|
|
Post by wcugrad95 on Aug 14, 2018 9:01:12 GMT -5
Since we had a thread on the O-line, I thought I would start a new one on the place I have the most questions about on offense. Strong O-line play is going to be crucial to everything, and we have to show that the loss of Newsome in particular, but also Robinson and Hill is not going to allow other teams to just load-up on spying Adams and/or just sending everybody on the blitz. I personally think the drop-off from Newsome to the 3-headed tandem of Young/Holloway/Spencer is not going to be drastic - especially behind a veteran line and with Tyrie's running ability. But the WR and slot are now pretty unknown outside of Mathis (and his 29 and 7 starts last season).
Here are the guys from the roster that look like they will be playing/contributing based on last year and comments so far:
Mathis
Swann, Jr.
Patten (certainly has the genes!!!)
TE: Cosenke/Phillips
But a quick search of the roster shows 16 guys with "wide receiver" listed as their position (including former QB DJ Thorpe who looked like a good athlete). Several of them are FR or R-FR.
Can you guys that have been at the practices and attend the scrimmages give us out-of-towners a breakdown of the receiving corps? I have seen mention of strong TE play, that Patten looks like a guy who will produce now that he will have more opportunities, Mathis should step into a leadership role, etc. But I would appreciate a candid report on all the options we have and who looks like they are ready to produce.
Who is the Robinson-like guy (great route runner, comes up with all the catches, durable and dependable, etc.) and who is the Hill-like guy (down-the-field burner who if nothing else makes at least 1 defender have to run with him)?
Will we put guys like Young and Spencer in at WR to get more homerun hitters on the field at the same time?
|
|
|
|
Post by tenNesseeCat on Aug 15, 2018 8:21:41 GMT -5
I'm not close to the team, or cullwohee, but for some reason, i'm not that worried about our WR group. No real proven names out there, but i feel like there is lots of potential. Abel is one that I hope can produce and stay healthy. at 6'4" he kinda reminds me of a thinner spearman robinson. Hopefully he's faster.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Cats on Aug 15, 2018 11:19:00 GMT -5
WR - #86 Tyran Reynolds 6-1 200 RSr. - Saw action in all 12 games coming as an offensive substitution and on special teams ... Returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown on a scoop-and-score in the home win over ETSU (Oct. 14) for his first career points ... Credited with a pair of tackles on special teams including solo stops in the road win at VMI (Oct. 21) and at FBS-foe, North Carolina (Nov. 18)
WR - #88 Brad Swan, Jr. 6-1 180 RJr. - Saw action in all 11 games with one start at wide receiver coming in the road win at The Citadel (Nov. 4) … Finished with two pass receptions, both coming against the Bulldogs for a total of 12 yards …
WR ? maybe UNCC transfer Nate Mullen
TE - #84 Owen Cosenke 6-3 220 So. - Played in 10 of the team's 12 games including nine starts at tight end ... Finished the year with nine receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown ... Made his debut in the season-opener at Hawai'i (Sept. 2), finishing with a career-best three catches for 28 yards ... Hauled in his first collegiate touchdown pass on a three-yard scoring strike in the home win over ETSU (Oct. 14) ... Named second-team Freshman All-America by Phil Steele ...
|
|
|
|
Post by wcugrad95 on Aug 15, 2018 14:02:50 GMT -5
Mahari Stribling is somebody I thought might get mentioned. He is a FR, but looks like a pretty good recruit and he is 6'3". Same thing with Abel and his 6'4" frame. If those guys can play and have speed, that is a nightmare for the typical small CBs we see in the SoCon. But again, both are true FR.
I like reading all the stuff from the bios, but I was hopeful somebody could chime in on how these guys are actually looking - speedsters, guys with glue for hands, big-time athletes, etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenNesseeCat on Aug 15, 2018 15:20:16 GMT -5
I think it was mentioned in another thread that Patten has some speed. I believe Abel has a year under his belt in the program but took a red shirt due to an injury.
|
|
|
|
Post by smack1212 on Aug 15, 2018 15:26:32 GMT -5
Guys I’m horrible at names. Here is who has stood out to me...
#6 a burner, can’t over throw him
#2 getting a lot of balls thrown his way. Kinda lines up as a split back. Is he the transfer kid?
Jordan Mathis doing work and Brad Swann has looked good.
Lots of talk kids with speed that I don’t know much about.
Both Owen and Austin Phillips are going to contribute as TE, no doubt in my mind a strength on this team
|
|
|
|
Post by tenNesseeCat on Aug 15, 2018 15:37:03 GMT -5
according to the 2018 preseason roster (07/23) Patten is #6 and Mullen (the UNCC xfer) is #2.
|
|
|
|
Post by wcugrad95 on Aug 24, 2018 12:00:49 GMT -5
So if I am putting together our depth (and size), it just "feels like" we are more than OK at WR even with the loss of Robinson and Hill. We know what we have in Mathis, and we have seen really good reports about Patten as the burner and Mullen. Between Mullen and Mathis, they appear to be strong route runners and possession guys along the lines of Terryon. But as I mentioned in another post, I am pretty excited about the potential of us having some Spearman Robinson-like guys on the outside with Stribling (6'3"), Thorpe (6'3"), and Abel (6'4"). The trick will be having one or more of these guys live up to their potential, but that kind of size with hopefully some decent speed puts pressure on a defense with a good QB.
I don't want to over-exaggerate and expect any of these guys to be Terryon Robinson, but that is a pretty deep and talented WR corp - which was a position many (especially outside the program) questioned. And we know we also have 2 very capable TEs. Plug the combo of Young/Holloway/Spencer in at RB (and Young should be a real threat catching the ball), and if our line plays as good as we hope they will I think we are poised to be even better on offense this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by smack1212 on Aug 24, 2018 12:05:42 GMT -5
Number 3, the QB switch over, had a nice TD catch in the scrimmage. He got behind the D all day long. Mathis sat out as did #2. #6 only played 1st 2 series.
|
|
|
|
Post by wcugrad95 on Aug 24, 2018 12:16:13 GMT -5
And apologies on the above, but I left out Swann (who got into games last year). As for Thorpe, that is GREAT to hear. Now my question is did our top DBs also sit out? With every scrimmage, everything you did good means somebody else on the other side of the ball for our team probably did something bad. Either way, a question mark position group on our team appears to be pretty deep and talented coming out of camp.
|
|
