MN Daily: Receivers look to replace 'Coach KJ'

[BleedGopher]

per the Daily:

Maye hasn’t really left the team, though, as he’s come to practices this spring to help coach up some of the team’s receivers.

“Last week, [Maye] came in … like full coach gear, so I called him Coach KJ,” sophomore wide receiver Rashad Still said. “He came to the side, gave us some pointers and stuff. [The receivers] call him Coach KJ now.”

Still said the Gophers receivers will continue to work with Maye after the team’s spring practice wraps up. Maye helped mentor him as a freshman last year he said, and the El Paso, Texas, native put up 194 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in his first season.

Now, he’s leaning on redshirt junior Eric Cater for support.

“It used to be KJ, but he left. Now, Eric’s like my big brother,” Still said. “He keeps me in line. Whenever I need something, I can call him, and he’ll come pick me up or drop me off. I look up to him.”

http://www.mndaily.com/sports/football/2016/04/05/receivers-look-replace-coach-kj

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

per the STrib: Gophers receivers following the lead of 'Coach KJ'

This spring, the Gophers typically have used have Wolitarsky, Rashad Still and Eric Carter as their first-team receivers.

Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Gentry remains one of their most talented receivers, but he continues to fight injuries. Two other receivers who have stood out are redshirt freshman Hunter Register and junior Brian Smith.

“We don’t have a talent problem at wide receiver right now,” coach Tracy Claeys said. “It’s all about consistency and catching the balls that move the chains.”

Wolitarsky set California high school records with 281 receptions and 5,148 yards at Canyon County High School. After catching 25 passes combined his first two years at Minnesota, he had 39 receptions last year, the most for a Gophers junior since Da’Jon McKnight had 48 in 2010.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on being a leader in the [receiver] group,” Wolitarsky said. “I wouldn’t say I really have a specific goal set for yardage, touchdowns and whatnot. That’s not really my concern right now.”

http://www.startribune.com/gophers-receivers-following-the-lead-of-coach-kj/374691331/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Spoofin]

Gentry still fighting injury? No mention of MHjr? Just a fluff article, but it doesn't bring me any confidence in our WRs. I think Still is a stud, but who else is going to be a major contributor?

 

[beavergopher]

“We don’t have a talent problem at wide receiver right now,” coach Tracy Claeys said. “It’s all about consistency and catching the balls that move the chains.”

Huh? Like a basketball coach saying players are good but can't shoot. Catching the ball is the talent for a WR.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

“We don’t have a talent problem at wide receiver right now,” coach Tracy Claeys said. “It’s all about consistency and catching the balls that move the chains.”

Huh? Like a basketball coach saying players are good but can't shoot. Catching the ball is the talent for a WR.

I don't think saying "We have a talent problem" would help.

It's just coachspeak.

 

[Section2]

“We don’t have a talent problem at wide receiver right now,” coach Tracy Claeys said. “It’s all about consistency and catching the balls that move the chains.”

Huh? Like a basketball coach saying players are good but can't shoot. Catching the ball is the talent for a WR.

He means that we have speed, size, and route running ability. Anyone can catch a pass. It takes discipline and focus to do it consistently and well. Great hands are a talent, like a Cris Carter. Making the routine catch consistently is not about talent.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

I always wished our offense with KJ was a bit more capable. I think we could have gotten a lot more out of him.

 

[Spoofin]

Gentry still fighting injury? No mention of MHjr? Just a fluff article, but it doesn't bring me any confidence in our WRs. I think Still is a stud, but who else is going to be a major contributor?

Just listened to the Gopher Gridiron podcast. If you trust Ryan Burns, and why wouldn't you, Gentry has been out for 2-weeks AGAIN, and MHjr's hands haven't gotten any better.

Carter looks good in practice, but hasn't proven anything yet. I don't trust Woli at all. Who is going to step up other than Still??? Scary stuff..... again this year.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Just listened to the Gopher Gridiron podcast. If you trust Ryan Burns, and why wouldn't you, Gentry has been out for 2-weeks AGAIN, and MHjr's hands haven't gotten any better.

Carter looks good in practice, but hasn't proven anything yet. I don't trust Woli at all. Who is going to step up other than Still??? Scary stuff..... again this year.

The WR position has been a black hole around here for a while. Maye stepped up as a senior but the other guys were very average. I have little faith in Wolitarsky being anything more then a #2 or #3 type receiver. Hopefully guys like Holland and Gentry finally step up or some of the young guys develop, would be nice to go into a year knowing out receiver corps is going to be fine. There are options but very little proven talent. Still looks like he has some upside but will be interesting to see how he does when drawing the teams top defensive back most of the time.

 

[beavergopher]

He means that we have speed, size, and route running ability. Anyone can catch a pass. It takes discipline and focus to do it consistently and well. Great hands are a talent, like a Cris Carter. Making the routine catch consistently is not about talent.

Apparently anyone but Gopher receivers can catch a pass. It is the same as last two springs. If you can't make a catch, you have no talent as a WR. Coaching and or recruiting issues, but once again our wideouts look horrible.

 

[minibeaver]

If I remember right, I thought Mitch mentioned Moore (?) as a guy he had developed some timing with. Didn't see him much yesterday except for a dropped deep pass.