Obviously not 2-11 for 43 yards and 2 picks with no tds..... I am fascinated with the subject in light of the type of receivers we have recruited both last year and what type of player is coming in next year at WR. We have a lot of guys that are more slight built like Mark Williams, Douglas, Bell, Manns, Van Dyne etc..I realize they will all gain weight and muscle but I dont expect them to be just blockers at that size, either. You dont bring in receivers like that without trying to make them playmakers so I am assuming that PJ has recruited them with the idea of throwing the ball more... I heard a lot about Bateman and it doesnt sound like he is built as slight as the others. I can tell you Erik Gibson, the kid from Detroit, is definitely not slightly built so if he arrives and learns technique, that kid has the capability to put on weight and be a bigger receiver. Still, I am sure PJ wants to have the confidence to throw the ball more successfully than recent times. So I thought to myself "what is a reasonable expectation for a winning program that predominately runs the ball??"
We have gone over, ad nauseum, that our present receivers cant get open nor catch it and the QB is not accurate in throwing it for the last half dozen seasons or more.. We have had a one-receiver show many times with either KJ Maye or Drew Wolitarsky with Mitch Leidner when we did have some success. TE play was present when the offense succeeded and way too non-existent this year, IMO...So what did we do when Leidner was at least semi-successful though we complained??
SPECIFICS: Leidner threw just over 300 times in his senior season in 13 games, I think....If we would throw the ball that much again, we can average a bit over 8.5 yards per attempt, that puts us at about 2600 yards for the season... In a 13 game season, that is about 200 yards a game... Some games a lot more, some a lot less depending on the defense and our ability to run the ball. With 300 attempts, 60-65% completion rate would be very good(we would probably be floored) but that means roughly 180-195 completions in a year. IDEALISTIC but a goal that is reasonable to accomplish. 14-15 completions a game if you include a bowl game. Maybe a QB from the past from the Vikings to come in and talk to the QBs to give some pointers
PRACTICE: Receivers in that offense may have one big gun who catches 50 balls, which is fine.. The other targets should have 1-2 guys in that 30 catch a year range. Whether that is outside guys or TEs. Then a lot more players including RBs with 10-15 catches a year or less. That downfield target should be able to average 15-16 yards a catch or more. A possession receiver should be in that 10-12 yard per catch average. Learn the nuances of WR play.. Heck we got 2 good ones that are from Minnesota in Eric Decker and Adam Thielen that could come in to tutor the guys a bit. I wouldnt think that it wold take that much time out of their schedules to help our guys out.
I would think that each receiver should set goals in the off season.. Good technique with quick cuts to get open Maybe bring in one of the former Gopher corners now in the NFL to say to our receivers "OK guys, we are going to press cover you as receivers.. Its your job to demonstrate the technique you learned from Decker and Thielen(as an example) to get open. We are going to rough you up at the line, jam you, and you are going to have to hand fight and use technique to get open for the QB to hit you with a pass". Then run drills until the guys can get separation.
With the QBs, practice the 7 on 7 stuff with a couple of receivers that have gone through the tutelage of the NFL players like Decker and Thielen. Staff and NFL players should get our current QBs to look off the PRO DBs( I am thinking Eric Murray, Marcus Sherels, Trumaine Brock, Brien Boddy Calhoun,etc) in the back as well as LBs. Put a stopwatch on the Qbs so that they either have to make a play within a couple seconds or move out of the pocket. Tell them that a sack will happen if they cant make that read... Make the defenses more complex as the practices go so that the QB has to make those vertical reads quickly and force the decisions with the execution quicker.
Guys, I just made outlandish suggestions but there is no reason we cant hit some of these goals as a team... They are reasonable... When people suggest Spielman from Nebraska should have signed with Minnesota, I kinda shake my head... Why would he go to a school like Minnesota if he has aspirations at playing a higher level of football than college?? At his size, would he have been effective being primarily a blocker as a receiver?? His Dad is a GM for the Vikings... If he is counseling his son to go to a school that could better his opportunity to reach his dream of the NFL. it wouldn't be as a 160 pound receiver where blocking is his primary responsibility.. That is just fact.
We now have a chance to change all that as the slate is clean with our receivers and a new QB for next season.. It wont happen off the bat, but it can surely look up... It cant be much worse.. Blocking is key here as well and all the timing has to be there... It is going to be a big process as blocking in the interior line is good.. We have 2 of the best coaches in the nation as o-line coaches and they showed they can teach discipline in a hurry as we didnt have near the penalties as in the past... Its attainable now we just need to go out and achieve it.
We have gone over, ad nauseum, that our present receivers cant get open nor catch it and the QB is not accurate in throwing it for the last half dozen seasons or more.. We have had a one-receiver show many times with either KJ Maye or Drew Wolitarsky with Mitch Leidner when we did have some success. TE play was present when the offense succeeded and way too non-existent this year, IMO...So what did we do when Leidner was at least semi-successful though we complained??
SPECIFICS: Leidner threw just over 300 times in his senior season in 13 games, I think....If we would throw the ball that much again, we can average a bit over 8.5 yards per attempt, that puts us at about 2600 yards for the season... In a 13 game season, that is about 200 yards a game... Some games a lot more, some a lot less depending on the defense and our ability to run the ball. With 300 attempts, 60-65% completion rate would be very good(we would probably be floored) but that means roughly 180-195 completions in a year. IDEALISTIC but a goal that is reasonable to accomplish. 14-15 completions a game if you include a bowl game. Maybe a QB from the past from the Vikings to come in and talk to the QBs to give some pointers
PRACTICE: Receivers in that offense may have one big gun who catches 50 balls, which is fine.. The other targets should have 1-2 guys in that 30 catch a year range. Whether that is outside guys or TEs. Then a lot more players including RBs with 10-15 catches a year or less. That downfield target should be able to average 15-16 yards a catch or more. A possession receiver should be in that 10-12 yard per catch average. Learn the nuances of WR play.. Heck we got 2 good ones that are from Minnesota in Eric Decker and Adam Thielen that could come in to tutor the guys a bit. I wouldnt think that it wold take that much time out of their schedules to help our guys out.
I would think that each receiver should set goals in the off season.. Good technique with quick cuts to get open Maybe bring in one of the former Gopher corners now in the NFL to say to our receivers "OK guys, we are going to press cover you as receivers.. Its your job to demonstrate the technique you learned from Decker and Thielen(as an example) to get open. We are going to rough you up at the line, jam you, and you are going to have to hand fight and use technique to get open for the QB to hit you with a pass". Then run drills until the guys can get separation.
With the QBs, practice the 7 on 7 stuff with a couple of receivers that have gone through the tutelage of the NFL players like Decker and Thielen. Staff and NFL players should get our current QBs to look off the PRO DBs( I am thinking Eric Murray, Marcus Sherels, Trumaine Brock, Brien Boddy Calhoun,etc) in the back as well as LBs. Put a stopwatch on the Qbs so that they either have to make a play within a couple seconds or move out of the pocket. Tell them that a sack will happen if they cant make that read... Make the defenses more complex as the practices go so that the QB has to make those vertical reads quickly and force the decisions with the execution quicker.
Guys, I just made outlandish suggestions but there is no reason we cant hit some of these goals as a team... They are reasonable... When people suggest Spielman from Nebraska should have signed with Minnesota, I kinda shake my head... Why would he go to a school like Minnesota if he has aspirations at playing a higher level of football than college?? At his size, would he have been effective being primarily a blocker as a receiver?? His Dad is a GM for the Vikings... If he is counseling his son to go to a school that could better his opportunity to reach his dream of the NFL. it wouldn't be as a 160 pound receiver where blocking is his primary responsibility.. That is just fact.
We now have a chance to change all that as the slate is clean with our receivers and a new QB for next season.. It wont happen off the bat, but it can surely look up... It cant be much worse.. Blocking is key here as well and all the timing has to be there... It is going to be a big process as blocking in the interior line is good.. We have 2 of the best coaches in the nation as o-line coaches and they showed they can teach discipline in a hurry as we didnt have near the penalties as in the past... Its attainable now we just need to go out and achieve it.
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