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Post by mavsman53 on Feb 16, 2024 8:57:05 GMT -6
Time to look at the WR Room. Bogey, I think you had mentioned Denver Holman. Not totally confident, but I think he has graduated and moved on. Here is the list of players that should make an impact in 2024 (again, not adding each player at this position)-
Golightly- Sr
Bl. Taylor- Sr
Tr. Cleveland- Sr
Neh. Martinez- Sr
JJ Henry- Jr
McCasland- Jr
H. Graham- Soph
Marc. Jones- Jr
My overview is this seems to be the most talent this room has had since KP has taken over. I love that we were able to add players like Cleveland and Martinez that have lots of experience playing. Taylor was our most consistent WR last year, followed by McCasland. Golightly seemed to regress last year. He was very good his Sophomore year, but took a step back in 2023. I expected more from Marcayll Jones. He has great speed, but he rarely saw the field, and when he did, he did not consistently catch the ball. If Jones and Henry can get going, it could be a big year. Graham is the jack of all trades. I agree with DRY, if we keep him at WR, which I assume we will, we still should use some packages with him at QB. He was a stud during the fall camp, but for whatever reason, it took a long time to get him into meaningful games.
Overall, I give this group a B. The talent is there. Can they be more consistent than last year? This offense will depend on our WRs moving the chains. If they can do that, we can be in the mix for a big season in 2024.
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WR Grade
Feb 16, 2024 10:49:54 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by jaminthebody on Feb 16, 2024 10:49:54 GMT -6
I voted A. In the Air Raid, it’s good to be deep at WR and speed kills.
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Post by wildcatter on Feb 16, 2024 11:08:03 GMT -6
Last year this forum raved about a kid that walked on at Alabama coming here and I’m unsure of if he ever even played. I know this activity is for fun but the reality of it is we either didn’t have a good enough offensive scheme, good enough WR’s, or a good enough QB. I don’t think grades above C are possible if we don’t have PROOF of legit playmakers.
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Post by mavsman53 on Feb 16, 2024 11:18:51 GMT -6
Wildcatter, you are correct to a degree. We always should be cautious of thinking that an FBS player will make an immediate impact. The thing that gets me a bit more excited this time is Cleveland and Martinez have lots of experience. It does not guarantee that either will be productive here. We hope they will be, but the truth is, maybe they won't be. Maybe that will be on them, the system or the QB.
I also try not to drink the purple koolaid too much. I try to have, as best I can, an open mind to where we are truly at and I think you will see that when we get to other position groups
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Post by bogeyman on Feb 16, 2024 11:39:29 GMT -6
I wish we would hear from the HC or OC about what WAS missing from our offense last year. Is our receiver room better than last year. I think it has the capability of being better but...we need people to get open and then catch the ball. From my perspective that has to happen from new people (didn't play for us last year) because what we had was anemic. Taylor is a good receiver and tall but not fast. Golightly makes a few incredible catches but overall seems uncommitted to play every down and drops easy throws. Jones was a disappointment (too many dropped balls). Can The new guys stretch the field? Can we find a Fink or Kobe type consistent mid range receiver? Will Boykins (that walkon Alabama receiver) or Williams or the Fr. from Silsbee be given a chance over returning but underperforming upper classmen? Will Bowie at OC be an upgrade over the last 4 or 5 OC's we've had and give us a dangerous passing game. My hopes are high for an improved WR room but until I hear from the coaches and see the improvement I'm also in the "C" category. My biggest concern at WR is we still have no speed.
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Post by mavsman53 on Feb 16, 2024 13:15:42 GMT -6
Bogey, Taylor is a 4.4 to 4.5 guy; he can really run. JJ Henry was a track star in high school. Jones is very fast, but he did have the drops last year. Martinez and Cleveland are both shifty and should excel at getting open.
I do think part of the issue last year was at QB. RC mentioned that McIvor had a strong arm, but honestly that's not totally the case. His ball floats out of his hand. Long in 2022 and Q. Hawkins last year both had a stronger arm. There were several times where our WRs had their man beat, but the ball was under thrown causing them to slow down or adjust their route. QB play and WR play go hand-in-hand often times
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Post by Cap'n Cattitude on Feb 16, 2024 22:26:47 GMT -6
What I observed last year was that McI waited much too long to read and throw. So often our receivers seemed not open when the ball wasn’t thrown when they were open. So I think our receivers are pretty strong but they need better QB play.
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Post by acutrackfan on Feb 16, 2024 22:29:12 GMT -6
I feel like the ACU wide receivers have the potential to be really, really good. We have been begging for some big targets at WR for year and we have that in Golightly at 6-5 and B Taylor at 6-4. Golightly looked great his first year at ACU, but what appeared to be a much more lackadasical approach to going after the ball last season allowed Taylor to blow past him in dependability. Both McCasland and Graham were both pleasant surprises -- both showed good savvy. M Jones was a huge disappointment, but he does have good speed and if he can learn to catch the ball better, he could be a big help.
I like that all three transfers have caught the ball at the FBS level - Cleveland has multiple starts at receiver for Tech, Henry has a start at Ole Miss and Martinez has a large number of catches at Tech and was a fan favorite while playing for the Red Raiders for his fearless attitude. Getting seasoned WR's who have played plenty of college ball is totally different than getting a transfer who never way the field in 3 years. And, all of the HS kids had good numbers in HS.
I think the potential is huge for this receiving corps, but I hesitate to give them anything above a B until I see them producing in the field at ACU. Feeling a little jaded after last year's disappointing season.
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Post by bucfan on Feb 16, 2024 23:31:11 GMT -6
I'm with acutrackfan. I think we should be really good but I need to see proof on the field after the last couple of years. And as mavsman said QB play and WR play often go hand in hand. Even if we have great receivers can we consistently get them the ball?
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WR Grade
Feb 17, 2024 1:16:59 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Preach on Feb 17, 2024 1:16:59 GMT -6
I want to give a B or even an A- for the WRs… but for me it is a C… Not sure the speed is there.
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