Does Isaiah Hodgins have the frame to put on weight?

[John from Riverside]

Looking at Isaiah he sits at what 6 foot 4 inches 209 pounds

 

I am wondering if he has the frame type to ber able to add weight/muscle to his frame.  Not tight end weight I know he is a receiver but just the frame to get a little bigger stronger without losing speed.

 

There were some posters that were very good at evaluating this on the board in the past......yes he is a great hands catcher......but going to go against some very physical corners/safeties in the pros

 

What do you think?

[Hardhatharry]

I wouldn't doubt the training staff knows what to do if they want him to gain weight. I would rather see what he does at his natural weight first.

[TroutDog]

I think it’s important to remember how young these guys are and they will certainly progress physically, particularly under the tutelage of a professional level strength and conditioning program. 
 

All that being said, yup, I think he’ll be able to ‘expand’ and man I love those hands! ?. The guy doesn’t drop anything. 

[Mr. WEO]

Randy Moss:  6' 4" 210.

 

Michael Thomas: 6' 3" 212.

 

It's not Hodgins build that will hold him back.

[somnus00]

Can he gain 10lbs of solid weight? Yes. He's not a speedy guy anyway. And he's not the guy, right now anyway, to gain separation by himself. I envision him in the slot making contested catches. So gaining muscle may be good for him.

 

I think his biggest obstacle is Covid 19. It's hard to gain 10lbs of muscle. But it's even harder to do it without help. Monitoring calorie intake, macros, and a proper weight training regimen. I don't think the bills training staff will be able to help much right now. 

[H2o]

He can gain weight, but he doesn't necessarily need to. 

[ColoradoBills]

6 minutes ago, somnus00 said:

Can he gain 10lbs of solid weight? Yes. He's not a speedy guy anyway. And he's not the guy, right now anyway, to gain separation by himself. I envision him in the slot making contested catches. So gaining muscle may be good for him.

 

I think his biggest obstacle is Covid 19. It's hard to gain 10lbs of muscle. But it's even harder to do it without help. Monitoring calorie intake, macros, and a proper weight training regimen. I don't think the bills training staff will be able to help much right now. 

 

Would not the Strength and Conditioning Team get to work with these guys during the "virtual" sessions?

I know it's not as good as face to face at OBD but it would help.

[John from Riverside]

33 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Randy Moss:  6' 4" 210.

 

Michael Thomas: 6' 3" 212.

 

It's not Hodgins build that will hold him back.

Those guys are fast

 

Its not going to be Hodgins game.....he is going to have to make contested catches/make basketball plays.

[Mr. WEO]

He has to make the roster first.

 

And guys like Thomas and Moss don't just blow by DBs on most catches.  Plenty are contested and a guy as tall as Hodgins is 4 inches or more taller than most of the guys covering him.  For instance, he's got 4 inches and 20 lbs on Poyer.  He and Hyde are the only 6 foot DBs on the team, as an example.

 

 

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good player.

[Don Otreply]

50 minutes ago, Hardhatharry said:

I wouldn't doubt the training staff knows what to do if they want him to gain weight. I would rather see what he does at his natural weight first.

I think this is the most likely way it will go with him, it is as well likely as he will naturally gain five ish pounds of muscle over the next year or so as a matter of course. So I see no real urgency  for him to get heavier. 

[ColoradoBills]

3 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good player.

 

So you're betting on him being a great player?

[Jauronimo]

10 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good player.

What are your thoughts on Duke?

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

1 hour ago, John from Riverside said:

Looking at Isaiah he sits at what 6 foot 4 inches 209 pounds

 

I am wondering if he has the frame type to ber able to add weight/muscle to his frame.  Not tight end weight I know he is a receiver but just the frame to get a little bigger stronger without losing speed.

 

There were some posters that were very good at evaluating this on the board in the past......yes he is a great hands catcher......but going to go against some very physical corners/safeties in the pros

 

What do you think?

 

I don't think he needs to get heavier - he needs functional strength.  Explosiveness.  Football speed.  

 

Pretty much all of that stuff is the reason WRs take time to acclimate to the NFL. All of that needs to improve, as well as mastering the position to the point where it becomes a reflex, not a thought process.  How many guys come out and struggle with press coverage, how to use leverage to get open, blocking, play books etc. 

 

I feel like rookies can get overflowed with all this information about what they're doing on a given play that it bleeds into the play - they're thinking about what they need to do on a given snap, not playing football.  That's why i think he ends up on PS or IR if they think there's a lot of potential there.  Cant teach hands - and he's got those.  

[John from Riverside]

2 hours ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good player.

You should just go ahead and guarantee it and complete your moronic take.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Well there is a lot that can be done with route running.

Steve Johnson ran mid 4.50’s and got open on Sherman and Revis.

 

If he can master stick and go’s, and learn to break off his routes, I think that will go a long way.

 

What is a realistic speed improvement? 4.61 to a 4.55 or so? 
 

Are we thinking the increased strength helps him break through physical coverage and redirect? 

[TigerJ]

6 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

Those guys are fast

 

Its not going to be Hodgins game.....he is going to have to make contested catches/make basketball plays.

Michael Thomas times at 4.57 in the 40.  Hodgins had a 4.61 at the combine.  That's not a huge difference.  Hodgins does need to learn how to be more physical and he needs to get stronger.  If he does that, his ceiling may be higher than some give him credit for.

[GunnerBill]

I don't know what I'd do with Hodgins to help him separate. With Davis it is obvious there is some improvement to be gained in his get off and his route precision. Hodgins can run a route.... he just doesn't separate. There is only so much of a career you can have catching jump balls. 

[eball]

9 hours ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good player.

Why throw the “almost” in there? Be a man of conviction. 

[Just Joshin']

14 hours ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good player.

Way to play the odds on a 6th round pick.  

[Back2Buff]

Wouldn't surprise me to see a training camp injury that turns into IR for Hodgins.  He needs a red shirt year.

[somnus00]

22 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Would not the Strength and Conditioning Team get to work with these guys during the "virtual" sessions?

I know it's not as good as face to face at OBD but it would help.

 

Would it help? Sure. I don't see why not. But still. It's very difficult to track body composition and macronutrients (proper balance between proteins, carbs, and fats) remotely. Also, what kind of gym and equipment does he have access to?

 

I'm not saying he can't put on significant muscle. Hell, I don't even know if he should. All I'm saying is that it would be difficult given the current circumstances. Like I said, gaining 10 lbs of muscle is hard work, especially for ectomorphs like Hodgins, even with the proper support.

[ctk232]

23 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

Those guys are fast

 

Its not going to be Hodgins game.....he is going to have to make contested catches/make basketball plays.

To play devil’s advocate - Moss was an exceptional athlete for his entire career, but his twilight success had very little to do with his speed compared to his ability to recognize coverages and run his routes accordingly. Having Brady certainly helped as well. Thomas very much has the speed still, but he plays physical and with a similar acumen for identifying soft zone coverage, and playing against his DB and FS in man. Brees throwing the ball has also helped.

 

For Hodgins, it’ll be more than just his size that determines his success, and adding weight isn’t always a solution even when the frame permits it. His hands are his greatest asset presently, and does have athletic ability to contest for the catch.
 

Just a fun tidbit regarding his speed fwiw - a friend (Bills fan and US Track coach based in Portland, OR) actually pointed out something interesting. Hodgins actually loses power in his running stride b/c his feet naturally face outward in a “V” shape, and loses “vector drive” and “planting power” to generate speed as a result. I’m not going to pretend to understand the science behind it, but the logic is that you generate optimal speed on a single vector so it’s otherwise wasted movement/energy in the direction of his stride, and doesn’t aid in propelling him forward. Not to say “that’s it” in regard to his lesser speed either, but it’s at least visible in his highlights and combine. Apparently, correcting this otherwise “natural” motion that his body and muscles have developed around isn’t an overnight process either. 

[HOUSE]

I almost guarantee that Hodgins will not be a good fat player.

[TroutDog]

On 5/11/2020 at 4:40 PM, John from Riverside said:

Those guys are fast

 

Its not going to be Hodgins game.....he is going to have to make contested catches/make basketball plays.

I agree with this. If you’ve watched the ESPN ‘Last Dance’ on Jordan, he recognized this and put forth the effort to put on the required muscle mass. 
 

The rest, as they say, is history. I hope this kids history will be written as even a sliver of Jordan’s. ? 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

On 5/11/2020 at 3:52 PM, John from Riverside said:

Looking at Isaiah he sits at what 6 foot 4 inches 209 pounds

 

I am wondering if he has the frame type to ber able to add weight/muscle to his frame.  Not tight end weight I know he is a receiver but just the frame to get a little bigger stronger without losing speed.

 

There were some posters that were very good at evaluating this on the board in the past......yes he is a great hands catcher......but going to go against some very physical corners/safeties in the pros

 

What do you think?

 

 

...I think he's 21 years old and probably still growing....let him develop at his own pace with no set trainer schedule to definitely add weight.....if and a BIG IF, didn't OBD embark on a crusade to get McGahee to bulk up to 240?.....which I seem to remember was a flop.....

[Punching Bag]

2 hours ago, ctk232 said:

To play devil’s advocate - Moss was an exceptional athlete for his entire career, but his twilight success had very little to do with his speed compared to his ability to recognize coverages and run his routes accordingly. Having Brady certainly helped as well. Thomas very much has the speed still, but he plays physical and with a similar acumen for identifying soft zone coverage, and playing against his DB and FS in man. Brees throwing the ball has also helped.

 

For Hodgins, it’ll be more than just his size that determines his success, and adding weight isn’t always a solution even when the frame permits it. His hands are his greatest asset presently, and does have athletic ability to contest for the catch.
 

Just a fun tidbit regarding his speed fwiw - a friend (Bills fan and US Track coach based in Portland, OR) actually pointed out something interesting. Hodgins actually loses power in his running stride b/c his feet naturally face outward in a “V” shape, and loses “vector drive” and “planting power” to generate speed as a result. I’m not going to pretend to understand the science behind it, but the logic is that you generate optimal speed on a single vector so it’s otherwise wasted movement/energy in the direction of his stride, and doesn’t aid in propelling him forward. Not to say “that’s it” in regard to his lesser speed either, but it’s at least visible in his highlights and combine. Apparently, correcting this otherwise “natural” motion that his body and muscles have developed around isn’t an overnight process either. 

 

Hodgins should spend some time in Don Beebe's "House of Speed". His organization has helped many players refine their game.  Read some of the testimonials. 

[Dont Stop Billeiving]

Hodgins will never be a fast or flashy player, but his 40 time might not be representative of his true game speed. Josh ran a 4.75 at the combine and yet we've seen him run circles around LBs and safeties on many occasions. I do think Hodgins has some quickness and good footwork to set up and trick DBs to get open. 

 

Hodgins' strengths are his height, route running, and top of the class shuttle and 3 cone times. He's shown that he catches everything thrown his way and I think he can be coached up to improve his separation (having Diggs, Brown, and Beasley to learn from doesn't hurt either!). 

 

I'm really hoping that he has a strong preseason in whatever form that takes and earns a roster spot, proving to be an upgrade over Duke.