The WRs
- Thread starter screwduke
- Start date
That wasn't the case last year. While the QB and OL positions had issues of their own, the WR corp was woefully inconsistent. There were plenty of sacks, plenty of rushed throws, plenty of bad throws, also plenty of occasions where everyone else did their job and the WRs would drop a perfect pass.
I will try to give you a straight answer even though it may be against board protocol. ESPN says we have the 6th best receivers in the SEC. I would say that would put us about 10th to 15th best in the country. Now, what the above posters said may prevent them from finishing that high from a statistical standpoint but they are that talented.
I believe Badet and Timmons will be on a mission and that they will thrive in Gran's offense. That they, with Gran and Hinshaw, will make our QBs better. I think Walker is going to be amazingly reliable in the must-get situations. I also believe two others will step up from this group: Bone, Juice, Baker, and Richardson. I think the corps will be a strength for this year's team.
Last year's receivers about the same. Maybe new coaching, experience and new blood will help. But no miracles unless a big attitude change in several returnees. Tight end the only star.
The drops I saw in the spring game included a couple from a true freshman Holtzclaw (with cast on hand), a true soph running back, and a few from walk-ons. Johnson dropped one early. Add in that we didn't get to see two of our best Wide Receivers in Baker and Bone, and you have a situation where you can't really tell what's going to happen. Those who were on the field and are going to get minutes for us showed a lot of improvement to me, though. I'm looking forward to seeing how these guys work.
I have a gut feeling that Coach Thomas is just what the doctor ordered for this receiving group. These are talented kids that for whatever reason lost focus at times last year which lead to subpar performances including drops. I think Thomas has their attention, and they have bought in to him as a coach/leader of this group.
Those who will actually play looked much more consistent except for that one drop. I'm liking the potential of this group and looking forward to any progress made this season.
JMO here but I think this drop thing is being blown wayyy out of proportion. UK had a mediocre at best passing game last year but that mediocrity was not due exclusively to dropped balls. Sure there were some drops but I think drops and spectacular catches are far more memorable to fans than the run of the mill passing game execution. IOW, the Cats 87th ranked passing game (YPG) was not due primarily to drops.
UK had 2 guys (Johnson with 46 and Baker with 55) with over 40 catches on the year. FWIW, no Cardinal receiver had more than 36 catches and you will not find too many Card fans crying about receivers. All JMO.
Peace
It's when the drops occur is what stands out. Number of catches for ever how many yards don't really matter. Drops vs UF and Auburn happened at the absolute most inopportune time and could have, the operative word here is "could" have, cost UK those games. A drop in a 30-7 blowout win or loss doesn't stand out at all. Good players make good plays and right now UK's lacking enough good players to make winning plays at crunch time.
Sure, but that can be said of just about any "negative" play, e.g., a sack, a TFL, a failed 4th and 1, a fumble, an offensive penalty, etc.
There are really very few guys that are really "99%" reliable. In the big picture I think Barker being as good as he is supposed to be and getting enough protection to be effective are much more important to the passing game than drops unless, of course, the drop problem gets worse than it was last year. JMO.
Peace