Jarryd Hayne

[kruddler]

Hayne did pretty well on his recall.  He certainly doesn't lack self-belief and, if that's any guide, his NFL career should continue to grow.  The hard work he has put in during his time off the roster hasn't done any harm either.

Did you watch the game?

I haven't, but checking out the stats he played 2nd fiddle (to what is their 4th rb) and didn't do anything exceptionally good - or bad. Didn't play as a returner which is a sign or how light on they are for RBs....dont want him to get hurt.

In other news, my vikings are playoffs bound and have a showdown with the packers to take out the division next week. Should be a cracking game.

Where's all the Packer fans now? I said we'd rival you for the divisional title. Now we are tied with a head to head to decide it!

[DJC]

Did you watch the game?

I haven't, but checking out the stats he played 2nd fiddle (to what is their 4th rb) and didn't do anything exceptionally good - or bad. Didn't play as a returner which is a sign or how light on they are for RBs....dont want him to get hurt.

In other news, my vikings are playoffs bound and have a showdown with the packers to take out the division next week. Should be a cracking game.

Where's all the Packer fans now? I said we'd rival you for the divisional title. Now we are tied with a head to head to decide it!

No, I only saw him interviewed after the game and listened to a couple of commentators.  Apparently he started, which surprised more than a few, and the commentators were impressed with how much cleaner he was.  I guess he has to be if he is going to have a chance of succeeding.

[Mav]

I didn't see the game either but I read an article which suggested Hayne made a howler in the last quarter which turned over possession when it was close.  Apparently, he needed 3 yards for a 1st down but only ran 2.  I got the impression from the article that Hayne ran out of bounds early although it wasn't all that clear.

[Jack Burton]

Minor issues, they all know he is still learning the game
Cardinals on fire!!!

[kruddler]

I didn't see the game either but I read an article which suggested Hayne made a howler in the last quarter which turned over possession when it was close.  Apparently, he needed 3 yards for a 1st down but only ran 2.  I got the impression from the article that Hayne ran out of bounds early although it wasn't all that clear.

I just saw a video which might describe what you were talking about.

In the last quarter, 3rd and 3. Gabbert gets chased out of the pocket as it is collapsing. Hayne presents up field and gets a dump pass thrown to him around the line of scrimmage. He gets immediately tackled close to the sideline.

Not sure if its the same play you read about, but there was nothing Hayne could've done there.

If he was indeed the starter his stats are even more disappointing.
Jarryd Hayne  - 9 attempts for 27 yards with a long run of 11. (avg only 2 yards on other 8 attempts!) - Also 5 catches for 20 yards.
DeJuan Harris* - 11 attempts for 73 yards with a long of 25. - Also 1 catch for 11 yards

Harris beat him all round.

* Should be noted that Harris was only signed to the team this week because they are paper thin in the running backs area - which was also why Hayne was promoted to the game)

He is still learning, no doubt.

But the fact that a guy who was signed to the team 4 days before playing for them was able to outperform Hayne despite being the same age. Shows how much experience matters in this game. For the record Harris has been on the roster of 8 NFL teams, including 5 this year, although mainly as a practice squad member. Although he has game time in 25 games, he has only started in 2......in 2012. There would be 100 players like him readily available to NFL teams. He is a journeyman with no special skills.

[Mav]

That's no doubt the play.  I assume the criticism would be that Hayne should have ensured he was at the 1st down marker so that a completed catch would result in a 1st down.  That's especially the case where the QB is out of the pocket and he can throw it away anyway - 4 & 3 isn't much different from 4 & 1 if you have to punt it away anyway.  I've heard the same criticism directed at other receivers who've failed to establish a position in 1st down territory.

[kruddler]

That's no doubt the play.  I assume the criticism would be that Hayne should have ensured he was at the 1st down marker so that a completed catch would result in a 1st down.  That's especially the case where the QB is out of the pocket and he can throw it away anyway - 4 & 3 isn't much different from 4 & 1 if you have to punt it away anyway.  I've heard the same criticism directed at other receivers who've failed to establish a position in 1st down territory.

Well he started off being a blocker, but everyone was picked up and the QB was flushed, so he eventually decided to run down field, he never even got a chance to get to the first down line before the QB dished it to him. He didn't stop short, he just never got there. Unfair criticism IMO.
You can view the play from here - http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015122705...&tab=recap - it is the next video along scroll right (with Hayne #38 shown).

Should he have left his blocking assignment (or lack of) earlier? Possibly, but its better than leavin too soon and the QB gets sacked.

[Mav]

No, I agree he did well there, so it must have been another play.

This is what Tomsula said at his presser:

Tomsula said Hayne “represented himself well” but was not 100 percent convinced, however, detailing a play where Hayne just failed to reach a first down.

“Jarryd has to get to the sticks there,” Tomsula said in the post-match press conference.

“He has to run that route to the sticks there. That’s just what has to happen there.”

If he was talking about the play in that clip, then he was being harsh.

PS: ...unless the play was designed as a screen pass and Hayne was the go-to receiver.  But it looked more like a busted play.

[Thryleon]

We have often heard the criticism of trying to turn athletes into AFL players (and how it doesnt work) and in this case it appears the NFL have tried this experiment with Hayne.

He still might make it, but Kruddler makes some really fair criticism of Hayne and its geared around the above thought process.

The last time our footy club looked at this thought process would be Sam Jacobs vs Shaun Hampson.

One was a pudgy kid who could ruck, and the other was an athlete with good size that could be anything.

One has become a better athlete who can ruck and is regarded as one of the top ruckmen in the game without being the best, the other could still be anything but probably wont amount to much without some of the nuances really sinking in.

Odds are even if Hayne "makes it" he wont be elite, the 49ers are better off recruiting a pudgy running back with all the brains, and trying to get the athlete side of him sorted.

[Amers]

Where's all the Packer fans now? I said we'd rival you for the divisional title. Now we are tied with a head to head to decide it!

I'm still here Krudd, The Vikings have done well to go past the Lions in a very short space of time. And from what I have read they were coming from a fair way back!

The Packers have had a Carlton like season with injuries this year, we have made the playoffs, but i doubt we will make much of an impression once the play off's actually get going.

You know you have a strong division when you have 2 sides get to the play off in 2 consecutive years, Lions and Packers last year, Vikings and Packers this year.