This I can agree w/. But if u’ve seen my posts on here, I’m more pro player than anything. What frustrates me about the state of this program is we are constantly getting 4 star players, and every now and then some 5 stars....and for quite some time now, the bill is not being lived up to. It can’t just be work ethic, b/c we constantly here how (insert name here) is looking good, game slowing down, flying, becoming a leader, etc. etc., but come Saturdays & a Thursday, we don’t see the build up.
So when I speak coaching & development, taking this play for instance; are the WRs being taught to catch, secure, and brace for impact? I’ve seen Harley, Wiggins, Cager, that CC dude that came through for a couple yrs whose name escapes me (I’m lying; Dayall Harris), etc. all drop these types of passes, and the commonality is either they get alligator arms or they don’t secure the ball before bracing for impact.
U can hit the jugs all day, but if u r afraid of contact, then U’re toast. Pope appears to be fine on quick screens, catching the ball, but when the first sign of contact comes, he folds nicely like a lawn chair after the 4th of July. Why is this not being addressed by Likens? Does he need to feel more contact in practice or being jammed at the LOS w/ a 3-5 sec window v. a 35 sec window in 7 on 7 action?
Sorry for the rant, but I know we get on Pope, but imo, Pope is a microcosm. There’s a reason we’ve only had 1 WR, in the last 16 yrs, drafted in the 1st round (and that was due to a combine 40 time), 4 WRs drafted in the 1st three-rounds, and 9 WRs, OVERALL, drafted. In 16 YEARS??! When we were the 1st WRU??