By G.Stryker
www.SteelerNation.com
Trey Griffey is a bigger receiver at 6’3” and 192 lbs. He is fast and athletic like his father Ken Griffey Jr who played professional baseball. At the University of Arizona, Trey didn’t rack up a lot of statistics, but the plays he made were memorable enough for the Indianapolis Colts to select him as an undrafted free agent last year.
He was waived before the end of training camp and was picked up by the Dolphins in August before waiving him in September. In the offseason this year, the Steelers signed him to a futures contract. I will also note that Griffey played special teams on the coverage units in college. It is important that young receivers also play special teams, if they want to get noticed in training camp.
Trey’s highlight real is more cutups than plays, but we will slow down on some of the action to examine his receiving technique:
0:14 Over the shoulder catch trapping it high against his chest with his hands a little too far apart.
0:29 Bends well to make a nice hands catch, thumbs together, palms on both sides of the ball. This is the height a lot of lesser receivers have trouble with and start becoming body catchers on these types of balls. Griffey shows them how it’s done correctly here.
0:36 Contested jump ball. The 3rd quick replay shows him reach out with one arm to secure the catch one handed. Great catch under duress.
0:43 Facing the QB hands in perfect position for a double palm catch.
0:55 Deep ball. Twists awkwardly as he traps the ball high on his chest. His body mechanics made this a tougher catch. Should have been a hands catch facing the ball.
1:10 Deep ball on the sideline. Looks like it might be a one handed catch and got the toe in bounds.
1:14 Faces the QB high points and secures the ball with both palms while being tackled. This is how the pros do it.
1:17 Ball thrown a little wide, nice adjustment on the sideline to get to the ball, and traps it high on his chest. Knee in bounds, would be a catch in the NFL.
1:21 Perfect job of facing the QB, getting elevation and both palms on the football.
1:26 Ball thrown very low. Does a great job of bending his knees to get down for the football for a scoop catch just inches off the turf. Still gets yardage after the catch. Most receivers would go to the ground on this ball, but they would be down in college for doing so.
1:33 Good catch and run. Both hands on the football facing the QB.
1:44 Comes back nicely to the football on a hands catch, then turns and runs upfield. Great cutback. Good speed, and excellent job diving for the pylon to secure a TD (subscribes to the ‘dive at the five’ mantra).
2:01 Running a fly. Jumps to face the QB, highpoints it, and secures the ball with both hands between 2 defenders. This is the only type of catch that can result in a TD, and he executed it perfectly.
2:09 Broken play. Griffey runs a flag, then cuts back across the back of the endzone for the QB to hit him in the hands for a TD.
2:23 Facing the QB, catches the ball with both palms just over the helmet of the defender.
Analysis:
Trey Griffey has good speed, uses his size to his advantage, times his jumps perfectly, is athletic, and has pretty good hand mechanics. What he lacks is experience. He needs to improve his hand placement on deep balls over his shoulder, and also needs to work on getting in and out of breaks to develop the entire route tree.
Right now Griffey is competing solely as a deep ball threat in the Z receiver spot. With incumbent Justin Hunter and rookie second round draft pick James Washington ahead of him, he has a tough climb to make this roster. Especially since JuJu Smith-Schuster can also play the Z and will on 2 WR sets this season. I think the best Griffey can hope for, is to make the practice squad.
