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Concerning Devin Funchess and his hands

BigBoss

By BigBoss,
in Carolina Panthers

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BigBoss Newbie

BigBoss

Posted
Posted

From an Sports Illustrated article today concerning the worst hands in the NFL...

Dishonorable mention: Devin Funchess, Panthers

2014–15 Drop Rate: 33.3%

The rookie Funchess doesn’t have enough targets to qualify for this list, but he almost certainly has the worst hands of any NFL wideout. Either that, or he’s having a horribly-timed case of the dropsies.

Through the first 18 targets of his professional career, the second-round pick out of Michigan has as many drops as he does receptions (six). He’s tied for the third-most drops in the NFL, even though everyone tied or ranked above him has been targeted at least 37 times. Funchess’s 33.3% drop rate is almost double the highest drop rate (18.9%) among qualified receivers this year.

 

 

Having watched a lot of Michigan football over the years, his hands were pretty suspect there also and this isn't something that get's a lot better usually. Being able to look at board and being intelligent for a WR is nice (things said about Devin when he was drafted) but being able to actually catch the football is top of the list of things they should have. No, I didn't expect him at all to be KB but I sure was hoping for something a little better than Brandon LaFell.

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Khaki Lackey Mentor

Khaki Lackey

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Too early to say, but DG is going to have a whiff in the draft at some point and this may be it. I still have a lot of hope for the kid.

Aside from the valid excuses we've heard as nauseum (age, missing OTAs, injury etc.) I think the biggest problem is he needs to develop chemistry with Cam i.e. Learning to catch Cam's lasers. That's got to be a big adjustment for a young guy just out of college that hasn't caught NFL caliber throws.

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LinvilleGorge Grand Master

LinvilleGorge

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It's a concern, no doubt about it.  The fact that he was lighting it up in mini-camp gives me hope, but there's no sugar coating that outside of the 4th quarter against the Seahawks he's looked like trash since the pads went on.  He's a rookie and a very young one at that so there's still hope, but that 4th quarter in Seattle wasn't the jumpstart for him that I hoped that it would be.

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LUUUUUKE Rookie

LUUUUUKE

Posted
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The weird thing is that he was lauded for attacking the football in the air and catching it with his hands. 

Heres his draft profile 

STRENGTHS

 Big receiver with the ability to mismatch corners in the red zone. Long legs that can cover ground in a straight line. Transitions smoothly from catch to run. Has build-up speed to factor on run-after-catch crossers. Fluid hips for size. Uses size to defeat press coverage. Good body control and length to go get high throws that few can snag. Physical with "separating hands" at the top of the route. Smooth in intermediate routes and can earn a living in that area of the field.

WEAKNESSES

 Pass-catching is labored. Allows throws into his frame and catches back half of football at times. Tagged with 20 drops over last three seasons. Isn't a lock to high-point a throw and doesn't attack throws. Won't win enough 50/50 throws. Stifled by inconsistent passing attack. Tends to show monotone, one-note play speed. Hard to find a second gear on tape. Gears down into cuts and slow to accelerate out of breaks.

DRAFT PROJECTION

 Round 2 or 3

NFL COMPARISON

 Gavin Escobar

BOTTOM LINE

 Has mismatch-caliber size, but lack of vertical talent and below-average hands might negate the size to an extent. Funchess was used outside and inside at Michigan and had success from the slot. He has the feel of a hybrid player who can be a big guy at wide receiver or a mismatch nightmare as a move tight end with more weight on his rangy frame.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/devin-funchess?id=2552458

despite all of that, I think he will end up a solid 2

 

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gmonjimbo Community Regular

gmonjimbo

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I'm still high on Funchess and understand it's a process. I think he will be a WR Cam can go to 8-9 times a game, he gets more separation than KB did last year, just has to get the last part of adjusting to Cam's throw. As Rivera said he needs to put it all together. 

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