Here’s to hoping this post doesn’t conflict with a six pack today, even though I think it will.

Washington pissed us all off too with his inconsistent play and drops early on. If Sweed just keeps listening to Ward, he’ll be fine. (and hopefully not FINED) hahaha. I see Sweed taking full advantage of all the attention paid to our pair of superbowl MVP WR’s and getting open lots this year. He’ll probably drop a few balls, but I bet he has a nasty YPC avg and does some damage. How the hell can you not like a guy named Limas Sweed! My kids think his name is cool!

I’m as hopeful as the next guy but he has only proven one thing: he’s determined.

You can see it when comes back from the drop and throws one hell of a block, in his 1 or 2 tough 3rd down catches, and his work ethic. By all account he’s the hardest worker on the team except for maybe Aaron Smith or Chris Hoke.

But he hasn’t proven much beyond that in terms of skills on the field… and there are plenty of unemployed determined football players.

Just go to youtube and look at his highlights from college. He just has to calm down and get used to the offense and by next year, nobody will be remembering “the drop”.

yelling and screaming at my TV

I think with him it’s a classic case of trying too hard. It’s mostly a mental thing. When WR’s “try” too hard, “fight it”, they get frustrated, and this prevents their natural ability from coming through. This sets up a viscous cycle.

There have been many athletes of all types with loads of ability and talent who never reach their potential because of their headspace…self doubt, frustration, fear. A golfer with all the physical skills and shots but who has the “yips” is a classic example.

I know this was only Sweeds first year. I think he has tons of potential and I hope he comes though big. But make no mistake this is not just about his drop v. Ravens. This was a year long problem of him dropping balls in practice and in the few opportunities he had in games. This is what prompted an exasperated coach Tomlin to say, “I just would he would catch the ball!!”.

He will have ample opportunities to shine. Will he be able to put this first year behind him and let his natural ability come through or will he continue to “try” too hard.

We will see.

Playing next to two Superbowl MVPs would put a fire under anybody’s arse.

to me that Sweed has this label that he now has to shake of having bad hands because of two drops in his rookie year with limited playing time. People forget he did`t play his senior year. He just needs to get into the flow. Watching his highlights in college I think it`s safe to say he has a nice pair of hands. There is no doubt in my mind he will be twice the receiver Nate Washington could ever be.

I think he is gonna be just fine. Its called a rookie year for a reason.

Dont you think that if we had put him in more often throughout the year he would have shaken his jitters a long time ago, and thus he probably makes that catch in the AFCCG?

We were simply fortunate to avoid injury to our WR’s for most of the year until Hines hurt himself.