Nothing is wrong with him! Unless you consider Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce as being a problem.
Mecole was 3rd on the team in targets (62), rec yards (560), and rec TDs (4). Those stats are right in line with any other teams 3rd most productive receiver and none of those other teams had 2 guys that were 1st team AP in front of that guy.
Green Bay Packers #1 ranked scoring offense
3rd most productive receiving option
Robert Tonyan - 59 targets, 52 rec, 586 yds
Targets - 280 (most in group)
Receptions - 192 (2nd most in group)
Yards - 2692 (most in group)
So what we can see from these stats above is that nothing is up with Mecole Hardman. His targets and reception matched the average of the 9 other top offenses 3rd receiving option and he was above average in yards, but the big huge difference is Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill just happen to be on the same team as him. Those two have 68 more combined targets, 45 more combined receptions, and 774 more combined yards than the others teams top 2 receiving threats.
TLDR;
Nothing is wrong, he's right in line with the other teams 3rd most productive pass catchers. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are monsters and the best pass catching duo in a long ass time.
PS:
Seriously Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce are so good! There was only 11 QBs with more TD passes than those 2 had receiving TDs.
PSS:
Fucking Cam Newton started 15 games and had 45 less passing yards than Hill and Kelce had rec yards in the same amount of games!
PSSS:
Fucking MVP Lamar had 65 more passing yards than Hill and Kelce had rec yards and they tied for the same amount of passing TDs to receiving TDs. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bl00dyBizkitz:
He's got good stats and he's on the perfect team to maximize his talent.
But his mental mistakes just kinda negate a lot of that progress.
This.
Look beyond the stats. Sure, his numbers are alright for a #3 or #4 option on the team.
Just look at his most recent game. It's pretty damn obvious the team had no faith in him catching punts. He's more likely to fumble the punt, fair catch it at the 5 yard line, or try and return when he should fair catch and get blown up than actually do something positive.
On offense he still is little more than a gadget player. He had a good game or two during the year, but in the Super Bowl he was absolutely lost. He hasn't been on the same page all year with Mahomes. That's on Hardman, not Mahomes.
Any of Metcalf, Diontae Johnson, or McLaurin would all be getting talked about as a good option for the #2 spot this year if they hadn't already locked it down. Hardman will possibly never be anything better than a #3 receiver and gadget player.
It's not the end of the world, but let's not try to make Hardman out to be more than he is. There were multiple better receivers available, not just Metcalf. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
McLaurin is literally the definition of #1 WR by default.
McLaurin wouldn't have come close to that kind of production in KC, sitting in the pecking order behind everybody else.
I don't disagree. I know none of these other guys would be necessarily putting up the same stats here. But they all also have seemingly shown growth and as far as I know aren't making the same boneheaded mistakes almost 40 games into their NFL careers.
The way I phrased it is that each of them would probably have fans and coaches comfortable that they had the #2 receiver position locked down heading into 2021. As it is we're more likely to see Robinson, Watkins, Pringle, a rookie, or a FA line up at the #2 spot than Hardman in 2021. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
I don't disagree. I know none of these other guys would be necessarily putting up the same stats here. But they all also have seemingly shown growth and as far as I know aren't making the same boneheaded mistakes almost 40 games into their NFL careers.
The way I phrased it is that each of them would probably have fans and coaches comfortable that they had the #2 receiver position locked down heading into 2021. As it is we're more likely to see Robinson, Watkins, Pringle, a rookie, or a FA line up at the #2 spot than Hardman in 2021.
The thing is, put Hardman in McLaurin's situation and McLaurin in KC and we might be having this conversation in reverse.
You can't just look at things in a vacuum. Hardman's development may be hindered by the team dynamic itself. We just don't know. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
The thing is, put Hardman in McLaurin's situation and McLaurin in KC and we might be having this conversation in reverse.
You can't just look at things in a vacuum. Hardman's development may be hindered by the team dynamic itself. We just don't know.
A lot of conjecture there. Sure, there are a lot of unknown variables. What I can comfortably say is that KC has seemed to draft several receivers in recent years that simply aren't smart football players. Hardman is not an intelligent football player. Demarcus Robinson constantly makes mental errors on the field. I don't know if it's the receivers coach or just bad luck, but aside from Tyreek Hill we haven't seen a whole lot of growth and development from our receivers. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
A lot of conjecture there. Sure, there are a lot of unknown variables. What I can comfortably say is that KC has seemed to draft several receivers in recent years that simply aren't smart football players. Hardman is not an intelligent football player. Demarcus Robinson constantly makes mental errors on the field. I don't know if it's the receivers coach or just bad luck, but aside from Tyreek Hill we haven't seen a whole lot of growth and development from our receivers.
Which suggests there might be something about the system that is an issue and not just Mecole Hardman. See what I'm getting at? [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Which suggests there might be something about the system that is an issue and not just Mecole Hardman. See what I'm getting at?
I do see what you're saying, but the system isn't changing. There has to be more cerebral players available. It's not surprising that an incredibly young receiver without much history or experience at WR is still not showing much growth. I'd prefer in the future we place an emphasis on receivers with proven route running ability, at least when you're drafting in the first few rounds. [Reply]
Remember when we drafted him and I said it was a big mistake based on who else was available and that he was just a fast guy who played football. Yeah I member. You guys jumped down my throat because I didn't pump out the pure positivity that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. [Reply]