wide receiver

Donate To GopherHole
denguegopher

denguegopher

Make lying wrong again
Joined
Dec 10, 2008
Messages
3,016
Reaction score
1,552
Points
113
I've read a little about our wide receiver situation. There are some with the opinion that we are really hurting for explosiveness at that position. After looking at the roster I was wondering if anyone thinks that Wright or Harbison might be able to provide some punch. Its so nice to have someone who can score break big plays and score easy TDs. Takes a ton of pressure off the QB too. Go Gophers!
 

Wide Receivers

I don't think we will have to bad of receiving corp. I think Harbison will be the #1 guy and Wolitarski sounds like a guy with good hands and great route running ablility. If you have a great route runner you can move the ball on a lot of timing routes with play action.
 

I am cautiously optimistic that our wide receivers will be very good. Of great import is if they will provide solid downfield blocking for our running backs. With our OL, running backs and potential TE play, the wide outs could have a field day. Do not forget that AM is in summer school and should be ready in the fall. He could just have the right attitude coming back for a great year. A healthy Harbison will be a big contributor. There are a lot of good pieces to plug into this puzzle. Another being a year of experience for our young QB to build on. Making good reads on B1G secondaries takes a little experience.
 

Here's your WR roster without McDonald, who had no impact last season:

80 Crawford-Tufts, Devin Wide Receiver 6-2 193 JR Edina, Minn. (Edina HS)
18 Engel, Derrick Wide Receiver 6-2 187 RS SR Chaska, Minn. (Winona State)
14 Fruechte, Isaac Wide Receiver 6-3 204 RS JR Caledonia, Minn. (Rochester CTC)
16 Harbison, Jamel Wide Receiver 5-11 199 RS FR Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS)
89 Holcomb, Ben Wide Receiver 6-4 200 RS FR Germantown, Wis. (Germantown HS)
17 Hutton, Logan Wide Receiver 6-1 181 RS JR La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS)
84 Keise, Victor Wide Receiver 6-1 188 RS SR Coral Springs, Fla. (North Broward Prep)
24 Marmer, Aaron Wide Receiver 6-3 213 RS SO Menasha, Wis. (Air Force Academy)
1 Maye, KJ Wide Receiver 5-10 197 SO Mobile, Ala. (Murphy HS)
23 Sardinha, Edward (EJ) Wide Receiver 6-1 197 RS FR Wellington, Fla. (Palm Beach Central High School)
26 Smith, Brian Wide Receiver 6-4 212 FR Milwaukee, Wis. (Brookfield East HS)
8 Wilson, Cameron Wide Receiver 6-3 215 RS JR Rockwall, Texas (Rockwall Heath HS)
82 Wolitarsky, Drew Wide Receiver 6-3 208 FR Santa Clarita, Calif. (Canyon County HS)
25 Wright, Devon Wide Receiver 6-0 196 RS JR Coral Springs, Fla. (Taravella HS)

I expect Crawford-Tufts, Engel, and Fruechte to provide the leadership, and Harbison, Maye, and Wright the raw talent. There is always, always a guy that comes out of nowhere each season to become one of the top 3-4 receivers on the team--like Barker, McGarry (a WR playing TE), McKnight, Stoudermire, Kuznia. There's always a guy we don't expect. Maybe this year it's Hutton, Keise, Marmer, Wilson...
 

There has not been a whole lot on GH talking about Drew Wolitarsky. I mean the guy set California records, and is coming in totally under radar. I want to be a part of the Wolitarsky fan club.

GO GOPHERS!!!
 


Dr.Don said:
There has not been a whole lot on GH talking about Drew Wolitarsky. I mean the guy set California records, and is coming in totally under radar. I want to be a part of the Wolitarsky fan club.

GO GOPHERS!!!
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I didn't mention big #82 because you can get called "crazy" for thinking a F WR could make an impact on a Gopher football team. To be honest, I think Wolitarsky will play right away and will give us a tall, tough possession guy.

Let's be crazy together.
 


diehard said:
I am cautiously optimistic that our wide receivers will be very good. Of great import is if they will provide solid downfield blocking for our running backs. With our OL, running backs and potential TE play, the wide outs could have a field day. Do not forget that AM is in summer school and should be ready in the fall. He could just have the right attitude coming back for a great year. A healthy Harbison will be a big contributor. There are a lot of good pieces to plug into this puzzle. Another being a year of experience for our young QB to build on. Making good reads on B1G secondaries takes a little experience.
Click to expand...

McDonald will be a major contributor this year. I think DH is right here, he comes in this fall hungry, ready to play football.

He's one of the few receivers last year that I recall actually making a play on the ball in the air, going after a few balls that maybe weren't "right there". He'll be a playmaker.

Either that or he could be gone by mid-semester, who knows. My money is on the young man coming back with a vengeance.
 

I'm interested in the walk-on Borchardt. I heard that he had a solid track season, could be a nice deep threat.
 



I remember a few articles involving one of the WR's that really hasn't had an impact so far due to injuries (and I'm assuming inconsistency), but Kill mentioned him having a solid, healthy spring. I also remember hearing about some nice catches this spring. But I can't remember who is was now...
 


Ogee Oglethorpe said:
McDonald will be a major contributor this year. I think DH is right here, he comes in this fall hungry, ready to play football.

He's one of the few receivers last year that I recall actually making a play on the ball in the air, going after a few balls that maybe weren't "right there". He'll be a playmaker.

Either that or he could be gone by mid-semester, who knows. My money is on the young man coming back with a vengeance.
Click to expand...

Agree...Agree...Agree.....McDonald definitely has all the skills to be a top Big Ten WR....if he can just stay on the straight and narrow.
 

It's the chicken-and-egg thing.

Does a strong passing attack open up space for your running game, or
Does a strong running game create space for your passing attack?

If the Gophs can run the ball effectively, I would hope that it will create some opportunities for the WR's to make plays downfield. I think they have some adequate 'possession' receivers - but someone needs to emerge as a real downfield threat. Let's face it - the offense missed Barker after his melt-down last season.
 



pharmacygopher said:
I remember a few articles involving one of the WR's that really hasn't had an impact so far due to injuries (and I'm assuming inconsistency), but Kill mentioned him having a solid, healthy spring. I also remember hearing about some nice catches this spring. But I can't remember who is was now...
Click to expand...
Based on your description, i am guessing it is Harbison who got hurt early in the first game last season and had ACL surgery.
 

corcoran1 said:
Based on your description, i am guessing it is Harbison who got hurt early in the first game last season and had ACL surgery.
Click to expand...

I'm really excited about Harbison to be 100% honest. He looked phenomenal in camp last year and flashed at UNLV before getting hurt. I had the opportunity to talk with him at length at one point last season, and I"m telling you this kid is a gem. Hard working, polite, "yes, sir...no, sir" kind of kid. He was quick to praise his teammates and slow to talk about himself. I think he busted his a** in the off-season and will be a big contributor.

I think the same about Andre. No, he wasn't a big contributor last year, but you have to remember the following:

1) He missed a couple games due to injury.
2) He was a true freshman in the Big Ten. It's hard enough to learn an offense and contribute as a Fr, let alone deal with injuries.
3) He spent a lot of the off-season throwing with Gray, only to have two different QB's take the majority of the reps during the year.
4) He did show some flashes against UNLV and Northwestern. It was clear the coaching staff loved him and took a few chances in the redzone with him.

I really believe he'll have a solid -- not spectacular -- season and really flash at times.
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
McDonald will be a major contributor this year. I think DH is right here, he comes in this fall hungry, ready to play football.

He's one of the few receivers last year that I recall actually making a play on the ball in the air, going after a few balls that maybe weren't "right there". He'll be a playmaker.

Either that or he could be gone by mid-semester, who knows. My money is on the young man coming back with a vengeance.
Click to expand...

McDonald seems to be the kind of guy that will either be a really good player or a complete bust. Let's hope he gets his attitude straightened out and its the former.
 

MGGopher said:
I'm really excited about Harbison to be 100% honest. He looked phenomenal in camp last year and flashed at UNLV before getting hurt. I had the opportunity to talk with him at length at one point last season, and I"m telling you this kid is a gem. Hard working, polite, "yes, sir...no, sir" kind of kid. He was quick to praise his teammates and slow to talk about himself. I think he busted his a** in the off-season and will be a big contributor.

I think the same about Andre. No, he wasn't a big contributor last year, but you have to remember the following:

1) He missed a couple games due to injury.
2) He was a true freshman in the Big Ten. It's hard enough to learn an offense and contribute as a Fr, let alone deal with injuries.
3) He spent a lot of the off-season throwing with Gray, only to have two different QB's take the majority of the reps during the year.
4) He did show some flashes against UNLV and Northwestern. It was clear the coaching staff loved him and took a few chances in the redzone with him.

I really believe he'll have a solid -- not spectacular -- season and really flash at times.
Click to expand...

I'm excited for Harbison also. Specifically on the "explosiveness" question from the OP, Harbison is probably not that guy. If I remember right he was touted as more of a Cris Carter/Michael Irvin great hands and route runner type of receiver. McDonald was touted as more of the deep threat "explosive" type guy. If McDonald doesn't pan out, I don't know that they really have that "explosive" type guy, but I also don't know that they need that. If they have a solid run game, they need a good enough passing game to keep people honest. They don't have to throw deep all the time...
 

WR is still a difficult position for us. That doesn't mean that it's the end of the world and that we don't have some talent, it just means that it's a position where we haven't shown a TON.

McDonald is a talented guy. It's impossible to judge anyone on how they performed as a true freshman. He is an explosive athlete, he's a big kid and he's really our wild card going into next season at WR.

Harbison - He was our best WR last camp. It's a shame that he got injured and I can't get myself to have too high of expectations for a guy his age coming off an injury. I think he'll have a great career here, but it might take him a little bit to get going.

DCT - I really think he's an underrated guy. He is the kind of guy who could be really good with consistent QB play. What I mean is that the type of WR that he is, he often runs routes where completing passes to him takes a really good pass. He is a good blocker and so he does a lot in PA and fly type of plays. He was nicked up most of last year, so if he comes in healthy, hopefully his game looks a lot like AJ Barkers last year. He's a good blocker, he's fast, and this is a big year for him.

Fruechte - - Solid guy. Big. Good hands. I think he's faster than he played last year, hopefully we see more of that.
Engel - It'll be exciting to watch him in the slot for us, he was a pleasant surprise. He's fast, he runs good routes and he has good hands. I don't think he's terribly elusive and not a real big guy, but he might lead the team in yardage next season.

All in all, we have some guys who are talented. I wish we didn't have to count on a RS-FR coming off an injury and a true SO to be our most dynamic/explosive types of athletes. I also hope we don't have to count on a converted RB (Wright) or any of the freshman (Wolitarsky, Carter, Borchart), but it'll be interesting. There is room in our lineup for these guys to get significant playing time.

At the end of the day, we need to run the ball. We have a big OL, big RBs, and talented and big TEs. If these guys see a lot of one-on-ones and PA, I think they are really capable of doing nice things. If we are in 3rd and long a lot, I don't think have the experience (or talent depth) to continuously beat coverage.
 

Lakeville Goldy said:
I'm excited for Harbison also. Specifically on the "explosiveness" question from the OP, Harbison is probably not that guy. If I remember right he was touted as more of a Cris Carter/Michael Irvin great hands and route runner type of receiver. McDonald was touted as more of the deep threat "explosive" type guy. If McDonald doesn't pan out, I don't know that they really have that "explosive" type guy, but I also don't know that they need that. If they have a solid run game, they need a good enough passing game to keep people honest. They don't have to throw deep all the time...
Click to expand...
MacDonald is not an explosive guy, he is a big, strong, athletic, posession receiver. The most explosive guys are Harbison, Maye, and most of all DCT. Harbison and Maye are not burners, but they are laterally quick and both can jump. DCT has to learn how to beat press coverage to take advanrtage of his speed. We need Maye and Harbison to stay healthy so they can make plays on balls, which thay are both athletic enough to do. The other guy with good speed and size for a WR is Devon Wright who missed spring practice with a shoulder injury after moving from RB. He is fast but not explosive, and is good with the ball in the open field.
I am hoping one thing Maye or Wright can do is improve our reverses. Even when our WRs have a good angle they never cut up field and keep getting strung out until help arrives. We get 5 yards versus 20 most of the time.
 

receivers

corcoran1 said:
MacDonald is not an explosive guy, he is a big, strong, athletic, posession receiver. The most explosive guys are Harbison, Maye, and most of all DCT. Harbison and Maye are not burners, but they are laterally quick and both can jump. DCT has to learn how to beat press coverage to take advanrtage of his speed. We need Maye and Harbison to stay healthy so they can make plays on balls, which thay are both athletic enough to do. The other guy with good speed and size for a WR is Devon Wright who missed spring practice with a shoulder injury after moving from RB. He is fast but not explosive, and is good with the ball in the open field.
I am hoping one thing Maye or Wright can do is improve our reverses. Even when our WRs have a good angle they never cut up field and keep getting strung out until help arrives. We get 5 yards versus 20 most of the time.
Click to expand...

I think we have a solid receiving corps. Engel, Fruechte, DCT, Harbison, and Maye all bring solid speed and good hands to the table. Our tight ends are very solid. I do not think Wright will contribute at all at receiver or running back. Special teams guy only.
 

I think Wright has the potential to be great. He is not a between the tackles kind of guy, which this staff likes, but he has great speed and is very elusive in the open field. My only question is how well does he catch the ball. If he gets the ball in the open field with a little space around him look out! Limegrover is very good, in my opinion, in getting receivers open by way of schemes. I have a lot of hope for Wright making nice contributions this year.
 

diefirma said:
I think Wright has the potential to be great. He is not a between the tackles kind of guy, which this staff likes, but he has great speed and is very elusive in the open field. My only question is how well does he catch the ball. If he gets the ball in the open field with a little space around him look out! Limegrover is very good, in my opinion, in getting receivers open by way of schemes. I have a lot of hope for Wright making nice contributions this year.
Click to expand...

He could be a guy they can throw a lot of WR screens or possibly end arounds with as well. With as much motion as Kill and Co like to use, I bet they can find a way to get a talented individual the ball.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom