50 replies to this topic

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

It's been frustrating to watch McKelvin cover receivers well, and then fail at the "Moment of Truth" as he watches the nearby receiver catch a ball right next to him.  Turns out, there may be a scientific explanation for this - - if you're curious about it, read this link:

http://news.yahoo.co...-145606624.html

The article explains that professional athletes excel at 3-D motion tracking (in comparison to other population groups).  They also have a thicker part of the brain called the "superior temporal sulcus."

While it is unclear if innate ability or experience explains the differences among people, all groups can improve their 3-D motion tracking with visual training.

Seems to me like:

1.   the Bills should see if McKelvin could benefit from such visual training exercises; and

2.  the Bills should test DBs and receivers for this ability before drafting them.

[mrags]

I'd agree with both 1 and 2.

[Homey D. Clown]

Best thread title on TSW EVER!!!

[simpleman]

Fascinating. If I was a coach on a pro team I would definitely look into this to see if it had any validity. Testing and training results could be incredible and cost effective if it actually had any reasonable validity

[T master]

WOW & i thought it was just another bad move by our scouting department !!

Maybe his Temporal Sulcus isn't as superior as we thought A ? Poor guy ...

I was thinking that b/c he didn't do as well at DB what might happen if they did with him what they did with G. Wilson & change him to a WR ?

We need a burner on the outside but if his Temporal Sulcus isn't that superior then scratch that idea !!

[Fan in San Diego]

McKinleys Curse, on 31 January 2013 - 11:28 AM, said:

Best thread title on TSW EVER!!!

I thought it was going to be thin skinned.

[Meathead]

wouldnt that mean he had an inferior superior temporal succubus thus cancelling it out

[NorWideRight]

ICanSleepWhenI, on 31 January 2013 - 11:26 AM, said:

It's been frustrating to watch McKelvin cover receivers well, and then fail at the "Moment of Truth" as he watches the nearby receiver catch a ball right next to him.  Turns out, there may be a scientific explanation for this - - if you're curious about it, read this link:

http://news.yahoo.co...-145606624.html

The article explains that professional athletes excel at 3-D motion tracking (in comparison to other population groups).  They also have a thicker part of the brain called the "superior temporal sulcus."

While it is unclear if innate ability or experience explains the differences among people, all groups can improve their 3-D motion tracking with visual training.

Seems to me like:

1.   the Bills should see if McKelvin could benefit from such visual training exercises; and

2.  the Bills should test DBs and receivers for this ability before drafting them.

I think McKelvin could benefit more from a coach putting his foot in his a__ (hee haw hee haw).

Edited by thebambino, 31 January 2013 - 12:55 PM.

[I'm Spartacus]

Not sure I "see" the point here....

[AlwaysBilleve]

Wow. Interesting. Never would have thought anything like this would be an issue. Maybe they should explore more into the visual training exercises.

Is there a coverage/system that would better suit him knowing he has this issue?

[jr1]

Use the Toronto money to pay for testing

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

NorWideRight, on 31 January 2013 - 12:55 PM, said:

I think McKelvin could benefit more from a coach putting his foot in his a__ (hee haw hee haw).

Well, I don't know about kicking him in the a$$, but stimulating the posterior portion of his superior temporal sulcus might help:

http://www.psych-it....icle.asp?id=416

Quote

The superior temporal sulcus is a long trench, called a sulcus, in the temporal lobe. In essence, this region is vital to social competence. To a significant extent, the anterior portion of this sulcus is primarily involved in the processing of speech. The posterior portion is more involved in an array of other tasks, including facial processing, motion processing, the integration of audio and vision information, as well as theory of mind--or deciphering the beliefs and perspectives of other people.

[maddenboy]

Why wouldnt I be surprised if Belichick has been using this testing for years?

Not that his dbs are excellent, but he's always ahead of the curve.

[All_Pro_Bills]

And I thought it would just be a case of a decent secondary coach telling him: "when you see the receivers pupils widen as their brain tells the vision center to focus the eyes on the ball coming towards them, turn your head around toward the line of scrimmage and look for the ball that is flying through the air towards you and the receiver"!

[Marcellosaurus]

Wouldn't he actually have to have looked for the ball on occasion to make this point have any validity?

[DPR4444]

who started this thread, Gorilla Monsoon?

[Dadonkadonk]

McKelvin has elite talent.  This guy is going to play another 5-8 years in the NFL.  You can't coach speed, quickness, and change of direction.  We know he can't turn and track balls very well.  Can this be improved?  Maybe?  Can he be put in a better situation?  Yes.  I thought he was going to excel in the slot.  He can jam recievers and then go with them usually on short crossing routes or out patterns.  He struggles with fly patterns more than anything.  In the slot he would have a safety over the top.  Williams getting hurt forced him to the outside again.  I hope he is resigned to a fair contract and the new staff convinces him to stay.  They can say we made Revis a star and we can do the same for you.

[BringBackFergy]

Marcellosaurus, on 31 January 2013 - 03:43 PM, said:

Wouldn't he actually have to have looked for the ball on occasion to make this point have any validity?

Bingo

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

DPR4444, on 31 January 2013 - 03:54 PM, said:

who started this thread, Gorilla Monsoon?

He's dead - - so if I was him I'd literally be asleep.

Edited by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead, 31 January 2013 - 04:23 PM.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

mrags, on 31 January 2013 - 11:27 AM, said:

I'd agree with both 1 and 2.

2nd that