Receivers showing up the last two games

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MNSpaniel

MNSpaniel

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It looks like the receivers are starting to get the job done. Three true freshmen making real contribution Williams, Jones, Wolitarsky are going to be good. Engel has become the go to guy. The good thing is that we still have some room for improvement. We left some plays on the field that could have taken the stress out of the end of the game. Engel's play late in the game where the ball hit him right in the hands. Wolitarsky running free with the throw five yards behind him... a few others. Nelson showed big improvement but still misses wide open receivers sometimes. Our receivers have to help him out a bit more by catching those less than perfect passes as well.

I think the big difference is that our offense is less predictable right now and that has helped out our receivers a bunch. If we can keep this unpredictable philosophy to our offense I think good things will continue.
 

Is Andre McDonald off the team and school completely? What is going on with KJ Maye and Jamel Harbison?
 

How good is Jones going to be? Wow, I like him a lot. Love their attitude. Always seem to be upbeat and don't hang their heads after bad plays, just go back to work. Downfield blocking seems to be getting better too. On Cobb's long TD run Jones got just enough of his man to allow Cobb to reach the end zone. Wolitarsky must be the best blocker of the bunch, as it is usually him in there on single WR sets in obviously running downs. Andre who?
 

Passing is hard. Lots of variables. Those pass-happy spread offenses have to deal with some nasty wind and other weather conditions in the mid-west. That's why building this program around the running game and option can get things turned around quicker. I think we've proven we can run the ball and the passing game is making great strides. I'd like to see a rematch with Iowa and Michigan right about now...
 

Mc Donald is not on the team as far as I know. The other two guys have not been seen lately. Maybe the other guys have stepped up and that is why the passing game is improving. I really thought Harbison was going to be a difference maker. Maybe he will yet. Would be great to have a bunch of weapons that nobody could key on.
 


Harbison did not make the trip to IN. Wasn't on the injury report so likely a violation thing. Would be the second time he has missed games because if that this year. Not a good trend.

I'm surprised KJ has vanished, but if it means feeding the ball to Jones more I am all for it!
 

There was a lot made of signing Harbison and how good he was going to be. I really don't know a lot about him but have been waiting for him to make an impact.
 

MNSpaniel said:
It looks like the receivers are starting to get the job done. Three true freshmen making real contribution Williams, Jones, Wolitarsky are going to be good. Engel has become the go to guy. The good thing is that we still have some room for improvement. We left some plays on the field that could have taken the stress out of the end of the game. Engel's play late in the game where the ball hit him right in the hands. Wolitarsky running free with the throw five yards behind him... a few others. Nelson showed big improvement but still misses wide open receivers sometimes. Our receivers have to help him out a bit more by catching those less than perfect passes as well.

I think the big difference is that our offense is less predictable right now and that has helped out our receivers a bunch. If we can keep this unpredictable philosophy to our offense I think good things will continue.
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Personally I've always thought our receivers were good enough--especially Engel. The key is the 'difference' you mention of a less predictable offense coupled with an improved offensive line that is allowing our running attack to work. I hope everyone listened when Donavahn Jones mentioned that there were only two people on the team he could not outrun in a sprint--Engel was one of them. Jones, however, is the more dangerous of the two after the catch. I'm glad you mentioned some less than perfect throws by Nelson. As much as I like him as a QB he still missed a few and some of his passes, had they been more accurate, would have resulted with a lot more yards after the catch.
 




I'm loving what I'm seeing from Donovahn Jones, he's got a bright future ahead of him. I'm also surprised that Maye and Harbison don't have bigger roles, why quibble though, I'm liking the end results.
 


mkAz said:
I'm loving what I'm seeing from Donovahn Jones, he's got a bright future ahead of him. I'm also surprised that Maye and Harbison don't have bigger roles, why quibble though, I'm liking the end results.
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I love the way Engle has stepped up over the past few games and become a true WR 1. Jones has so much raw ability, and as long as Engle and Williams continue to play well, we should be able to continue to get him the ball in the open field.

I'm not sure what to think about Harbison, but I'm really surprised that Maye hasn't been in the game plan at all.
 

mkAz said:
I'm loving what I'm seeing from Donovahn Jones, he's got a bright future ahead of him. I'm also surprised that Maye and Harbison don't have bigger roles, why quibble though, I'm liking the end results.
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No kidding Most Interesting Man in the World! Also think it's possible that Jones has taken reps away from both those guys.
 



I love to say this, even tho some on this board seem to think it isn't true, but except for Engle, all the players we are talking about are FR, R-FR and So. This isn't an excuse, but it shows that if they are playing at this level now, how good will they be in two years?

Look at Cobb, the last two years he was Jamel Harbison, now he is heading towards a thousand yards. Donavahn Jones was a QB until about a week before our first game, now he is an integral part of our offense and growing each week. The route and catch he made on third down late in the fourth on our go ahead TD was outstanding. Imagine who good he is going to be in 2 years.

I have never been more excited to be a Gopher fan and I look forward to our young guys growing, our O-Line growing and our recruiting putting better athletes into the system so we can make bigger strides in the years to come.
 

Golden_Sloth said:
I love the way Engle has stepped up over the past few games and become a true WR 1. Jones has so much raw ability, and as long as Engle and Williams continue to play well, we should be able to continue to get him the ball in the open field.

I'm not sure what to think about Harbison, but I'm really surprised that Maye hasn't been in the game plan at all.
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Wolitarsky?? He's made some nice plays as well.
 

I've always thought Wolitarsky could be the next Decker. Has the same skill set. Only time will tell.
 

"Receivers showing up the last two games "

Maybe? They sure have dropped a lot of balls, including the past two games. I think, however, that the coaching schemes have improved dramatically, which have created open receivers. Combine that with improved confidence by Nelson, who has been making better decisions of late.
 

Jones catching the ball at the line of scrimmage and making it a 20 yard play is something we have been lacking. Wow, did he put a juke on the Indiana defender or what? He's got great burst and it looks like he has good hands. He's also embracing the WR position and doesn't care he's not at QB. His potential is huge. Him, Wolitarsky, and Williams make a promising group of pass-catchers and they're all freshman. If Harbison can figure things out he'll be a great addition in the slot. The offense as a whole has a great future.

I think a lot of people are overlooking the offensive line as a pass blocking unit. Obviously they're doing a great job in the run game but it's not easy dropping back in pass protection when you're used to run blocking the majority of the time, but they're giving Nelson and Leidner plenty of time.
 

I think it was huge last week for D Jones to get the ball in his hands several times on those jet sweeps. Being comfortable and confident on the field ya this level with the ball in your hands is a big deal. I'm guessing that contributed in him being more of a factor in the passing game. It's great to see.

Love the production they are getting from Engel but he doesn't catch the ball very naturally it seems. Wow. Wish I had a dollar the last two seasons for every time he left his feet to try to catch a ball that was chest high. I suspect he's the most complete receiver on the roster right now as to why he gets the most snaps

Good to see the passing game stepping up. No, they won't throw for 300 yards the rest of the season, but it's great to see they CAN if that's what the defense is giving them!
 

Golden_Sloth said:
I love the way Engle has stepped up over the past few games and become a true WR 1. Jones has so much raw ability, and as long as Engle and Williams continue to play well, we should be able to continue to get him the ball in the open field.

I'm not sure what to think about Harbison, but I'm really surprised that Maye hasn't been in the game plan at all.
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I like the way that Coach Kill runs a tight ship where you have to earn playing time in practice. He keeps the discipline info on the kids private between him, his coaches and the individual players.
 

balds said:
How good is Jones going to be? Wow, I like him a lot. Love their attitude. Always seem to be upbeat and don't hang their heads after bad plays, just go back to work. Downfield blocking seems to be getting better too. On Cobb's long TD run Jones got just enough of his man to allow Cobb to reach the end zone. Wolitarsky must be the best blocker of the bunch, as it is usually him in there on single WR sets in obviously running downs. Andre who?
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I agree. Jones just has that look about him. Big kid with easy speed. Wolitarsky is looking good as well. Engel has improved a lot as well and Freuchte seems to get open but he must have p*ssed Nelson off because Nelson's bad passes always seem to be the ones on which Freuchte is the target.

Love the TEs too. Maxx Williams looks like he could be something special and Goodger seems to come up big. Great concentration by Goodger on the TD pass.
 

I was standing close to where Jones caught a long throw with one hand during the scrimmage at TCF. I looked at the guy next to me and proclaimed that he will be the best WR on the team by the end of the year. My proclamation was looking pretty stupid just a few games ago, but now....not so stupid.
 

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