How does everyone see the WR depth chart playing out?
Obviously, Byrne, Stanford, and Knowles are up there...
After that? (Phillips, Isiah Ford, Carlis Parker, Mangus??)
Does anyone anticipate any surprises?
About a year ago, Logan Thomas was raving about Charley Meyer...that never played out as I hoped it would.
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
I think if anyone is going to have playing time cut into, it could be Knowles. I don't think you replace the fundamentals of Byrne, and I think Stanford is due for a breakout year this year. He just has the look to him of good WR. I think Knowles has reached his ceiling and after watching the maturing of Ford in his recruiting piece, I am really rooting for the kid to see the field this year.
Totally off Topic, but I would LOVE if some time down the road if Danny Coale was a WR coach or atleast on the staff. #Legend Status
Not many people know this but Danny Coale had a FULL ride to UVA for the Lacrosse team which is a top 5 team every year in that sport.
Worth considering. His first choice was UVA, but they didn't think he could ball. VT was willing to take that chance.
He sure as shit tea-balled them.
Stanford will become the #1, Byrn will stay in slot, Cam Philips and Isaiah Ford will be the freshmen that get reps.
What he said.
don't forget Ford is on campus getting up to speed.
He has the opportunity in the Spring and Summer practices to earn his way onto the 2 rotation.
Wrong Ford, Andrew is the one on campus now. Then we've got McKenzie, Williams and Mihota enrolled as well.
Whoops.
Belay my last.
Belaaaay Myself Off! by kennerado
You want me to Belaaaaaay Myself Off???
Ford the WR isn't on campus I don't believe. He didn't enroll early (in January) since he committed in February. He will come in in May for Summer session I at the earliest.
Stanford needs to start catching the ball with his hands. He dropped too many balls last year because they bounced off his chest. That's unacceptable. Yes, he had some good runs after the catch late in the season, that we all remember, but he consistently secures the ball against his body.
Knowles job security is questionable. Yes, he's fast, but it's well documented that he does not adjust well to deep balls.
Byrn played well last year, and I expect him to continue to do so.
Deon Newsome's name has been mentioned quite a bit. We saw the athlete Carlis Parker can be vs UCLA. Logan raved about Charley Meyer last year (who by the way, is one of our biggest WR's on the team). Joel Caleb / Chris Mangus will probably be back at the position. Isaaih Ford / Jalyn Bradshaw / Kendrick Holland will be competing.
Guys stop forgetting about last years class, I expect it from sites like bleacher report that have no idea what they are talking about, but not you guys. I know Parker was at least mentioned, I have a feeling they really like him. But we also have Deon Newsome (a really exciting player), David Prince (another dynamic player in High School), Something tells me Caleb could still factor into this, and I think Smilling and Irick are still around right?
I know it is fun to get excited about the freshman, but something tells me these guys will get their shot too.
Newsome is a guy that I would keep an eye on.
The biggest issue with last year's class is that I'm pretty sure every single one of them played a position other than WR in high school. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure each of those guys spent significant time at QB and maybe even a little RB. It's not that we don't believe they're explosive athletes. They are, and at some point I really hope to see them on the field as major playmakers. However, playing receiver in college is hard. It's even harder if you haven't played much of it in high school. We'e all getting so excited about the new guys because they're not only explosive athletes, but they're also more polished receivers who have repeatedly demonstrated the skills and techniques needed to succeed at the position on the major college level.
Good observation. I can't remember where but I heard Moorehead say that he doesn't particularly care to recruit kids that are not wr's in high school and that he really likes wr's that play basketball (hence why he would not give up on Isaiah Ford)
Basketball is simply footwork and ball skill drills for skill Football players.
And a lot of kids play as much playground basketball as organized football in childhood.
Smiling hasn't shown up much, which is concerning as he's a rising senior. I don't know what we'll get from him at this point since he barely saw the field this year.
Irick redshirted in '12, then got hurt and missed all of '13 (source: hokiesports.com).
According to Andy's post today (http://www.roanoke.com/sports/columns_and_blogs/blogs/andy_bitter_virgin...), Smiling is not returning this year.
Well, that certainly answers my wonderment.
my thoughts on last year's guys is we were really weak at WR and they were unable to see the field (exclude injuries). We are bringing in talented, true WRs this year which makes me believe they will have a better shot at beating these guys out. Irick and Meyer would be the 2 I would expect to see more and possible Newsome in the slot but is he going to pass Byrn on the depth chart?
Guys stop forgetting about last years class, I expect it from sites like bleacher report that have no idea what they are talking about, but not you guys. I know Parker was at least mentioned, I have a feeling they really like him. But we also have Deon Newsome (a really exciting player), David Prince (another dynamic player in High School), Something tells me Caleb could still factor into this, and I think Smilling and Irick are still around right?
I know it is fun to get excited about the freshman, but something tells me at Newsome and
I am sure some will redshirt. I agree with the fact that Knowles is the one who could lose playing time.
I think Byrnes and Stanford are shoo-ins.
Phillips, Parker, Ford, and maybe Meyer could fight for time. Maybe Caleb or Mangus if they get moved to WR.
The thing is, we have 2 guys already "in". We have at most, 2 open spots (4 WR sets since we will flank the RB out wide to make 5) for Ford, Phillips, Holland, Meyer, Irick, Parker, Caleb, Mangus, Knowles, Newsome, Bradshaw (I can see him seeing time just from his speed). There will be some rotation as well but that is 11 guys, not including others I didn't list. We have a lot of guys vying for playing time which is a good thing because it will create a lot of competition. Byrne and Stanford may not be locks as we think. They are the best we had last year but neither were explosive. Byrne made a lot of his plays because he was forgotten or lost on crossing routes. They are the leaders for those spots at this point obviously but I think we will see guys reaching for their reps. WR is a position we could see all new guys at this fall potentially.
Stanford keeps his position on this alone -
Maybe not on that alone, but towards the end of the season he was definitely coming along as a solid WR as well as a legitimate playmaker.
Agreed, I just really wanted a reason to post that video. One of my favorite plays of the year.
+1 on multiple posts. The block to get in the end zone was awesome as well!!
He made great plays against the zone more often than not if I remember correctly. He lacked in separation in man coverage as did all our WRs. I think he starts with Byrn but I am not saying that he is a 100% lock to be the guy at X all season. JMO
I don't think anyone's a 100% lock, but I think it'd be a little much to expect the freshmen to unseat him. He's athletic and developed enough to be a solid, consistent receiver as well as a decent playmaking threat. All of the new guys look like they'll be very good for the Hokies, but picking up the college game is a big task. I personally don't see Stanford on the bench a whole lot this season.
He had a couple great blocks, including sealing blocks, toward the end of the season that allowed Edmunds to get some decent runs.
And Byrn keeps his position because of the block at 0:11 that guaranteed the 6.
-1 for pandering (sarcastica)
Best play of the year by a WR, (and second best offensively). Maybe the best individual play by anybody last year, offense or defense.
This is the video definition of "playmaker".
After watching the SunBowl I have a feeling Carlis Parker could be taking over JC Coleman's scat back role and JC could go back to his N S running style.... yes JC isn't the best at N S but its a lot better than E W and with proper blocking I have confidence in JC, just his role this past year didn't seem to fit him.
This was rubbing me wrong at first as I am a big JC believer, but as you said I think he's more of a N' S' kind of a guy and with some added weight/muscle and better blocking I have every confidence in him. As such a turkey leg for you sir.
Stanford will start at the X (lines up on the boundary.) Ford would be my first pick to back him up. At the Z (flanker/wide side of the field) I think Knowles will battle with Phillips. I am not sure if Phillips has Knowles speed, but he is much more polished at getting separation than Knowles was last season. Byrn will be the 3rd receiver in the formation, regardless of what the depth chart says. He will live in the slot.
So, what do they do with Meyer, Parker, Newsome, and Prince? That is a tough question. I don't know what to make of Meyer. I keep hearing great things about him in practice, but he has pretty much been hurt all the time and when he has played, I just do not see him getting open with consistency. Parker is a big threat as a runner and has amazing speed, but he isn't a receiving threat yet. With him still having a shirt to burn, do they take him off the field when he is such a good runner? If they do, you may take a better receiver out of the mix at X or Z (Phillips/Ford.) I know little about Newsome. I was a huge fan of David Prince coming out of high school and I wish I had more information on how he performed in fall camp. Nobody has really indicated if he improved on the scout team. Prince, as a very athletic and tough kid who played QB, should be able to contribute somewhere. He is too good an athlete not to.
It would be nice to send in fresh WRs every other set - that's how FSU ground us down and beat us in the NC Game.
This plus our best DB getting hurt in 4th qtr and they just crammed the ball at his replacement. We pretty much were even with their WRs prior to that event.
French...what do you think about Jalen Bradshaw? Does he redshirt or any chance he competes for a spot on the chart?
I think he can play as well. He had a terrific game on ESPN. The problem with all three guys is they are all probably best suited to play flanker, and flanker is where you have Byrn and Knowles. All three probably need to get stronger as well. Somebody is going to sit. I left Bradshaw out because, besides the ESPN game, he doesn't have any film out there to evaluate, so I am going on one game and Coach Stinespring's comments.
I'm not sure that is a problem (those guys being Flankers). Byrne and especially Knowles need to be pushed hard for playing time, so I'm happy we have incoming talent at that position.
Heard a rumor that Carlis Parker was now 6'4 and put on 15lbs weighing in at 200. Heard he hasn't lost a step either. Don't sleep on him.
I heard Bucky Hodges is 8'
He now requires Sam Rogers to spot for him when they lift.
nopenow he's 8'2
We got alot of kids who are relatively new to the WR position. I don't buy the idea that anyone is locked into their performance last year.
Take Knowles for example. If I were that kid I'd be shacked up with Gentry and probably working core, core, core, and leg explosion for cuts and jumps. I'd be a different guy come September than I was last September.
I could see Parker "coming from nowhere" and doing the same type of workout as Knowles.
I know our guys who went combine are gifted athletes, but I've seen enough videos of them working out to know that they have set a very good example for these skill position guys. I will cry for 50 days and 50 nights and flood the earth if it doesn't rub off on our WRs. Not a threat, its a promise, so all you NATs better start building your arks.
Sure these guys didn't have a great last year, but I can see potential. I can also see a higher hurdle to playing time in Morehead. Lastly WR seems to be about speed, route running (cutting, getting open, running reliably), getting the ball when close, and YAC. Every WR spot needs a different combination of these but WR talent is fungible when your guys are developing. I refuse to think that anyone has a position locked up at this point. While it might seem like hyperbole, if Knowles got pushed by Parker, but developed his route running and desire for the ball, I could see him playing in Byrn or Stanford's "spots". Playing the silly game where our depth chart has people penciled in at this point, which it doesn't. I don't see this being a strength next year, but it only takes two guys to emerge through hard work this summer, and I think think it would be a strength.
I disagree mostly with what you said, but upvoted you because you sounded pretty confident about it.
There were lots of issues last year with technique and route-running, and I expect anyone new to have the same growing pains. Some routes were being run at the wrong depth, players were coming out of their breaks too high, and others had trouble when jammed at the LOS. WRs were trying to catch the ball with their body, all which led to some bad performances early on. Players developed as the season went on, and schemes changed a bit to fit the players. I don't see Morehead shaking things up now that he's got Stanford and Byrn as effective WRs. Right now the only position I see open is for a dominating deep threat.
It would be fantastic if Knowles could develop into the dominating deep threat we need, but core exercises are not going to win him any jump balls next year; he needs to work on high-pointing the ball. And I don't expect him to turn into Jarrett Boykin anytime soon.
With Leal's strength being the deep ball, finding a deep threat receiver who can get separation and catch "back shoulder throws" is job #1 for Morehead this offseason.
I thought Leal's strength was the bootleg and play action? I don't remember hearing a lot about the deep ball being his strength.
He does both very well. There was one play in a scrimmage last year (either Spring or Fall, I can't remember) where he threw an extremely pretty deep ball that may have been a long TD. He does a great job of putting some air under the ball and letting his guy go get it and seems to have a good feel for when to let it fly so he doesn't overthrow his receiver. That said, he doesn't have Logan's Howitzer attached to his shoulder, but he can still get it out there.
Love this discussion. Just look back at it all and it says:
There is excitement about what will be an exciting spring and fall competition for WR. This is so much like the QB competition situation. And who brought us this?:
Lefty & Moorehead!!!
(I do like Searels as well, he's just not been involved in this as much yet, so not as evident - but I'm sure Grimes was in on this plan as well.)
Heck, a similar situation is in place at RB as well!!
These guys have there act together. This combined with the QB risk management is placing some key puzzle pieces in place for success at ALL the offensive skill positions.
Our competition could get a BIG surprise this coming fall!!
Lefty is "managing" the offense from a business management perspective. Did we have this before? Maybe, but it wasn't this evident. This is clearly an investment - ROI thought process. LOVE IT!!
What about Meyer? Players and coaches were talking about him in August, and then got injured.
I like Stanford a lot, and I really don't think the ball was thrown enough to him last year.
I have a feeling we'll see r-freshman and true freshman getting a good amount of playing time in the fall. Probably the most we've seen since 04 when Royal, Morgan, Harper were playing a lot.