the WR rotation

[upperdeck]

so you have to wonder if we see some changes this week at home. butler/riley both looked lost and ran some lazy routes. Jordan got in and was wide open deep but I dont know if Taj got in at all.

Custis played great

N. Johnson if not 100% probably no reason to play him if he can get close to 100% by FSU, except maybe to work him in a bit if he is close.

Really would like to see a few throws other than just the deep balls get completed. A slant that works, some curls. If we dont see 1-2 guys step it up this week you will have to wonder if we go 2 wide and heavy sets all year.

 

[SWC75]

I'm all for playing the kids. They've got to be better than Butler and Riley.

 

[Trueblue25]

Start cam jordan and sharod johnson with custis and pierce. Pierce was not impressive either

 

[upperdeck]

Pierce what did he do wrong other than not protect a ball? we didnt throw to him is that his fault?

 

[corpjet]

Pierce is a frustrating case...seems like he has the talent but cant put it all together...

honestly Butler needs to sit...not because of the drops but because of given up on plays...how does a coach justify this when going over tape...

at the end of the day give me a kid who will give 100% and lay it on the line...Butler showed he's not capable of that Friday night

 

[IthacaMatt]

Pierce is a frustrating case...seems like he has the talent but cant put it all together...

honestly Butler needs to sit...not because of the drops but because of given up on plays...how does a coach justify this when going over tape...

at the end of the day give me a kid who will give 100% and lay it on the line...Butler showed he's not capable of that Friday night

Yeah, I saw a couple of those where if he kept running the route, he had a shot at the ball. He had a terrible game.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

The drops were disappointing & giving up on plays is unacceptable but I will say that I was impressed with Butler’s downfield blocking. A few stood out watching live & I caught a few more nice blocks on replay. He sprung Dungey on 2 long gains.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

If Butler trained and practiced hard all off season you don't bench him. When they go over film he will see what he did wrong. It is a teachable moment. If he does the same thing against Wagner then it's a different story. We as fans forget that these are kids who are sill learning. But players have to show they are learning and growing or they will play less.

 

[shu 49]

Wanna see Harris a little. As for Butler, he should sit and learn a lesson that as a jr he should already know. He knows what is expected of him and he pulls up twice on decent throws and then doesn’t lay out to catch it. He has to earn his way back on the field in my opinion. I know I seam to have a hard stance on that but he isn’t a freshmen.

 

[SmilinBob]

Sometimes I'm guilty of thinking of these players as machines but taking a step back maybe something happened to Butler in the real world that affected his play. I know you have to focus and put that stuff out of your head but who knows what the cause really is. I agree there is no reason what so ever to give up on a pass like it looked like he did so I'm behind Babers on whatever he decides to do, he knows his squad.

On another note...I want to see the WR's fight like heck to the ball. On long passes don't just glide...make the DB do something and get a pass interference if you can. Drive to the ball and if you're tired get the heck out and let the next guy play who won't be tired. These guys have to be in really good shape to run their patterns and block while Babers not subbing to keep up the speed. How many snaps did the other WR's get Friday other than Custis, Riley and Butler?

 

[Millhouse]

Pierce what did he do wrong other than not protect a ball? we didnt throw to him is that his fault?

i still have eligibility. i won't ever get open but it won't be my fault if they don't throw to me

 

[Chip]

The drops were disappointing & giving up on plays is unacceptable but I will say that I was impressed with Butler’s downfield blocking. A few stood out watching live & I caught a few more nice blocks on replay. He sprung Dungey on 2 long gains.

Yeah, I mentioned this is another thread, he was taking his guy right out of the play. I know on one it helped spring Dungey for a bigger gain.

I hope he gets it together in the passing game. It was just one bad game receiving, can't give up on him yet.

 

[kcsu]

QBs have favorites and Eric seems to look to his more often than most. If he loses faith in a receiver it is just a matter of time before he is replaced.
Dino made Butler his project this fall as im sure he sees potential. Some kids step up others fold. My concern with Butler isnt effort as he really puts out blocking which is a great indicator of effort. It is simply that he is weak at catching the ball which regardless of practice is either something you have or dont. Unlike blocking or route running there are two things a receiver needs to be born with. Speed and hands and to date Butler cant catch the ball.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Is N Johnson suppose to be a starter when healthy?

 

[TheCusian]

Is N Johnson suppose to be a starter when healthy?

Yes

 

[SUFan44]

Everyone lauds the young WR talent -- but I have yet to see anything from any of them on the field, despite the current group of upperclassmen not overwhelming anyone. Yet we have another team that has a freshman WR go off for 7-121-1 against us in his first collegiate game. I don't understand. I'd also like to add that this Reed kid had offers from three MAC schools.

 

[TheCusian]

Everyone lauds the young WR talent -- but I have yet to see anything from any of them on the field, despite the current group not overwhelming anyone. Yet we have another team that has a freshman WR go off for 7-121-1 against us in his first collegiate game. I don't understand. I'd also like to add that this Reed kid had offers from three MAC schools.

Babers seems to want guys to meet a certain threshold/mastery of things that comes with time and experience. But if the older players can’t catch, you start to sacrifice blocking and understanding of the offense for speed and catching ability

Basically - trade offs. If the young guys did everything better than the old guys, they’d be playing.

 

[kcsu]

The first criteria needs to be the ability to catch the ball. Butler and Riley have yet to prove they can catch.

 

[McNabb2Brominski]

I would've liked to see the youngins (Jordan, Hendrix, Harris) get some playing time in the game. Hopefully we see more of them as the season progresses.

 

[SWC75]

If Butler trained and practiced hard all off season you don't bench him. When they go over film he will see what he did wrong. It is a teachable moment. If he does the same thing against Wagner then it's a different story. We as fans forget that these are kids who are sill learning. But players have to show they are learning and growing or they will play less.

it's not like it's the first time we've seen him play this way.

 

[SWC75]

Babers seems to want guys to meet a certain threshold/mastery of things that comes with time and experience. But if the older players can’t catch, you start to sacrifice blocking and understanding of the offense for speed and catching ability

Basically - trade offs. If the young guys did everything better than the old guys, they’d be playing.

i think they will be.

 

[Millhouse]

The first criteria needs to be the ability to catch the ball. Butler and Riley have yet to prove they can catch.

Get open comes first.

 

[All4SU]

Question for those people on here who are smarter than me...okay, a question for everyone...

Isn’t WR usually one of the easier positions for pure athletic ability to get on the field early? I mean I know that lots of guys take a year or two to develop, but not everyone, right? Or is the offense so complicated that WRs need time not only to mature but to absorb the intricacies of the offense too?

 

[SUskibum]

Question for those people on here who are smarter than me...okay, a question for everyone...

Isn’t WR usually one of the easier positions for pure athletic ability to get on the field early? I mean I know that lots of guys take a year or two to develop, but not everyone, right? Or is the offense so complicated that WRs need time not only to mature but to absorb the intricacies of the offense too?

The beauty of this offense (I thought) was its simplicity. Easy to pick up and get a ton of reps doing only a few things.

This would/should allow younger “better” players to play earlier since the learning curve is quicker.

Obviously this is not happening for us, so either there is more to learn in this offense than meets the eye, or the younger players are not impressing. Or a third option is a bias that HCDFB has toward experience, regardless of other variables.

Taking this question to the NFL, it seems like rookies tend to have the most success at RB. Not to many rookie WR come in and kill it... or am I wrong about that...

 

[upperdeck]

if our young WR cant get into the right spots thats one thing.. if they cant catch we are in trouble. i am sure if you just told our FR to run go routes they would be fine. in fact Jordan came in and ran one and was open but you still need to block it.