McCardell takes on task of developing Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

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.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

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.

At 6.5 YAC/Reception that puts Thomas in the top 10, without a catch over 40 yards, that's pretty good. Isn't skewed like Kelly's 7.5 with that 84 yarder. The tackles he broke, fighting for every yard, etc definitely showed promise. I also think that Kelly could get the type of catches that you mention on a somewhat regular basis. He can at least keep the chains moving, he ran a few good hitches last year. I don't think that he'll regularly get long ones unless it's maybe a 1 on 1 situation where he can make the S miss, but who knows.