• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

2011 Wide Receiver Discussion

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Taosman;1862571; said:
WRs can be a big help to a new starting QB. But if guys don't step up we'll see a lot of games that shouldn't be close turn into nail biters.
Get out your Tums.
Click to expand...


Uh, we're Buckeye fans, don't we all have Costco tubs of Tums in our closets, lol! We've had so many of those games, I thought I should've had multiple heart attacks, the most recent one being that Sugar Bowl game!
 
Upvote 0
Rob Oller commentary: Thin corps at receiver could put Buckeyes in a fix
Thursday, April 21, 2011
By Rob Oller
The Columbus Dispatch

Before about 1985, the backyards and vacant lots of Ohio brimmed with boyhood running backs whose aim was to become the next Archie Griffin, Tim Spencer or Keith Byars. In those days, playing receiver meant mimicking ones from the Browns or Bengals, not the Buckeyes.

The backfield envy was understandable. Ohio State's heroes took handoffs while pass-starved receivers accepted handouts. Woody Hayes' favorite two plays were the run and the non-throw. Hayes regularly visited college programs during the offseason to assess the merits of passing offenses, vowing upon his return to install more of one in the fall. It never quite happened. His trust remained in terra firma alone. Only a handful of receivers were named first-team all-Big Ten during Hayes' 28-year tenure.

The 1978 arrival of Art Schlichter led to more passing, especially when Earle Bruce replaced Hayes in 1979, but even then it was the quarterback who captured the attention. It was more about Schlichter throwing to Doug Donley and Gary Williams than those two receivers catching passes. Plus, Spencer and then Byars stood behind Schlichter in the traditional place of prominence.

Not until 1986, when Cris Carter became the school's first All-American receiver, did those playgrounds begin to see change. Catching became cool. The adaptation collected speed as the Buckeyes took a more modern approach to offense. Jeff Graham gave way to Brian Stablein, who was followed by Joey Galloway and then Terry Glenn, David Boston and Dee Miller.

Coach John Cooper's ability to attract top-flight receivers carried on under Jim Tressel, who has enjoyed a line that went from Michael Jenkins through Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez, Ted Ginn Jr., Brian Hartline, Brian Robiskie, Dane Sanzenbacher and now DeVier Posey. Well, sorta now. Posey is practicing this spring, but he and four other starters will sit out the first five games of the 2011 season while serving suspensions for violating NCAA rules.

With no Posey, the pipeline appears to have run dry, devoid of the rich receiver lubricant that helped grease the offense over the past decade and beyond. The drain should be only temporary, given Posey's return on Oct. 8 at Nebraska. But without him the Buckeyes return only two receivers who caught passes last season: Corey Brown caught eight and Chris Fields three.

Cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...-receiver-could-put-osu-in-a-fix.html?sid=101

Ohio State's go-to receiver? That spot is up for grabs
Posey's suspension and lack of other experienced receivers leave a hole in the passing game, which might open opportunities for tight end Stoneburner and the running backs
Thursday, April 21, 2011
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Four years ago, Jake Stoneburner was the centerpiece of his team's passing offense. If Ohio State's young receivers don't start looking better, the junior tight end might find history repeating itself.

It's too early to call it a crisis - it still is only spring practice - but the Buckeyes have serious issues at receiver. DeVier Posey has been the only consistent one, and he will be suspended for the first five games in the fall.

In two scrimmages, the other wideouts struggled. Corey Brown had one catch and one drop; Chris Fields had three catches one week and none the next - and those two are the only players eligible for the opener who have any game-time experience.

Redshirt freshmen T.Y. Williams, Verlon Reed and James Louis have been inconsistent, though each has shown flashes. More help will arrive in the summer with incoming freshmen Evan Spencer and Devin Smith. But right now, it's a problem.

"Most of the receivers, except for Corey Brown and DeVier, they haven't had any experience," cornerback Travis Howard said. "They don't know what it's like, so it's tough for them right now. (First-year assistant) coach (Stan) Drayton is teaching those guys to have more confidence so they can go out there and make a lot more plays."

One possible solution is to continue a trend that Ohio State began last year - using tight ends and running backs more often in the passing game.

Cont..
Click to expand...

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/04/21/its-up-for-grabs-f.html?sid=101
 
Upvote 0
DeVier Posey to Verlon Reed: Here's how to receive with ease
By Michael Periatt
[email protected]
Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Wide receiver Verlon Reed catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Kenny Guiton during Ohio State?s Spring Game on Saturday. The offense won, 59-27.

The Buckeye quarterback battle has dominated talk at the water cooler, but the biggest concern heading into spring might have been the lack of depth at wide receiver.

With DeVier Posey suspended for the first five games of the season and the graduation of Dane Sanzenbacher, the Buckeyes lost virtually all meaningful experience at the position.

The Buckeyes have a collection of young players who hope to fill the void, but their performances in the early parts of the spring were far from encouraging.

"We got young guys at receiver and I thought they really came along this spring," coach Jim Tressel said after the Spring Game on Saturday. "I think after about three practices we were thinking, ?Oh my gosh, we might be in three (tight ends), a fullback and a tailback.'"

But Posey took it upon himself to bring the younger guys along.

"I think for me the biggest thing to get those guys to understand as far as leading by example is practicing hard every single day," Posey said. "I want them to see how passionate I play, how the game is supposed to be played and how fast the game is supposed to be played so that they can learn from that."

Posey said the receivers needed some help getting accustomed to college football and the rigors of being a student-athlete.

"They had some rough days," Posey said. "They had some days they didn't want to play football anymore, and they had some days where they looked like All-Americans and I felt like that was key to get those guys on a straight line and keep them consistent."

Cont..
Click to expand...

http://www.thelantern.com/sports/de...eed-here-s-how-to-receive-with-ease-1.2208116
 
Upvote 0
We've got a stable of promising WRs, but the key will be finding dependable possession receivers. That's why Dane was so important last year and Gonzo before him.
The receiving corp needs to make the catch first, then look to make a move. The problem with young receivers is that they are always either trying to take every pass to the house, or they are afraid of taking a hit.
Just Catch - the - ball first and let the TDs take care of themselves.
 
Upvote 0
A pleasant surprise, Verlon Reed's star is rapidly rising for an ex-high school QB. He's going to be a very good WR.
T. Y. has shone flashes, but what has happened to Fields? Fields is just a soph so there's time, but he needs to step up.
James Louis? Hasn't made much of an impact, yet.
The frosh coming in? Spencer will probably redshirt.
Smith could push for some playing time because he's the complete package and explosive.
 
Upvote 0
I think one of the freshman will play or possibly even both Spencer and Smith could play right away. Philly is explosive, TY is a freak and Reed looks very good. Hopefully the light comes on for Fields and Louis. These guys coming in are gonna be hungry. I am guessing that right now it is more mental for those guys struggling. We definitely have talent....just young talent. Go Bucks
 
Upvote 0
Young Buckeye Receivers Beginning to Catch On
By Tony Gerdeman

COLUMBUS, Ohio?With leading returning receiver Devier Posey - and his 53 receptions and 848 yards receiving - suspended for the first five games this season, one of the main areas of concern for the Buckeyes this year has been the young receiving corps.

Aside from Posey, only two other wide receivers on the team have caught passes. Corey "Philly" Brown caught eight passes for 105 yards last year as a true freshman and Chris Fields caught three passes for 22 yards last year as a redshirt freshman.

Clearly, even the "experienced" receivers in the Scarlet and Gray aren't all that experienced.

As if that bit of information wasn't concerning enough, the rest of the Ohio State depth chart at receiver will be filled by either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen.

For new receivers coach Stan Drayton, youth doesn't necessarily bother him. He told reporters that he didn't care if a receiver was two-years old or 18-years old, the best player was going to play.

"Right now we?ve got to go from point A to point B as fast as we can," he said.

Cont...
Click to expand...

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/FallCamp/youngreceivers.html
 
Upvote 0
Unfortunate to hear about T.Y.'s issues catching the ball in camp. I expected him to compete hard for the split end spot. Not currently in the 2-deep but I fully expect him to get back on track. A 6'5+ guy with speed is just a constant mismatch if you use him correctly.

On another note, I expect Fields and Verlon to have some solid seasons if we can establish a passing game. Hopefully Philly Brown's speed will have Ginn-like effects on secondaries, leaving the underneath routes open.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top