staff has really opened my thought is that ross isn't that dynamic as an offensive player. Yes, he's a human highlight film "if" he really gets the ball, but he reminds me a lot of the guy in bball who get one or two dunks a game but sucks on defense, can't help his team, and averages 6 pts and 2 rebounds a game. Ross can't get the ball 10 times a game or he'd die. Ross may eventually have the ability to be an offensive juggernaut, but at this point the guy can't get open and he doesn't have a QB who can get him the ball even if he was open half the time. Why waste him each game sitting around and doing virtually nothing.
So enter our coaches. How do you take a guy who's incredibly dynamic and have an impact for most of the game? Stick him as a corner.
Ross, for all intensive purposes has very little chance of lasting in the nfl as a WR. He's really small, and hasn't shown a knack to get open or run routes crisp enough to be a "welker" type. In the NFL he'd have to play special teams to stay on any team in a 4th or 5th WR slot and there is no way his body can handle that role. Ross could very well be a 10 year CB if he commits to it. He's incredibly talented and fast as all hell. He really doesn't have to tackle and top CB's aren't playing special teams. I really don't see this as a really hard sell by the coaches to Ross. CB's are paid huge money this day in age, and there are very few WR's who succeed at his size(bulk wise,not just height).
The smart portion is that he can still come in a few times a game on offense and be a decoy or actually get the ball. He can also still return kicks, but I do think he could be a difference maker on the other side of the ball in the next couple years.
Don't you all think this could be a precursor for peters replacement? Sidney on one side, ross on the other? He has a lot of work to do, but I could see a path where this makes far more sense than as a FT WR.
So enter our coaches. How do you take a guy who's incredibly dynamic and have an impact for most of the game? Stick him as a corner.
Ross, for all intensive purposes has very little chance of lasting in the nfl as a WR. He's really small, and hasn't shown a knack to get open or run routes crisp enough to be a "welker" type. In the NFL he'd have to play special teams to stay on any team in a 4th or 5th WR slot and there is no way his body can handle that role. Ross could very well be a 10 year CB if he commits to it. He's incredibly talented and fast as all hell. He really doesn't have to tackle and top CB's aren't playing special teams. I really don't see this as a really hard sell by the coaches to Ross. CB's are paid huge money this day in age, and there are very few WR's who succeed at his size(bulk wise,not just height).
The smart portion is that he can still come in a few times a game on offense and be a decoy or actually get the ball. He can also still return kicks, but I do think he could be a difference maker on the other side of the ball in the next couple years.
Don't you all think this could be a precursor for peters replacement? Sidney on one side, ross on the other? He has a lot of work to do, but I could see a path where this makes far more sense than as a FT WR.
Comments
He is too explosive with the ball in his hand to warrant moving him to defense. Nate Dogg's son and Sidney should be fine for next year.
What Ross needs to do is hit up Dr. Feelgood, because you're right: he would die if he averaged 10 touches a game.
He's dynamic with the ball. Plenty of tiny of guys have been, and continue to be, college all stars. Who gives a shit about what he can or can't do in the NFL...i'd like to win in college.
Yes, he's dynamic with the ball in his hands. I get that.
But if he was good at finding ways to get the ball in his hands, I'd expect that he'd get the ball far more often than he does.
Taking the basketball analogy in a slightly different direction, Ross right now is the street ball legend that gets away with great dunks and shitty defense played against him. Everybody sings his praises. Then, when he actually has to play basketball, you find that he can't perform at the level everybody thought he could.
If you're worried about ncaa over nfl, having a guy who sits on the bench and really can't get open as a wr is better than him being a corner ft in college? He isn't getting crushed in college like you say, nfl, sure he will need more bulk.
You must not watch ANY corner. 97% of them can't tackle and try and chop out legs or hang off guys. If you can cover you don't worry about tackling
John Ross is listed at 5'11" 179lbs on gohuskies.com.
A more accurate analogy than the basketball player might be Ross is more like Percy Harvin and Devin Hester. Crazy fast, explosive, and dangerous return men but not natural WR's. There is a lot more that goes into being a good WR than just speed. Route running, hands, and ability to get open are much more important. TBH I have no idea how good of a WR Ross is. The only thing I know is that he's the fastest player on the field.
All that being said, I still believe the biggest issue working against Ross right now is Cyler Miles. Smith can call all the plays trying to get Ross the ball but if Miles doesn't pull the trigger and throw the ball there's nothing he can do. I've seen WR's running wide open in every game so far that Miles has neglected to throw the ball to.
I stopped reading here. Except that I peaked a bit beyond and saw that you lay some of the blame on QBs who can't get him the ball. agreed with that.
He can get open. He's the best player on the team not nick-named Shaq.
Percy Harvin and Devin Hester are not good comparisons with one another, not that it matters, but of the two I'd say Harvin is more like Ross than Hester. Frankly, it's a bit early for that kind of talk. As to Hester and Harvin:
Hester is arguably the greatest return man in cfb and nfl history. Percy is merely good at it.
Hester is an average receiver - Harvin is pretty damn good at it. Keep in mind, there are different kinds of receivers.
As to Hester, there's a reason they could never figure out what to do with him at Miami besides return kicks and punts. It would drive us all crazy, because you'd see this amazing mother fucker in the open field and think, "why in the fuck can't he do that from the LOS from SOME position ... ANY position?" but he could never find his spot, and they tried everything.
Then again, that was the same cast of retard coaches who couldn't figure out that Sam Shields was a corner. It took the Green Bay Packers one, ONE, training camp to see they had a future pro bowler on their hands, and the kid was playing receiver for Miami the year before. Fuck.
So maybe it was coaching.
Wait, what were we talking about again?
HTH
1. Shaq
2. Kikaha
3. Shelton
4. Peters
5-10 in some order: A. Hudson, Baker, Timu, Ross, Hatchie?
Just because Harvin is crazy fast and was crazy effective in Urban Meyers spread offense doesn't mean he can't also succeed in a more traditional WR role. Don't put him in a box with the Devin Hester and Cordarelle Patterson types.
He's a better player than Hester and Patterson. He's a weapon and a really good player, but he hasn't been a traditional WR in the NFL or at Florida.
Harvin was a first round pick in 2009. So he has been in the league 6 years and has yet to record a 1,000 yard season. Hell he's only had one season with over 900 receiving yards. Never had more than 6 TD's in a season. No one is saying he isn't a dynamic playmaker but at WR he's been a disappointment. Just never developed the skills.