(no message)
Needs to improve.
The issues with poor production and the mass exodus and firing last year has to hurt big time
(no message)
Even a top notch OC hire may not be enough all by itself.
The damage done by the Stuckey hire was significant. We lost two 4 star freshmen (Rico Flores, Braylon James), and a talented fellow in the way of Tobias Merriweather because of either Stuckey's inability to develop them, or the extra-curricular activities that would have gotten them suspended...
James was the top WR recruit in that class, and a high 4 star. Flores was a lower 4 star, but still had some promising production. I won't pretend for a second that the loss of those two guys doesn't affect us, whether it be directly on the field, or putting a smudge on the reputation.
There's still some good news, though. Mike Brown and Mike Denbrock have a chance to develop the guys on the roster, as well as a trio of talented incoming freshmen. If they can produce good results, then I believe we can flip a WR recruit or two for the 2025 class. If not, then we'll simply have to roll the dice with the transfer portal again.
Make no mistake about it. I'd much prefer that we develop our own talent in-house with guys that we recruited, but if the transfer portal becomes our only option, then so be it.
(no message)
Will Fuller being the obvious.
Still, he also developed TJ Jones, Equanimeous St. Brown, who had a very good year in 2016, along with Torii Hunter Jr. (on his way to a very good season in 2016 before a cheap shot ended his football career. Corey Robinson was also a pretty solid player as well. I'd even throw Chris Brown in there, since he was a very solid option at WR2 for us.
Recruiting until significant on field WR performance is seen.
Our WR play and development have been very poor recently. We think it’s going to improve but I say recruits have to see it before buying in to it. This fall will be important.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
We weren't legitimately in the running for Taylor..might as well say 2 for 100 if including all the WRs we would of liked to have.
(no message)
things I read implied ND moved on past him because of their confidence in landing better guys...seems foolish in hindsight.
WR performance hasn't been very good at all in these last two years for various reasons.
Other than Chase Claypool in 2019, we haven't had a big time season from our WR1's. Kevin Austin had a decent season in 2021, Miles Boykin had one in 2018, but other than that, the numbers put up by our WR1's looked more like other teams' WR2's.
In 2022, we didn't have a quarterback who could get the ball to them for most of the year. Drew Pyne almost never looked over the middle, and rarely, if ever, threw to the left, unless Mike Mayer were lined up on that side. The supposed spread offense that Tommy Rees ran became more of a "constrict" offense, where the short and short to medium range of 1/3rd of the field would be used.
There were many times that Lorenzo Styles was wide open, streaking across the middle, and Pyne never even looked his way. When he wanted to switch to defensive back, and then transferred out,
In 2023, three of our receivers, Deion Colzie, Jayden Thomas and Jaden Greathouse, were gimped with nagging injuries for much of the year.
The WR corps as a group (not including Chris Tyree) didn't show much developmental improvement, especially since Chansi Stuckey was a terrible WR coach with just *one* year of experience as a WR coach. Once we started playing the better competition, the lack of separation among the receivers versus the oppositions' defensive backs wasn't very good at all, and that's being generous.
While Rico Flores showed some signs of promise, putting in good numbers for a true freshman, his transferring out along with Merriweather and Edwards for their locker room puffs with Stuckey didn't exactly inspire confidence.
I'm very grateful to Jordan Faison coming on board halfway through the season, since he finally gave us a reliable receiver in the 2nd half of the season. Still, it shouldn't have come down to bringing in a true freshman walkon and his becoming our best receiver.
While Sam Hartman turned in a good set of numbers, he should have had Brady Quinn-type numbers last year with better developed receivers.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
Has to be significant with good WR play.
Will prove to elevate WRs that ND is the right place for them. Of course winning will help as well.
(no message)
and if MF, Denbrovk, and Brown can get the receivers to produce as per their capabilities, the Irish will be fine.
we have 5 highly talented WRs who all have multiple years of eligibility remaining.
As long as none of those 5 guys transfer, we'll be in a spot where if Burress hits and we grab a couple depth guys in TP we'll be just fine over next 2-3 seasons.
We do "NEED" to score big time at WR in '26 with some guys who can play right away to prevent the '25 class lack of WRs from killing us down the road.
On a different note, it was too bad that Flores transferred. He would have helped quite a bit this year.
Really wish we had him back this season.
(no message)