What has happened to him. Look at these highlights and it's not the same guy. He plays with passion, swagger, and tenacity here. Have seen very little of it so far
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The team babied him and then broke him over the course of his rookie season.
-Way too many reports out of camp last year of MHJ going half speed in camp. Maybe it was to endure the rigors of the NFL. However, JG was ok not really working him.
- You have a OC after his 1st game that tells the media to not worry about if he gets catches/targets or not.
- He has a breakout game which two of his biggest plays were scramble drills/broken coverage. And JG has a goofy grin on his face about how "We changed nothing." Thus indicating even when he has a good game it certainly isnt coming within the rhythm of the offense.
- You have a QB who is completely bought into his HC/OC philosophy of if he gets the ball then great if not oh well.
- You have a QB/WR combo who are both introverts that struggle with communication. Both simply wont speak up about the confusion.
- You have, at least I've seen reportedly, just one time its been mentioned that MHJ/K1 have had an extended film session together. Which is damning because in our very division we hear about Stafford/Puka meeting at 7:30 together to figure out how they are going to attack defenses. The weak Cardinals media never points that out to K1 or MHJ.
I think we can question his overall raw speed. Drew calls plays like he doesnt believe he's good with YAC. And even while he's big he's not overly physical. I believe he bulked up too much or maybe his body needs a full year to adjust to the weight. What he doesnt do is play with power.
He doesnt break glass. Look at Jefferson or AJ Brown how violent they make cuts. And more importantly how they finish plays after catching it over the middle. As talented as is he there are too many times, he's looking to go down instead of doing more with the ball (YAC). Its like the defense knows they can let up once he has the ball in hands and not in fear this could be a TD play. Maybe that was always going to be an issue early. Those 11 pounds makes him look even more sluggish out there. Whose idea was it for the weight gain? Was there a promised emphasis on getting him the ball over the middle? However, maybe he'll adjust to it in a year. I'll agree he doesnt look great on broken plays, but maybe he feels like Kyler wont see him anyway.
Im just in disbelief how Bryce Young has immediately got TMAC the ball and you can see his confidence build each game.
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Do I really think MHJ would look as underwhelming 2 years in with Harbaugh and Herbert? Of course not. He's flawed, he's soft, he's not generational, etc etc etc. A more buttoned up organization he shows way more than he does here with the anti WR offense (whoever fault it is). Idk if Ben Johnson is a HC or not but at least he's making top 10 pick Rome Odunze look like a WR drafted top 10.