Odoms- Who's with me?
I was just over at Bucknuts reading Brian's post and watching the DR TD.(I could watch that 50 times over) Anyway, the play was a designed reverse or fake reverse as Odoms was coming across the formation. He realized that it was broken right away and then picked up speed and plowed a defender. No hesitation. This is what football is all about!
That is one of the most inspiring plays I have seen since Crable tracked Ringer(i think) down after missing him in the backfield. Odoms is a guy that HAS to be on the field as much as possible because of this trait. He is a player.
I love Grady because he is from West Michigan(WHAT!?)and his athletic ability but he does not strike me as a punch you in the mouth kind of guy like Odoms. All this talk about Grady surpassing Odoms is a little much I think. Yes, we know Odoms lathers his gloves with Crisco but when push comes to shove he would cut off his left leg out there for the team. Grady may do that too but I want to see the little things from Kelvin before we write Odoms off.
I am probably too defensive for Odoms, but how can you not like a guy who works like that? A good mix of both him and Grady is the best solution I guess.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:05 PM ^
against WMU. Odoms will need to step up to catch him. I don't think he's written off though. Not by any means. It appears RR likes to have lots of toys and bring them in and out of the game freely.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:10 PM ^
Odoms will need to step up to catch him.I disagree. Odoms was limited the first half with what appeared to be an injury. Grady had three touches 24 for and a drop. I don't think that overwhelms Odoms's considerable production last year. We will see more in Brian's offensive UFR.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:22 AM ^
yeah, i ughed when he dropped that pass. but the next ball thrown to grady was a fkn rope from denard that was way high and grady snagged it to more than redeem himself. i think grady will see plenty of PT as the season goes on and i'm very enthused about it.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:25 AM ^
I think that drop was more due to it being Grady's first game and him being nervous. You saw on the Shoelace rope pass that he has very good hands and I've heard the same thing from practice.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:09 PM ^
regardless, he's a tough sonuvagun.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
We need more than one .. we need more than two ..
September 9th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
they haven't even let Roundtree out yet and don't we have like five more coming next year.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:18 PM ^
Thats what the defense thinks when Odoms(or Grady) is out there. That is the whole point of being a ninja, right....SURPRISE!
September 9th, 2009 at 5:09 PM ^
I always thought the whole point of being a ninja was for the ladies?
September 9th, 2009 at 6:25 PM ^
Ninja Gaiden certainly suggested as much. That Irene Lew was a stone-cold fox.
http://sydlexia.com/imagesandstuff/neswomen/ninjagaiden_irenelew.png
September 9th, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^
Grady has been a pleasant surprise so far this year.
Odoms will be solid for sure. I think that play just goes to show how much they have been working on their blocking. I doubt you would have seen Odoms do that last year.
This is not even mentioning Gallon who also came out highly recruited
September 10th, 2009 at 12:45 AM ^
Odoms vs. Minnesota player on Shaw's big run.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:25 PM ^
I saw that play too. I'm glad he's getting some attention for it. He just blows up a player twice his size.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
FWIW, my recollection from either the Monday presser or RR's interview with Jim Brandstatter was that TO (not that TO) had 30 snaps and KG (not that KG) had 26. Not sure what explains the apparently greater tendency of KG (NTKG) to get more quality ball touches, though.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^
I guess I was going on hype. There was little talk about TO and a lot of talk about KG. Nonetheless, I think a good mix of both is not bad.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
I agree with everyone else...thats an incredible effort from Odoms.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
That play reminded me a little of Shaw's long run against Minnesota last year. We all heard about Shaw's ninja speed (keeping in mind that he was playing hurt that game) and on that long run Odoms just went flying by him and took a defender on. Nothing like sprinting 50 yards to get a block.
Mathews had a couple very nice blocks on Denard's TD also, iirc.
September 9th, 2009 at 6:15 PM ^
I thought of this play as soon as I read the post as well. It's great to have receivers that wanna get in there and throw a block.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
I like 'em both.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:04 PM ^
i saw that play for the second time when i got home from the game on replay and that block by odoms was the first thing i noticed about it. i'm surprised no one said anything earlier. kudos and +1.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:11 PM ^
That block was great, just awesome football right there. And I see no way that they will want to keep someone as talented as him off the field. He was probably rushed into playing time a bit faster than coaches would normally want, but he's experienced and looks to be continuing to improve his entire game. Now just hold on to that ball, and don't get procedure penalties, and ninjafy!
September 9th, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^
I think it's easy to forget that Odoms was our leading receiver last year and now he is apparently fighting for the start at slot with Grady? Can't argue his production and the kid hustled on that play.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:37 PM ^
Good pickup on that. Missed it the first time around but you can't miss it once you know where to look. I've always sorta liked Odoms. That definitely bumps him up a notch or five. That guy he plowed was twice his size and he went ramming speed ahead.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^
One thing I noticed besides Grady being bigger is that he appears to be a better athlete. It was just one game and all, but I think Grady is faster than Odoms and is more of a threat to break tackles and take the bubble screen for more yardage. All I can assume is that Grady must have really impressed during practices to get the start.
I'm taking nothing away from Odoms. I think he is a gamer, and he's tough. I'm sure we'll see more of him. But Grady really looks like more of an impact player at slot to me.
September 9th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^
It sure is nice after last year to be able to debate things like this and quickly develop a surplus of talent at various positions.
September 9th, 2009 at 6:10 PM ^
I love that since Tay ended up on the ground after the block, the linebacker did his bad ass stare down for like a second and a half, like he put Tay in his place, then peeked up to see Shoelace scorching towards the endzone. You could see the swagger 'tude dissappear instantly.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:06 PM ^
There's room for both on the field. Both have big-play opportunities. Keep in mind that Odoms played seemingly every down last year. We got used to seeing him on the field and he caught a lot of balls because he had to. I'm perfectly happy to see him on the field only 50% of the snaps if that means he's going full-speed that entire time and Grady is going full-speed the rest of the time.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
They are both great athletes. We are better off having both. I just love the way TO plays. KG may show that too if given the chance, but Tay's play on that one is a thing of beauty. Its like he was a heat seaking missile which did not hesitate for a second. Just fun to watch and the main reason I love football.
September 10th, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^
Many WR will play this year in many different formations.
I'd rather have 6-7 guys in there able to go 100% effort 100% of the time they're on the field.
Odoms will make big plays, he just isn't the only reciever on the field worth throwing to anymore. (and by that I mean that last year, the bubble screens and quick outs were the only passes our QBs seemed to be able to complete.