An Obviously Intelligent writer's opinion of the WR battle
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Hamilton got a hat because AYERS was hurt. Pretty simple, but for some reason it wasn't made know imeadiately. About a week or so later it came out. Coolieman can relay the reasoning better than I. What say you Coolie ???
AND To be perfectly clear, Hamilton is NOT greater than AYERS.
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**** I don't know the reasoning...at game time and right after they called him a healthy scratch, but 2 weeks later he was having "core muscle surgery"
Hamilton is pushed down the depth chart by Bryant, JuJu, Coates, Hunter and Heward_Bey. He is not an option in the slot and has not shown any way to contribute on special teams. He does have better hands than Heyward-Bey though
For Hamilton to make it, Hunter is going to have to show he is just a poor 2nd round pick, Coates is going to show he is the guy from the 2nd half of the season and they are going to have to decide Heyward-Bey's special teams contributions are not reason enough to keep him and his questionable hands on the roster
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Very good analogy and I thank you. Hamilton and Heyward-Bey will both be gone. We have younger ST players that will pick up that slack.We will see what we have in Hunter once TC starts. AYERS makes the team outright and in doing so I hope he takes PR and KO duties to the next scoring threat level.
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the only story I've seen so far about the KR and PR battle says that Ayers is only in the group for PR...he was pretty good at KR at UH...would be nice for him to get a shot at the KR job also....
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I think Rogers is a lock. 48 catches in your first year of playing time is pretty decent.
You could see the Steelers keeping 7 WR's and only 4 TE/FB's. Grimble or Johnson could be the one going to make room.
I believe Connor could see some snaps at FB.
You could see the Steelers keeping 7 WR's and only 4 TE/FB's. Grimble or Johnson could be the one going to make room.
I believe Connor could see some snaps at FB.
You would think he is a lock, but the depth in this camp is crazy. I think we might be see one surprise cut.
We'll see.
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I agree and would like him in BOTH those roles. In any event PR I believe would fit best first then KR if it's meant to be. Hopefully AYERS isn't dealing with any injuries such as last training camp. He will excell and has the "EYE" focused.
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I'd like to see them all healthy throughout training camp and let the best guys win.
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AB, Bryant, JuJu, Coates, Rogers and Ayers....and Hunter sticks if someone gets banged up...a perfect world scenerio of course. Let the ones who earn it stay and move on from the ones who don't.
http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN ...ayers-says-foot-injury-stunted-rookie-season/
Demarcus Ayers Says Foot Injury Stunted Rookie Season
BY ALEX KOZORA JUNE 7, 2017 AT 01:01 PM
Demarcus Ayers is healthy right now, which is definitely the good part, but exiting training camp last year was a different story.
Good nugget of info uncovered by PennLive’s Jacob Klinger. Ayers told him he suffered a torn ligament in his right foot last preseason, hindering his play and perhaps ultimately shuttling him to the practice squad.
From Klinger:
“Ayers said he tore a ligament in his right foot last preseason, which he felt contributed to his not making the initial 53-man roster and struggling to contribute on punt returns.”
As far as I’m aware, there hadn’t been a report about Ayers suffered a foot injury. For what it’s worth, we did note some sort of foot/ankle injury he suffered on the fifth day of training camp last year, though it’s obviously unclear if those two things are related.
From what I wrote at the time.
“In-practice, couple of blips. Demarcus Ayers began by going through the punt return drill but curiously let one bounce two feet in front of him. He looked frustrated, walked back, and rolled his right ankle a couple times. With a bit of a limp, he bowed out of the return drill, chatted up Alan Faneca and Todd Haley before finally getting his ankle taped up by a trainer.
He returned with heavy tape around his ankle and right shoe and attempted to go through individual drills after the stretch line. I watched him run one speed out, moving gingerly and slow, and then his day was done.”
We do know Ayers suffered a double-hernia injury late in the season, causing him to be scratched for the AFC Title game against the New England Patriots. He underwent surgery in early February and appears to be fully recovered. That certainly makes for a bumpy rookie season but when he was on the field, a late-season call-up, he was productive out of the slot while showing effort as a blocker.
Ayers confirmed to Klinger he is in the mix to be the starting punt returner. He did note he is not doing any work in the kick return game. Though I floated the idea the other day, it makes sense. The Steelers prefer their returns to be on the bigger side, putting priority in toughness to run through the teeth of the coverage unit.
Perhaps this is why the team, specifically Mike Tomlin, sounds so high on Ayers. He still made contributions to the team while dealing with multiple injuries. In April, Tomlin said he anticipated the receiver to make a big jump.
“I’m also excited about guys like Demarcus Ayers, who worked his way through the practice squad to the active roster to contributing in some ways at the end.”
That was Tomlin turning a question about the “Big Three” rookies – Artie Burns, Sean Davis, and Javon Hargrave – into praise for Ayers. It’s why I think Ayers has a puncher’s chance to make this roster.
Demarcus Ayers Says Foot Injury Stunted Rookie Season
BY ALEX KOZORA JUNE 7, 2017 AT 01:01 PM
Demarcus Ayers is healthy right now, which is definitely the good part, but exiting training camp last year was a different story.
Good nugget of info uncovered by PennLive’s Jacob Klinger. Ayers told him he suffered a torn ligament in his right foot last preseason, hindering his play and perhaps ultimately shuttling him to the practice squad.
From Klinger:
“Ayers said he tore a ligament in his right foot last preseason, which he felt contributed to his not making the initial 53-man roster and struggling to contribute on punt returns.”
As far as I’m aware, there hadn’t been a report about Ayers suffered a foot injury. For what it’s worth, we did note some sort of foot/ankle injury he suffered on the fifth day of training camp last year, though it’s obviously unclear if those two things are related.
From what I wrote at the time.
“In-practice, couple of blips. Demarcus Ayers began by going through the punt return drill but curiously let one bounce two feet in front of him. He looked frustrated, walked back, and rolled his right ankle a couple times. With a bit of a limp, he bowed out of the return drill, chatted up Alan Faneca and Todd Haley before finally getting his ankle taped up by a trainer.
He returned with heavy tape around his ankle and right shoe and attempted to go through individual drills after the stretch line. I watched him run one speed out, moving gingerly and slow, and then his day was done.”
We do know Ayers suffered a double-hernia injury late in the season, causing him to be scratched for the AFC Title game against the New England Patriots. He underwent surgery in early February and appears to be fully recovered. That certainly makes for a bumpy rookie season but when he was on the field, a late-season call-up, he was productive out of the slot while showing effort as a blocker.
Ayers confirmed to Klinger he is in the mix to be the starting punt returner. He did note he is not doing any work in the kick return game. Though I floated the idea the other day, it makes sense. The Steelers prefer their returns to be on the bigger side, putting priority in toughness to run through the teeth of the coverage unit.
Perhaps this is why the team, specifically Mike Tomlin, sounds so high on Ayers. He still made contributions to the team while dealing with multiple injuries. In April, Tomlin said he anticipated the receiver to make a big jump.
“I’m also excited about guys like Demarcus Ayers, who worked his way through the practice squad to the active roster to contributing in some ways at the end.”
That was Tomlin turning a question about the “Big Three” rookies – Artie Burns, Sean Davis, and Javon Hargrave – into praise for Ayers. It’s why I think Ayers has a puncher’s chance to make this roster.
several stories have been written (they are from **** sites so I won't post them here) that have quotes from Ayers saying he believes the Steelers will run more 4 wide sets this season
Brown and Bryant wide to either side with Rodgers/Ayers/JuJu in slot positions and having to worry about Bell coming out of the backfield....sounds like it could be a lot of fun to watch
Brown and Bryant wide to either side with Rodgers/Ayers/JuJu in slot positions and having to worry about Bell coming out of the backfield....sounds like it could be a lot of fun to watch
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I think it comes down to HeyBey and Ayers being the 6th. Ayers is going to have to play his *** off in camp to beat out the vet/ST ace.
if it comes down to those two...hopefully Ayers has shown he can take the PR duties away from AB
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That seems to be the key.
that and coates looking like the second half coates and hunter looking like the guy he has been since he was drafted and not the guy from college and non of the end of the depth chart guys blowing up in training camp. and the team deciding that they want WR that can catch and not WR to help just on special teams....
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I don't see any way Hunter makes the team. He doesn't play ST like HeyBey or Coates.
AB, Bryant, JuJu, Rogers, Coates....and?
AB, Bryant, JuJu, Rogers, Coates....and?
saw several reports that Coates' was still having issues with drops in the OTAs and mini camp, while Hunter was making some flash plays, granted they were in shorts.....
Right now I think it is AB, Bryant, JuJu and ????? with Rogers likely leading the rest of the pack that are fighting for the final 2-3 slots....
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I hear what you're saying...Ayers has a chance of grabbing the backup at an outside spot over Coates...could happen.
actually my point was that Hunter is not out of the mix...reports have him doing better than Coates in shorts......your post had Coates as on the team when from all I've seen he will be fighting for his spot
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Hmmm. Ok. So, Ayers sticks, Hunter sticks and HeyBey and Coates are gone.
Ya never know, seen weirder things happen.
Ya never know, seen weirder things happen.
Or HeyBey could stick over Hunter, or Rogers could stink in camp and Coates could get some stick'em and start catching the ball again. hell, Hamilton, Severin or Tucker could vault up the depth chart...
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I just don't see Rodgers getting worse. We will all see soon enough though
It's crazy having all this talent at one position.
It's crazy having all this talent at one position.
I just don't see Rodgers getting worse. We will all see soon enough though
It's crazy having all this talent at one position.
he may not have to get worse....he just might not improve as much as others and since he is just a slot receiver he could possibly be replaced by others who are more flexible and able to play multiple receiver positions.
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Rodgers makes the team he was of the few at the end that did anything in a real game. I see a trade coming