Coach Macho
aka Beardy Ryan
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2012
- Messages
- 13,404
LOL
True. I wouldn't pigeonhole Jeff Thomas to the slot position, either. Excited to see what he can do outside.I've mentioned Harris and preferring Njoku in the gronk role outside rather than rely on Berrios. Harris was available for many of the games Berrios played outside. I think we should just accept the coaches saw something in practice and it didn't translate to games. I will totally concede the "they were getting to know their players" reasoning offered in prior discussions on this topic.I railed against this all last season, so might as well be consistent here. Berrios did look ok playing outside during practices. They'd run a number of clear-outs and he'd come underneath and catch the ball well. Against opponents, he couldn't create any separation. And, I mean any. This was particularly highlighted in the FSU game.
Basically, he didn't have the size or speed for those routes and he's better when given space to use quickness.
I know we've been told repeatedly he was placed in those positions because we didn't have anyone else. I have a difficult time accepting that because, even when Berrios showed he simply could not execute those routes, we left him there and never tried Harris or even Njoku out there. None of the square ins or slants were agility routes and it's odd we didn't at least *try* someone else there *after* Berrios failed to execute.
Who else would we have tried on the outside? Lewis simply didn't have the ability post-injury. Cager was out. I think Harris was hurt for half the year (playing through injury.) Mullins apparently wasn't ready. As for Njoku, I'm guessing we saw him in the slot primarily as opposed to the edge so that he could line up against either a nickel DB or a LB and exploit those physical mismatches. Who was left? We could have done more to flex Herndon or Walton out wide I suppose - the lack of any kind of motion in our offense was infuriating, but that's another thread - but from a WR standpoint last year it really was "Brax or Bust" opposite Richards, IMO.
Fair enough. I don't know enough about when/how badly Harris was hurt to speak to his availability. I agree that they could/should have moved Njoku around more (or moved ANYONE pre-snap more.) Like you say, we can just chalk it up to "it just didn't happen" and move on. Nice thing is that going forward, we have some legit options developing at all WR positions that there should be no personnel excuses for not getting these guys the ball.
Love the whole jag argument. Some of you cant even get a quote right on your signature but feel that your assessment is valid of a young man, on scholarship, who is doing everything to graduate and help this team.
I wonder how many of the jaggers are the same ones who professed he was the next goat. You set your selves up for failure and then look like a d!ck for bashing a current player.
Has a lot to prove. Tremendous leader, and my guess is he'll catch 25 balls. If they can get him the ball in space, he can be weapon. Interesting dude. 1st step is meh, 2nd and 3rd are elite. Amazing short area quicknes and definite sub 4.5 speed. Wish him well.