I remember when I got called a troll and every name in the book for pointing out the fact that Hill wasnt a good college football player and that he'd probably struggle in the NFL.
The year we drafted Hill I went to Cortland to watch him (along with a lot of other fans that crowded out the small bleacher section set up on that side of the field). No coaches had arrived yet, just Sanchez tossing the pig skin to whomever on go routes. Next up: Rookie Hill on Revis Island. The ball was 'hiked', and Hill/Revis took off. A small pump fake by Sanchez gave Hill a 5-yard wide open look at a 50 yard rainbow right in the endzone. The entire crowd rose to their feet in anticipation of our new Rookie beating Revis on a 50 yard beauty. Then 'clank'. We could hear the pig skin slapping Hills outstretched forearms and falling harmlessly to the turf. Missed his wide open hand by at least 10 inches. You could hear the 'hope' deflate from the fans as they looked on in disbelief. Hill is NOT a natural hands catcher. He's a 'body' catcher that relies on the ball coming into his body and THEN holding on tight. We've all seen Hill stop and jump to catch a ball in his stomach rather than using his hands and keep running. The 'window' good DBs give you are so small that unless you can extent your long arms 3ft and use your hands like lethal weapons to snare the ball out of no where, you are sunk. The split second longer it takes for the ball to get to his body is all a DB needs to get position and smash it away. Cut him.
He was a terrible pick, he is not an every down WR,he has only slightly progressed in terms of drops or routes run, he has no value on ST that we know of and his value to the team as a #2 is questionable to non existent despite getting every chance to be that guy... that said, there is 0 reason to cut him before camp. We love the idea competition and no jobs being guaranteed right? well here are. Put up or shut up, we can't just draft and sign like 6 WR's we THINK are upgrades from 2014 Hill and call it a day. He knows the offense and still has loads of upside, he's not a strain on the cap and if there are better guys well he's a nice easy cut that brought out the best in them. He'll also be fighting for his job and that should bring out the best in him as well. theres 0 downside, this guy is the perfect example of a player looking used as competition bait.
Ah, I almost forgot. 1. You must NEVER draft a project player in the first three rounds. [The ONLY exception here is the QB, and he had better be FUCKING good to justify the loss of contribution for the foreseeable future.] 2. Thus, the fault is finally on that moron T-Bomb. Ghost - Vlad - Hill. Completes the trifecta of project picks turned into busts. [Hill - not quite, but is dangerously coming close to that territory.] That SHOULDN'T be on the kid. It is on the other moron running the draft.
Never liked the pick. He is a freak athlete not a football player. Maybe he could develop elsewhere but it probably won't be here. You can't teach good hands IMO, and he can't deal with press cover or catch in traffic. Id like two new WRs to compliment Kerley and Nelson next yr.
I believe Hill has been given a fair shot and he' let it slip through his hands, pun intended. The point I was trying to make in regards to the Jets drafting Hill is at the time, like now, we were in desperate need of an immediate contributor at the WR position and EVERYONE knew that Hill, with his 48 college career receptions, was a project.
As a way to try and salvage something out of the pick, I think they should try him returning kicks. Forget punts, but maybe they could utilize him as a Ted Ginn type player. Granted, there are very few opportunities to return kicks now, but I would prefer that than simply cutting him at this point. I think as a KO returner and the play in front of him that his stride could be somewhat useful.
I respect your opinion but believeThis is wrong.Only impatient fans & gms/coaches about to lose their job talk like this.In a perfect world theyd be plug & play but thats rare.Every single draft pick is a "project" in some shape or form.You can't force young players on the field before they are ready.If they do break through within the first couple years thats a luxury & expect them to take their lumps. The draft is a pipeline of young prospects.The future.Despite what many believe you shouldnt go into a draft expecting to get immediate starters unless the team is horrible or its a freakish class. As for taking more "finished product/low ceiling" types, The Jetd used to draft these types in the early Bradway days.Guys like Victor Hobson, Erik Coleman, Derrick Strait,& Jonathan Goodwin were plug & play types.But they were limited physically which gives them no room to grow after initial contributions. After a season or 2 they were below average starters/role players & their so so rookie playing time becomes pretty meaningless. To me having a high ceiling means they have tangible areas which they can improve over time that will improve their overall game. "Plug & play"types dont present this in most cases.They have nowhere to go with their game.
Sorry, but I disagree, and believe that most in the NFL would disagree with you as well. Players chosen in the first three rounds should become starters, and sooner rather than later. If they are chosen high/early, the chances should greatly increase that they will start from day 1. I know that is the expectation of GMs and HCs, as I've seen them make comments to that extent. IMO, "plug and play" doesn't necessarily mean the types you mentioned.
Not sure if they'd save money by cutting him. But if they do I'm sure many teams would sign him and bring him to camp. He's a reclamation project that teams like NEP would love to attempt: not much of a downside for them all they have to do is cut him without losing any appreciable money. He should be able to play this game considering his physial attributes. But not everyone is cut out for pro football.
I'm not saying you shouldnt expect starters from your first 3 picks.But thats the finished product.Thats under the assumption that some of those guys are gonna need some seasoning one way or another. Hill is actually a great example of this.Tannenbaum painted himself in a corner at the WR position.He panicked, traded up & immediately annointed Hill as the solution to what obviously ailed our offense.This was wrong on 2 fronts.For one they had to force their hand with their pick based on a desperate need(potentially reaching), secondly Bradway proclaiming he was ready to start. Now Hill truthfully did go at a good spot value wise. But it was for all the wrong reasons.They needed to let Hill develop behind the scenes when it was clearly evident he wasnt ready.He'd be further along & better served if he had a b lesser role his first 2 years.
Which is why I suggested kicks and not punts. On KO's and time to secure the ball maybe utilizing his speed could be useful. Not saying he would be stellar at it, but it couldn't be any less impressive than what he's shown so far strictly as a WR...
Only thing he has is speed. He'd be better off stealing purses from little ol ladies on 5th ave. He could out run a Canadian mounty riding Secretariat.
This...is his biggest issue. The fact that he has to trap the ball negates one of his biggest asset, his height. Conversely, I guy like Kerley plays much bigger than his 5-9 size because he attacks and high points the ball. There have been successful WRs who were NOT natural hands catchers. However, these WRs, brought more to the table like precise route running, YAC, quickness in and out breaks. Hill bring just long speed so he is easily to defend.
According to this article, it would actually cost us money to cut him this year. http://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/2/22/5437630/ny-jets-three-jets-on-the-bubble "Certainly Stephen Hill is a possibility, but he would actually cost the Jets a bit of money to cut, after accounting for the net effect of his replacement's salary" Oh, and I guess I'll give my opinion, since I really haven't yet. I'm in the majority basically in that I want to give him another year, but I am not counting on him to contribute in any way in the future. I predict he'll have another sub 400 yard season, and will be cut in 2015. I hope he proves me wrong though.
