Wide Receivers

[GophersInIowa]

One positive I see so far is that the Wide Receivers are a lot more involved in the offense this year compared to last. I know part of it is because Maxx is gone and our run game hasn't been as good so far. But it is still a good thing in my opinion.

WR's had a total of 56 receptions last year. Through two games this year, they have 32.

 

[eker0016]

Wow, that is an incredible stat.

 

[jaymil]

That's a pretty staggering stat. Wolitarsky is on pace for 1,000+ yards assuming we make a bowl game.

 

[eker0016]

When I sat down at the game yesterday, I noticed 5-6 people all decked out in Wolitarsky jerseys and with #82 painted on their faces. I asked them if they were Drew's family, and they said they were. Dad said he hoped he would go over 200 yards today. I laughed a bit, but Drew ended up having his best game as a Gopher!

Wolitarsky ended last year with 10 catches for 106 yards and 0 TD's, which which he pretty much met or exceeded yesterday. Glad to see him excelling!

 

[Vandy]

That is a great stat... Hopefully will continue to move upward at the same pace as the freshmen improve their route running.
Melvin Holland dropped a key 3rd down strike by Mitch, where with one spin move Holland have gone for much, much more than the first down. Score on that drive may have put the game away.

It seems that our current tight ends ARE going to be productive in Maxx's shadow....

 

[Golden_Sloth]

I really think we have a solid group of WRs and will for the foreseeable future. Our issues in the passing game so far fall on the OL failing to give all the routes time to develop, and Mitch's accuracy issues. Seems like they have been able to get separation pretty frequently, even though a lot of times the play ends in an incompletion.

 

[RolGnav]

I think we have the talent at WR, the question is when will the Coaches be comfortable enough to use them. No player will be perfect in their first year, or even in their whole career (unless your name is Rodney Smith). Next issue after the Coaches, is can Leidner get them the ball? I saw lots of drops from the receivers yesterday, but I also saw lots of terrible throws from Leidner.

 

[GophersInIowa]

The thing that is still missing is the deep threat though. Having a guy with speed who can go up and get the deep ball will soften up the defense. Hopefully one of the young guys can do that.

 

[killme]

When I sat down at the game yesterday, I noticed 5-6 people all decked out in Wolitarsky jerseys and with #82 painted on their faces. I asked them if they were Drew's family, and they said they were. Dad said he hoped he would go over 200 yards today. I laughed a bit, but Drew ended up having his best game as a Gopher!

Wolitarsky ended last year with 10 catches for 106 yards and 0 TD's, which which he pretty much met or exceeded yesterday. Glad to see him excelling!

Raise your hand if you had Woli in the top 5 of your "most likely first player to have a 100-yard receiving game" before the season started.

 

[salzie]

Stills looks the part. Hopefully we get him involved

 

[boofbonser]

The thing that is still missing is the deep threat though. Having a guy with speed who can go up and get the deep ball will soften up the defense. Hopefully one of the young guys can do that.

It sounds like Isaiah Gentry could fulfill that role if he can get healthy.

 

[Spoofin]

The thing that is still missing is the deep threat though. Having a guy with speed who can go up and get the deep ball will soften up the defense. Hopefully one of the young guys can do that.

It sounds like Isaiah Gentry could fulfill that role if he can get healthy.

Gentry, Gant, and Still are the options on this team. All so young and raw. Not sure it happens this year?

 

[Some guy]

Last year he attempted 237 passes. This year he is on pace for 520. WRs should have more catches.

 

[Gopher028]

I think we have the talent at WR, the question is when will the Coaches be comfortable enough to use them. No player will be perfect in their first year, or even in their whole career (unless your name is Rodney Smith). Next issue after the Coaches, is can Leidner get them the ball? I saw lots of drops from the receivers yesterday, but I also saw lots of terrible throws from Leidner.

I think they're waiting for Kent State and Ohio...hopefully we'll open up and shine.

 

[Governor Sibley]

I was not bullish on Drew. I thought he was too slow and not physical enough.

Would be thrilled to be proved wrong this year.

He's definitely more confident.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Last year he attempted 237 passes. This year he is on pace for 520. WRs should have more catches.

I think we all get that. A greater percentage of his throws are going to WRs and I think that is a good thing, that is all. Last year only 44% of completions were to WRs. So far this year it is 76%. Pretty big difference.

 

[Killjoy]

I really think we have a solid group of WRs and will for the foreseeable future. Our issues in the passing game so far fall on the OL failing to give all the routes time to develop, and Mitch's accuracy issues. Seems like they have been able to get separation pretty frequently, even though a lot of times the play ends in an incompletion.

Yep, and all those people who have been complaining about the passing game haven't noticed the actions/steps that Kill and company have been doing to improve that aspect of our game.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

I was not bullish on Drew. I thought he was too slow and not physical enough.

Would be thrilled to be proved wrong this year.

He's definitely more confident.

I like the progression we're seeing. Seems like the coaches are gaining confidence in him, too.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Imagine what would happen if we actually had a DI quarterback

 

[everybody knows my name]

Yeah, I'll raise my hand. I thought Wolitarsky was the real thing. He played well two years ago, and rumor was hurt a good part of last year. But two years ago he should us a lot of potential.

 

[dpodoll68]

Yeah, I'll raise my hand. I thought Wolitarsky was the real thing. He played well two years ago, and rumor was hurt a good part of last year. But two years ago he should us a lot of potential.

Agreed. I repeatedly called him the best WR on the roster last year.

 

[Winnipegopher]

Agreed. I repeatedly called him the best WR on the roster last year.

The only people who didn't see Woli as a top two WR are the ones who perpetually believe the newcomers (even those that redshirted) are better than the incumbents (sadly, this is roughly 80% of the Gopherhole).

 

['13Gopher]

I think they're waiting for Kent State and Ohio...hopefully we'll open up and shine.

1) I just want to point out that Ohio shouldn't be anywhere near the cake walk that some people think they will be.

2) I still can't stand the lack of coverage on Jeff Jones. What the heck is going on with him?

 

[GophersInIowa]

1) I just want to point out that Ohio shouldn't be anywhere near the cake walk that some people think they will be.

2) I still can't stand the lack of coverage on Jeff Jones. What the heck is going on with him?[/QUOTE]

He twisted his ankle this past week and didn't travel with the team. I don't think it is serious but it happened late in the week.

 

[dpodoll68]

I just want to point out that Ohio shouldn't be anywhere near the cake walk that some people think they will be.

Anything can happen, but as of right now we should be about a 15 point favorite.

 

[John Galt]

The only people who didn't see Woli as a top two WR are the ones who perpetually believe the newcomers (even those that redshirted) are better than the incumbents (sadly, this is roughly 80% of the Gopherhole).

Everyone wants to hope that the future is better than the present. It comforts GHer's to think that we have a roster full of All-Americans if the staff would just get them on the field...

 

[diehard]

Rather than laying with an injured and mediocre OL, we should burn some redshirts even if it isn't a big improvement. There is real talent there. Mitch needs some confidence in the guys up front. I like our WRs, just realize they are inexperienced and may take time as a group. 1 or 2 are likely to break out this year. I think KJ can be a leader for them that shakes them up.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

I know this was a TE and not a receiver, but which TE was it in the CSU game that had a running bobbling catch and the bobbling lasted a good second or two while he ran up the side line. At the time it seemed like a very big play, but that drive probably stalled.

 

[jaymil]

I know this was a TE and not a receiver, but which TE was it in the CSU game that had a running bobbling catch and the bobbling lasted a good second or two while he ran up the side line. At the time it seemed like a very big play, but that drive probably stalled.

It was Nick Hart and it was just a few plays before the TD pass to Maye.

 

[LakerFan]

I know this was a TE and not a receiver, but which TE was it in the CSU game that had a running bobbling catch and the bobbling lasted a good second or two while he ran up the side line. At the time it seemed like a very big play, but that drive probably stalled.

I think it was Hart and it was bobbled but caught and he gained enough YAC to get a 1st down on 4th down and we ended up scoring a touchdown on that drive to go ahead 20-17.