I don't understand you or Philly on this one. Mike Wallace was a unknown for the most part to all of us when he got drafted. His routes weren't precise, his hands weren't terrific BUT he was outlandishly fast. Insert Markus Wheaton who much like Mike Wallace is getting rave reviews in camp, BUT he runs terrific routes, has very good hands and apparently mauls press coverage. Oh AND he runs a 4.3 forty. Assuming Ben stays healthy and Wheaton gets similar opportunities to perform i see very little reason for Wheaton to not have a very productive rookie season. Wheaton by all accounts is MUCH more polished than Wallace ever was as a rookie, he just may not be AS FAST but he's pretty damn fast as are most people that run 4.3 forties.
Because some can't get past their idol worship of Wallace and can't accept he didn't want to be part of the team some fans claim to support. Wallace was and still is a flawed player. It would be great if he stayed but I'll always say he wasn't the most talented WR we had. He was definitely the most overhyped because of the speed thing.
As far as production I think Wheaton will be extremely effective (doesn't mean he needs to equal Wallace last year) and we won't miss Wallace who IMO will have a mediocre season in Miami not worth the contract he got.
Last edited by Oviedo; 08-08-2013 at 09:08 AM.
"My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"
Get over yourself.
I've never idolized Wallace. I have looked at his numbers and watched him play. His game speed is incredibly fast. I haven't seen many faster, if any. I certainly didn't want the Steelers to give him the same deal he got with Miami. However, I think letting a player with his production and ability leave for a third round pick a year later is the poor use of an asset.
I think Wallace is kind of a jerk and I hope he does not succeed. But I don't have the same level of vitriol for him as you.
If you want to naively think that Wheaton will produce what Wallace did as a rookie, go ahead. Look at the numbers of rookie WRs throughout the league on an annual basis. Look at the production of Steelers rookie WRs. And after you look at some data, tell me how probabale that really is. I know, I know, you don't like data, and just prefer to spout out without support.
I like Wheaton and I'm excited for his potential. That said, I just don't see where he would replace what Wallace did.
Wallace averaged 17.2 YPC in his NFL career and 13.1 YPC last year in what was easily his worst pro season. Wheaton, by comparison, averaged 13.7 YPC last year - the best of his career - in college. I think he has the potential to be a very good intermediate type receiver - like Brown is, like Sanders could become, like Holmes was in his prime. I have no reason to believe that he'll become a guy, like Wallace, that you had to gameplan around.
Also depends on how you are looking to match Wallace. Are we looking for Wheaton to replace the Wallace numbers of his best season? 1,257 yards and 10 TDs. Are we looking for the rook to match Wallace's rookie numbers? 756 yards and 6 TDs. Big difference, and I can see Wheaton coming close to Wallace's rookie numbers if things work out for him.
Wallace had ludicrous speed and could sometimes get to plaid. Wheaton has light speed and can maybe make it to ridiculous speed. The Steelers should be ok.
Wallace had the luxury of Hines and Holmes on our team... and an OC who was all about the vertical game. I doubt Wheaton will match Wallace in yardage or ypc but he may surpass him with in the chain moving department. I'm not concerned with matching individual stats... I think Wheaton will have a bigger impact in our playoff run.
..and I'm not sure why some are so down on a WR getting praise this year... it's normal for fans to want the guy who is on our team to have a better year than the guy who left for more money.
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