2008 tOSU WR discussion (official thread)

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Besides the comment BB73 addressed, I don't see anything from cty4 that merits some of the cracks some of you are aiming his way.

He is presenting an argument and backing it up...some of you don't like it and are simply throwing jabs at him. You can either step up with a valid counter argument or you can wait and read those are doing so, but the comments stop now. The schedule did suck...that should not sting anyone by now.

I tend to agree with his argument...at least to an extent. I don't think this is a surefire dominant unit. I see a ton of potential, but I don't see that one guy that you have to find on every play. Robo made some great plays, but then he also disappeared for long stretches. Hartline is adequate and hopefully will be more of a weapon this year. The young guys who got experience this year should be even better this season...incoming freshman are talented, but need to produce to convince me they can make an impact.

I don't see a gamebreaker...the legend of Ray Small has diminished to the point that he almost must have a big year just to vindicate some of the hype.

I think "pre injury" Robiskie was well on his way to being the type of reciever you would expect to be the "#1" guy at OSU to be.

The biggest problem, IMO, was the lack of "step up" by those behind him when he did get injured.

Ray Small was a HUGE disappointment for me. Has plenty of time to give that a 180 but I expected him to be a GREAT Z reciever.

 

[osugrad21]

I think "pre injury" Robiskie was well on his way to being the type of reciever you would expect to be the "#1" guy at OSU to be.

The biggest problem, IMO, was the lack of "step up" by those behind him when he did get injured.

Ray Small was a HUGE disappointment for me. Has plenty of time to give that a 180 but I expected him to be a GREAT Z reciever.

True on all points.

In reality, we are all spoiled after the last decade...

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Robiskie was not a first round pick.. cmon, can we be serious here.. And to say he has the best technique of any WR in the country just isnt being objective..

Which obviously explains why he was projected as being a first rounder and has been said to have the best technique of any WR in the country.

Purdue is a mediocre football team.. lets call it like it was.. I dont want to hear about it being a night game in Boiler Maker country.. we should take Purdue behind the woodshed every yr we play them, especially of late.. they dont have anywhere near the talent Ohio St. has..

Oh really? All I said about that was his TD catch against them reminded me of Teddy against Texas. Hell, Robo had the Big Ten Catch of the Year against Minnesota and you don't see anyone besides Sniper complaining about the competition he did it against.

Im not bashing.. i am being objective about the situation.. you can find 100 receivers in the nation who put up the same numbers Ray Small did.. yet your touting him as making major strides and counting on him to be one of the core guys in what you tout as a "atypical OSU WR core" one that u believe is better than we usually field..

Looking straight at the numbers, Sam Bradford is the nation's top QB based on his passer rating and Kevin Smith is the nation's top RB based on his rushing yards. You've got to look past the numbers. Small put up 20 catches for 267 yards and 2 TD's (13.4 TPC) despite missing the first two games of the season. That's the biggest thing people forget is that he didn't play the first two games. Hell, that might be one reason for the numbers. Besides, the biggest strides in a players' career are made in the off-season of their first year really playing.

As for the 4 first rounders.. You are not going to find a bigger Devier Posey fan than me.. I also love Lamaar Thomas, and think Stoney is gonna be a stud.. but are any of these guys gonna come in a make huge impacts... maybe, just maybe Devier does.. so i dont know how projecting them as first rounders 3-4 yrs from now applies to the discussion "2008 WRs"

It does when those guys will be playing for us in 2008. The only reason I brought it up was because of your original claims that Robo wasn't a first round prospect.. which he was.

 

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

As for the 4 first rounders.. You are not going to find a bigger Devier Posey fan than me.. I also love Lamaar Thomas, and think Stoney is gonna be a stud.. but are any of these guys gonna come in a make huge impacts... maybe, just maybe Devier does.. so i dont know how projecting them as first rounders 3-4 yrs from now applies to the discussion "2008 WRs"

I'll add that I feel Stoney will have the biggest chance at impacting the WR corp this year. Why? He brings a dimension we don't have WR.

Just my $.02.

 

[BUCKYLE]

One critical element some are overlooking here, imo.

Troy Smith > 1st year starter Todd Boeckman

A Heisman winner at QB has a way of making recievers look at least a little better, no? Put '06 Troy on last years team and people are singing a different song about Robo. Just my .02.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

Which obviously explains why he was projected as being a first rounder and has been said to have the best technique of any WR in the country.


Oh really? All I said about that was his TD catch against them reminded me of Teddy against Texas. Hell, Robo had the Big Ten Catch of the Year against Minnesota and you don't see anyone besides Sniper complaining about the competition he did it against.


Looking straight at the numbers, Sam Bradford is the nation's top QB based on his passer rating and Kevin Smith is the nation's top RB based on his rushing yards. You've got to look past the numbers. Small put up 20 catches for 267 yards and 2 TD's (13.4 TPC) despite missing the first two games of the season. That's the biggest thing people forget is that he didn't play the first two games. Hell, that might be one reason for the numbers. Besides, the biggest strides in a players' career are made in the off-season of their first year really playing.


It does when those guys will be playing for us in 2008. The only reason I brought it up was because of your original claims that Robo wasn't a first round prospect.. which he was.

For the final time.. where was Robiskie projected to be a first rounder? And who has deemed him to have the best technique of any WR in the country?

Sounds like your opinion, which isnt/wasn't shared by most... I have a feeling if I asked u who the best WR in the country was, you'd have Robiskie at the top.. just like youd probably tell me Robo/Hartline is the best 1-2 in the country... you're not being objective..

Dont know what your point about Small looking like Ginn for one play.. who cares.. And fine, he didnt play 2 games.. in the 11 he did play he had 20 catches, and 2 TDs.. those numbers arent impressive ... and if u really did look past the numbers you'd see that Ray Small had 2-3 moments where he looked like star in the making.. but the majority of time he did play he was a non factor.. If you looked passed the numbers you'd see a receiver who is very inconsistent in a number of areas at the receiver position..

Let me add that the QB probably isnt doing him any favors.. i dont think Todd is great at checking down at this point, and Ray probably is the 3rd or 4th option on most plays.. that being said, if he was living up to the hype with those touches or in practice, he'd be more than the 3rd or 4th option..

Kid has alot to work on and alot to prove..

 

[Sportsbuck28]

For the final time.. where was Robiskie projected to be a first rounder? And who has deemed him to have the best technique of any WR in the country?

Uh, did you not hear the announcers in our games rambling on about how highly NFL scouts talked about him? Hell, most mock drafts and experts had him going in the first round. Mel Kiper was hyping him up so much before everyone knew Robo was returning for his senior year. And, a ton of NFL scouts have agreed with that.

Sounds like your opinion, which isnt/wasn't shared by most... I have a feeling if I asked u who the best WR in the country was, you'd have Robiskie at the top.. just like youd probably tell me Robo/Hartline is the best 1-2 in the country... you're not being objective..

Way to definately try to put words in my mouth. Robo isn't the best receiver in the country. I'm not denying that, if I had to choose a top WR IMO it would be Malcolm Kelly from Oklahoma. And, I never said that they were the best 1-2 in the country, so if you could stop attempting to put words in my mouth I'd be much obliged. I said that they were the best 1-2 punch in the Big Ten, and I defy you to find a better 1-2 punch in the Big Ten. Arrington and Manningham can't compete with Robo and Hartline, and they would probably be second.

Dont know what your point about Small looking like Ginn for one play.. who cares.. And fine, he didnt play 2 games.. in the 11 he did play he had 20 catches, and 2 TDs.. those numbers arent impressive ... and if u really did look past the numbers you'd see that Ray Small had 2-3 moments where he looked like star in the making.. but the majority of time he did play he was a non factor.. If you looked passed the numbers you'd see a receiver who is very inconsistent in a number of areas at the receiver position..

All I said was that for moments I saw flashes of Teddy in him, your the one making a big deal out of it.

And, okay, let's compare Ray Small's statistics as the #3 this year to Robo's stats as the #3 last year.

Ray Small - 20 catches 267 yards 2 TD's
Robo - 23 catches 300 yards, 5 TD's

If small had the same number of catches as Robiskie he'd have more yards than him. Not to mention that Robo was considered a starter last year and had two more games than Small.

Let me add that the QB probably isnt doing him any favors.. i dont think Todd is great at checking down at this point, and Ray probably is the 3rd or 4th option on most plays.. that being said, if he was living up to the hype with those touches or in practice, he'd be more than the 3rd or 4th option..

Kid has alot to work on and alot to prove..

I'll give you that, he does have a lot to work on and improve, just like every reciever in the country.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

1)We can argue about Robo's draft stock all day... but i didnt hear any announcers call him a first rounder.. Kiper was on his bandwagon for a few weeks following some early season performances, but by the end of the year i didnt hear anybody talkin about Robiskie as a first rounder..

2)You do realize Malcolm Kelly is entering the draft, as are Manningham and Arrington? And we can argue about the best 1-2 last yr, but i would take Manningham and Arrington anyday over Robiskie and Hartline... And last season I would have taken James Hardy, Mario Manningham, and Devin Thomas over Robiskie.. You could also make an argument that Arrelious Benn will surpass Robo as the best WR in the B10 in 2008

3)As u said, u need to look beyond the numbers.. Robiskie had a far more impressive sophomore campaign working as the #3 than did Ray Small

 

[NFBuck]

I said that they were the best 1-2 punch in the Big Ten, and I defy you to find a better 1-2 punch in the Big Ten. Arrington and Manningham can't compete with Robo and Hartline, and they would probably be second.

I woudn't go that far, you need to take off those scarlet-colored glasses. I'd put them as at least equals, maybe a slight edge to the tandem from tsun. Manningham, despite his dropsies, was the best big playmaker in the Big-10, hands down. Arrington, though he may not be an elite pro prospect, was a very good possession reciever, probably a notch above Hartline. The big difference is that our guys are coming back with another years improvement.

 

[cjmik_75]

one loss in the big ten the past two years with lesser receivers than indiana, michigan state, michigan and illinois...how the hell is a team back to back outright conference champs with the fifth or sixth best receiving corp in that conference??:crazy:

It must be the defense or the STUD they have in the backfield.

I respect these opinions and don't get me wrong, I don't think Robo is all world or anything but gimme a break fellas!! He isn't playing second fiddle to Thomas and Hardy maybe equal at best but IU hasn't had much else but Hardy to get the ball to the past few years...of course he's been the best thing Indiana Football has put out there in the last five years, it's Indiana Football.


Let's trust the coaches.

The 2008 WR corp has to prove alot next year, I guess. Maybe the WR's are the scape goat for the last 2 NC losses and we need to see some playmaking guy to show up and tear apart some SEC secondary and completely take over a game like LeBron James does night after night in the NBA before were happy. It's pretty damn sad when were delighted Robo is coming back for one more year just to question his abilities a month later.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

one loss in the big ten the past two years with lesser receivers than indiana, michigan state, michigan and illinois...how the hell is a team back to back outright conference champs with the fifth or sixth best receiving corp in that conference??:crazy:

It must be the defense or the STUD they have in the backfield.

I respect these opinions and don't get me wrong, I don't think Robo is all world or anything but gimme a break fellas!! He isn't playing second fiddle to Thomas and Hardy maybe equal at best but IU hasn't had much else but Hardy to get the ball to the past few years...of course he's been the best thing Indiana Football has put out there in the last five years, it's Indiana Football.


Let's trust the coaches.

The 2008 WR corp has to prove alot next year, I guess. Maybe the WR's are the scape goat for the last 2 NC losses and we need to see some playmaking guy to show up and tear apart some SEC secondary and completely take over a game like LeBron James does night after night in the NBA before were happy. It's pretty damn sad when were delighted Robo is coming back for one more year just to question his abilities a month later.

I dont think i recall seeing anyone state that Indiana, Michigan St., or Illinois had better receiving corps..

And to say James Hardy is equal to Robiskie at best just doesnt make sense to me.. Hardy is likely the first WR taken in the draft this year, and was the best WR in the B10 in 2007

 

[mross34]

one loss in the big ten the past two years with lesser receivers than indiana, michigan state, michigan and illinois...how the hell is a team back to back outright conference champs with the fifth or sixth best receiving corp in that conference??:crazy:

It must be the defense or the STUD they have in the backfield.

I respect these opinions and don't get me wrong, I don't think Robo is all world or anything but gimme a break fellas!! He isn't playing second fiddle to Thomas and Hardy maybe equal at best but IU hasn't had much else but Hardy to get the ball to the past few years...of course he's been the best thing Indiana Football has put out there in the last five years, it's Indiana Football.


Let's trust the coaches.

The 2008 WR corp has to prove alot next year, I guess. Maybe the WR's are the scape goat for the last 2 NC losses and we need to see some playmaking guy to show up and tear apart some SEC secondary and completely take over a game like LeBron James does night after night in the NBA before were happy. It's pretty damn sad when were delighted Robo is coming back for one more year just to question his abilities a month later.

I think Hardy was one of the five best receivers in the country last year. You say Indiana doesn't have much else but to get him the ball, but at the same time, there wasn't much else to take defensive attention away from him.

As far as the Buckeye receiving corps goes, Robiskie would be a phenomenal number 2 receiver, much the way Reggie Wayne was when Andre Johnson was the number 1 at Miami. Great hands, great route runner, decent speed.

He's a passable number one, but on the other had, receiving talent is down across the country right now. Early Doucet, James Hardy, Limas Sweed, or Mario Manningham as the best receiver in the draft this year? Not exactly a stellar class. I could be overlooking something, but I don't think much will be different next year. Who's at the top? Malcolm Kelly, Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin? Good talent but no Larry Fitzgeralds or Calvin Johnson's in that group.

 

[MUBuck]

Who's at the top? Malcolm Kelly, Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin?

Kelly already declared for the 2008 draft. He has a pretty good chance of being the #1 WR taken.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

I think Crabtree is far and away the best receiver heading into 2008.. i know he plays in a pass offense, but kid had nearly 2000 yard receiving and a ridiculous amount of TDs.. He's got the measurables too..

Just a fantastic player.

 

[Poe McKnoe]

I think Crabtree is far and away the best receiver heading into 2008.. i know he plays in a pass offense, but kid had nearly 2000 yard receiving and a ridiculous amount of TDs.. He's got the measurables too..

Just a fantastic player.

Crabtree is good. 6'3" 205lbs. He also gets a heck of a lot of passes he takes for long gains. I guess to help Robiskie get the numbers that Crabtree has, we can ask Beanie Wells to transfer and go to a pass only attack.

Texas Tech's Graham Harrell completed 512 of 713 passes for 5705 yards.
Todd Boeckman completed a whole 191 of 299 passes for 2,379 yards.

It's nice to compare players by stats and say that it'd be great if we had a player like so and so. They play in different offensive schemes. Crabtree will also be a sophomore.

Your arguments suck.