gimmesix
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life
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... if Michael Irvin and Co. were adhering to their criteria that the 4th And Long winner be able to contribute on special teams, then the choice should have been Andrew Hawkins.
(I know 4th And Long has probably been thoroughly discussed elsewhere, but I've been off since it aired so bear with me.)
I don't dislike Holley. He's a big receiver who knows how to use his size/physicalness and jumping ability and showed real good hands. I do wonder about his ability to separate because most of the plays they showed him making were either in tight coverage or after the DB decided to get physical with him and lost.
However, my biggest knock against picking him is that this wasn't supposed to be about how well he can play receiver against scrub defensive backs. It really doesn't matter what he can do as a third- or fourth-team receiver against third- or fourth-team defensive backs, either. What matters is can he play a special teams role as the fourth or fifth receiver on this roster ... and I saw no evidence that he can.
Every receiver but our one bona fide starter (Roy Williams) can contribute on special teams if they are on the game-day roster. Patrick Crayton, despite the fact that we are always looking to replace him, is a capable punt returner who lacks flash but is sure-handed and gets the most out of what he's got. Miles Austin, if not starting, has shown himself to be a capable return man and can cover kicks decently (although I'd prefer we didn't use him for that even if he's the third receiver). Sam Hurd is good at kick coverage and might keep a role on that unit. I wouldn't be surprised if Isaiah Stanback ends up lining up deep with Felix Jones on kickoff returns.
Maybe Holley can cover kicks and maybe he can be one of the blockers on kickoff returns, but I didn't see anything that tells me he'd be good at either.
Andrew Hawkins showed ability to compete as a gunner, to cover kickoffs, to return kickoffs and to return punts. That's the type of player we need competing for the fourth- or fifth-receiver role. It doesn't really matter if he or Holley is the best receiver. We need the best contributor, and Joe Avezzano told us what we already had seen, Hawkins was that player.
I don't look for Holley to compete for a roster spot for that reason. Let's just say, for argument's sake, he's as good a receiver as Hurd or Stanback, to be the fourth receiver. He wouldn't beat out those guys because the fourth receiver has to be able to contribute on special teams. ... Now, if he's better than Dallas' third receiver, then the right choice was made, but I don't think expecting that is realistic.
(I know 4th And Long has probably been thoroughly discussed elsewhere, but I've been off since it aired so bear with me.)
I don't dislike Holley. He's a big receiver who knows how to use his size/physicalness and jumping ability and showed real good hands. I do wonder about his ability to separate because most of the plays they showed him making were either in tight coverage or after the DB decided to get physical with him and lost.
However, my biggest knock against picking him is that this wasn't supposed to be about how well he can play receiver against scrub defensive backs. It really doesn't matter what he can do as a third- or fourth-team receiver against third- or fourth-team defensive backs, either. What matters is can he play a special teams role as the fourth or fifth receiver on this roster ... and I saw no evidence that he can.
Every receiver but our one bona fide starter (Roy Williams) can contribute on special teams if they are on the game-day roster. Patrick Crayton, despite the fact that we are always looking to replace him, is a capable punt returner who lacks flash but is sure-handed and gets the most out of what he's got. Miles Austin, if not starting, has shown himself to be a capable return man and can cover kicks decently (although I'd prefer we didn't use him for that even if he's the third receiver). Sam Hurd is good at kick coverage and might keep a role on that unit. I wouldn't be surprised if Isaiah Stanback ends up lining up deep with Felix Jones on kickoff returns.
Maybe Holley can cover kicks and maybe he can be one of the blockers on kickoff returns, but I didn't see anything that tells me he'd be good at either.
Andrew Hawkins showed ability to compete as a gunner, to cover kickoffs, to return kickoffs and to return punts. That's the type of player we need competing for the fourth- or fifth-receiver role. It doesn't really matter if he or Holley is the best receiver. We need the best contributor, and Joe Avezzano told us what we already had seen, Hawkins was that player.
I don't look for Holley to compete for a roster spot for that reason. Let's just say, for argument's sake, he's as good a receiver as Hurd or Stanback, to be the fourth receiver. He wouldn't beat out those guys because the fourth receiver has to be able to contribute on special teams. ... Now, if he's better than Dallas' third receiver, then the right choice was made, but I don't think expecting that is realistic.
