Hoecht interview on Eric Wood's podcast

[transplantbillsfan]

 

If you haven't listened to him talk, he's a great listen.

 

I think the thing most everyone wonders about is his recovery from his Achilles, which he addresses pretty immediately.  Says his plan is to be "done" by July 1st and then ramp up so he's ready to play as soon as the season starts.  He talks about his former teammate Cam Akers coming back just over 5 months after he tore his Achilles in 2021 to play in the playoffs.

 

For Hoecht, his goal of beginning of July as his goal for being "done" with his rehabbing and recovery would put him exactly 8 months from his injury.

 

Man... I'm just salivating thinking about Hoecht back for the beginning of next year healthy.

[Alphadawg7]

Its funny, so many people were like "meh" or down on him when we signed him, but I kept telling people this dude can ball, LA hated losing him.  He was one of my favorite moves of the offseason last year, and in his short time on the field he really won the "crowd" over.  

 

I am so excited to see him not only back on the field, but to see how he is used in our defense.  All that being said, we still need to see how fast he also gets back to form after the injury, could take a little bit get back to feeling like his old self.  

 

Edited February 20 by Alphadawg7

[transplantbillsfan]

14 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its funny, so many people were like "meh" or down on him when we signed him, but I kept telling people this dude can ball, LA hated losing him.  He was one of my favorites moves of the offseason last year, and in his short time on the field he really won the "crowd" over.  

 

I am so excited to see not only back on the field, but to see how he is used in our defense.  All that being said, expectations need to be tempered a bit, it can often take until the 2nd year back before a player gets back to full potential after an ACL tear both mentally and physically.  So even if he is back to start the season he may need some time to get his groove back and probably get stronger as the season goes on.

 

I don't know if the mental aspect is going to be a problem, but what I could see happening with him based on the way he plays is that he tears it again because of how hard he goes at everything.

 

Also, just listening to the guy talk, I'm allowing myself to feel optimistic.  I think everyone should listen to the interview... you could tell Wood was in awe of him during a lot of the conversation.  

Edited February 20 by transplantbillsfan

[billsfan89]

20 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its funny, so many people were like "meh" or down on him when we signed him, but I kept telling people this dude can ball, LA hated losing him.  He was one of my favorite moves of the offseason last year, and in his short time on the field he really won the "crowd" over.  

 

I am so excited to see him not only back on the field, but to see how he is used in our defense.  All that being said, expectations need to be tempered a bit, it can often take until the 2nd year back before a player gets back to full potential after an ACL tear both mentally and physically.  So even if he is back to start the season he may need some time to get his groove back and probably get stronger as the season goes on.

 

 

I think the reaction to his signing was pretty positive. It was a mid-level deal for a player who brought a lot of versatility and upside. 

[Virgil]

I really wonder if him and Groot aren't our OLB's in the traditional 3-4 sets.  Would make sense to me.  I think Milano would be serviceable in that role too, if we can bring him back cheap enough.  He did decent off the ball this past seasons in the few times we tried

Edited February 20 by Virgil

[dave mcbride]

31 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its funny, so many people were like "meh" or down on him when we signed him, but I kept telling people this dude can ball, LA hated losing him.  He was one of my favorite moves of the offseason last year, and in his short time on the field he really won the "crowd" over.  

 

I am so excited to see him not only back on the field, but to see how he is used in our defense.  All that being said, expectations need to be tempered a bit, it can often take until the 2nd year back before a player gets back to full potential after an ACL tear both mentally and physically.  So even if he is back to start the season he may need some time to get his groove back and probably get stronger as the season goes on.

 

He didn’t have an acl tear; it was an achilles. And people come back faster from that than they did back in the old days.

[Augie]

26 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its funny, so many people were like "meh" or down on him when we signed him, but I kept telling people this dude can ball, LA hated losing him.  He was one of my favorite moves of the offseason last year, and in his short time on the field he really won the "crowd" over.  

 

I am so excited to see him not only back on the field, but to see how he is used in our defense.  All that being said, expectations need to be tempered a bit, it can often take until the 2nd year back before a player gets back to full potential after an ACL tear both mentally and physically.  So even if he is back to start the season he may need some time to get his groove back and probably get stronger as the season goes on.

 

 

I knew we wouldn’t have him to start the season, so I watched him in particular in the preseason. I liked what I saw….then the season started, then his season ended. I saw an interview where he talked about his versatility and big weight swings to play different roles. It sounds like he’s a natural (if not all natural) adapter to what he’s asked to do. I hope that helps under Leonhard once he’s healthy. I liked him as a player. Briefly. 

[Admiral Sean]

He may be back but he won’t be his old self for a bit.

[Blainorama5]

He was clearly a great add for the old system - just not enough time in it - ugh!  Pretty sure his talents will translate to the new system!

[Don Otreply]

I sure hope he heals up throughly and doesn’t rush back and blow it up again, we can seriously stand to have him back , 🤞🤞

[K-9]

14 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

He didn’t have an acl tear; it was an achilles. And people come back faster from that than they did back in the old days.

The much, much shorter rehab times suggest exactly that. From surgical techniques to rehab protocols, there has been a monumental shift in paradigm in the treatment of achilles injuries. 

[Alphadawg7]

22 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

He didn’t have an acl tear; it was an achilles. And people come back faster from that than they did back in the old days.

 

Oh thats right, I was thinking ACL - good point

33 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

I think the reaction to his signing was pretty positive. It was a mid-level deal for a player who brought a lot of versatility and upside. 

 

Some were, but the big name crowd was not

[BillsShredder83]

30 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

If you haven't listened to him talk, he's a great listen.

 

I think the thing most everyone wonders about is his recovery from his Achilles, which he addresses pretty immediately.  Says his plan is to be "done" by July 1st and then ramp up so he's ready to play as soon as the season starts.  He talks about his former teammate Cam Akers coming back just over 5 months after he tore his Achilles in 2021 to play in the playoffs.

 

For Hoecht, his goal of beginning of July as his goal for being "done" with his rehabbing and recovery would put him exactly 8 months from his injury.

 

Man... I'm just salivating thinking about Hoecht back for the beginning of next year healthy.

Hopefully he has the same supplement guy as Akers LOL

 

Playing 5mos after an Achilles tear is about the equivalent to Thurman Munson taking 1980 off and returning for the 1981 season opener 😬😬😬

[atlbillsfan1975]

54 minutes ago, Virgil said:

I really wonder if him and Groot aren't our OLB's in the traditional 3-4 sets.  Would make sense to me.  I think Milano would be serviceable in that role too, if we can bring him back cheap enough.  He did decent off the ball this past seasons in the few times we tried

I think the ship sailed on Milano when they didn’t sign him to a new deal and ate the dead cap hit. 

[transplantbillsfan]

11 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Hopefully he has the same supplement guy as Akers LOL

 

Playing 5mos after an Achilles tear is about the equivalent to Thurman Munson taking 1980 off and returning for the 1981 season opener 😬😬😬

 

Considering he saw that recovery up close and personal I'm sure he aimed to get the same procedure... maybe by the same guy... who knows?

 

It's amazing what a healthy Hoecht could do for the math of our D this offseason.

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

I really wonder if him and Groot aren't our OLB's in the traditional 3-4 sets.  Would make sense to me.  I think Milano would be serviceable in that role too, if we can bring him back cheap enough.  He did decent off the ball this past seasons in the few times we tried

Milano can't play the Jack or the Sam 

 

Those guys need to have the length and the height and the ability to work around offensive tackles 

 

In a 3-4 defense Matt Milano is strictly an inside backer.. he can't stack and shed a left or right tackle consistently.. he doesn't have the length or the size and he doesn't have the bend and rip to rush the passer over them

 

He's an A - B gap blitzer who has played the Sam and the will in our 43 but that's strictly means he's inside preferably at the will in a 3-4

 

The jack is going to be rushing the passer 75% of the time and the sam has to be able to be an ON BALL linebacker 

 

Milano is an off ball linebacker.. we need on ball backers outside in a 34

 

You imagine him lining up over Spencer Brown? Spencer Brown would give him the worst day of his life

Edited February 21 by Buffalo716

[Slack_in_MA]

I think back to that KC game— guys on D were flying around the field— Hoecht, Bishop— I thought “THIS is a defense I could get on board with”. 
 

Hopefully that is what Leonhard has in mind, and then some.

[Simon]

2 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Its funny, so many people were like "meh" or down on him when we signed him, but I kept telling people this dude can ball, LA hated losing him.  He was one of my favorite moves of the offseason last year, and in his short time on the field he really won the "crowd" over.

 

I had no knowledge or opinion on him until he walked onto the field for his first preseason game as a Bill and immediately started throwing Guards around like tackling dummies.

That was a serious "woaahhhhh" moment for me.

[NewEra]

53 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Milano can't play the Jack or the Sam 

 

Those guys need to have the length and the height and the ability to work around offensive tackles 

 

In a 3-4 defense Matt Milano is strictly an inside backer.. he can't stack and shed a left or right tackle consistently.. he doesn't have the length or the size and he doesn't have the bend and rip to rush the passer over them

 

He's an A - B gap blitzer who has played the Sam and the will in our 43 but that's strictly means he's inside preferably at the will in a 3-4

 

The jack is going to be rushing the passer 75% of the time and the sam has to be able to be an ON BALL linebacker 

 

Milano is an off ball linebacker.. we need on ball backers outside in a 34

 

You imagine him lining up over Spencer Brown? Spencer Brown would give him the worst day of his life

I agree about Milano.  Inside only in Leonhards system.

 

what do you think about the rest of his post though, Hoecht and Groot as Sam and Jack?  Or do you think they’re both Jacks?  Or is Groot moving inside?

[SoonerBillsFan]

When we signed him I said he is best used as a weapon that moves around.

 

If only we ran a defense that could do that...