Leonard Hankerson: Patience

[DM72]

Do you think falcon fanns were this impatient when they drafted roddy white? Or bronco fans with brandon marshall? I guess if a third round pick doesn't have 100 catches and 1200 yards he's a bust....

I think it's the "we've seen this movie before" syndrome. We've been burned so many times waiting on guys to turn the corner and it never happens.

[CjSuAvE22]

Hankerson doesnt have the athletic ability or the concentration to play this game.....its clear i wanted him to work out so bad but i just dont see it i dont see him being able to go up and make a play on the ball.

[Redskins4ever]

If a WR makes up his mind that he's going to catch the football then he will. Hankerson's hands are like bricks. The ball hits him in the hands in the end zone. By the time he is able to catch the ball, he'll be so far down the depth chart.

[derskinsfan]

Here's what bothers me so far with Hankerson: he has the body of a big, playmaking receiver, but does he have the heart? I have yet to see him out-fight someone to make a catch. I have yet to see proof that he wants it more than the defender. That's what playmaking receivers bring to the offense. Not just potential and measurables.

[PortisBetts]

The guy has not even played in 16 regular season games and is coming off a major hip surgery. Give it a rest. Some recievers take time to learn the offense and get their full concentration toward catching. He still may be thinking during his routes and when the ball is coming his way, which results in drops. Its not like he isnt open. College to the NFL is a major adjustment as their is much more responsiblilty in regards to having to read a defense, option routes based on defenses, etc. If you expected Randy Moss in the third round out of the gate, well you would be sorely mistaken. He is a solid move the chains guy right now who needs to work on his concentration catching the ball. He could very well turn out to be much more as he develops.

[Redskins4ever]

The guy has not even played in 16 regular season games and is coming off a major hip surgery. Give it a rest. Some recievers take time to learn the offense and get their full concentration toward catching. He still may be thinking during his routes and when the ball is coming his way, which results in drops. Its not like he isnt open. College to the NFL is a major adjustment as their is much more responsiblilty in regards to having to read a defense, option routes based on defenses, etc. If you expected Randy Moss in the third round out of the gate, well you would be sorely mistaken. He is a solid move the chains guy right now who needs to work on his concentration catching the ball. He could very well turn out to be much more as he develops.

You can't make those types of excuses for Hankerson. He either belongs in the NFL or he doesn't.

[Warhead36]

Here's what bothers me so far with Hankerson: he has the body of a big, playmaking receiver, but does he have the heart? I have yet to see him out-fight someone to make a catch. I have yet to see proof that he wants it more than the defender. That's what playmaking receivers bring to the offense. Not just potential and measurables.

Agreed. Maybe it's because he's still recovering from the hip, I don't know, but he just doesn't have that toughness or heart to be a top flight WR.

[RVAbrendan]

Agreed. Maybe it's because he's still recovering from the hip, I don't know, but he just doesn't have that toughness or heart to be a top flight WR.

I see that too and it seems blatantly obvious.

When I was watching that Saints game, there was a bomb that Brees threw to Lance Moore. Moore turned around and caught that thing with ferocity. I don't think Moore is necessarily an elite or dynamic guy, but his heart is there and it shows.

[theTruthTeller]

I've seen players with hand problems during their rookie season recover to become reliable pro receivers. Jerry Rice dropped quite a few balls his first year. But I can't think of anyone who had hand problems in college become a great receiver in the pros. In college, the ball is thrown with a lot less velocity and guys like Hankerson are physical mismatches with most of the defenders - so it's possible to recover if you bobble the ball. In the pros, you can expect a shoulder in your ribs if you bobble the ball even a little bit. I just don't see how Hankerson will be anything but a third receiver at best. I don't see any Jerry Rice's behind him, so he'll get his chance.

I do worry about the effect of bad receivers on RG3's development though. He needs to have confidence in his receivers route running and ability to catch the ball. It would be better to have a receiver that isn't a physical mismatch, but runs precise routes and catches the ball. At least then he would know that if he throws accurately, he'll get a completion.

[Riggo#44]

You guys realize he has played a total of 13 games and is coming off a major injury, right? I don't know how any of these assessments can be made after 13 games. That is the very definition of impatience.

[Barefoot Kicker]

He just needs to spend the off-season catching bricks for a few months... soften those hands right up... I believe Jerry Rice benefited from catching all those bricks from his dad.

[gorebd82]

Does anyone even realize that he's leading us in yards and only 3 catches behind Morgan? I've seen way more crucial drops from Morgan. Hank is just making some young, mental mistakes. Give it some time.

[derskinsfan]

i'm not saying give up on the guy. I just have yet to see evidence that he can be a top receiver that scares defenses and that the QB feels he can depend on in the clutch. look at which of our receivers has scored the most TDs through the air so far this season: Moss. he also seems to be the guy RGIII tries to get the ball to when we need a clutch play. that tells me he's the guy who he feels like he can most rely on to make the play, some how, some way. it would be garcon if he wasn't hurt.

the problem with that guy being moss is he's getting old and he isn't even a starter!

yes, i like Hankerson. And i haven't given up on him. He just hasn't proven to be the top receiver you can build around. He may be an outstanding #2 or #3 option. And he may have more impact once the hip is healed. but he is not a guy that defences worry about "taking away" from the offense.

[theTruthTeller]

Does anyone even realize that he's leading us in yards and only 3 catches behind Morgan? I've seen way more crucial drops from Morgan. Hank is just making some young, mental mistakes. Give it some time.

That's one way of looking at it. The other way is that he's on the road to 700 yards for the season, whereas as Dallas, NY and Philadelphia will all likely have a 700 yd receiver by the end of this weekend. All the teams in the division have at least three players with more yards than Hankerson and Philadelphia and Dallas have played one less game. And 33 yo, second stringer, Moss has almost as many yards as Hankerson, and more receiving TDs than the rest of the team COMBINED. I'm just not at all impressed.

[Riggo#44]

That's one way of looking at it. The other way is that he's on the road to 700 yards for the season, whereas as Dallas, NY and Philadelphia will all likely have a 700 yd receiver by the end of this weekend. All the teams in the division have at least three players with more yards than Hankerson and Philadelphia and Dallas have played one less game. And 33 yo, second stringer, Moss has almost as many yards as Hankerson, and more receiving TDs than the rest of the team COMBINED. I'm just not at all impressed.

...and how many of these players are 23 years old with less than a full season of game experience? The insane impatience with young players are the very reason we are in this mess. This is the very thing that causes draft picks to be dealt for "proven veterans."

For the love of God, give the kid a chance!