What's the Story With McCants?

coles = fast - 1200 yards
gardner - 700 yards
mccants - 360 yards

that's why... also we're not doing 4 and 5 wr sets nearly as much now, so that doesn't help... and cooley and rasby can catch too in short yardage...

Why are some people acting like we're hiding Jerry Rice Jr. on the bench?

McCants is a guy with potential, but he really hasn't proven that he can be a consistent contributor, and he certainly hasn't proved he deserves to be starting, that's a joke.

Most of all he doesn't play special teams like Jacobs and Thrash, so that's what's keeping him out.

unless he proves to be a starter????? you're joking right? you've got to be! the guy was tied for most td catches on the team just last year and he's only been activated once this year(yet to see the field), and gardner nor coles can catch the ball half the time. maybe that's why brunell throws it into the first row 75 % of the time. this would be the equivelant of the Yankees benching Mariono Rivera. McCants is the closer in the redzone. now he's been relegated to the bullpen for good!? i just don't get it. someone please help me understand.
If you saw how maddeningly inconsistent he was in practice this summer, and compared that to how focused and precise the other receivers were, you might understand. All the other receivers are excellent practice players, and bring a very professional attitude to work with them. Gibbs loves those kind of guys, and as long as there is such a disparity in the quality of effort given between Darnerian and the other wideouts-- which I assume is still the case-- I have to believe nothing is going to change. The way I see it, McCants fell so far behind the other wideouts in training camp that he would have to put forth a phenomenal effort in practice to break into the lineup.

If you saw how maddeningly inconsistent he was in practice this summer, and compared that to how focused and precise the other receivers were, you might understand. All the other receivers are excellent practice players, and bring a very professional attitude to work with them. Gibbs loves those kind of guys, and as long as there is such a disparity in the quality of effort given between Darnerian and the other wideouts-- which I assume is still the case-- I have to believe nothing is going to change. The way I see it, McCants fell so far behind the other wideouts in training camp that he would have to put forth a phenomenal effort in practice to break into the lineup.

I don't if you can confirm this from this past summer Crisp but I know in past seasons Rod Gardner has been one of the best practice players on the entire team. He goes all out, first one to practice, last one to leave. Gibbs will start a guy like that any day. What do you think Crisp?

when i went to camp i saw jacobs and thrash all over the place...

Why are some people acting like we're hiding Jerry Rice Jr. on the bench?

McCants is a guy with potential, but he really hasn't proven that he can be a consistent contributor, and he certainly hasn't proved he deserves to be starting, that's a joke.

Most of all he doesn't play special teams like Jacobs and Thrash, so that's what's keeping him out.

McCants is no Jerry Rice, but he's something we lack (other than Cooley)....a red zone threat. McCants just finds a way to get open in the end-zone and we need that. I cannot see why McCants isn't activated. Gibbs has also seen McCants on film and so I don't buy the poor practice=inactive talk.

What I love so much about Gibbs is that he tailors his system to the personnel he's got. Right now, we're wasting a ton of talent at WR.

What I love so much about Gibbs is that he tailors his system to the personnel he's got. Right now, we're wasting a ton of talent at WR.
understatement of the year right there...

I don't if you can confirm this from this past summer Crisp but I know in past seasons Rod Gardner has been one of the best practice players on the entire team. He goes all out, first one to practice, last one to leave. Gibbs will start a guy like that any day. What do you think Crisp?
I kept an eye on him through the minicamps and training camp, and Gardner definitely approaches practice the way you would hope all professional players do. The guy shows a strong desire to improve, and I think it's unfortunate he hasn't had a stable system and quarterback situation to help cultivate that progression. I think the addition of Coles and Thrash, McCant's re-signing, and the anticipated emergence of Jacobs have all contributed to Gardner's improvement.

He still makes mental errors (illegal formation and illegal motion penalties come to mind), and has dropped a few passes this year, but he's showing more consistency as a playmaker, which is why he was drafted so high. He's responded really well to the work ethic of guys like Coles and Thrash, and it seems like he really tries to emulate their approach to the job.

Before the season, I didn't think Gardner would be around much longer, but the guy has to have impressed the heck out of the coaches with his maturity and professionalism-- not to mention the physical attributes he brings to the table. He could be one of the guys that Gibbs tabs as a "Redskins guy". I'd like to see him continue to develop into that kind of player. He's a good guy, he works hard, he's got talent; now he just has to apply those attributes week in and week out, and prove he's worth keeping around beyond this season.

Gardner has really impressed me with his positive attitude and work ethic. He knew that dropping easy passes was a big problem, so he started going in early to work on it. And it seems to be paying off...that is when Brunell can get the ball to him...or any receiver for that matter. His numbers are roughly equal to Coles this year, with the exception of TD's which he has 3 to Coles NONE (WTF???). Maybe he is the other red zone threat now....

As for the McCants being a starter comments, I was just saying that anyone that doesn't regularly play on special teams would have to be a starter on a Gibbs team, and since he's not, assuming he and Jacobs are about the same (which may or may not be true), the "numbers game" keeps him from being activated on game day.

McCants is no Jerry Rice, but he's something we lack (other than Cooley)....a red zone threat. McCants just finds a way to get open in the end-zone and we need that. I cannot see why McCants isn't activated. Gibbs has also seen McCants on film and so I don't buy the poor practice=inactive talk.

What I love so much about Gibbs is that he tailors his system to the personnel he's got. Right now, we're wasting a ton of talent at WR.
The thing to remember, though, Ramseyfan, is that McCants missed a significant portion of the minicamps and training camp due to a shoulder injury. That time was critical to his learning the offense, and it also allowed guys like Thrash and Jacobs to establish themselves on the depth chart. So it's not just that once McCants actually did start practicing, that he didn't perform well; he had two other solid receivers competing with him that didn't miss nearly as much practice time as he did, and they both performed exceedingly well-- showing a good understanding of the offense, running excellent routes, and catching nearly all of the passes that were thrown their way.

Yes, Gibbs watched film of McCants, and was excited about his potential, and that's why they signed him to a nice new contract. But once that deal was signed, McCants simply didn't show up in practice. I don't care how good he looked at times last year, he had to carry that over and show improvement in the offseason in order for Gibbs to want to put him on the field. Obviously, that wasn't the case.