Who is Damien Alford?

[Dcuse]

He’s made 2 or 3 of the best catches in college football this year. Then we’ll go 2 or 3 games where I forget he’s on the team.How do you get this kid to realize just how good he is? I have to believe he’s going to have a breakout at some point.

 

[MSOrange]

He’s made 2 or 3 of the best catches in college football this year. Then we’ll go 2 or 3 games where I forget he’s on the team.How do you get this kid to realize just how good he is? I have to believe he’s going to have a breakout at some point.

I agree. I love the glimpses of his potential. Maybe he'll be like Jamal Custis and put it together eventually.

 

[hoopsupstate]

We never took a deep shot the entire game.

 

[Willy75]

We never took a deep shot the entire game.

It’s not like Shrader had a lot of time to let plays develop.

 

[qdawgg]

He’s made 2 or 3 of the best catches in college football this year. Then we’ll go 2 or 3 games where I forget he’s on the team.How do you get this kid to realize just how good he is? I have to believe he’s going to have a breakout at some point.

So he has a good catch every 3 games.

Guess we’ll see him try to do something against Florida state or WF then.

If there was a year to step up, this was the year to do. He makes one good catch every few games and nothing the rest of the time. Not to be a jerk but those nice catches are pretty meaningless.

 

[AngryOtto]

Not targeted a lot. Seems passed more to cooper or Jackson.

 

[dasher]

So he has a good catch every 3 games.

Guess we’ll see him try to do something against Florida state or WF then.

If there was a year to step up, this was the year to do. He makes one good catch every few games and nothing the rest of the time. Not to be a jerk but those nice catches are pretty meaningless.

I think he will end up being very good for us. Maybe by next year. Him and OG could be a special duo.

 

[qdawgg]

I think he will end up being very good for us. Maybe by next year. Him and OG could be a special duo.

I agree despite sounding like an A___. I said in the summer I thought he could be our best WR. I still do, he’s got the physical tools. He just hasn’t put it together it seems. But this was the year he could have shined.

 

[cvilleorange]

Need to make an effort to target him. Confidence is really important and we need him

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

He has done a really good job blocking this year.

 

[CuseGrad94]

He has done a really good job blocking this year.

Noticed that too, OGII had a few great blocks today too.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

He has the biggest hands I’ve ever seen on an SU WR. He’s only targeted in crunch time. He’s currently good for 1 catch per game. A Custis trajectory seems appropriate. Him & OGII on the outside next year with Jackson & Peña in the slot & sprinkle in some Hatcher could be electric.

 

[PhatOrange]

Would love to know how many times he’s the primary. Seems like Shrader only targets him once a game if that.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Hoping Hatcher gets more snaps this year and Brown next year.

 

[djorange1989]

I still think we need a good portal WR

 

[Oakland]

It’s not like Shrader had a lot of time to let plays develop.

He certainly did in the first half; the second half was very different.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I remain a skeptic.

 

[sufandu]

It’s not like Shrader had a lot of time to let plays develop.

There were a number of plays he had a ton of time, but I think we had extra guys in pass protection and they dropped extra into coverage, so we weren't getting guys open.

 

[pokercuse08]

Seems like he has amazing hands and great body control, but isn't getting open often. So he mostly makes catches when Shrader has to force the ball into good coverage. Maybe Shrader should throw him more jump balls or back shoulder balls, and hopefully his route running develops.

 

[CbusCuse]

I think Alford has potential. Obviously has the physical tools but he just seems to be progressing slower than we all hoped.

How quickly everybody forgets about Isaiah Jones. I feel like his injury hurts more than others realize. I really feel like he was going to break out and be our second receiver this year after OG. he was injured in the fall and still was an or on the depth chart with Alford when the season began. Anae even said during the spring game interview sessions that he was the most consistent receiver all spring.

The kid is 6’-4” and 204 lbs and I believe has a good combination of size, speed, route running, hands and ball skills. He’s got two more years and I think he’ll‘ surprises people next year.

I realy don’t like Jackson on the outside. I think he’s much more effective in the slot.

Hope Hatcher can add a bit more muscle this off-season as well like he did this past summer. He seems to have good potential.

Donovan Brown seems to have potential as well as he is apparently showing out on the scout team so far.

I’d prefer a tad more length on our slot receivers with Shrader throwing the ball. He has improved his accuracy greatly this year but I still feel some longer receivers with a larger catch radius would be better for Shrader. His throws are not exactly always perfect right on the money. Gadsden has fantastic hands and certainly is helping Shraders completion percentage and his catch radius helps a ton. Plus the added size should improve blocking as well.

I’d love to add a good portal receiver too but if not I do think we have some potential for nice improvement there.

 

[blizz]

This seems obvious to me. But apparently some people don't understand the concept. In order to catch a ball. It has to be thrown to you. Or at least thrown in the vicinity of where your body is.

 

[Willy75]

There were a number of plays he had a ton of time, but I think we had extra guys in pass protection and they dropped extra into coverage, so we weren't getting guys open.

In the second half?

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Alford has 6 catches and Jones has 4 catches. So why was Jones targeted more?

Alford is onto his 2nd OC and is still averaging his 1 catch and 17 yards per game. Maybe he makes a leap at some point, but he is already an older player despite having 2 more years left.

 

[sufandu]

In the second half?

Not as much in the second half, but I think there were some times there too where he had time and just couldn't find an open man. What I don't know is if they weren't open or if he just didn't see them. He also had a bunch of passes batted down.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

I think we should force the issue with Alford, Hatcher, and Adam’s. No more snaps for Cooper and Jackson.