Who is our No. 4 WR in 2018? *
- Thread starter ChiTownLion
- Start date
I would ask who are WR's 3-7??
Johnson and Thompkins are the only WR's that are at the top of the depth chart to me.
Who can replace Hamilton's production in the slot? I have not seen the consistency from Polk to believe that he is the answer. It would not surprise me to see one of the 2017 class WR's start next year. Hippenhammer, Sullivan-Brown, or Hamler. And Darien seems like he has been the type of hardworking team player the CJF likes. Will he break into the rotation. Polk has shown some flashes so the competition will be great.
Like most here, I see Shorter as fitting in as the 4th or 5th WR by the first B10 game, and unless he has stage fright he may start by year end.
WR is a position that will be very interesting to see how the depth chart progress during Spring practice, as well as getting a glimpse of the young WR's at the B/W game. Just like DB and LB.
It would be a surprise to me to see any of the other 2018 WR's (George or Enis if he signs) play (other than Shorter) given that CJF redshirted 3 in 2017. Unless the 2017 WR's are a bust.....
That's a tall order given that he won't be practicing with the team till August.
Polk has to stay healthy.... He and Hamler and perhaps Hipp seem like naturals for the slot.
Darien is my favorite to emerge along with Shorter behind JJ and Hipp behind Mr Thompson.
Hipp and Hamlin have garnered a lot of praise from CJF and Gattis.
It should be fun to watch. George and Enis (if he comes on board) ,,, how fun is that.
Darien is my favorite to emerge along with Shorter behind JJ and Hipp behind Mr Thompson.
Hipp and Hamlin have garnered a lot of praise from CJF and Gattis.
It should be fun to watch. George and Enis (if he comes on board) ,,, how fun is that.
I think Hamler will have a significant role in the slot next year, w/Hippenhammer and Polk splitting time behind. Shorter might back up Juwan and get some red zone looks unless he wows in preseason practice. Thompkins will start as well I’d imagine. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Darien switch to defense if he can’t get any looks at WR. Was interesting that they gave him a snap at dime CB in the Maryland game
There are some talented young guys in the WR pipeline. But that position is not the only part of the passing attack that will need to be rebuilt.
Barkley had 47 catches and Gesicki had 51 catches, right on par with 48 catches each for DeSean and Juwanson. How to replace those catches? I'd be surprised if there is a single RB who will get 47 catches, or a single TE who will get 51 catches.
Barkley had 47 catches and Gesicki had 51 catches, right on par with 48 catches each for DeSean and Juwanson. How to replace those catches? I'd be surprised if there is a single RB who will get 47 catches, or a single TE who will get 51 catches.
Darien is a big kid. If he goes to Defense it could be at LB. There will likely be some fun things to watch (position changes) going into Spring practice.
But maybe he got a play in on D due to the the fact that he is a hard working, talented team player. Just like Stevens. So when the depth chart at WR clears somewhat (Hamilton, Blacknall, and Charles) we just may see Darien emerge at WR.
Darien played wr .... CB and played on the kicking team in the Maryland game. He is a talent, loves to learn, is tall, excellent leap.... He has to play somewhere.
TE is going to be the sore spot on offense. Even if Bowers gets healthy, he will probably be backed up by freshmen. Don’t get me wrong, I think there are some potentially very good freshmen, but contrast Gesicki as a freshman or sophomore with Gesicki as a junior or senior.
I think Sanders is a solid receiver, and certainly Mark Allen is as well if he returns.
The WR position will have an insane amount of talent. The biggest problem might well be getting people enough practice reps.
I think Sanders is a solid receiver, and certainly Mark Allen is as well if he returns.
The WR position will have an insane amount of talent. The biggest problem might well be getting people enough practice reps.
You don't recruit a WR like Shorter and expect anything less than #2 on the depth chart by the time the first game rolls around. If he continues to impress, he'll be a starter with Johnson and Thompkins. Only injury will keep him off the field.
He might have to. Johnson is our only other big target. I think Blacknall is 6'3". Hamilton is 6'1" and great using his body to shield off defenders. We're going to miss their size and experience. Shorter is taller so let's hope he catches on early.
If he continues to impress??? I must have missed his participation in practice....
#2 Behind JJ is a reasonable expectation. Which would make him the 4th or 5th WR. The 2017 WR's have had a year to learn the offense and improve their blocking. Blocking (lack thereof) was the reason, as well as ball security, that Sanders did not make more of an impact in 2016. Did Shorter showcase his blocking in the camps? Shorter's playing time will likely be governed somewhat by his ability to block.
Even Barkley was not an immediate starter. And we know he picked up the blocking responsibilities about as fast as anyone could expect.
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If Bowers can't go in the spring and option may be DE Daniel Joseph. He was an excellent TE in high school. I don't think it will happen but if they get in a bind he could be an option.
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Problem is he's not a slot guy, the position vacated by Ham. Shorter will rotate with the two outside WRs now almost for sure as Charles is gone and he and Blacknall did this year. That is still a lot of playing time. I'm not a big fan of Thompkins out wide, i think he's a one trick pony(go route) so maybe theres a chance he moves into the slot but I never see him make anyone miss when he catches a short ball and he hasn't played slot at all in his career so probably a stretch. Polk or Hamler will probably start in the slot, most likely the former as he as the experience. Hamler and Shorter will be in the rotation behind them with another outside WR. All the rest get the scraps.
DE Daniel George???
When will this guy be on the roster and where is he coming from??
While I would love for him to be a little bigger, Hamler was a heavily recruited guy with GREAT short area quickness and burst. Sounds to me like a perfect slot candidate. To be honest I've never really been impressed by Polk - seems like he has Hamler's size [or lack thereof] but not his ability to make people miss. Hippenhammer seemed to be a similar sort of player with a little more size than Hamler, so perhaps he gets a shot in the slot role as well.
I think Friermuth or Kuntz would be better immediate options as true freshmen. George looks like an NFL WR already.
Another guy who I think could help at TE is Colin Castagna. He hardly played at DE this year. I think he’s a perfect fit ; a big, tough Italian kid who used to play volleyball. The only problem is that he only has one year remaining.
I don't think either of us get to see much practice reps. Regardless, between his film and camps it's safe to say Shorter is the best WR prospect we have recruited since Bobby Engram.
As for Barkley, he broke 100 yards in his second game as a true freshman. He continued to split carries with Lynch, but it was obvious who the man was.
I don't know how Rahne will handle WR substitutions in comparison to Moorhead. The bowl game will give us some ideas. One thing is for sure, Moorhead seemed to gravitate towards playing his #1s most snaps. Blacknall got a decent amount of snaps with the other #1s, but Polk and Charles were only seen on a strict #2s rotation.
This leads me to believe that our #2s, outside of Blacknall, don't block nor catch near as strong as our #1s otherwise you would play them more. Even in our empty set, it was Barkley and Gesicki on the field nearly every time.
If he proves what is expected, I think talent prevails. Even if that means sticking Shorter in the slot to get him on the field.
Moorhead was quoted saying he likes to keep his ones on the field getting reps together as much as he can.
