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TE Bucky Hodges' Hands?

TC : 3/6/2017 12:57 pm
In light of his Combine performance, and after watching his highlight reel again, I went back and started watching more video of his play. And I'm not liking a lot of what I'm seeing. Maybe I'm just not watching the right games, or not watching what I should be, but he doesn't look particularly athletic compared to other TE prospects I've watched. But what I find even more alarming, I'm seeing plenty of drops, and drops of easy passes to catch. And these don't just look like concentration drops, but as if his hand/eye coordination isn't that great.

Anyone watch much of this guy through whole games and have more enlightened opinions on these issues?
That's one of the big knocks on him...tons of drops.  
yatqb : 3/6/2017 12:59 pm : link
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He concentrates the ball into his hands  
Jim in Forest Hills : 3/6/2017 12:59 pm : link
and then promptly falls down. Im serious, watch his highlight reel, he falls down all the time after every big catch. Then watch someone like Engram's reel, pretty stark difference.
I've watched a little  
Nomad Crow on the Madison : 3/6/2017 1:01 pm : link
but enough to see a couple of drops. Hodges does not seem able to play an NFL TE position. He could be an H or move TE, but he cannot block and appears to have no interest in blocking from the film I watched. I'm much more interested in Evan Engram who makes a serious attempt to block when called upon, is faster, runs good routes and has excellent hands. Heck, I think Engram could be a big WR.
He also can't block at all  
Greg from LI : 3/6/2017 1:02 pm : link
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RE: He concentrates the ball into his hands  
TC : 3/6/2017 1:03 pm : link
In comment 13380309 Jim in Forest Hills said:
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and then promptly falls down. Im serious, watch his highlight reel, he falls down all the time after every big catch. Then watch someone like Engram's reel, pretty stark difference.

Oh boy! A tall TE who drops passes and falls down. No wonder the Giants scouts are impressed. He's the perfect replacement for Donnell. :-(
Those issues seem significant  
SomeFan : 3/6/2017 1:04 pm : link
we really need top draft a TE who can come in a play - at least be a threat in the passing game - from day 1. We need a Shockey type without the drama.
I have watched just about every Hodges play  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 3/6/2017 1:13 pm : link
He is fantastic high pointing the ball in traffic. He makes some really tough grabs as well. Yes he does fall after making some great catches, but its not all the time like everyone is saying. He doesn't fumble, which would be a huge deal. He is vastly different in the passing game then Larry Donnell was, but his blocking is a huge issue.
RE: I have watched just about every Hodges play  
TC : 3/6/2017 1:15 pm : link
In comment 13380338 BigBlueDownTheShore said:
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He is fantastic high pointing the ball in traffic. He makes some really tough grabs as well. Yes he does fall after making some great catches, but its not all the time like everyone is saying. He doesn't fumble, which would be a huge deal. He is vastly different in the passing game then Larry Donnell was, but his blocking is a huge issue.

I'm surprised by that, because watching him he more often seemed to have a surprising amount of difficulty with contested catches for someone so big.
Not high on Hodges either  
adamg : 3/6/2017 1:28 pm : link
Evan Engram in the second is my guy.
he's not a TE, he's a big WR. Ask Sy56. So while the drops are  
Victor in CT : 3/6/2017 1:28 pm : link
troubling for sure, lack of blocking isn't.

RE: Hodges with a 4.58 forty...
Sy'56 : 3/4/2017 3:13 pm : link : reply
In comment 13378708 Milton said:
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At 6'6" and 257 pounds with a 39 inch vertical, that's WR speed.


I graded him as a WR.

He didn't play in line at all in 2016.
I think Shaheen is more of an NFL TE than Hodges  
Rjanyg : 3/6/2017 1:28 pm : link
If Howard and Njoku are gone by 23 I am hoping for Shaheen in rounds 2 or 3. Hodges can't even get in a good 3 point stance.
RE: he's not a TE, he's a big WR. Ask Sy56. So while the drops are  
TC : 3/6/2017 1:31 pm : link
In comment 13380381 Victor in CT said:
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troubling for sure, lack of blocking isn't.

RE: Hodges with a 4.58 forty...
Sy'56 : 3/4/2017 3:13 pm : link : reply
In comment 13378708 Milton said:
Quote:
At 6'6" and 257 pounds with a 39 inch vertical, that's WR speed.


I graded him as a WR.

He didn't play in line at all in 2016.

If Hodges is going play WR, his hands become, IMO, the central issue. I don't want to see an Giant WR on the field who have problems holding onto catches.
RE: I think Shaheen is more of an NFL TE than Hodges  
TC : 3/6/2017 1:34 pm : link
In comment 13380382 Rjanyg said:
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If Howard and Njoku are gone by 23 I am hoping for Shaheen in rounds 2 or 3. Hodges can't even get in a good 3 point stance.

I have a gut feeling the Giants have no interest in Shaheen. Giants drafts live or die by their own internal scouting and I'm not sure he was on their radar, and they seem very opinionated.
RE: RE: he's not a TE, he's a big WR. Ask Sy56. So while the drops are  
Victor in CT : 3/6/2017 1:35 pm : link
In comment 13380390 TC said:
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In comment 13380381 Victor in CT said:


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troubling for sure, lack of blocking isn't.

RE: Hodges with a 4.58 forty...
Sy'56 : 3/4/2017 3:13 pm : link : reply
In comment 13378708 Milton said:
Quote:
At 6'6" and 257 pounds with a 39 inch vertical, that's WR speed.


I graded him as a WR.

He didn't play in line at all in 2016.


If Hodges is going play WR, his hands become, IMO, the central issue. I don't want to see an Giant WR on the field who have problems holding onto catches.


If he truly has Iron Hands, there's no point in taking him at TE either.
RE: RE: RE: he's not a TE, he's a big WR. Ask Sy56. So while the drops are  
TC : 3/6/2017 1:44 pm : link
In comment 13380404 Victor in CT said:
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In comment 13380390 TC said:


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In comment 13380381 Victor in CT said:


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troubling for sure, lack of blocking isn't.

RE: Hodges with a 4.58 forty...
Sy'56 : 3/4/2017 3:13 pm : link : reply
In comment 13378708 Milton said:
Quote:
At 6'6" and 257 pounds with a 39 inch vertical, that's WR speed.


I graded him as a WR.

He didn't play in line at all in 2016.


If Hodges is going play WR, his hands become, IMO, the central issue. I don't want to see an Giant WR on the field who have problems holding onto catches.



If he truly has Iron Hands, there's no point in taking him at TE either.

Agreed!
I  
AcidTest : 3/6/2017 1:57 pm : link
like Hodges, but agree he's a project, especially his blocking. He's a WR, or a "flex TE."

The guy to watch is George Kittle.
RE: RE: RE: RE: he's not a TE, he's a big WR. Ask Sy56. So while the drops are  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 3/6/2017 2:00 pm : link
In comment 13380417 TC said:
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In comment 13380404 Victor in CT said:


Quote:


In comment 13380390 TC said:


Quote:


In comment 13380381 Victor in CT said:


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troubling for sure, lack of blocking isn't.

RE: Hodges with a 4.58 forty...
Sy'56 : 3/4/2017 3:13 pm : link : reply
In comment 13378708 Milton said:
Quote:
At 6'6" and 257 pounds with a 39 inch vertical, that's WR speed.


I graded him as a WR.

He didn't play in line at all in 2016.


If Hodges is going play WR, his hands become, IMO, the central issue. I don't want to see an Giant WR on the field who have problems holding onto catches.



If he truly has Iron Hands, there's no point in taking him at TE either.


Agreed!


He doesn't have hands of Iron though. Honestly, being a fan of VT there wasn't any vibe of Bucky Hodges has a drop problem. Most people felt secure if the ball was going his way.

I would also like to add, that he had shitty QB play up until last year, and that most of the plays he "Falls Down On" are in the corner of end zone for TDs and he is 100% concentrating on just bringing the ball down for the score. Other times its because he is getting hit way low because of his height.
I really like Hodges as a prospect  
Torrag : 3/6/2017 2:03 pm : link
Personally I think he could play either position, WR or TE. I admit he doesn't have great 'pluck the ball'
hands and let's it 'get into him' too often. I also see a player with 20 TD's in his first three seasons playing the position.

Now we're not talking about a 1st Round pick. At least I'm not, but he's a mismatch, a physical freak, a weapon and just what the Dr. ordered in the red zone.

Bottomline is he's a good fit for what we need and has a very high ceiling as a prospect. Physically and athletically there is no reason he can't further develop and round out his game. What do we have coaches for?

Depending on the options at the time I'd draft him and I hope the Giants would as well.
Confirming  
lugnut : 3/6/2017 2:08 pm : link
A good friend and VT grad who goes to every single game was first to tell me -- Hodges seems to just fall down every single play (at least, it's after the catch.). I guess he has like no YAC because he's flat on the ground.

I dunno. TE? WR? 6'6" with a 39" vertical is insane. And I assume his wingspan must be ridiculous. His catch radius must have it's own zip code. That's got to be something to work with, no?
He is starting to sound more like Ramses Barden and less like  
Patrick77 : 3/6/2017 2:15 pm : link
Julius Thomas.
In nearly every measureable test...  
Torrag : 3/6/2017 2:17 pm : link
...including level of competition Hodges scores higher than barden ever did.
RE: In nearly every measureable test...  
Patrick77 : 3/6/2017 2:18 pm : link
In comment 13380474 Torrag said:
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...including level of competition Hodges scores higher than barden ever did.


...
and...
?

I guess me must be destined for success then.
My comment included information...  
Torrag : 3/6/2017 2:21 pm : link
...your response was...wind.
RE: He is starting to sound more like Ramses Barden and less like  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 3/6/2017 2:23 pm : link
In comment 13380468 Patrick77 said:
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Julius Thomas.


He does not compare to Barden at all. He has played well at a way higher level then Barden ever did. He even scored over Eli Apple against Ohio State.
He's not a tight end  
Greg from LI : 3/6/2017 2:24 pm : link
He just isn't. He makes Travis Beckum look like Howard Cross as a blocker
A good comp for Hodges physically and athleticlly is Kelvin Benjamin  
Torrag : 3/6/2017 2:31 pm : link
...with the edge to Hodges. Can he be that type of player in the NFL? I dunno but it could be fun to find out.
RE: A good comp for Hodges physically and athleticlly is Kelvin Benjamin  
TC : 3/6/2017 2:38 pm : link
In comment 13380509 Torrag said:
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...with the edge to Hodges. Can he be that type of player in the NFL? I dunno but it could be fun to find out.

Benjamin is and was very physical. Even when in school. I just don't see that in what I've watched of Hodges. Not perticularly athletic in his play, not that good at holding onto passes and not very physical for his size doesn't really appeal to me.
Anyway, the Giants should have learned their lesson about  
Greg from LI : 3/6/2017 2:39 pm : link
drafting Hokie trash
TC  
Torrag : 3/6/2017 2:46 pm : link
We'll agree to disagree. 180 receptions/1800yds/20 TD's in three seasons is a lot of playmaking and production. The proof is in the pudding.

The questions arise when projecting such a unique guy to the next level. How will he translate for your team/system? The answer is no one knows for sure and that's a risk. It's up for teams to decide and we'll see on draft day which one believes in the player.
RE: RE: A good comp for Hodges physically and athleticlly is Kelvin Benjamin  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 3/6/2017 3:03 pm : link
In comment 13380522 TC said:
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In comment 13380509 Torrag said:


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...with the edge to Hodges. Can he be that type of player in the NFL? I dunno but it could be fun to find out.


Benjamin is and was very physical. Even when in school. I just don't see that in what I've watched of Hodges. Not perticularly athletic in his play, not that good at holding onto passes and not very physical for his size doesn't really appeal to me.


Your crazy with the lack of physicality. He is not a great blocker, so if that's what your talking about then sure. But as a receiver he does a great job of being physical and using his height to his advantage and essentially block CBs out for a reception. Watch any of his tape and that is all over it.

Mike Evans is better comparison then Benjamin. Tall, slightly built receivers. Great for jump balls because of the wing span.

If we wanted someone to come into the slot and be a complete mismatch in coverage he is your guy. He can certainly stretch the seam with a 4.5 forty.
Weird how Boylhart thinks he has the best hands of any prospect...  
Milton : 3/6/2017 3:10 pm : link
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Bucky has such soft hands to catch the football that when the ball is thrown his way it’s like watching the ball melt into his hands like vanilla ice cream melts when it placed gentle on a warm piece of blueberry pie. He has sure hands never double clutching the ball and never seems to drop many balls. He likes the physical part of the receiver position and has just enough body control to adjust and catch contested passes....There is no receiver, tight end or running back in this draft with any more talent to catch the ball than Bucky has.

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I won't call him a TE  
Sy'56 : 3/6/2017 3:13 pm : link
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Sy, what do you think of comparison between Hodges  
Greg from LI : 3/6/2017 3:14 pm : link
and Benjamin or Evans?
Mistake in my 2:46 post  
Torrag : 3/6/2017 3:16 pm : link
Hodges had 133 receptions in three years not 180.
RE: RE: RE: A good comp for Hodges physically and athleticlly is Kelvin Benjamin  
TC : 3/6/2017 3:25 pm : link
In comment 13380566 BigBlueDownTheShore said:
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In comment 13380522 TC said:


Quote:


In comment 13380509 Torrag said:


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...with the edge to Hodges. Can he be that type of player in the NFL? I dunno but it could be fun to find out.


Benjamin is and was very physical. Even when in school. I just don't see that in what I've watched of Hodges. Not perticularly athletic in his play, not that good at holding onto passes and not very physical for his size doesn't really appeal to me.



Your crazy with the lack of physicality. He is not a great blocker, so if that's what your talking about then sure. But as a receiver he does a great job of being physical and using his height to his advantage and essentially block CBs out for a reception. Watch any of his tape and that is all over it.

Mike Evans is better comparison then Benjamin. Tall, slightly built receivers. Great for jump balls because of the wing span.

If we wanted someone to come into the slot and be a complete mismatch in coverage he is your guy. He can certainly stretch the seam with a 4.5 forty.


Not only am I crazy, I can't type "particularly" either!

But I still don't see that physicality in what I've watched so far relative to his size. To me it looks like he can and does get pushed around.
RE: Weird how Boylhart thinks he has the best hands of any prospect...  
Gatorade Dunk : 3/6/2017 4:18 pm : link
In comment 13380580 Milton said:
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Quote:


Bucky has such soft hands to catch the football that when the ball is thrown his way it’s like watching the ball melt into his hands like vanilla ice cream melts when it placed gentle on a warm piece of blueberry pie. He has sure hands never double clutching the ball and never seems to drop many balls. He likes the physical part of the receiver position and has just enough body control to adjust and catch contested passes....There is no receiver, tight end or running back in this draft with any more talent to catch the ball than Bucky has.

full profile - ( New Window )

It's not really that weird. Boylhart has a weird view on most players. That's why so many people are puzzled that you rely on his opinion so often! :)
RE: RE: Weird how Boylhart thinks he has the best hands of any prospect...  
Milton : 3/6/2017 4:38 pm : link
In comment 13380722 Gatorade Dunk said:
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In comment 13380580 Milton said:


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Quote:


Bucky has such soft hands to catch the football that when the ball is thrown his way it’s like watching the ball melt into his hands like vanilla ice cream melts when it placed gentle on a warm piece of blueberry pie. He has sure hands never double clutching the ball and never seems to drop many balls. He likes the physical part of the receiver position and has just enough body control to adjust and catch contested passes....There is no receiver, tight end or running back in this draft with any more talent to catch the ball than Bucky has.

full profile - ( New Window )


It's not really that weird. Boylhart has a weird view on most players. That's why so many people are puzzled that you rely on his opinion so often! :)
If I relied on his opinion I wouldn't have Cam Robinson as my top OL.
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