David Ball vs Mike Hass

Which boy is better?
My pick is on Mike Hass
And yours?

lumsdenpower said:

Which boy is better?
My pick is on Mike Hass
And yours?

Click to expand...

Hass so far has shown much more in camp than Ball has. Hass is definitely the more athletic of the two, I wonder sometimes if that is a good thing or a bad thing for white recievers in the NFL these days Ball has made some really nice catches though, which shows his great awareness. I think either one could probably fit in and outshine almost anyone currently on the Bears roster on a consistent basis, but I would probably take Hass over ball at this point. This guy has been treated like crap in the NFL. He was a frikken standout Wide Reciever at Divison IA and he has never even been given any chance to sniff the field. That just doesn't happen to black players who excell in the NCAA division IA. The NFL seems deathly afraid of Hass and what he might do to their caste system.

I think Mike Hass is the better receiver overall. I'm not sure who would win in a foot race, but I think Hass has better route-running, quickness, and hands. (Although Ball has great hands as well, certainly better than the other Bears' receivers, but Hass might very well have the best hands the game has seen in a long time)The only edge I think Ball has is in leaping ability. He can go up for the higher jump balls better than Hass. Both guys have impecable timing going up for balls though, and both have great hands and route running. I say Hass is the better receiver and will barely make the Bears roster and eventually (who knows how long, probably several seasons)work his way up the depth chart to the 4th receiver or in the slot, while Ball only makes a practice squad for some team this year. Ball, however, is more talented than a great deal of NFL receivers and is deserving of at least a 4th receiver or slot position, but seeing how he's white and from a small school, he almost has no chance.

Ball had 2 receptions for 24 yards against the Texans in their pre-season game. Hass had no statistics reported.

From an article on the Bears website:

Another key play on the final drive came when rookie receiver David Ball caught an Orton pass along the sideline and spun away from a defender, gaining 20 yards on second-and-19 and giving the Bears a first down at the Houston 34 with 1:05 to play.

Who says he can't run after the catch?

Preseason Bears v. 49ers

Mike Hass 1 rec for 10 yards (do I celebrate or puke?)

Ball got bupkis.

Devin Hester has, NO KIDDING, already been listed in SI's pre-season fantasy preview as the second best WR of fantasy value on the Bears behind Berrian. Hester is listed as the number 42 fantasy WR, one behind Drew Bennett and ahead of Kevin Curtis and Matt Jones. This is despite only being used as a return man last year and having a whooping "ZERO" catches.

Hester is notoriously described as having blazing speed and is automatically predicted to be a star receiver. Mushin Muhhamad is a lock to make the team b/c despite being on the decline he is a former star and would be a huge cap hit if cut. The formerly undrafted Rashied Davis (w/ a whooping 22 catches for 303 yards and 2 TDs in his second year) is as usual getting glowing praise by coaches and fans as the Bears slot receiver (check footballsfuture.com Bears forum) Mark Bradley, going into his third year, is "raw" and always injured but has blazing speed and I doubt will be cut.

So, I guess this means Hass and Ball are doomed unless one of them sneaks on as a sixth WR.Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins

Brandon Rideau, who was commonly perceived as Hass's biggest rival for the #6 receiving spot, has an ankle injury and was released today. It looks pretty good now that Hass will make the Bears and hopefully David Ball will at least be offered a spot on the practice squad, though there may be a better team for him out there to sign with.

they both had good games, Ball with 4 catches for 40 yards and Mike Hass with a great catch for a TD. plus Ball had another catch, ruled incomplete that has all the Bears fan talking!

This is just to much with both these guys on the same roster. If I had to choose I would go with Hass just because I am a huge fan of his but I hope they both get a chance to suceed.

man thats decent news. anyway i can get a view of that ball catch??? how long of a pass was it?

Anyone got a vid of the catch by Hass and the non catch by Ball. Gotta see em.

Hass catch is the very last 5 seconds of the highlights video on nfl.com, i will look for Balls catches and post a link if i find anything.

from Bears.com:


Catch this: Wide receivers David Ball and Mike Hass made outstanding leaping catches in the right corner of the end zone on back-to-back plays midway through the third quarter.


Bears rookie receiver David Ball made a remarkable one-handed catch Thursday night against Cleveland, but he failed to come down in-bounds.
First, Ball soared through the air and snared Chris Leak's pass with one hand. Unfortunately, the undrafted rookie receiver from New Hampshire came down out of bounds.

"I should have got both feet in," Ball said. "I was drooling really. Once I heard the play call, I knew I was by myself over there. I knew they'd been playing man. I knew I was going to have a jump-ball situation. I made a nice catch, but I should have given myself more room, and hopefully it will pan out better next time."

Hass followed on the next snap by leaping over Browns cornerback DeMario Minter to haul in a 9-yard TD pass. Cleveland challenged the play, but the call was upheld after a replay review by referee Terry McAulay.

"It was just a corner route and I took it to the back pylon and Chris threw it up there and I made a play over a guy, and that's what I'm supposed to do," Hass said.

"That's a scary thing when they review your play for a touchdown, but I dragged my foot and it was good, so it was a good feeling."
Edited by: backrow

ok, Ball's play is number 2 on the preseason week 4 Top Ten, Jerhame Urban's return was number 3, and nice catch and run by Mike Gasparson also made the list. worth watching. and Ball's catch is really something else, possibly the best catch i've ever seen!

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2007083 1/YOUTUBE/70831001

got both catches on video for you. both are great catches but that ball catch is just WOW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltfrJejyusI

there, this link is probably a better viewing experience than the last i sent

An excerpt from an internet article:

Ball's leaping one-handed catch ruled out of bounds should be spectacular enough to warrant him a spot on the practice squad -- hands that exceptional are worth keeping under contract. Wide receiver Mike Hass, as if motivated to outdo Ball, a few plays later locked up his spot on the roster with a 9-yard TD grab that displayed concentration and surprising athleticism.

First of all, typical caste comment for Hass with "surprising athleticism." Secondly, hopefully some team is smart enough to sign Ball to their roster, instead of Ball rotting away on the Bears' or some other team's practice squad. But that will probably not happen. It makes too much sense, and when talent is that obvious involving whites, the NFL seems to go in the opposite direction. If Ball is not invited to the Bears' practice squad, I will be in absolute shock. Some other team will be sure to least put him on their practice squad. As for Hass, let's keep hoping the Bears will keep six. I don't think that there's any competition for him out there if they do. If there's six, Hass should be a lock.

OK. not sure if this guy was mentioned yet, but there was a white wide receiver who showed phenomenal speed and feet for the Cowboys in their preseason finale. HIs name is Jerheme Urban, and his kick return for a TD was exceptional. He went to small Trinity college in Texas and this is apparently his 3rd year. Apparently he's been an on-again off-again player. He played for Dallas' prctice squad last season, where he'll probably end up again this season. Apparentrly befoire that he played for the Seahawk's practice squad and even saw some action (Holmgren ): 2005:...He recorded seven catches for 151 yards (21.6 avg.) and a long of 46 yards before being sidelined by a reoccurrence of 2004's foot injury.
Any more news or information on him would be appreciated.

His kick returbn was #3 on the NFL newtwork's top ten preason plays. Ball's catch was number two.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d801f7fc5

Also, #7 includes Kevin Kasper getting laid out (illegally I believe)and #6 includes good-looking rookie QB Kevin Kolb throwing to a white receiver who was mentioned earlier in backrow's stats, but I cannot recall his name.

Sorry I apologize #8 is the Kasper play, #7 is the Kolb Eagle's play.

Haha wow. Talk about getting showed up. Backrow you had me beat. Sorry for not seeing that post. I had no idea you had posted 3 minutes before me until just now. Nicely done. The Ball/Hass video is still worth watching though, as it shows both catches succesively.

Ball's leaping one-handed catch ruled out of bounds should be spectacular enough to warrant him a spot on the practice squad -- hands that exceptional are worth keeping under contract.

Click to expand...

I wonder if the irony is lost on the writer of this article - receivers who can make spectacular one-handed catches are worth keeping..... ON THE PRACTICE SQUAD??

whiteafflete15 said:

Haha wow. Talk about getting showed up. Backrow you had me beat. Sorry for not seeing that post. I had no idea you had posted 3 minutes before me until just now. Nicely done. The Ball/Hass video is still worth watching though, as it shows both catches succesively.

Click to expand...

oh yeah, no doubt it's a great find, already have it saved to my favourites on youtube!

as for Jerhame Urban, who you mentioned in one of your earlier posts, he's been around for quite a while, we even had a topic about him a while ago. good to see him trying to make it back to the NFL, but we all know that odds are piled against him...

man two great catches by 2 great players

Breaking down the WR's on the Bears roster before the final cuts:

Hester is entrenched at PR/KR and I also believe Garret Wolfe and Adrian Peterson are return men which could nullify 1-2 spots on the WR corp for return men making it a little easier for Hass and Ball

Here are the preseason stats -

Mark Bradley - 3 rec 77 yds, oft injured in his short career

Drisan James - 3 rec 32 yds, 2 fum 1 lost

Rashied Davis - 5 rec 39 yds

Mushin Muhammad - 1 rec 10 yds, on the decline but it is argued he is a big reliable target at 6'2 215 (Mike Hass is 6'1 206 & David Ball is 6'1 197)with ok speed

Bernard Berrian - 8 rec 138 yds 2 tds, 1 rush 11 yds

Mike Hass - 4 rec 67 yds 1 td, 1 rush 3 yds, also 1 fumble recovery on ST, all catches showed amazing concentration, body control and great hands

David Ball - 6 REC 64 yds and amazing non-catch showing great hands, leaping ability, concentration and body control

Devin Hester 4 rec 26 yds (did well on ST but these stats are not on NFL.COM)