Holt “surprised, frustrated” about his scaled-back role
Seven-time Pro Bowler Torry Holt is on pace for 59 receptions and 660 yards this season — just about half of his normal annual production over his 10-year career. The Rams are going more and more to young wide receivers Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, and Holt expressed his unhappiness at the situation Friday. Here are some excerpts:
*Are you surprised that you’re not getting the ball more?
“Yeah, absolutely, I’m surprised. But I guess they feel that Donnie obviously has been stepping up and making some huge plays, and they want to continue to get him the football.”
*Are you frustrated?
“Absolutely. When you go from getting as many opportunities and touches that I’ve had in the past to not nearly as many, yeah, there’s definitely a sense of frustration.”
*Have you talked to the coaches about it?
“No, I don’t feel like I need to speak to anybody about that. My body of work speaks for itself. I’m not going to make a stink about it.”
*Are you still the same player?
“Yeah, I think so. I think I’m still getting open. I don’t think you can go from what I did last year and the years before and just be (lousy). I don’t think it happens that way, not with the way I work and how passionate I am about the game of football. Obviously, I’m getting doubled, but I’ve beaten double-teams plenty of times throughout the course of my career.”
*Do you feel like you’re being phased out?
“At times, I do. Who knows? We’ve still got eight more games left, and we’ll see how those eight games go. Once the season’s over with, then come back and ask me and we’ll see how I feel.”
*When you are getting the ball, it’s mostly short stuff. Isn’t that unusual for you?
“It’s obvious that I’m not doing the things in the passing game that I’ve done in the past. My game has always been, I’m a vertical guy, getting in and out of breaks, running deeper routes. I’ve been doing some of that, but not a great deal of it.”
You can read more on Holt’s comments from my colleague, Jim Thomas, in Saturday’s Post-Dispatch.
All for now . . .
Someone should tell Torry that there are actually nine games left, not eight.
ARGH
this is frustrating.
Holt has been a great player, but he has lost a step.
He dogged Avery before the season started, about having to step up and earn it…
and now that the guy has, Torry is complaining about not getting the ball.
How about earning it Holt?
I know you have been a great player, and until recently a quiet good guy, but come on. Make some plays, show some speed, do something and if you still arnt getting any passes well then you can complain.
Holt saw how Bruce was treated, and is going to make a little more noise than every STL Ram Fan’s favorite player as he exits stage left….Bruce would have been more productive than Holt this year, the way it’s going.
Unfortunately, the NFL is not about fan/player loyalty, it’s about winning…Patriots will dump Brady w/o hesitating at that opportune time that he loses an edge and it doesn’t kill their cap….
I have loved Holt over the years, but he sees the writing on the wall, as he should. I’ll still root for him when he is playing in Carolina, when he is not playing the Rams.
Of course holt isn’t getting the ball as much, he’s the biggest threat on the field so he’s always double covered. Back when Bruce was here you just couldn’t double cover Holt or Bruce ALL of the time. Cover Holt and Bruce would get you. Cover Bruce and Holt would get you. Torry shouldn’t be airing it in the press before saying something to the coaches but he saw how disrespectfully Bruce was treated on his way out and I’m sure that’s in the back of his mind.
Personally I don’t see him going to Carolina. I see him trying to hook up with Bruce and Martz in SF. Bruce is like Torry’s big brother.
“…I’m not going to make a stink about it”.
Isn’t that what you’re doing? If you are frustrated, have a man to man talk with the head coach and OC. If it were still Linehan, I’d say forget it, but with Haslett I think it would be the right way to approach the situation.
Holt would get the ball more if we had a quarterback who took the time to scan the field for open receivers.
I did not hear any complaining (”complain: To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment”) in Holt’s remarks. He said he was surprised (”surprised:to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly”) and frustrated (”frustrated: disappointed; thwarted”). Straight answers. In fact, he said he was not going to make a stink of it.
Please not another cry baby, whinney, I am so mistreated, don’t forget about me, spoiled overpaid professional athlete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tory, read the newspaper, watch the news, count your blessings. Do you not see the thousands of people who are losing their jobs and homes on a daily basis????
You are a athlete who plays a game for a living and are paid quite well for doing so and if you have any brains are set for life. Please don’t whine about not catching footballs, shut up, get on the field and if you don’t like it quit or leave, it is really that simple.
Mr. Holt as a season ticket holder (yes I help pay your salary) this customer doesn’t want to hear it!!
Torry - look in the mirror. You are being covered by 1 man, will not run hard crossing routes because you don’t like to get hit anymore, will not fight for the ball anymore, and you will pull up short on routes if you think you are going to take a hit - many of your crossing routes you have pulled up when the ball is already in the air which makes Bulger look bad (though Marc is doing a great job of looking bad himself). You have become a very soft, possession receiver at best. Get some balls.
Mike hit the nail on the head!