Mike Hass Impressive

[Deus Vult]

This is from the Times-Picayune:

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL

Who's hot:

Mike Hass

The rookie receiver missed much of the Saints' offseason work because of college requirements, but he had a strong first day of practice. As usual, he caught everything thrown his way, including a crowd-pleasing diving catch deep downfield.

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1154 15275396960.xml&coll=1&thispage=3


************

I was in New Orleans yesterday (Friday). The WWL-AM radio sports team gave live reports from Saints Training Camp in Jackson, MS. Hokie Gajan and Bobby Hebert excitedly reported on how Mike Hass burned dreadlocked DB Mike McKenzie for a long touchdown, and said Hass was the most impressive of all the receivers.

With the new Head Coach (Payton) and staff, Hass, a sixth round draft pick, may get a fair opportunity and make the squad and compete for playing time. QB-turned-broadcaster Bobby Hebert repeatedly praised Hass and contrasted the poor performance of WR Devery Henderson (2nd round pick fron 2004) with Hass'. Hebert and Gajan speculated that Hass may bump Henderson from the #3 spot on the depth chart. In addition, they wondered aloud whether Reggie Bush -- assuming he gets signed -- will return kicks and punts, thereby eliminating the need for beer delivery driver-turned-return specialist, who has been #5 on the WR chart. If Lewis is cut, it will open a roster spot for someone like Chase Lyman to make the squad.

 

[Don Wassall]

That's terrific news, please keep us informed on other local info on Hass, DV.


Wayne Chrebet was an exception in that he was given an opportunity by the Jets as a rookie and made the most of it. Ricky Proehl had 56 receptions and over 800 yards as a rookie (his second best season). I think Hass is better than both of them, maybe substantially so. Let's hope the new regime in New Orleans will indeed give white receivers a fair opportunity, rather than stockpiling them but not using them ala Denver and Kansas City. How about a starting tandem next year of Hass and and a healthy Chase Lyman? That duo would tear it up!

 

[Deus Vult]

Here is more, from the AP:


Brees throws hard, McAllister pleases crowd, as Saints open camp

7/28/2006

By Brett Martel
The Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) â€â€￾ Reggie Bush's contract holdout not withstanding, the New Orleans Saints' season could hinge most on the recoveries of marquee veterans Drew Brees and Deuce McAllister...

Brees fired 25-yard passes over the middle â€â€￾ accurately â€â€￾ on several occasions, and showed finesse on a 30-yard fade along the sideline that was hauled in nicely by sure-handed rookie Mike Hass.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/spor ts-10/115413655759400.xml&storylist=louisiana

 

[white lightning]

Mike should be a number one reciver.It's a shame that he will have to be the biggest star and make sportscenter plays just to try and get some playing time.I am one of his biggest fans.I might even buy a jersey although I don't like the Saints Uniforms.

 

[Don Wassall]

Hass gets both complimented and stereotyped by Len Pasquarelli. Looks like Hass is so good and the Saints so deficient at WR that Mike is going to play as a white rookie receiver. Will miracles never cease!:


We have now seen all four NFC South franchises in camp and the Saints are the only one that seems to have no realistic chance of contending for a playoff spot. That's not to say they won't in another year or two, after a couple more productive drafts like the one that general manager Mickey Loomis and Payton seem to have pulled off in 2006, but the Saints, quite frankly, look to be the division's runt of the litter this year.


Two cornerstone players, quarterback Drew Brees and tailback Reggie Bush, were added in the offseason. We witnessed nothing in Friday's practices, save for the likelihood Brees is apt to absorb a beating in 2006 (see the next observation), to dissuade us from thinking that the two big additions on offense will be standouts. And it looks like all eight of the '06 draft choices will make the roster or, at worst, the practice squad. This was, it seems, a really solid draft. It might not have gotten a lot of attention but, beyond Bush, youngsters such as safety Roman Harper (No. 2) and wide receiver Mike Hass (No. 6) are going to play a lot. Hass, who we've now seen in the rookie minicamp and in training camp, and have yet to see him drop a pass, won the Biletnikoff Award last years as the college game's best receiver. And he plays like the award's namesake, not very quick at all, but with incredible hands.

 

[White Shogun]

Sometimes I just have to laugh, this stuff is so ridiculous.

They can't compliment the white man without a qualifier, no matter how good. "Haas, well, he is good you know, not real fast, although he did win the college game's best receiver award..."

I can't believe Pasquarelli believes the Saints can't make a playoff run. They have the best rookie WR, the best rookie RB, Deuce McAllister is back, and a Pro-bowl caliber quarterback in Drew Brees. Last time I checked Joe Horn was a pretty good WR, too. Not to mention Dante Stallworth, Michael Bennett, Zach Hilton...

Without Aaron Brooks costing them games, the Saints could win a few games and make the playoffs.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Here's something funny about Bush from Wednesday's practice during training camp at Millsap's College in Jakson. Seems as though he's been getting lit up by the team's LB's. There was a bit about a white LB cutting Bush aflip during that practice. Here it is from the Clarion-Ledger website:
PLAY OF THE DAY

Rookie running back Reggie Bush took a couple of big hits during scrimmage action Wednesday, including a shot from defensive end Rob Ninkovich that knocked the Saints' top draft pick upside down at the line of scrimmage for no gain.

There are a couple of pics from the C-L website with Hass in them, although I couldn't get them to show.

 

[Kaptain]

The crumbling of the caste system in the NFL is going to have to start at WR position. Mike Hass is this year's best hope to shake the caste foundation. As the leading reciever in college football the past two seasons and the Biletnikoff award winner, he was a glaring example of caste system groupthink as every single team with their overpaid professional scouts and draft advisors passed on him in the draft several times over. Should he become a star his success could finally give credibility to all of those highly productive white college players that never get a shot in the NFL. He is a true talent and if actually gets a chance to start he will definetely produce.

Some may say Matt Jones or Drew Bennett are better caste-busting hopes. But any success Matt Jones has may be dismissed because of his freakish athletic skills. Future white recievers may all have to be 6'6" and run a 4.3 40. Drew Bennett could become an Ed McCaffrey type - the white guy who finally got a shot several years into his career, produced for several more years, gets injured and is quickly replaced by a brother and forgotten. So here's to Mike Hass - young, not freakishly tall or fast, and just a plain great reciever.

Don, we need a beer mug emoticon.

 

[Don Wassall]

How's this, Kaptain?
<DIV id=post_message_3291860>

 

[white lightning]

I will drink to that too.Mike Hass is a special player.We also need to remember to root very hard for David Anderson going into his rookie year with the Texans.He is almost the same caliber as Hass.They both catch anything thrown in their direction and they have an amazing ability to run after the catch.

 

[Kaptain]

That's perfect. Get that emoticon on the site.

 

[Deus Vult]

The Saints held their first scrimmage on Saturday. None of the reports I've seen gave stats on Mike Hass (or other receivers) in particular. The best quote available to tell us Hass is doing well is this one:

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2006/08/06/ap/sports/foot ball/d8jakmug0.txt

Although Horn and Stallworth were out, Devery
Henderson, Jamal Jones, Marques Colston, Chris Horn
and Mike Hass all made catches, some of them
difficult, and there were very few dropped balls.

"Those guys are competing, man," Brees said. "There's
only a certain number of receiver spots and a lot of
guys that are playing very well. So we'll see how it
shakes out."

 

[Don Wassall]

That's perfect. Get that emoticon on the site.

You'll have to copy and paste it like I did. Whoever designed the software for this board must be one of the many neo-puritans out there who are opposed to alcohol, even in emoticom form.

 

[Sark6354201]

The tandem of Drew Brees to Mike Hass would be great. The only quibble I have with the situation in New Orleans is the worship of Reggie Bush. Although I don't find him objectionable, I'm envisioning a situation where Hass and Brees are playing very well yet the spotlight is still on Bush even if he plays in a mediocre fashion.

 

[whiteCB]

Hass honestly has a shot for the 3rd WR spot and thats not bad at all considering he was a 6th Rd white wR.Edited by: whiteCB

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Hass should start out at number 2 and be able to move up to a starter by next year.

 

[lumsdenpower]

in top play of Saints yesterday : QB Todd Bouman threw a bullet that found WR Mike Hass, who was covered tightly by a defender.

 

[Triad]

One of the local papers ran an article today about Jamal Jones, a 25 year old former NC A&T player, whose trying to make it on the Saints roster. Not sure if they're just trying to make a story out him or if he has a shot to make it.

"Jones has emerged from his days as a hard-luck NFL hopeful to become one of the highlights of the Saints' offense in practice.

First-year Saints coach Sean Payton said Jones, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound offensive specialist, has been the biggest surprise two weeks into the team's training camp."

Jamal Jones still faces long odds to make the Saints' roster because wide receiver is well-stocked with Joe Horn, Donte Stallworth, Devery Henderson, Chase Lyman and Bethel Johnson all in the mix."
-------------------------------------------------------
What about Haas?





Jamal Jones article

 

[White Shogun]

One of the local papers ran an article today about Jamal Jones, a 25 year old former NC A&T player, whose trying to make it on the Saints roster. Not sure if they're just trying to make a story out him or if he has a shot to make it.

"Jones has emerged from his days as a hard-luck NFL hopeful to become one of the highlights of the Saints' offense in practice.

First-year Saints coach Sean Payton said Jones, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound offensive specialist, has been the biggest surprise two weeks into the team's training camp."

Jamal Jones still faces long odds to make the Saints' roster because wide receiver is well-stocked with Joe Horn, Donte Stallworth, Devery Henderson, Chase Lyman and Bethel Johnson all in the mix."
-------------------------------------------------------
What about Haas?

Maybe they left Haas out because they know he is a shoe-in to make the roster?

Nah, maybe not.

 

[white lightning]

Mike Hass should get some time tonight on Monday Night Football.It just started so let's keep our fingers crossed.I would love to see him have a big game but I don't know how many opportunities he will get.If they were smart,he would be the number 1 receiver.He could easily be one of the top wide receivers in the nfl if not for his skin disease.

 

[White Shogun]

I am playing in a fantasy league on Yahoo; Mike Hass isn't even listed on the draft board. Every 5th and 6th string running back is there, but not Mike Haas.

 

[ocaamikedm11]

It appears to me that the Saints are starting 4 whites on defense.. can anyone confirm this? I just put it on, but there's still 5 mins left in the first quarter so I assume the starters are still in.. Drew Bledsoe looks very good so far also...

 

[Don Wassall]

They started off the game with 3 -- tackle Brian Young and LBs Colby Bockwaldt and Scott Fujita. Rookie tackle Rob Ninkovich out of Purduealso saw actionandwas playing very aggressively and well.


Altogether the Saints had 7 white starters, far more than the 2 Jim Haslet usually had. Unfortunately their o-line is still predominantly black, with center Jeff Faine the only white starter there. Hopefully Hass, Lyman and Chris Horn play in the second half.

 

[ocaamikedm11]

Ninkovich impressed me a lot. If they could add a couple whites to the OL or get Hass in their starting lineup.. they might just be a team to root for this year...

 

[Don Wassall]

Through three quarters the Saints have used 5 or 6 receivers, all black. Apparently Hass, Lyman and Horn are 7th, 8th and 9th on the depth chart now. Maybe Hass actually dropped a pass during practice andgroup punishment is being meted out. Fun, fun, fun. . .