McCardell takes on task of developing Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly

Well, okay, if we hypothetically threw out all rookie years as for primarily developmental purposes, you're still left with two guys who had a disappointing Sophomore season. The thing is, Zorn could have taken Moss off the field at any time, placed him on punt returns, and let Kelly and Thomas play on the field together, and we would have had a much bigger sample size of production from the both of them.

Unfortunately, our coaching staff thought Moss gave us the best chance to win, so we played him even when he wasn't close to productive.

I have hope that Thomas OR Kelly can still develop, but it's really not looking good at this point. There's just not a whole lot of evidence-backed noise being generated from our young guys at that position, and while Shanahan^2 have been brought in to make those players productive, there just wasn't much of a leap for either one in 2009.

Kelly's awesome Week 17 game gives me SOME hope for him that maybe if the season hadn't ended, he would have been a productive receiver last year, but at this point, I'm just grasping for something tangible in their development to hold onto.

It is the metaphorical make-or-break year for both of our third year players, and if we could get just one starting caliber wide receiver out of either, I'd be satisfied with the 2008 draft so that it wouldn't look so depressing in retrospect.
You're right that the sample size is pretty small. However seeing what they did with the ball in their hands, especially Thomas, gives promise. It's on them to work on precise routes, creating separation, etc which hopefully will come through this year.

I think that's the key. If he learns to create separation consistently we'll have a monster at WR, no?

I agree this is the key. Unfortunately Devin Thomas is god awful at creating seperation. It was his biggest weakness coming out of college and quite honestly it's a skill that is really really hard to teach unless the pupil wants to put in a tremendous amount of work into the technique.

The attention to detail needed if you are not a natural at creating seperation requires you to be very very diligent.

I don't thik DT has it in him. Not even close, but like I always say about the guy I hope he proves me wrong.

Dude you seem to drastically undervalue Thomas' pure athletic ability. I think I remember from the beginning you took to Kelly over the Michigan state product, but honestly we've all watched Thomas do some pretty impressive shit on the field now (once he gets the pigskin in his hands). He fights for yardage like a hungry SOB.

I'd like to think McCardell's hands on approach and emphasis on hard work will make Thomas a significantly better route-runner. I think that's the key. If he learns to create separation consistently we'll have a monster at WR, no?I honestly have no idea what awesome/impressive things you are referring to. Thomas' entire career has been the TDs he scored in that Saints game. Overall, a great 60 minute performance, but not one play that I would say reminded me of something that Brandon Marshall or Roddy White could do.

I don't need/want flashy highlight reel type plays from my receivers, I just want them to be productive more than 1-3 games out of a season.

They still have time to get it turned around, but anyone who is expecting some sort of insane breakout this year from either Thomas or Kelly probably isn't basing it off either assessment of physical talent or prior production.

Honestly, the best thing at this point is that Kelly/Thomas stop getting mentioned together as a duo, and one clearly separates himself from the other this season. If that can happen this year, maybe we can get a 2011 breakout season (there of course will probably be some signs at the end of this year, not unlike Miles Austin or DeSean Jackson at the end of 2008 -- this after one guy separates himself from the other).

If neither guy can get 35+ catches or 400+ yards this year, it's probably time to cut bait with both of them at the end of the year.

You're right that the sample size is pretty small. However seeing what they did with the ball in their hands, especially Thomas, gives promise. It's on them to work on precise routes, creating separation, etc which hopefully will come through this year.Thomas has shown me some ability with the ball in his hands. I wouldn't say he's particularly adept at gaining yards after the catch, but there's at least something there that could be developed if he can first learn the finer points of being an NFL receiver. Kelly, seam route aside, probably isn't a YAC guy, though I think if we could get some protection for the QB, he's a sound enough route runner to make a play or two downfield (15+ yards) every week.

Remember, Reggie Brown showed a lot more in his first two years than either Thomas or Kelly did in theirs, but McNabb + Eagles version of WCO couldn't develop him any further than that. I'd say it's a 50/50 shot that we've already seen the best that Thomas and Kelly (independent of one another...so 25% chance that they are both total busts and 25% chance that neither is a bust) have to offer in the NFL.

And this is based on what? And if he's done nothing, it's basically been in one year since his first year he really didn't play much his first year.


And also, to MKs defense, he hasnt be great, but thing I can say about that dude is that he has GREAT catching ability. For the most part, everything thrown to him he snags. Wide open or with defenders around him. I'm guessing he just needs to improve his route running. But like its been said, it's too early to cast these guys off.

This sounds corny, but I collect football cards, and from looking @ the stats for the WRs past and present, a big percentage of successful WRs did not break out until their 3rd-4th year, if not later.

For me, I'd be willing to give them another two years (this season included), before I'd be ready to cast them off. If they cant get it done in the next two years Shanny and McNabb, we need to cut bait, and look to signing a proven NFL stud WR (s).

I think having a QB that I know won't LAUNCH it 5 or 10 yards past our deep route WR's I think production will go up.

It will be interesting to see the YAC with a QB that can hit a reciever....in stride

You know we're lacking in the WR position when the receivers coach can still outplay 90% of the receivers on our roster.

If KM was in shape he could make a serious run at our #2 or #3 wr spot. lol.

The more i think about it is the more i agree with most WP posters, all these additional WR were brought in to push the youngsters DT, MK & MM because if they weren't then why not sigh TO (i'm OK if they sign him or if they don't). Limas Sweed for the steelers just went down, they will probably go after TO makes sense for them.

HTTR.

It's put up or shut up time for Thomas and Kelly. Hopefully McCardell brings the most out of them or perhaps Mitchell or another underdog will emerge.