'13 PA WR Will Fuller (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[dwshade]

AB is listed at 5-10, 181. Very strong though for his size. Last three years 375 receptions for 5,031 yards and 31 TD's. No other receiver in the league comes close to matching those numbers.

 

[PANDFAN]

$hit i didn't think he was only 5'10

 

[Luckylucci]

It will interesting to see what wins out here. I've been adamant for awhile now that his hands are an issue (or the consistency with which he uses them) and will be for scouts but his speed is truly special.

 

[Irish#1]

TY Hilton is 5'10" 183lb.

 

[Irish#1]

It will interesting to see what wins out here. I've been adamant for awhile now that his hands are an issue (or the consistency with which he uses them) and will be for scouts but his speed is truly special.

You can teach him to use his hands better. He will go pretty early because you can't teach speed. Renaldo Nehemiah had hands of stone, but his speed kept him in the league for three years before they gave up on him.

 

[Luckylucci]

You can teach him to use his hands better. He will go pretty early because you can't teach speed. Renaldo Nehemiah had hands of stone, but his speed kept him in the league for three years before they gave up on him.

Apparently Kelly and company didn't want to take this approach?

Never said he was going to be a bust. I said it'll be interesting when draft time comes which side wins out. There is clearly some ball skill issues whether that be by choice or by skillset.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Apparently Kelly and company didn't want to take this approach?

Never said he was going to be a bust. I said it'll be interesting when draft time comes which side wins out. There is clearly some ball skill issues whether that be by choice or by skillset.

Ball skill issues as in hands only or ball skill issues as a whole?

The Raiders at 14 us always a possibility. Or their 2nd rounder.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I've said it before. He reminds me of Marvin Harrison with his speed and size. Marvin held up quite well in the NFL.

Interesting analogy. One has some of the greatest hands in NFL history, the other only uses his chest.

 

[#1rish]

Interesting analogy. One has some of the greatest hands in NFL history, the other only uses his chest.

Did you really have to bring Kiel into the conversation?

 

[Luckylucci]

Ball skill issues as in hands only or ball skill issues as a whole?

The Raiders at 14 us always a possibility. Or their 2nd rounder.

I don't know, I've never stood with him at a jugs machine before. He clearly lacks a lot of confidence in catching the ball with his hands, thats why he jumps to body catch the ball. He's made some great catches with his hands before, so I don't think its entirely that. Probably a little of both but mostly mental.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I don't know, I've never stood with him at a jugs machine before. He clearly lacks a lot of confidence in catching the ball with his hands, thats why he jumps to body catch the ball. He's made some great catches with his hands before, so I don't think its entirely that. Probably a little of both but mostly mental.

To me there is a big gap between the 2. He finds the ball in the air well, adjusts to the ball, and can go get the ball, he just doesn't always trust his hands. I see it as him having great ball skills, but lacks elite hands.
And his hands issue always seems to be when he is directly facing the ball as it comes to him. That's what seems odd. He has shown, at times, a great ability to catch with his hands. But when it comes straight at him he flips his hands and allows it to his body.

 

[Luckylucci]

To me there is a big gap between the 2. He finds the ball in the air well, adjusts to the ball, and can go get the ball, he just doesn't always trust his hands.I see it as him having great ball skills, but lacks elite hands.
And his hands issue always seems to be when he is directly facing the ball as it comes to him. That's what seems odd. He has shown, at times, a great ability to catch with his hands. But when it comes straight at him he flips his hands and allows it to his body.

He does track the ball well in the air, true. So does a centerfielder, that is a good trait but not the issue at hand. The point is he shouldn't have to adjust his entire body to the ball, if he could snatch it with his hands. He has to position his body in front of or behind the balls trajectory because he doesn't want to use his hands to catch it, he uses his body.

Ball skills is catching the ball with your hands. You are never taught to use your body to catch a ball.

1. He drops too many passes to say he has great ball skills. IMO, making an incredible catch and dropping an easy comeback for a first down are equally as great and bad. The great catch doesn't make the bad drop go away. There are guys that do both, easily.

2. Which should be the easiest catch to make, thats why I'm starting to believe its actually his hands.

Plain and simple for an NFL WR he has shown, to this point, below average ball skills.

I'll add that I agree there is a gap between the two but I'm not sure what point that makes. Both can be fixed but neither one has. He continues to use poor form when catching the ball. Its irrelevant which reason it is, just that its happening. He's going to have to get over it one way or another.

 

[NDdomer2]

I don't know, I've never stood with him at a jugs machine before. He clearly lacks a lot of confidence in catching the ball with his hands, thats why he jumps to body catch the ball. He's made some great catches with his hands before, so I don't think its entirely that. Probably a little of both but mostly mental.

this is where I am still at. He has the ability but its a mental focus thing.

Do I think he has natural hands - no. but I dont think they are as bad as HE THINKS they are.

and you mentioned the jugs machine. guys who do not have natural good hands can develop them. it just takes the dedicated work. (this also increases mental focus and confidence).

Here's to hoping Will lands at a quality NFL org and has a great career running by people.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

He's made amazing hands catches--on the deep ball coming over his shoulder.

 

[Luckylucci]

He's made amazing hands catches--on the deep ball coming over his shoulder.

Everytime, this turns into a conversation where somebody brings up well he made this really good catch here and made this really good catch here. I agree, he's made some really good catches but he doesn't, for an elite WR, catch the ball correctly/cleaning as much as he should. Just that simple.

 

[IrishLion]

Interesting analogy. One has some of the greatest hands in NFL history, the other only uses his chest.

He uses his body to make routine catches too much, but I feel like you're being a bit harder on Will than is necessary lol.

He's one of the best ever to play receiver at ND because of his speed and his ability to make difficult catches.

Is it perplexing that he drops some easy passes and lets others get into his body? Sure.

Does that warrant the hyperbole you keep using to describe Will's game? Nope.

EDIT: Take notes from Lucky's approach on the subject, which I missed while crafting this response.

 

[koonja]

His best catch was against UM last year, and man was that a great catch for a TD.

 

[pkt77242]

In my opinion Fuller is a 2nd round pick. His ability to create separation and his speed are 1st round material but his hands should drive him into the 2nd.

Having said that I can see a team taking him in the first round. If Troy Williamson, Tavon Austin, Breshad Perriman, Ted Ginn and Darius Heyward-Bey are 1st round picks then some team might take Fuller in the 1st.

 

[koonja]

Keep in mind it only takes 1 team to see his value. Packers could take him mid/late first round, they need him. Or a team like that, Panthers?

 

[Luckylucci]

In my opinion Fuller is a 2nd round pick. His ability to create separation and his speed are 1st round material but his hands should drive him into the 2nd.

Having said that I can see a team taking him in the first round. If Troy Williamson, Tavon Austin, Breshad Perriman, Ted Ginn and Darius Heyward-Bey are 1st round picks then some team might take Fuller in the 1st.

Me as well.

 

[Luckylucci]

Keep in mind it only takes 1 team to see his value. Packers could take him mid/late first round, they need him. Or a team like that, Panthers?

I think the Panthers need more of a possession WR but the Packers is an interesting option if somebody was going to draft him in the 1st. With Jordy out they couldn't stretch the field at all this year.

 

[dwshade]

Coach Kelly said today that Will Fuller received a 1st round grade from NFL evaluation committee. Keep in mind too the committee is generally very conservative in their evaluations.

 

[RDU Irish]

I think the Panthers need more of a possession WR but the Packers is an interesting option if somebody was going to draft him in the 1st. With Jordy out they couldn't stretch the field at all this year.

As much as that makes sense - I would really prefer to be able to root FOR Will next year and adding an ND star to the roster might be enough to make my son a Packers fan. Screw those guys!

Can we get a vbook out there on what Will's 40 time will clock in at the combine? What's the over/under look like?

 

[dwshade]

Over/Under 40 time- 4.38

 

[Luckylucci]

Over/Under 40 time- 4.38

Under. I think he's going to be a mid 4.3's guy. I'll say 4.35

 

[woolybug25]

Over/Under 40 time- 4.38

Over. 4.44 and that plenty good.

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Will_Fuller7">@Will_Fuller7</a> has insane hops. See how he gets is 40+ inch vertical jump.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PathtotheDraft?src=hash">#PathtotheDraft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PROcast?src=hash">#PROcast</a><a href="https://t.co/BI8Hg6M9PW">https://t.co/BI8Hg6M9PW</a></p>— FOX Sports: PROcast (@Procast) <a href="https://twitter.com/Procast/status/694244576001789952">February 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[CanadalovesND]

Mayock compares Notre Dame's Will Fuller to 2016 Hall of Famer - NFL.com

 

[GBdomer]

Still waiting to see these insane hops

Besides both being from Philly and basically the same size I don't see a single similarity. Maybe it's just me

 

[NDVirginia19]

Not sure if Marvin Harrison is the most accurate comparison, but then again I didn't see Harrison play that much