The Wide Outs

[721Comstock]

Staff really likes Hatcher. Played in a few games early on specials and really came on in practice during the bye week. They wanted to preserve his redshirt or he would have been firmly in the rotation in November.

Hatcher is the kid who is like a taller Taj, right?
RAC machine?

Hopefully without the diva complex.

 

[Chip]

I focus on the upside, which lies with Jackson, Alford, Hatcher, Gadsden, J. Williams. I think they'll stick out to the new coaches.

I really don't know what we have in Hayes, hasn't seen the field much at all as a WR.

I think Cooper, Queeley, Pena are depth guys. They can make a play here and there, but you don't want to rely on them too heavily.

My opinion anyway, at least as receivers. I can't speak to any of their blocking skills for the run or WR screen game.

 

[PhatOrange]

Hatcher and Williams are the guys to watch. Gadsden may be another year imo

I think Hatcher is our future open field YAC guy, Williams has always reminded me of Steve Ishmael - fingers crossed on his participation this spring.

Gadsden and Alford have such great size and loads of potential. Of the two I like Gadsden to blossom just based on his pedigree but in his limited minutes he looked timid and green. The offseason S&C and spring should do him wonders.

With Alford I go back to what Dino said, paraphrasing, Alford doesn't know what he's capable of and needs to be an alpha. He's raw yet and made a ton of mistakes but when/if that switch goes off for him he could be a beast. I fully expect Johnson, Anea and Beck to turn this group into men.

 

[Trueblue25]

I think Hatcher is our future open field YAC guy, Williams has always reminded me of Steve Ishmael - fingers crossed on his participation this spring.

Gadsden and Alford have such great size and loads of potential. Of the two I like Gadsden to blossom just based on his pedigree but in his limited minutes he looked timid and green. The offseason S&C and spring should do him wonders.

With Alford I go back to what Dino said, paraphrasing, Alford doesn't know what he's capable of and needs to be an alpha. He's raw yet and made a ton of mistakes but when/if that switch goes off for him he could be a beast. I fully expect Johnson, Anea and Beck to turn this group into men.

Gadsden will be an asset imo, I know that size was the issue in 2021. The fact that he was even trusted to participate in special teams is a tribute to his work ethic and athleticism. I have high hopes for him and think he’ll grow into his potential soon enough.

Roll phins

 

[phil77]

I am very interesting to see the transformation of the WR room with the implementation of the new offense with all the different WR routes they will be asked to run. Instead of reading and react they will be running specific route trees.

 

[cusefan88]

I think having a veteran OC like Robert Anae will help unlock Pena. Reverses, screens, misdirections. He's a space player and I think he's absolutely electric.

 

[orangepassion]

I think having a veteran OC like Robert Anae will help unlock Pena. Reverses, screens, misdirections. He's a space player and I think he's absolutely electric.

I was about to post something similar. Pena showed a ton of explosiveness as a returner and on that long catch he made midseason that he somehow turned into a TD. Have also been a big fan of Hatcher since before he committed here.

 

[SWC75]

When i did my preview last August I felt that Pena and Hatcher had the most impressive highlight tapes. I also like the tall guys, Alford and Gadsen.

 

[OrangeAl]

Coach Mac used to say: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, it'd be Christmas every day."

Somebody needs to work hard and get out there and grab the opportunity at WR.

 

[money3189]

Coach Mac used to say: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, it'd be Christmas every day."

Somebody needs to work hard and get out there and grab the opportunity at WR.

We can only talk about HS films and upside so much. The cream will rise to the top through preparation, resiliency and grit. We can all hope every player reaches their potential but that never happens. Its good for conversations though.

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

Love this thread because there's a lot of unrealized WR talent for Anae to work with (and so many variables). As money3189 notes (twice), the jury's out until spring ball ... an invitation to speculate whether the existing guys will take the next step or one of the promising youngsters will blow up (Hatcher, Gadsden or even Brown). In the meantime here's my reductive take (without a negative binomial regression from LeMoyneCuse or TheCusian):

Vertical Threat (OWR): Alford, Hatcher, Gadsden and newcomers (Brown and Hayes)
Possession Guys: Jackson, Queely, Cooper (courtesy SUDadx2), and Williams
Space Guys/Slot: Queely, Jackson, Pena

 

[SUDadx2]

Love this thread because there's so much unrealized talent for Anae to work with. As money3189 notes (twice), the jury's out until spring ball ... leaving us time to speculate whether the existing guys will take the next step or one of the promising youngsters will blow up (Hatcher, Gadsden or even Brown). In the meantime here's my list based on situations (down/distance, zone/man coverage, safety help, etc):

Vertical Threat (OWR): Alford, Hatcher, Gadsden and newcomers (Brown and Hayes)
Possession Guys: Queely, Jackson and Williams outside
Space Guys/Slot: Queely, Jackson, Pena

No Cooper?

 

[Shenexon]

The best thing for our passing game is that teams will concentrate on slowing down our running game. Maybe we'll be able to throw more when we want to and not just when we have to. I'm hopeful with staff changes and growth by existing personnel, perhaps with big sophomore jumps by a few guys who are a year stronger and wiser. I'm hopeful about Hayes as well. We'll be better but can we translate that into victories against a stronger schedule? Should be a fun year with many changes to watch. We need to be able to sustain our level of competition through November and that requires competent depth. Best wishes to the coaches in choosing wisely. LGO!!

 

[CbusCuse]

Staff really likes Hatcher. Played in a few games early on specials and really came on in practice during the bye week. They wanted to preserve his redshirt or he would have been firmly in the rotation in November.

This is really great information to hear. Now I just want to hear he was able to add some weight in the offseason.

 

[JoeSU]

I think having a veteran OC like Robert Anae will help unlock Pena. Reverses, screens, misdirections. He's a space player and I think he's absolutely electric.

I agree. He should look at how the Chiefs utilize Tyreek Hill's skill set.

 

[SUskibum]

When Peña went down last year DFB was quoted as saying he is like a mix between Erv and Riley but faster than both. I think he has a huge year this year

Along with MSU the second, Alford, Gadson (maybe Hatcher) and Jackson

2 I expect to see take a step back in PT are Q and Cooper. Both possession guys who had multiple big drops in big spots last year (Rutgers and WF come to mind but there were others). You can’t be a possession guy who doesn’t have great mitts.

 

[money3189]

When Peña went down last year DFB was quoted as saying he is like a mix between Erv and Riley but faster than both. I think he has a huge year this year

Along with MSU the second, Alford, Gadson (maybe Hatcher) and Jackson

2 I expect to see take a step back in PT are Q and Cooper. Both possession guys who had multiple big drops in big spots last year (Rutgers and WF come to mind but there were others). You can’t be a possession guy who doesn’t have great mitts.

You don’t think Q and Cooper can improve? I like them because they have mature bodies and experience. The other guys have more upside but lack significant snaps. I’m just not ready to say Q and Coop can’t improve and benefit from a more functional passing scheme

 

[Orijinal]

You don’t think Q and Cooper can improve? I like them because they have mature bodies and experience. The other guys have more upside but lack significant snaps. I’m just not ready to say Q and Coop can’t improve and benefit from a more functional passing scheme

Yeah. The fact is every receiver had a down year last year

 

[IthacaMatt]

Really high on Gadsden. Father played pro ball as I recall and a friend of mine met the entire family on their way up to Syracuse for the Fall semester and was really impressed. How that translates into beating press coverage I don't know, but there's always hope.
I also think Hatcher can contribute. Sometimes these kids just need a year or 2 in the program.

It seems to me that there are about 7 candidates for maybe 3 positions. I just hope we get at least 3.

 

[kcsu]

Cooper is going to shine.

 

[money3189]

Yeah. The fact is every receiver had a down year last year

Yup there is room for improvement for every Wr

 

[IthacaMatt]

I focus on the upside, which lies with Jackson, Alford, Hatcher, Gadsden, J. Williams. I think they'll stick out to the new coaches.

I really don't know what we have in Hayes, hasn't seen the field much at all as a WR.

I think Cooper, Queeley, Pena are depth guys. They can make a play here and there, but you don't want to rely on them too heavily.

My opinion anyway, at least as receivers. I can't speak to any of their blocking skills for the run or WR screen game.

It's funny; it almost doesn't matter who it is, at this point. We've got 8 guys in your post who have all made pretty good plays from time to time. It's all about consistency at this point. I think a fair number of them have decent skills. They just need some alphas to emerge.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Staff really likes Hatcher.

i hope he’s real and spectacular.

 

[cusefan88]

You don’t think Q and Cooper can improve? I like them because they have mature bodies and experience. The other guys have more upside but lack significant snaps. I’m just not ready to say Q and Coop can’t improve and benefit from a more functional passing scheme

I really see these two as being the key guys on third down that you know can catch the ball in traffic on the intermediary routes. I've been a big fan of Queeley. He's not a number one WR but I think he has lots of value still.

 

[IthacaMatt]

An article from 24/7 that profiles our WR prospects. Paints a somewhat dim but accurate picture. There are some guys who had some big moments, but were actually statistically way more inconsistent and unproductive than it seemed to the eye. And they don't think the WR transfer is going to be the next Trishton Jackson by a long shot.

Will someone emerge as Syracuse's No. 1 wideout? (Spring WR preview)

Will someone emerge as Syracuse's top wideout? (Spring WR preview)

247sports.com