Shorter in the portal
- Thread starter NittanyOpp
- Start date
I agree, but I have seen nothing out of the new WR coach that makes me think that he is doing a stellar job. Maybe it is the play calling and not the position group most of the time, who knows for sure as it is hard as heck to tell sometimes.
Unless he claims he was under severe duress, or had emotional issues caused by PSU, or a victim of prejudice, or family matters, or yada, yada, yada. In other words, he’ll be granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA once he enters his reasons/excuses, similar to Justin Fields and many other transferees in the new free agency system adopted by the NCAA for FBS athletes (not nesessarily student athletes any longer either ). It’s the new normalcy.
Im not going after you directly, but Shorter really has not had a ton of opportunities. Outside of the Minny game, I don't think he has been awful at securing the football. In fact, I don't have the stats, but I would guess his catch rate on catchable balls is higher than Hammlers. Clearly, he has lost his mojo, is that because he can't catch, maybe, is that because he has been thrown to literally 18 times this year and is drown out in this offense, maybe.
And what about the drops that hit Shorter right in the hands? What excuse do you have for him for that?
When the ball is in the air, I have yet to see a coach make the catch. Perhaps you should watch Duke....they've had some decent years in the passing game.
Shorter has had plenty of opportunities and he hasn’t capitalized on them. Is anyone who doesn’t succeed capable of looking in the mirror and stop making excuses any more?
Sigh....more Perspective...Shorter needs to catch the ball-AGREED...If we had a better WR Coach I think he would be better and if he RESPECTED his WR coach he stays. I also believe he sees another NJ receiver who had similar issues-now having success elsewhere and wouldn't be surprised if he has a few in his ear about what you all already stated---Qb-Offense-Progressions-Playing time-Etc. etc.
On a side note--Here is how a certain school plays it when competing for a WR...interesting isn't it
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vs. their Competition
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On a side note--Here is how a certain school plays it when competing for a WR...interesting isn't it
vs. their Competition
Few thoughts
1. It's too bad that it does not appear that things have worked out for Justin here at Penn State. Recruiting is a crap shoot and every year, there are players who are highly praised that just don't pan out - for one reason or another.
2. The parallels to Juwan Johnson are striking. As far as I know, after Johnson resolved some injuries, he has done fairly well at Oregon.
3. The WR coaching situation is a bit bizarre.
4. Shorter and Dotson have not really been a focal point of the QBs. Personally, I think it's a combination that they have not really been open/when they get a pass they drop it or don't make the effort/Clifford seems solely locked in to KJ and PF. To the point that the other WRs don't really seem to come into his vision at all.
5. I hope he reconsiders, works hard and improves and comes back. But if he doesn't hope he lands at a place that can get him coached up.
6. Who knows why he chose this week to enter the portal - maybe he had sit down with the coaches, or maybe they simply said - you are not improving.
1. It's too bad that it does not appear that things have worked out for Justin here at Penn State. Recruiting is a crap shoot and every year, there are players who are highly praised that just don't pan out - for one reason or another.
2. The parallels to Juwan Johnson are striking. As far as I know, after Johnson resolved some injuries, he has done fairly well at Oregon.
3. The WR coaching situation is a bit bizarre.
4. Shorter and Dotson have not really been a focal point of the QBs. Personally, I think it's a combination that they have not really been open/when they get a pass they drop it or don't make the effort/Clifford seems solely locked in to KJ and PF. To the point that the other WRs don't really seem to come into his vision at all.
5. I hope he reconsiders, works hard and improves and comes back. But if he doesn't hope he lands at a place that can get him coached up.
6. Who knows why he chose this week to enter the portal - maybe he had sit down with the coaches, or maybe they simply said - you are not improving.
Totally fair, and you never see the receivers on the tv screen(i have not been to a game this year), does he run poor routes or is he slow(I don't think thats the knock on him)?
OTOH, if you saw him make this, then why wasnt he making those? it is not because he lacks ability. and IDK the answer to my question.
Me neither. Can't quantify it. Every time I looked at him matched up one on one with some dude half his size I thought, just throw it to him.
Either way, it's a shame and I would be surprised by anyone who does not feel that way. A 5 star kid that is 6ft 4 and runs like the wind is not exactly something that grows on trees and if everyone remembers, he was a strong early commitment that never wavered on his commitment when a myriad of other schools and bagmen were surly trying to get his attention and negative recruit. Franklin said about Justin something to the effect of "we never had any drama with Justin, he was about the easiest recruit we ever had, good kid, high character kid, looked us in the eyes and committed and never wavered." Its just a shame, I was rooting for him
This is the chicken vs egg debate. Players clearly have to perform and that’s on them to be the best they can. That said, coaches have to set up players to take the greatest advantage of their talent whether in scheme or correcting bad habits/ errors.
Clearly, every player error is not the coaches fault. However, if there are repeated problems that aren’t corrected game after game then a lot of that blame does fall on the coaches IMO.
Catching the ball, somewhat like hitting a baseball, can be a "confidence" thing. No one has been able to (at least to my knowledge) explain why even Hall of Fame level hitter go into "slumps." But when it happens, I'm told, even the best feel like they may never get another hit.
IMO, Shorter's issues have been both confidence (some drops) poor instincts (not coming back to or going up to the ball etc,) and a glaring inability to create separation. Now, I don't know why all of these things are occurring, so lets just say its inferior coaching.....LOL
Keep in mine that beginning at age 10 or younger, these "blue chip" recruits have been pampered like super stars. Some rise to the challenge as Micah Parsons did Saturday and some wilt against equal competition and look for others to blame. It was always my experience that competitors find a way to overcome temporary setbacks and welcome the challenge. I've also seen my share of gifted athletes empty their lockers and quit when things didn't fall in their lap.
While eloquent, your explanation doesn't cover the issue of dropped passes.You are correct. Mea Culpa.
I should have said "One of the Dicks", but, then again, someone has to be the "Champ"
You wanna' battle it out with him?
(Here's a little clue:
The PSU offense is - and has been - a disjointed, "stupid", rudderless clusterf^ck for the last two years. Any high-end-talent kid looking to maximize his production would be doing the same as Shorter. It is what it is.
But you can join with the other NattyLite-Pounding, Chest-Beating dingle****s who want to rag on the kid who's getting the short end of the stick..... just because you haven't been able to get as much wood over "your" team as you would like.)
Shorter also has not come aggressively back for the football on underneath passes thrown to him, instead simply waiting on the ball to get to him while defenders closed the small gap/window he had created during his route. I’ve noticed that on at least 3 routes he’s been targeted. For such a highly rated recruit with his size and speed, he’s really been a major enigma. Can he turn it around and realize his full potential for a major Power 5 program ? It remains to be seen IMO.
He is entering the portal before the season is even over. There is no coming back from this.
Shorter dropped too many passes this year but he's only a RS freshman. Gesicki dropped a lot of passes during his first two years. IIRC he turned out to be pretty good. I'm not sure why so many on the board are acting like this isn't a loss. I think it's a big loss. You can't teach 6'4". Besides, I don't want any more fades to a 5'9" WR in the end zone.
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That makes reconciliation kind of difficult. I guess it's still possible but not likely.
I am on the 100% Shorter fault train.....although I remember yelling at the TV in some of our games that the constant throwing to Hamler needed to stop.....
We had plenty of times and plenty of leads where we simply could have told Clifford that his progression started with Shorter. Instead he locked on Hamler and PF.
IMO, the Minnesota game wasn't the game you force the coming out party.
On second though maybe I am not 100% Shorters fault on this.
We had plenty of times and plenty of leads where we simply could have told Clifford that his progression started with Shorter. Instead he locked on Hamler and PF.
IMO, the Minnesota game wasn't the game you force the coming out party.
On second though maybe I am not 100% Shorters fault on this.
Wow. You must be a couple of branch campus dummies. I predict Slade will be next in the portal and stated that Franklin is bad with wideouts. Doesn't mean Slade is a wideout. Two thoughts in one post, looks like that is too advance of a topic for a couple of branch campus dummies.
So did PSU fire Giesecki's WR coach when he had dropsy? Did he pout and transfer?
Who cares if Slade leaves? I would say there was near 100% negative bitching about him,every time he saw the field and the 4 back rotation. Anyone who didn't see him leaving after the 4th game this year is the branch campus custodian.
