Login

pattersaur · 01-06-2025, 09:55 AM

Alright I'm not here to b and moan too much, so I apologize.

But sadly I am here looking for answers-- Can someone explain to me why TJ Hockenson is 'just a guy'?

I thought he was going to come back midseason and light it up. Hasn't happened at all and it's been Addison who's picked up the slack (up until last night).

Hock gets ignored, then Sam remembers he exists and he'll do some good things for us. Then it's back to nowheresville. He's open and it's a bad throw. It's a good throw and he drops it / can't make the contested catch.

Is it the playcalling? Is he still hurt? Does Sam secretly hate his guts? Was I expecting too much and he's just not that Alpha TE guy?

I know we have other weapons. I know he has to block too. I'm not saying he stinks. He's just... fine.

In games like last night when we desperately need some quick passes or easy completions to move the chains, seems like the Top 10 Pick TE would be someone to lean on.

purplefaithful · 01-06-2025, 09:58 AM

I posted a similar sentiment about TJH in the Vikings v Lions thread...

All the stars were pointing to him having a big game and the team needing him to have a big game.

I also think we would have seen a couple of PI calls for him if that game was here. Just saying.

StickierBuns · 01-06-2025, 10:00 AM

Bitch and moan all you'd like, it was a really poor game last night: Missed opportunities, bad QB play, bad O-line play, possible questionable play calling. Big lights shrink up by our boys in purple. Time to vent and let it out.

purplefaithful · 01-06-2025, 10:05 AM

Yah, today is a vent day for sure...

KOC has just a short time to turn these guys around.

A win at LA would do wonders to flip the script.

MaroonBells · 01-06-2025, 10:09 AM

(01-06-2025, 09:55 AM)pattersaur Wrote: Alright I'm not here to b and moan too much, so I apologize.

But sadly I am here looking for answers-- Can someone explain to me why TJ Hockenson is 'just a guy'?

I thought he was going to come back midseason and light it up. Hasn't happened at all and it's been Addison who's picked up the slack (up until last night).

Hock gets ignored, then Sam remembers he exists and he'll do some good things for us. Then it's back to nowheresville. He's open and it's a bad throw. It's a good throw and he drops it / can't make the contested catch.

Is it the playcalling? Is he still hurt? Does Sam secretly hate his guts? Was I expecting too much and he's just not that Alpha TE guy?

I know we have other weapons. I know he has to block too. I'm not saying he stinks. He's just... fine.

In games like last night when we desperately need some quick passes or easy completions to move the chains, seems like the Top 10 Pick TE would be someone to lean on.

It was a bad game for everyone. Sam, KO, TJ, JJ, JA. All of those players have had really good seasons though, so I doubt it continues next week. I guess if all your best players are going to suck at any given time, it's probably best that all of it happens in one game--a game that isn't a season-ender.

Now just throw those performances in one big box with some heavy rocks and drown it in the Mississippi.

hogjowlsjohnny · 01-06-2025, 10:25 AM

They had plenty of Opportunities to win. Plenty of open receivers. Darnold was pressured but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He appeared to be rushing it. The refs never called anything which didn't help. Detroit is a very good team despite all their injuries.

Bullazin · 01-06-2025, 10:58 AM

Anzalone outclassed and shut him down. It was a big squeeze point last night where a lot of stuff went wrong. So many good players just slightly off, KOC off. A game of missed opportunities early that would have changed the course of the game.

That said Detroits coordinators put on a clinic. They both will likely be interviewed for HC jobs. That missed safety call on Goff early was also a killer.

Zanary · 01-06-2025, 11:02 AM

TJ has a flaw, which comes and goes: not great hands.

He's big, he's strong, he can often make great plays...but last season, he, KJ, and Mattison aged me in dog years. They bobbled, dropped, and/or caused INTs with their lacks of dexterity all through those early games. Hock showed the "stone hands" tendency again, last night, which still worries me.

I'm hoping, like the infamous "stone hands Shiancoe", that he spends the needed time with QBs and the JUGS machine to get that sorted.

medaille · 01-06-2025, 11:21 AM

You should never expect a player to be 100%+ coming off an ACL injury. Sure a handful of players have came back and been great after an ACL injury, but it’s not routine for a player to be their same old selves after an ACL tear.

SurfnRide · (This post was last modified: 01-06-2025, 11:48 AM by SurfnRide.)

(01-06-2025, 10:25 AM)hogjowlsjohnny Wrote: They had plenty of Opportunities to win. Plenty of open receivers. Darnold was pressured but couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He appeared to be rushing it. The refs never called anything which didn't help. Detroit is a very good team despite all their injuries.

Anzalone was mugging TJ 10-15 yrds downfield all game. As was Dets CB's. B-Flo and KOC should have figured that out and adjusted quickly. We were not doing the same to their playmakers.