Wicks: Keeper, or not?

[Scott4Pack]

I did a casual look to see where we would have a thread to discuss Wicks and his future in GB. But I didn't find one. Maybe there's one deeper down and I didn't go far enough. Anyhow, this guy is in year 2 with us and we all know about his drops at this point. So, I wanted to see what discussion could be had about him in a thread of its own.

I feel like we've gone down this bridge in the past. Tae Adams and James Jones both had very rough 2nd years. We stuck with both of them. We were rewarded very nicely for the patience.

We all have seen that Wicks has a knack for getting open, even around the End Zone. That is more than most WRs can do.

I'll add that on Kraft's long TD this past weekend in LA, there was one guy 50 yards downfield blocking for him. Yup, it was Wicks.

As much as it might test our patience, I am 100% in line with continuing to feed Wicks the ball. And praying his hands pick up the skill of catching sooner than later.

[APB]

As much as it might test our patience, I am 100% in line with continuing to feed Wicks the ball. And praying his hands pick up the skill of catching sooner than later.

Same, but with the caveat there are several talented WRs/TEs on the current roster who can also get the job done. No need to continually feed the ball to Wicks while he works his way out of the dropsies at the cost of a game or two. Just a handful of targets per week until he shows he's gotten it out of his system, of which I have every confidence he eventually will.

[lake shark]

He gets open but seems to have problems tracking the ball, positioning for contested catches and drops. It remains to be seen if he trends more like Davante or MVS.

[lupedafiasco]

He’s a keeper. He gets open way too often and is strong after the catch. He’s going through a case of the dropsies. Some guys are just like that but getting open is the important part.

[TheSkeptic]

He is young and has talent. I agree that his targets need to be reduced until he proves he can catch a difficult ball. But absolutely he is a keeper for now. Re-evaluate in March.

[NCF]

There was a Packers WR in the past who struggled with drops and then subsequently found out he had bad vision and needed to wear contacts. Solved the issue overnight. I wish I could remember who that was and maybe I could find a story on it. Anyway, I was actually wondering how often players have their vision checked and if it could possibly be something so simple. Could just be the dropsies, too, but I remembered that story and thought I'd share.

[BF004]

Hopefully this is just a Davante like sophomore year and he becomes that dude.

[salmar80]

Luckily we don't have to make a decision on Wicks yet, as it all depends on how he responds to this rough patch.

It's rare to extend rookies until their final year. Watson and Doubs could be up this off-season, but neither has yet elevated themselves to the must-keep category. I have a feeling Gutey loves all of his WRs costing the same as one good vet, and is in no hurry. Watson with his physique and blow-the-top-off -speed is the harder to replace without spending a high draft pick, but Doubs is just a good all-arounder. Wicks' future depends not only on him developing, but the decisions on the group as a whole. Keeping all (and our TEs) on 2nd contracts is likely impossible.

[BF004]

There was a Packers WR in the past who struggled with drops and then subsequently found out he had bad vision and needed to wear contacts. Solved the issue overnight. I wish I could remember who that was and maybe I could find a story on it. Anyway, I was actually wondering how often players have their vision checked and if it could possibly be something so simple. Could just be the dropsies, too, but I remembered that story and thought I'd share.

Robert Ferguson, although I’d argue it didn’t solve his issues over night.

[Yoop]

There was a Packers WR in the past who struggled with drops and then subsequently found out he had bad vision and needed to wear contacts. Solved the issue overnight. I wish I could remember who that was and maybe I could find a story on it. Anyway, I was actually wondering how often players have their vision checked and if it could possibly be something so simple. Could just be the dropsies, too, but I remembered that story and thought I'd share.

Robert Ferguson, although I’d argue it didn’t solve his issues over night.

good one, I was thinking Desmond Howard, think he wore contacts too?

heres a story we all know and love about a player who showed up to a big game, also blind, but of a different nature.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/12/28/max-m ... per-bowl-i

[Yoop]

He’s a keeper. He gets open way too often and is strong after the catch. He’s going through a case of the dropsies. Some guys are just like that but getting open is the important part.

great and willing blocker as well, lots of players deal with drops at one point or another, and when they start it can ruin a players ability to just instinctively make the catch, it gets in there head, and they concentrate on not dropping, versus just catching, another case of thinking while trying to play, it's like chewing gum while marching, it's just not a good idea ( slightly joking)

I read Vrabel has a few idea's how to fix this, I doubt it include less targeted throws though, what Wicks needs is confidence with his ability to make catches, the way for that to happen is simpler pass routes, higher percentage throws which have higher success probability. jmo