Thursday, December 10, 2009

Feature on Davone Bess being one of the NFL's top slot receivers

SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel

SFSS Note: "Work hard. Get better every day. Stay humble. Be patient. Be thankful. Those are the five mantras that hang prominently on a sheet of notebook paper that sits on the left wall of Davone Bess' locker. These daily instructions have been there since he made the Miami Dolphins roster as an undrafted rookie last season, and he constantly goes over them. They serve as a constant reminder of where he's come from, and what's enabled this former Hawaii standout to find his niche as an NFL slot receiver. They also provide Bess guidance for the road he's on. To understand his desired destination just look at the center of his locker. That's where a Pro Bowl placard hangs."


About the five mantras that hang in his locker, Davone Bess said:
"Every time I look at them they keep me grounded and focused. Lets me know where I've been, and where I need to be." (SFSS)


SFSS Note: "Considering Bess is rising up the ranks of NFL slots receivers, it appears he's well on his way. Despite only starting one game this season, Bess leads the Dolphins in receptions (59) and receiving yards (548). And even though he produced his first 100-yard receiving game in last Sunday's win over New England, he's sat at the top of those statistical rankings most of the season. With four games to play, Bess' 548 yards is only 6 yards shy of what he accomplished last season, when he became the NFL's most productive undrafted rookie receiver since Jets standout Wayne Chrebet. More telling of his impact is the fact nearly half of Bess' receptions (29) and yards (259) have come in third-down situations, which serves as proof this second-year receiver has become the player the Dolphins offense leans on in the game's most critical down."


About how Bess is leading the AFC in 3rd down conversions on a team that doesn't pass much, offensive coordinator Dan Henning said:
"The guy leads the [AFC] in third-down conversions, and that's hard to do, especially on a team that doesn't pass [much]. If he would maintain that for the next 10 years he'll be a very viable, and valuable commodity." (SFSS)


SFSS Note: "Bess, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason, trails only Giants receiver Steve Smith in production on third down."


About how the NFL has been using slot receivers a lot more lately, Miami safety Yeremiah Bell said:
"It's always a short athletic guy who is quick. That's what teams are banking on now. Quarterbacks are going to look for those slot receivers because they can get in and out of breaks quickly." (SFSS)


SFSS Note: "Del Rio said the most important thing those slot receivers do is move the chains."


About the importance of a slot receiver, Del Rio said:
"You definitely can find a role for a guy who can do some things in the slot, create some matchup problems." (SFSS)


SFSS Note: "Bess said most of the routes he runs are based on the coverage that he sees after the snap. Henning said Bess he has a good feel for understanding when opposing defenses are in zone or man coverage, which often dictates the route. And that sense is getting better. Bess admits he's starting to get better at making the right read adjustments, picking the appropriate route, and it's depth, and quarterback Chad Henne is beginning to get on the same page. Bess credits that newfound success to mantra No. 4: Be patient. Just like the routes, Bess is optimistic continued success will come as long as he keeps to his core principles."


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-davone-bess-1211-20091210,0,7780180.story

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