How A.J. Brown is making life easier for a recent Eagles draft pick
DeVonta Smith knows there is more he can do to get better. The 2021 first-round pick has spent the summer and preseason learning from recently acquired star receiver A.J. Brown. One of the main lessons is something the receivers coin as "late hands." How it works is wide receivers don't tip off the defense that […]
DeVonta Smith knows there is more he can do to get better.
The 2021 first-round pick has spent the summer and preseason learning from recently acquired star receiver A.J. Brown. One of the main lessons is something the receivers coin as "late hands."
How it works is wide receivers don't tip off the defense that the ball is in the air until the last minute. As the ball draws near, receivers throw their hands up, cutting down the defenses' ability to react to the catch. It's something Smith sees as a necessity in his game.
“It’s definitely something that I want to put in my game because it helps you out a lot to where a DB just can’t sit there and play through your hands," Smith said.
"If you put them up too early, then he knows the ball is coming and he has time to react instead of you just putting your hands up late.”
Smith apparently heard of late hands but never thought of adding it to his game until this summer. This summer, Brown has offered him a crash course in it.
So how does it work?
“I keep my arms swinging,” Brown said. “He doesn’t know where the ball’s at, but I do. So I just try to stay calm, relax and at the last minute I throw my hands up and make a catch. I’ve done it a couple of times this camp.
"I call it winning late, too. If I don’t win the release, I need to win late.”
If Smith didn't use late hands and still amassed 915 yards on 64 catches with five touchdowns last season, he'll be an even scarier offensive weapon in 2022 with a new technique in his bag.
What will also help is Brown's gravity as a star within the pass-catching game. His presence will force teams to pick their poison when it comes to slowing down Smith or Brown. To add, Jalen Hurts has showcased that he has improved within Philadelphia's offensive system. And having two top-notch receivers will only make the offense hum on any given Sunday.
With the added success, Smith will have Brown — his teacher — to thank for the unique improvement.
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Feature image via Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
