This is the one big hole the Irish can't seem to fill on offense.
That one receiver that can catch a 10 yarder and go all the way. Only Fuller took the top off a defense. All the receivers - St. Brown, Boykin, Claypool, (McKinley will be in the NFL) are all big and physical. Kelly's running backs and tight ends are good. Other than Kizer Kelly hasn't done much with his Qb's but elite speed would change some of that. Clemson, Alabama & Ohio St. get that in almost every class. To win a National Championship you have to win a shootout.
Replies to: This is the one big hole the Irish can't seem to fill on offense.
That's what she said...
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I'll roll with what we have at WR
There is no dominant player there like Claypool, Fuller, Floyd, etc., but the top 3 guys (after a slow start) are currently playing as well as any WR group since 2015. Combine them with the TEs and the RBs and ND has more than enough playmakers.
It would help if ND had a QB who could make that throw; alas no need for that receiver.
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Avery Davis has this. But BK doesnt get him the ball like that. Hit 23mph on his run vs NMSU
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We seem to get about one gamebreaker every 4/5 classes.
Holtz had the Rocket, then Rossum. Davie had Julius. Willingham had Samardzjia. Weis had Tate. Kelly had Fuller, now potentially Tyree or Lenzy.
To your point, the truly elite programs tend to have 2-3 of these guys on the roster each season.
Agree
You need one or two guys that give you an easy score or two every game and then keep a defense honest to make everything else run even better.
As others have suggested, Lenzy was supposed to be that guy and maybe even Austin.
Good news moving forward, we have a few of those guys that have that “potential” coming in.
Indeed, I miss Golden Tate.
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And Floyd.
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Blocking is an important trait for ND WR in this offense
and has kept the speed receivers from really shining in our offense. "If you can't block, you won't play" has been the mantra and explains why we have McKinley and Skowronek playing instead of the Lenzy, Johnson, Watts, etc.
The last two recruiting classes has the potential to change that a bit with much more speed and athleticism... so that might be the next evolution in the Kelly Offense.
I beg to differ. If you can run the ball you can overpower speed teams however a speed team can
also make a power team look silly by using their speed effectively. If you look statistically teams that out run their opponents by say a 2 to 1 margin generally win the game even if the other team out passes the power team by a 2 to 1 margin. Running yards just enable a team to control the finite aspects of the game better because the game is played within a time frame. A strong running team also eventually makes their passing game(especially play action passes) more effective than normal. More YAC comes with an effective play action game. So you do not have to win a shootout. However having speedy wide receivers that get you an easy touchdown or two on big chunk plays is always nice. Remember the bowl game that Zaire quarterbacked against LSU. We absolutely controlled the clock to win that game but that Fournette guy was so spectacular he almost pulled out for them himself. They had far more speedy talent even though we had Fuller then.
When we had Rocket and Watters along with the powerful line and very strong defense we could have beaten the Giants and Jets on the same day. I exaggerate but you know what I mean. We had team speed and the ability to control the clock. And Rice was a super runner who could run out of tackles like a running back.
sort of a coin flip
You can be a great team running a pass happy air raid, but your margins are thin if you can't run and the other team gets a few stops. You can win with a power running game, but the margins can be thin if the other team puts 8 in the box and plays man and you don't have a guy who can hurt them for doing that. Having a strong running game certainly helps the passing game making play action more effective and enticing safeties to play closer to the line. But a strong vertical threat, especially a speed guy who if he can beat a jam at the line can blow up man coverage loosens things up for the running game too.
I get the emphasis on big bodied receivers that can win jump balls for the deep stuff and are effective as possession receivers and great blockers, but having a viable speed merchant out there really changes the dynamics for the defense. If we go with two big WR's who can do the jump ball, possession and blocking along with a TE that still leaves room for 1 faster WR. That seems like an ideal lineup unless we go 2 TE, 1 big WR and one speed guy. Love me some 2 TE lineups as long are both at least competent as both blockers and receivers.
Lenzy was supposed to be the answer there.
Unfortunately injuries have really held him back. Keys is similar. Maybe that'll be another dimension added to the offense if either gets fully healthy and on track.
Lenzy has it but he's not really developed into a WR. He's playing as an athlete.
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BK sounded like Lenzy is finally ready this week
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Sounds like I've heard that before.LOL
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hamstring injuries are tough
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I know, sometimes chronic. Lack of fast twitch
muscle is the only answer. LOL
Speed is obviously a big plus but I remember when Emmitt Smith played at Florida and I wondered why
the hell were all these teams passing on him in the draft. I later found out it was because he was not considered fast. Well I loved him because he ran out of tackles, had superb vision and toughness and had a definite fire in his belly. He is the one I am most reminded of when I see our Kyren. It may sound silly to compare him to the NFL's all time leading rusher(though he was surrounded by great talent) but that is who Kyren strikes me as most like. I cannot predict what will happen down the road, always a lot of luck involved but my God think about it. Kyren has all of those traits Emmit had and maybe a bit more speed. Am I nuts?
Also, Davis brings some of that.
He seems to have some quickness and speed. Don't think he's in Lenzy's category, but brings something to the table other than just size and strength.