I get the feeling that we're going to be just fine at WR this fall.
- Phillips. Goes without saying. He'll be the leader and #1 guy.
- Kumah. It sounds like he was having a very solid spring before he got injured. He started going up for jump balls and I think he'll be solid in the fall.
- Patterson. I believe the coaching staff was very high on him going into the spring based on his development in the fall. He had a couple of nice plays in the spring game.
- Farley. I'd be shocked if the kid ends up on defense after his performance on Sat. I just wish he had played WR for the entire spring to increase his development going into fall camp. He made plays against Faycson on Sat. It wasn't like it was a true freshman CB.
- Keene. He's an H-Back, but I think he will get a lot of balls thrown his way. Fuente said he has picked up the position well and he is a good athlete.
- CJ Carroll. He was out for the spring, but he was reliable last season.
- Pimpleton. Dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands. Hopefully they can get him the ball in space (screens, quick slants)
- Murphy. It sounds like he was having a good spring until he got hurt. Hopefully he continues to develop.
- James Clark. The guy has legit speed. He isn't big, but I think he could be a guy similar to Carroll and Pimpleton. However, i could also see him being used on vertical routes.
- Denmark. He's a fast kid. I haven't heard too much about him.
I think there is a lot of talent at WR that just needs some experience. Thankfully, Patterson and Kumah arrived early last year and this was their second spring. Carroll also got good experience last season.
Comments
Call me crazy, but I'm cautiously optimistic that despite the personnel losses, we'll be even more dynamic this season. There seem to be more playmakers on offense for us, though they are much younger than anything we've seen since at least 2005.
I'm optimistic for this year, but there is just a lot of youth in this group and I think that may have a little bit more of an impact than most of us will want to admit. However I want to see what the receiving core looks like in 2 years. If some of these kids who get some early playing time can progress anything like Isaiah, Cam, and Bucky did in their first 2 years then we could have something special coming up.
If there is one thing Fuente is trying to do, it's increase our speed at the WR position. He inherited some very talented players in Cam, Isaiah, and Bucky, but all three of those guys are more possession types. He really increased our speed at the position with Pimp, Farley, and the transfer, Clark.
Cam is more a guy that's going to get you YAC . And Bucky was Let's just throw it up to see if he catches it but I do get what you're saying he's getting the types of receivers he needs that compliment his system
I wouldn't say that given his 12.9 yards per catch which ranked 215th in the country last year. You aren't getting a lot of yac out of 12.9 ypc.
I think plays like this just stick out in our collective minds:
Ah yes, the "vacuum cleaner" game
Filthy
We also had Bucky and Ford to throw to.
I'm optimistic as well, but I always remember 2014 when coaches raved about Joshua Stanford and gave him offensive performer of the spring, only to have him out of the program by week 3.
I get a different feeling with players on offense with this coaching staff compared to the last one.
Pretty sure our current coaching staff is light years better on the offensive side of the ball then that one...
pop quiz: how many points has our former OC scored against us since he left the program? I'll let you look it up.
via GIPHY
Keep an eye out for Jordan Jefferson as well.
He looked surprisingly capable in both the open practice and spring game for somebody I had never heard of. He might not get a ton of reps, but I think he could be a good guy to give our normal slot receiver a break.
We're certainly not lacking for speed.
Kick returns are normally handled by WR-types. Which of the guys above does PR and which does KR?
They had mighty mouse (Pimp) back there fielding the punts at the spring game... but it was just practice catching the ball (no returns).
Tim Settle. I thought we went over this?
You mean you thought we Settled this?
That's a lot of talented players we have. Gonna be interesting to see
how it goes this fall.
I'm expecting a lot of drops, miscommunication and freshman mistakes in the first half of the season. I think towards the end I hope/expect to see improvement. Their success also depends on how much help they get from the run game/OL. If QB can stay on his feet, and Trevon/Peoples can move the ball on the ground, I think the WR's will see a lot more success.
At least we can be fairly sure there won't be 20 false starts per game
Fortunately, we don't play a defense until Game 5, so the young guys will have a little time to learn.
Speaking of our first couple games, can we get Fuente to channel his inner Buzz and dance over a WVU logo after we beat the cousins?
I'd rather him one up Buzz and dance over a defeated, cowering Holgorsen.
How about Fuente takes the entire team to the end zone with "West Virginia" painted in it and has them perform the Hokie Pokie?
Ok, as long as Holgorsen is defeated and cowering.
Don't forget Chris Cunningham
All he does is score touchdowns
- Phillips- better block better than he did in his limited reps. I don't think they could afford to bench him, but I expect the offensive staff to be on him pretty good when they look at the tape.
- Kumah. I have high hopes.
- Patterson. made a nice diving catch on a back side drag route. I didn't see his last catch. I would like to see better route running.
- Farley- again, route running needs to get better, but he just started. He will be on offense because he can take the top off a defense.
- Keene. a good running game will make him a better receiver. He isn't there yet. In year 1, his blocking will be more valuable.
- CJ Carroll- nice receiving option- I am not sold on him as the running threat this offense needs on jet sweeps.
- Pimpleton. I wanted to see him get the ball in his hands more. I didn't like it when he let a punt hit the ground and the ball rolled inside the 10.
- Murphy- the silence around his injury makes me worry
- James Clark unknown quantity, but if he has quickness to go with his straightline speed, that could add some spice to the jet sweep attack
- Denmark had a catch on a slant route. I would have like to have seen him get a bit more separation against the back up corners.