Concerning Devin Funchess and his hands

[panthers55]

So outside of Benjamin and Colbert in 2005, exactly how many rookie receivers have ever had great seasons for us. 

[Bartin]

Kelvin had issues with drops also. I dont think rookie recievers are used to fastballs that cam can throw. 

Kelvin had 10 drops on 145 targets

Devin has 6 drops on 18 targets

To put things in perspective. At the same drop rate as Devin does this year,  Kelvin would have had 49 drops last year.

[the butch]

Dude has stepped up in the big moments, and caught crucial passes in the 4thQ.  Leads me to believe it's just a concentration/reaction problem.  We will see improvement as the season continues, I believe.  Waaaaaaaay to early even hint at this being a draft bust.

[Seltzer]

To me, Funchess is getting the necessary separation to catch balls, which was a concern people had.  His route running to me looks every bit as good as KB.  These are both positive things, especially for someone whose speed was questioned as much as his.

That being said, he doesn't have the ability to get contested balls like KB, and to have as many drops as catches is inexcusable.  This board would be a lot harder on him if those drops had led to losses, and rightfully so.

There is no reason to write him off yet, but he has certainly been a disappointment so far.  In the words of Dave Gettleman, "They call it the receiver position."  

[TheWiz]

Devin Funchess has 21 targets and 6 catches. 

Brenton Bersin has 6 targets and 5 catches. 

I really hope Funch can put it together...

But maybe we should start getting ole Sunshine a few more targets. 

[tiger7_88]

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.

Philly Brown had that same reputation at Ohio State.

Then he came to Carolina and in this last preseason couldn't catch a cold.

Then the regular season started and he's become almost a model of consistency.  His form still doesn't look pretty... but he's getting it done.

So, yes, you CAN improve your ability to catch the ball at this level because we've got a player that is currently proving it.

[TheRed]

You can't look at where he is right now in regards to our current situation at WR without acknowledging that he wasn't drafted with the expectation of coming in, and immediately dropping big numbers from the word go. Losing KB for the season changed everything. He was supposed to gradually develop along side Benjamin.

Even with KB, though he put up 1,000+ yards last year, he didn't even crack the top 20 in receiving yards, or yards per game, and he was 30th in receptions. Kelvin produced very well for us considering our lack of options, and the fact that he was a rookie obviously, but around the league his numbers didn't really move the needle much outside of his touchdowns. That's not to say that I am attempting to take anything away from the season KB had considering the circumstances he stepped into, but looking at it from all the angles allows you to put a proper perspective on what Funchess is currently experiencing. When you also factor in that KB was already 24 years old in his rookie season, and that Funchess is only 21, you can clearly see a significant difference.

The idea of writing his career off at 21 years old only 6 games into his rookie season is absurd to say the least.

As I have stated in other threads, the drops are obviously not what you want to see, but his route running, separation, and ability to forget those drops while going on to make crucial catches in the 4th quarter with the game on the line are the kind of progress that you want to see considering we have thrown him into the fire so to speak with the current WR depth.

[LinvilleGorge]

Must be a Michigan thing.

 

[Eazy-E]

He is incredibly young and the transition to the NFL isn't an easy one. After the tipped Int that went off his hands in the Eagles game they showed him on the bench and he looked really down on himself. Seems to be a chemistry / mental issue.

[SetfreexX]

All I will offer is that it does take some getting used to going from a QB who throws a softer pass, to one who has a much stronger arm (personal experience).

Factor in all the things that may or may not be going through a rookies mind, the route, where to sit if it's zone, if there was a check, what does that check mean, etc, and all that in a matter of seconds while the ball is snapped to the attempt to catch it is a lot. 

He's was supposed to be brought along at a slower pace, and his lack of performance is only highlighted by our lack of overall talent at receiver, the fact that we traded up, and the recent success of many early receivers from last years class. 

I'd wonder of the receivers taken in the 1st-3rd round this year who's really making a ton of noise similar to that of KB, OBJ, and Mike Evans last year. As long as he is flashing the potential and learning and we are not leaning on him as a primary source as he learns, I'm ok.  

[beastson]

Remember Philly drops everybody wanted him gone. He hasn't dropped anything yet. If Devin catching them in practice he can catch them in the game. The ball is still hitting your hands. Devin need to focus harder cause Cam is going to fire them at times

[Bartin]

I'd wonder of the receivers taken in the 1st-3rd round this year who's really making a ton of noise similar to that of KB, OBJ, and Mike Evans last year. As long as he is flashing the potential and learning and we are not leaning on him as a primary source as he learns, I'm ok.  

Here's the list through the 5th round(had to at least get to Diggs). No 6th or 7th rounder is doing anything. Lots of injuries. I bolded those that can be considered having good rookie years.

Amari Cooper - Is awesome

Kevin White - Hasn't played due to injury

Devante Parker - Injured some and now buried on depth chart and not doing much at all

Nelson Agholor - Has been ok, a couple good moments but mostly bad

Breshad Perriman - Hasn't played due to injury

Phillip Dorsett - Was doing very well when he got a chance, now out 4-6 weeks with injury

Devin Smith - Hasn't played due to injury

Dorial Green-Beckham - Flashed a few times, but hasn't done much

Devin Funchess - Mostly bad

Tyler Lockett - Great returner, has been good at WR

Jaelen Strong - Caught a hail mary TD and a TD on blown coverage against the Colts, nothing else

Chris Conley - Nothing of note

Sammie Coates - Barely plays

Ty Montgomery - Has been ok

Jamison Crowder - Extremely good

Justin Hardy - Healthy but hasn't even been active yet

Vince Mayle - Cut by like 3 different teams already

DeAndre Smelter - Pure project who is still recovering from an ACL from college

Rashad Greene - Solid. Caught the only TD Norman has given up all year, Injured in game 2

Stephon Diggs - Amazing and might be outplaying Cooper

JJ Nelson - On the roster

Kenny Bell - IR

Keith Mumphrey - Solid returner and decent receiver

[OBXPantha]

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 

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

  From what this draft profile says he had a problem with catching in college also, so the "Cam throws too hard" excuse isn't really applicable unless his college QB threw too hard also

 

[PandaPancake]

I missed it..  Drop some knowledge on me

I believe it's beyond your grasp