Concerning Devin Funchess and his hands

[juliosantos]

He just sucks but thier is potential

[Snake]

If you pay real close attention he has the same problem as brown. He body catches very well but hands catches he is super unreliable. Ricky really needs to step his game up in that department because all of our WRs can't just body catch everything.  Also in the Philly Game the CBS were so tight Cam was drilling balls in because he didn't trust his WRs not to turn it over. 

[nctarheel0619]

Maybe we can keep Stephen Hill now, since he and Funchess are basically the same player.  Except Hill has wayyyy more speed.  

[Manos]

At least Funchess seems to get open a lot. If he can learn to catch the ball he might actually be a really good player.

[Cookie Lyon]

Sister Anne's Hands > Devin Funchess' Hands

[Cookie Lyon]

All jokes aside, I'm rooting for you, Devin!

[Keith Moons Liver]

Even Gettleman screws up sometimes. 

[bandu]

you never know which way this kids thumbs are going to be turned prior to the ball making contact with his hands.I've seen his thumbs turned inward (touching) below the waist line and then outward above  the waist line  (which makes the ball deflect upwards)...just the opposite of what you wanna do.i know all this sounds like the way you don't want to catch a ball 101,but whenever I watch this kid,the one flaw that really jumps out or is noticable,is his hand placement

[Daddy_Uncle]

Funchess will be a solid #3 or #4 once we finally round out our receiver group. He's nothing great but he's decent and will get better in time

 

[GoobyPls]

Uhhh... no.

Funchess is already a better route runner and gets more separation than Hill.

And yet Funchess is on pace to have a worst rookie season than Hill, and that's with playing more games and having a better QB.

[SamMills4Life]

I keep watching the video, and I completely believe that Olsen would have come down with that pass 10/10 times. Perfect spiral and it isn't too high for a receiver of Funchess's height. The problem is that he jumps backwards gaining virtually zero height, and then he just sort of flails at it. If he can't fix his catching motion, Funchess has no future in the NFL.

[CatalystNX]

I think Funchess isn't comfortable with the offense yet and it's affecting his concentration. Most of his drops at Michigan weren't of the bad hands variety, but rather issues with concentration and considering he's still adjusting to the NFL I think that's the case here as well.

Truth is we all probably expected way too much of him this season. He's MUCH more of a project than KB ever was.

[PantherPhann89]

I liked the pick when it happened and understand that he's a rookie. The expectations that were placed on him was unfair to him, he's young, lets wait and see how he develops...

[lightsout]

Funchess' problem is all mental I think. I think he's adjusting to the NFL game, adjusting to Cam's throws, and at times, I think he scares himself. I think he gets out there, runs a solid route, and when the ball is almost there, he just loses his concentration. He does EVERYTHING else right up to the point of actually making the catch. The catches in the 'Hawks game? I think those routes and throws were so sudden that he didn't have time to think. He just played. He looked a lot more loose out there in those moments. He seems very tense outside of those catches while he's making the catch. Like he is trying so hard NOT to drop it that he doubts himself for a second.

Thing is, to start limiting Funch's reps now would only be detrimental. It would step on his confidence, which is already part of the issue. Keep his reps the same and just watch the situations you put him in. Throw to him on first down. Or some non-consequential down, like 2nd and short. Don't put him out there in critical moments in the game too often. Let him first get comfortable in this offense and then let him earn his time in big situations. This may help limit the "oh crap" reaction his body indicates he is going through as the ball is reaching him. If it wasn't for the drops, you'd think Funch has been in the league for at least a year or two. That's how good he looks running routes and getting separation.

As Rivera said, he just has to put all of his tools together.