Underhill -- Willie Snead's deep understanding of the game has been a major key to his success (1 Viewer)

Dan in Lafayette

Staff member
Administrator
Diamond VIP Contributor
Joined
Aug 1, 1997
Messages
69,484
Reaction score
55,311
Age
69
Location
Lafayette, LA
Offline
<img src="http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/theadvocate.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/a5/3a5145af-ce07-506c-a677-1f371d2bc616/57def1922509f.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800" width="650" /img>

Willie Snead's deep understanding of the game has been a major key to his success

By Nick Underhill -- Advocate



Sometimes it’s easy for the Saints to forget how far Willie Snead has come as a wide receiver, and how deep his understanding of the game goes.

When he showed in camp before last season, it seemed like he already had it all figured out and was ready made to make plays.

“I probably don't appreciate that as much because it just seems like when we first got him that came natural to him,” coach Sean Payton said.

That level of polish also can also make it difficult to see how much Snead has grown in the classroom and in his understanding of the game from when he caught 984 yards as a rookie to this season, which is where a large portion of his success comes from.

The receiver pulled in 69 passes last season and often made things look easy, but his production disguised the fact that he was trying to process a lot of information on the field, sometimes at a slower pace than he'd like.

MORE -- Advocate
 
New Orleans has proof of how deep Snead's understanding of the offense goes.

There are times when the Saints put a marker in their receivers&#8217; hands and ask them to draw the rest of the passing pattern. The players almost always, of course, know what they&#8217;re being asked to do, but there are times when they are blind to what&#8217;s happening elsewhere on the field.

There aren&#8217;t many moments when Snead gets caught slipping. He almost always knows what the guys on either side of him are doing, and rates highly among the other players in the room in terms of understanding and knowing the whole offense.

&#8220;He would probably be one of the higher-graded players on offense that would be able to do that,&#8221; Payton said. &#8220;&#8217;This is what (Brandin) Cooks is doing over here, this is what Michael (Thomas is) doing, this is what I&#8217;m doing, this is what the back does.&#8217; You&#8217;d be surprised sometimes how players just learn what they do. You&#8217;re always as a coach trying to teach the whole picture and how it applies.&#8221;

Apparently he understands the offense second only to Drew Brees and Sean Payton themselves.
 
If it's true that he showed up to the Saints already able to comprehend a complicated offense with an innate ability to apply it to the various defensive looks, it makes it even more incomprehensible how the Browns, Giants, and Panthers couldn't find a way to utilize him.

I get the Saints have, by far, the best QB in that group; however, any offensive scheme should be able to utilize a player that knows how to run a good route based on how the defense is aligned.
 
If it's true that he showed up to the Saints already able to comprehend a complicated offense with an innate ability to apply it to the various defensive looks, it makes it even more incomprehensible how the Browns, Giants, and Panthers couldn't find a way to utilize him.

I get the Saints have, by far, the best QB in that group; however, any offensive scheme should be able to utilize a player that knows how to run a good route based on how the defense is aligned.

Your probably correct in that those times should of found good use in a receiver like that.

Or the other side on the coin says that maybe, just maybe, his understanding grew from having to learn 4 different offenses within his 1st year in the league.

Either way, just like Lance back in 05' I'm grateful those other teams let him go, not only so he ended up here. But ending up here with that big chip on his shoulder. Keep proving the entire league wrong (undrafted) and especially the 3 teams that had a chance to see 1st hand and still passed him up. The same reason 31 teams passed on Drew. "Too short"

Ha, their loss, our gain
 
so he knows what everyone on the offense is doing on the play. but spiller couldnt learn his job... SMH.
 
so he knows what everyone on the offense is doing on the play. but spiller couldnt learn his job... SMH.

Part of me thinks it was more Spiller didn't want to do the job being asked of him and disagreed with how he was used.
 
Part of me thinks it was more Spiller didn't want to do the job being asked of him and disagreed with how he was used.

so he knows what everyone on the offense is doing on the play. but spiller couldnt learn his job... SMH.


Spiller=Smaller Faster Ingram that couldn't block

We wanted a bigger Sproles/Reggie


He wasn't that player, we moved on.
 
I hope all of our WR's remain blue collar guys. We can't afford even 1 big time WR, much less 3 or 4. I wouldn't want to lose any of them.
 
Spiller=Smaller Faster Ingram that couldn't block

We wanted a bigger Sproles/Reggie


He wasn't that player, we moved on.

That's it in a nutshell, I just think he was mad about the situation and I guess I would be too. Both parties really thought he'd be the next Sproles.

We have really been missing that, but Ingram has been pretty solid as a 3rd down outlet. I'd really like to see what Lasco is capable of, although I feel that'd be the same type of situation Spiller just had.

If anything Lasco made Spiller expendable.
 
We have three very talented recievers its hard to pinpoint or project who the #1 guy is because anyone could get the call to make the play when the offense needs to make a play if its not Cooks speed and route running then its Sneads route running and hands or from what we have been witnessing Thomas route running and hands and YAC ability.
 
That's it in a nutshell, I just think he was mad about the situation and I guess I would be too. Both parties really thought he'd be the next Sproles.

We have really been missing that, but Ingram has been pretty solid as a 3rd down outlet. I'd really like to see what Lasco is capable of, although I feel that'd be the same type of situation Spiller just had.

If anything Lasco made Spiller expendable.

Cadet made Spiller expendable. Lasco = Younger Hightower/Mike Bell. Not sure he's going to be split wide as a WR as he's not a scat back. He doesn't fit that role.
 
Cadet made Spiller expendable. Lasco = Younger Hightower/Mike Bell. Not sure he's going to be split wide as a WR as he's not a scat back. He doesn't fit that role.

People are confused by Lasco. He is a versatile running back who happens to be an exceptional special teamer. But so far, he is not a returner and thus not a Courtney Roby equivalent. He is something like Brandon Bolden of the Patriots.
 
I really like this guy. He plays with intensity, and is a flat out baller. He is as reliable a receiver I have seen, and just knows how to read defenses and their players. I hope he can continue to have that kind of chemistry with Drew and the rest of the offense, we need a guy like Snead to provide consistent production, while being able to step up to elite levels when needed.
 
People are confused by Lasco. He is a versatile running back who happens to be an exceptional special teamer. But so far, he is not a returner and thus not a Courtney Roby equivalent. He is something like Brandon Bolden of the Patriots.

He was never known for being a return man, just a good ST's guy that would go down the field and make tackles. That part of his game has translated very well.

I've posted a quote of him referring to himself as a "power runner" on more than 1 occasion and I'm sure this is after meetings with coaches where they've talked about how they view him/what they see him as.


Mike Detillier had an article last week lauding him for being smart enough that SP already trust him in the game at certain points. I'd like to think that when SP talked about guys getting more snaps on offense and defense that Lasco is one of those guys on O. He's a slasher runner with 4.4 speed. Not very much open field wiggle but he gets skinny and he can take contact/split a D if he gets an open hole. Should be a good 1+2 punch with Ingram as he develops. One of those guys that will get you chunk yardage on well blocked plays and it appears as though his progress as a between the tackles runner is trending up. Which was what Mickey/SP talked about after the draft. They saw him as a STeamer 1st and then they'd see how he develops as a RB.

The arrow is def pointing up with him. To edit my argument from above... I guess you can say that he made Spiller expendable because they are similar backs....except he appears to be a better blocker.
 
Snead has turned into such a great find. This kid has been a stud for us. Never really understood the Lance comparisons though with Snead being more Boldin then Lance. One thing I love about our WR trio is they all compliment each other so well with each having a special skill set they bring. Only thing missing IMO is another burner to stretch the field. Some might not know this but Snead measured the 2nd biggest hands behind Kelvin Benjamin in the draft. Explains to why he never drops a ball where he and Lance do have something in common having Velcro hands.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Users who are viewing this thread

    Back
    Top Bottom