Hetherington ... fans call for patience

[OV - 54:40]

Hetherington made a couple of catches. He's a Canadian rookie in his first start and has to get used to the speed and intensity of the pro game compared to the CIS. Few rookies are going to be great in their first game. The important thing is to guage how he bounces back from adversity in this next game, that is a truer measure of his potential.

Let's not forget that Arkee Whitlock had about the worst first game in the history of football, but the Esks stuck with him, now he is their starter and a 1000 yd rusher.

Let's also not forget Dante Marsh's first Lions game, getting burned repeatedly for TD's and long gains. Now he is an league all-star and the Lions are very glad they didn't throw him under the bus after one bad game.

Agreed. Hetherington had a horrible game tonight but basically it was his first real action all season. See how good your timing is when you haven't actually played any real live ball. Fantuz sucked a$$ for much of his second season and as I recall RGM looked pretty ball unsure earlier in the season. He has looked much better of late since he went on special teams and showed some pretty decent hands tonight on his TD. Heth... has a lot of potential and will make a very good receiver. If he gets another chance next week, we'll see much better production from him.

I'd guess Hetherington's poor performance in this one start might have earned him a trip back to the bench, the PR or even out of town; ; gotta step-up when you get the opportunity and he didn't; Nicholson got bounced outta town after very limited playing time; meanwhile - all sorts of Cory Rodgers, Skillern, Grice-Mullen types can drop way more passes yet still earn more playing time; way she goes I guess.

[Rammer]

PM also hasn't played for two months plus, he needs to work off some of the rust too.

It may be a shot in the dark, but don't you think that PMc was given the start this week due to the trade deadline coming up on Oct 14th? This was a chance to show that he has recouped from his injury and would be added value to a team, otherwise the risk of a trade and him not being able to produce due to his injury would make a team look foolish for having picked him up.

[CatsEyes]

We've had guys dropping the ball all year.

Must...resist..commenting..on...receivers....coach.

Kinda like having Mother Theresa running a brothel.

[Blitz]

I think we have to remember that it was Hetherington's first game as a starter and he was dealing with nerves, huge game rust, etc. The speed of a game is so much different than practice.

We don't know yet if Hetherington will ever grow into a quality Canadian receiver but he's a tall target, has good size, and he did get in behind coverage so he's not a slug.

I think Hetherington's situation calls for a little more patience.

[SammyGreene]

I think we have to remember that it was Hetherington's first game as a starter and he was dealing with nerves, huge game rust, etc. The speed of a game is so much different than practice.

We don't know yet if Hetherington will ever grow into a quality Canadian receiver but he's a tall target, has good size, and he did get in behind coverage so he's not a slug.

I think Hetherington's situation calls for a little more patience.

signed Kamau Peterson

[B.C.FAN]

I think we have to remember that it was Hetherington's first game as a starter and he was dealing with nerves, huge game rust, etc. The speed of a game is so much different than practice.

We don't know yet if Hetherington will ever grow into a quality Canadian receiver but he's a tall target, has good size, and he did get in behind coverage so he's not a slug.

I think Hetherington's situation calls for a little more patience.

Agreed 100%. It takes years to develop a receiver. Hetherington is a big target who can get open. I think he has a good future.

[David]

Wow. To wake up this morning after one of the most thrilling dead and buried comebacks in team history to find three pages of posts bashing a kid in his first pro start was a little disappointing. Yes, the bad break on the ball (that should have given us a crucial first down) and the holding penalty are indefensible. But let's give him more than one game at least before we unequivocally state that he shouldn't be on the team, huh?

At least I saw an ability to get open, particularly on the pass to the back of the end zone which was hardly a "gimmie" for any receiver in those conditions.

DH

[LFITQ]

Some stats that might be interesting
OPP REC YDS AVG Long TD
HAM 0 0 0 0 0
MTL 8 57 7.1 14 0
BC 1 25 25.0 25 0
TOR 2 11 5.5 7 0
EDM 5 57 11.4 16 0
CGY 3 26 8.7 11 0
CGY 2 23 11.5 13 0
SSK 3 38 12.7 16 0
TOR 6 32 5.3 9 0
MTL 4 37 9.3 15 0

Not exactly stellar numbers.
But that player turned into SUPERMAN.
Yep Geroy's numbers in his rookie season with WPG in 1999

[B.C.FAN]

Some stats that might be interesting
OPP REC YDS AVG Long TD
HAM 0 0 0 0 0
MTL 8 57 7.1 14 0
BC 1 25 25.0 25 0
TOR 2 11 5.5 7 0
EDM 5 57 11.4 16 0
CGY 3 26 8.7 11 0
CGY 2 23 11.5 13 0
SSK 3 38 12.7 16 0
TOR 6 32 5.3 9 0
MTL 4 37 9.3 15 0

Not exactly stellar numbers.
But that player turned into SUPERMAN.

Yep Geroy's numbers in his rookie season with WPG in 1999

To continue with LFITQ'S theme:

OPP REC YDS AVG Long TD
SSK 1 19 19.0 19 0
HAM 1 12 12.0 12 0
SSK 4 54 13.5 35 0

EDM 1 3 3.0 3 0
MTL 1 21 21.0 21 0
OTT 2 38 19.0 28 0
OTT 1 15 15.0 15 0
CGY 4 56 14.0 21 0
SSK 1 5 5.0 5 0




Those are Paris Jackson's numbers from his first two seasons in the league (2003-2004).

[squishy35]

Wow. To wake up this morning after one of the most thrilling dead and buried comebacks in team history to find three pages of posts bashing a kid in his first pro start was a little disappointing. Yes, the bad break on the ball (that should have given us a crucial first down) and the holding penalty are indefensible. But let's give him more than one game at least before we unequivocally state that he shouldn't be on the team, huh?

At least I saw an ability to get open, particularly on the pass to the back of the end zone which was hardly a "gimmie" for any receiver in those conditions.

DH

My original post.... (start of this thread) by no means bashes Heatherington..... It expresses my frustration in watching him...

I can understand the nerves and pressure of starting your first game...... My intention is that he really needs to show a definitive improvement if he ever gets a second chance....

[pennw]

Thinking more about it , I feel bad about the responses here too . Hope Hetherington doesn't read this stuff . I bet he felt bad all by himself about his first game already . This not an encouragement for him should he happen to see these pages . Lots of rookies have looked less than stellar first time out and became star players , maybe we should be patient in hope he turns out to become a good one .

[Wakesbetterthanyou]

Some of you are horrible, it was a rookies first start. Not everyone can jump into the bigs and be awesome their first time out. Give your heads a shake those that are raggin on him hard. You catch that ball lol.

[Wakesbetterthanyou]

Wow. To wake up this morning after one of the most thrilling dead and buried comebacks in team history to find three pages of posts bashing a kid in his first pro start was a little disappointing. Yes, the bad break on the ball (that should have given us a crucial first down) and the holding penalty are indefensible. But let's give him more than one game at least before we unequivocally state that he shouldn't be on the team, huh?

At least I saw an ability to get open, particularly on the pass to the back of the end zone which was hardly a "gimmie" for any receiver in those conditions.

DH

My original post.... (start of this thread) by no means bashes Heatherington..... It expresses my frustration in watching him...

I can understand the nerves and pressure of starting your first game...... My intention is that he really needs to show a definitive improvement if he ever gets a second chance....

I'm sick of this being used as an excuse. Sports are supposed to be enjoyed. IF they bring out the worst in you then maybe you shouldnt watch.

[Rammer]

Some stats that might be interesting
OPP REC YDS AVG Long TD
HAM 0 0 0 0 0
MTL 8 57 7.1 14 0
BC 1 25 25.0 25 0
TOR 2 11 5.5 7 0
EDM 5 57 11.4 16 0
CGY 3 26 8.7 11 0
CGY 2 23 11.5 13 0
SSK 3 38 12.7 16 0
TOR 6 32 5.3 9 0
MTL 4 37 9.3 15 0

Not exactly stellar numbers.
But that player turned into SUPERMAN.
Yep Geroy's numbers in his rookie season with WPG in 1999

I don't see the stats where he dropped three catchable throws his way and also took a holding penalty that cost his team as well. I am sure that he can pick it up, but after TC we kept him vs Carter. If we replaced Adam Nicholson as easily as we did last season after his game time performances, it stands to reason, that Hetherington will need to find his groove sooner than later.

[PigSkin_53]

At this most crucial part of the season, frankly the situation is the kid is severely under qualified for his positioning on the depth chart.

The worst thing to have done was to throw him to the wolves with so much pressure riding on him to perform under the circumstances of the occasion, when both Green and Anderson have a vast pool of experience between them, and were available to play.

I am not knocking the kid’s potential nor the fact he may well become the next Geroy Simon, but rather I endorse what has been said in his favor, just that now was just not the right time to started him.