2014 tOSU Wide Receiver Discussion

[kujirakira]

Good news after 2 games:
Thomas is the real deal
Smith is still a deep threat and JT can bomb it
Wilson has looked electric at times

Bad news:
OL
A *lot* of drops

 

[youra6]

Good news after 2 games:
Thomas is the real deal
Smith is still a deep threat and JT can bomb it
Wilson has looked electric at times

Bad news:
OL
A *lot* of drops

IIRC, JT short armed that deep pass to Smith like he did in the Navy game. Only difference was that we got 0 points on that drive.

 

[zincfinger]

Good news after 2 games:
Thomas is the real deal
Smith is still a deep threat and JT can bomb it
Wilson has looked electric at times

Bad news:
OL
A *lot* of drops

On a second viewing, I didn't think the OSU O-line play was as bad as I remembered it being - probably because my initial impression was heavily colored by the last two possessions where the O-line was truly overwhelmed. But for much of the game, while the O-line play wasn't great, it wasn't awful. There was sufficient protection for plays to be made, OSU just didn't make them.

 

[OleOleOleOle]

I really want to see Devin show up more consistently. Seems he isn't heard from much, and then will rattle off some 60 yd td catch, but then go quiet again. I'd like to see him getting open more on intermediate routes, quick routes etc.

I feel like OSU hasn't had a good all-around, make many catches a game since the Sanzenbacher and Posey days, and I miss threats like that. I know we have the talent, now the coaches need to prepare them better, call better plays... ones that don't take 2 min to develop, line clearly has to give more time, and routes need to become better.

I still have faith in this WR core despite a not so wonderful showing Saturday!

 

[Tlangs]

The fact that Thomas had 6 catches and only played half the offensive snaps leads me to beleive we do have that guy.

 

[buckeye4ever21]

Gameplanning is for [Mark May] when WRs drop TD passes right in their hands...

Game planning was the primary problem wether you plan to look blindly at it or not. Yes there were a few drops but the glaring issue is the 30% completion percentage when you've already been forced to abandon the run. No attempts to throw to the RB's and TE's and rarely looking toward intermediate and short routes left Barrett throwing deep balls faster than he was ready. A brand new QB and OL and those are the throws under pressure that they want him to complete 60-70% of the time. When you know the blitz is coming you have to have a game plan ready to offset it. You can blame the receivers all you want but other than 3 big completions the buckeye passing game was 6-26 for 70 yds.

 

[matcar]

Game planning was the primary problem wether you plan to look blindly at it or not. Yes there were a few drops but the glaring issue is the 30% completion percentage when you've already been forced to abandon the run. No attempts to throw to the RB's and TE's and rarely looking toward intermediate and short routes left Barrett throwing deep balls faster than he was ready. A brand new QB and OL and those are the throws under pressure that they want him to complete 60-70% of the time. When you know the blitz is coming you have to have a game plan ready to offset it. You can blame the receivers all you want but other than 3 big completions the buckeye passing game was 6-26 for 70 yds.

Disagree. Our WRs have been nothing but average even when they've been open. If we execute, we aren't even having this discussion.

 

[lvbuckeye]

Disagree. Our WRs have been nothing but average even when they've been open. If we execute, we aren't even having this discussion.

if...

isn't the coaches job to get the kids ready and to put them in a position where they CAN execute?
the deep ball is NOT a high percentage play. why do you think VT was so happy to 'give' it to us?
if that's your only option, then you. got. out. coached. badly.

 

[MSURacerDT55]

if...

isn't the coaches job to get the kids ready and to put them in a position where they CAN execute?
the deep ball is NOT a high percentage play. why do you think VT was so happy to 'give' it to us?
if that's your only option, then you. got. out. coached. badly.

The coach cant go out there and catch it for them. At this point, these group of receivers have no confidence or swagger. The coach's job is to prepare them, the player's job is to make a play. The opportunities are going to be there until we start burning teams and they will back off coverage wise. Lets stop with all of the excuses

 

[SEREbuckeye]

if...

isn't the coaches job to get the kids ready and to put them in a position where they CAN execute?
the deep ball is NOT a high percentage play. why do you think VT was so happy to 'give' it to us?
if that's your only option, then you. got. out. coached. badly.

Isnt it the players job to make catches and get YAC yards?
Were we out-coached? Yeah. But lets be honest here, Ohio State hasn't had a wide receiver that any defense has really feared since Posey. We haven't had a complete reliable, play-making wide receiving corps in almost 10 years when we had Gonzo, Ginn, and Holmes. Maybe 8 years ago with Robo and Hartline. Outside of Devin making spectacular one handed grabs, when was the last time you've heard the media brag on the OSU Wideouts being in the top 5-10 nationally?

 

[Mike80]

Part of coaching is realizing you have a young group that has never done it live and believing in them. These kids are talented but green. Sometimes that means not quite finishing the play or making the catch. It's sad I'm having to say this going on 6 days after the game, but back off the ledge and watch the coaches hopefully do their jobs.

 

[MaxBuck]

Lots of smart commentary here, none smarter than Mike80's. If only he could stay off the poli threads ...

 

[buckeye4ever21]

It's going to take some time for JT to develop timing and consistancy with his receivers. The injury year off has hurt JT in that aspect and the fact that he's throwing to a receiving corps that is young and inexperienced as well. Replacing 8-9 starters off one of the top offenses in the country will leave any team sputtering out of the gates. We've still yet to figure out who we are, but I can tell you once we do there is a lot of talent on this team at the skill positions.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Game planning was the primary problem wether you plan to look blindly at it or not.

There's no looking blindly on my part. If receivers drop balls right in their hands, no game planning will offset that. Go back to playing TechmoBowl...

 

[SEREbuckeye]

Part of coaching is realizing you have a young group that has never done it live and believing in them. These kids are talented but green. Sometimes that means not quite finishing the play or making the catch. It's sad I'm having to say this going on 6 days after the game, but back off the ledge and watch the coaches hopefully do their jobs.

Nobody is on the ledge, just pointing out the lack of production in the group.
So what was the reasons for our receivers the past seasons if this is due to a young OLine and young QB? Out of all D-1A wideouts, Philly came in at #100, Devin Smith at #138 in 2013. In 2012, Philly Brown ranked #119, and Devin Smith #146.

Part of coaching is realizing you have a young group that has never done it live and believing in them.

They are young and green? Who? They are all experienced players.

Devin Smith is a Senior that played in all games last year, played in all games in 2012, played in 2011.
Evan Spence is a Senior that played in all 14 games last year, played in 2012, and played in 10 games in 2011.
Corey Smith is a Junior that played as a JUCO

The only player that is truly green the way you try to depict them as is Michael Thomas having only played in 2012.