RECEIVERS!!!

jdoggivjc · 02-07-2008, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by mjones34

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but as much as I love our WR skill and depth, I'm still concerned about our line giving QBs enough time to get it to them.

I thought we did a pretty decent job protecting Meyer last year (he at least had more than the count of 2 to get rid of the ball), and they're all back and getting manhandled by Shep as we speak. I remember hearing someone say the OL wasn't exactly a concern this year (although it's something we've always got to keep on building due to graduation)

clones_jer · 02-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Why don't we just throw the ball to Sedrick Johnson? It's so frusterating, we haven't thrown to him all year!

KMAC_ATTACK · 02-07-2008, 11:46 AM

Right now our OL may be our strength.....Not to mention all starters are back, don't count on all the starters keeping their jobs....

I've been a fan of Big Trey's for a long time, this guy looks the part, size, feet, speed, and that lil piece of nasty you need for a dominant OL player.....He will be a stud - mark it!!!!

But, the word i was hearing last year was about Kelechi Osemele, he's supposed to be a beast.

Considering we still have Vargas, Pinkelman, Klerekoper, Alvarez, Vanstrom, Hulbert, Steinback all as either FR or RFR players, not to mention our new Commits, our OL is young, athletic, and under shep's world - eatin right, lifting and gettin big, mean, and tough....our OL is the least of my concerns....

My concern is the D, we couldnt stop anyone last year, now we lose arguable our three best defensive players in Rubin, Banks, & Bowen, we need some young guys to step up and play some big time ball....Our secondary will get a huge injection of talent.....cant wait to see spring ball and see if Johnson, Benton, Land and if Darks goes over to D all competing for Playing time this year.

BryceC · 02-07-2008, 11:58 AM

I agree Kmac, losing both Rubin and Braaksma is going to require some guys to step up. Some of the guys on the o-line will need to gain some weight like Dedrick but they have all offseason to do that.

I don't think Vargas is on the team anymore though.

CyCy · 02-07-2008, 12:10 PM

I remember from one of Chizik's pre-game interviews last year, that he felt that one of our major weaknesses was yards after catch by our receivers.
Just seemed like every time somebody caught a ball, they were immediately tackled on the spot by the first defender there.
Hopefully some of the new guys have the strength to break tackles or the speed to run away from defenders. We need to have some plays where we throw a 5 yard pass and the receiver runs for 15 more yards before he is tackled.

cstrunk · 02-07-2008, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by CyCy

I remember from one of Chizik's pre-game interviews last year, that he felt that one of our major weaknesses was yards after catch by our receivers.
Just seemed like every time somebody caught a ball, they were immediately tackled on the spot by the first defender there.
Hopefully some of the new guys have the strength to break tackles or the speed to run away from defenders. We need to have some plays where we throw a 5 yard pass and the receiver runs for 15 more yards before he is tackled.

Agreed. I pointed this out this past season while watching KU receivers. They did a great job of it, while ours did not. They were also very good blockers, where ours would hit and block but a lot of times they couldn't sustain the block, especially long enough for the running back to get by them.

I also think Arnaud is going to do a better job than Meyer at hitting the open receivers. We saw hints of this during games last season. He just needs experience and he's going to get plenty of it this season IMO.

Steve · 02-07-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by every_yard

Add Houston Jones and Derron Montgomery to that list. Montgomery has suffered from injuries in the past so hopefully he can stay healthy this year and contribute somewhere.

I'm not sure if these two will see much playing time, but I'd say they have potential

Montgomery is healthy enough to be putting up some pretty decent times in the 400M for the track squad.

Meet Results

cys_av8r · 02-07-2008, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by cstrunk

I also think Arnaud is going to do a better job than Meyer at hitting the open receivers. We saw hints of this during games last season. He just needs experience and he's going to get plenty of it this season IMO.

AND he is much more mobile than Mr. Molasses Meyer. I can see him creating extra time with his legs.

ISUFan22 · 02-07-2008, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by CyCy

I remember from one of Chizik's pre-game interviews last year, that he felt that one of our major weaknesses was yards after catch by our receivers.
Just seemed like every time somebody caught a ball, they were immediately tackled on the spot by the first defender there.
Hopefully some of the new guys have the strength to break tackles or the speed to run away from defenders. We need to have some plays where we throw a 5 yard pass and the receiver runs for 15 more yards before he is tackled.

So true. Some of it was the routes they ran and plays called, some was because they didn't do a good job of getting upfield after the catch and other times it was because the other receivers just quit on the play once they realized they were not getting the ball.

I do think our receiving group did not play well as a "team". Not a lot of guys sacrificing themselves for the sake of others. I'd hope this will be rectified this fall.

Hamilton strikes me as a guy that can lead this charge.

mjones34 · 02-07-2008, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by cys_av8r

AND he is much more mobile than Mr. Molasses Meyer. I can see him creating extra time with his legs.

So true. I loved Meyer, but he'd have daylight and I mean DAYLIGHT and a 600 pound lineman who had fallen over 3 different times in the play would catch him.

singsing · 02-07-2008, 06:07 PM

With the number of players on the OL this year will anyone be possibly moved to the DL.

cycloneman003 · 02-07-2008, 06:32 PM

i think the best thing about this is how much better hamilton has been getting, that allows sedrick johnson to come in as the #2 or 3 guy and wont have tons of pressure and high expectations on him right away... with range, johnson, carlson and company the recievers are looking good for the next couple years

cycloneman003 · 02-07-2008, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by singsing

With the number of players on the OL this year will anyone be possibly moved to the DL.

ADRIN HAUGHTON! i will die if we leave this kid on the OL.... hes 6'4" 323 lbs for crying out loud! he even runs a 4.9sec 40! this kid could be a monster at DT and would provide immediate impact... just watching his highlight videos hes one of the fastest guys of that size ive seen in quite some time and would provide a solid replacement after losing tuba to graduation

mjlane · 02-08-2008, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by CyCy

I remember from one of Chizik's pre-game interviews last year, that he felt that one of our major weaknesses was yards after catch by our receivers.
Just seemed like every time somebody caught a ball, they were immediately tackled on the spot by the first defender there.
Hopefully some of the new guys have the strength to break tackles or the speed to run away from defenders. We need to have some plays where we throw a 5 yard pass and the receiver runs for 15 more yards before he is tackled.

I think Bret Meyer has to take his share of the blame for lack of YAC by the receivers. It's not enough to just get the ball in the general vicinity of an open receiver, you've got to give the guy a chance to turn it into something. How many times did you see a receiver running open in the middle of the field or down the sideline and have to adjust to a poorly thrown ball. Mayer almost never hit guys in the numbers or hands on the dead run, seemed like most throws were behind them, low or high, or something that would disrupt their momentum.

I don't think he is entirely to blame, but Meyer definitely contributed to the problem.

mjlane · 02-08-2008, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by cstrunk

Agreed. I pointed this out this past season while watching KU receivers. They did a great job of it, while ours did not. They were also very good blockers, where ours would hit and block but a lot of times they couldn't sustain the block, especially long enough for the running back to get by them.

Yes, the KU receivers did a great job of holding and not getting called for it.