Interesting position battle 2017: WR

Submitted by Real and Spectacular on

With the recruiting info from Steve today, it got me thinking about one of the question marks we will have heading into the offseason.

Next years receivers will be an intriguing mix. Grant Perry has experience but is not really a go-to type, Drake Harris has potential but will he ever reach it? Maurice Ways has been hyped in the past and has prototypical WR size, but may have been passed up by the freshmen. McDoom, Crawford and Johnson all have a lot of potential.

If we add any or all of DPJ, Collins, Black, and Oliver, they would likely factor in the mix as well. Assuming we land DPJ, who would you speculate would be our top 3? I think Harbaugh will play a lot of receivers but it will be interesting to see who emerges as the top guys. At this point it's merely a guess from me but I would predict McDoom, Crawford and Perry.

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Gulogulo37

October 5th, 2016 at 7:37 AM ^

Seems people only neg when it's negative stuff about next year.

The way this program is going and Harbaugh's recruiting and how some of his guys are pushing through already, I'm not nearly as worried about next year as I was before. Not that I was really before, but I thought we were looking at some drop off. Wouldn't be surprised at all to see this keep rolling.

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Indonacious

October 4th, 2016 at 9:54 PM ^

I think Harris and Ways have been passed over by the freshman just based on the snaps they have gotten. I can't remember seeing Harris getting any meaningful snaps this season so far.

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BeatOSU52

October 4th, 2016 at 11:34 PM ^

Harris got put in in late first quarters in some of the earlier season games, but yeah, he'll then not get much playing time at all in the 2nd halfs, if any.  I kind of would like to see what he could('ve) done in blow-out games in the 2nd half.  I thought it was going to happen for the Penn St game but Crawford got most of the action late in the game.

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Space Coyote

October 5th, 2016 at 9:51 AM ^

He doesn't really provide a different role. That's why he's not playing the snaps that the FR are playing.

I don't know who will start next year; it'll probably be much more fluid then this year based on gameplan, personnel, and playcall. I can see Ways starting some (and Ways is probably the best blocker of the group), the current FR starting some, Perry starting in some games, and maybe the true FR in others. Hell, maybe they'll just start TEs. I just doubt it'll be as clear cut as this year.

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Perkis-Size Me

October 4th, 2016 at 10:00 PM ^

Just my opinion, but I think the ship has sailed on Drake Harris. Too many injuries, and by the time he got healthy, he'd already been passed by.

I could be dead wrong, but I think the fact that we're seeing a lot of the younger guys come up to bat before him is a telling sign. Ways might be the same way.

If you made me guess, next year will be some combo of Crawford, McDoom, Perry, and if Collins/DPJ come on board, they'll be sprinkled in as well.



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I dumped the Dope

October 4th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^

There's this whole size speed thing, not sure if McDoom has the size to be blowing up DBs downfield like Chesson did & does.

That said, while I think Ways does, he does not possess the speed.

Peppers, if still in school, will start is my prediction 8-)

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Leatherstocking Blue

October 5th, 2016 at 8:47 AM ^

I don't think it is necessarily the most explosive guys who will get the starts or most playing time. Like Chesson, the dudes who are beasts at downfield blocking will get in the game the most. That seems to be the distinguishing trait of all the offensive weapons: they are the best blockers at their position.

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Mr. Yost

October 5th, 2016 at 3:47 PM ^

It took Kovacs forever to win people over. The Glasgow's even longer. Wasn't it Marvin Robinson that was going to take Kovacs' spot? ...think about how silly that sounds now.

De'Veon Smith wasn't really appreciated by a lot of folks until the UF game last year, people still wanted the 5* Isaac. Green was always the favorite over Smith until he showed we he could, err couldn't, do. That said, Smith was a 4* kid so not necessarily the same thing.

Higdon was going down that road until he showed out a couple of games ago. I would do the depth charts over the spring and summer and more than a few people would say I was wrong and he'd be passed up by Davis and Walker on Day 1.

The Kovacs thing is the big one for me though, I'd just laugh. So what if he's not huge and doesn't run a 4.4...he's always in position and the kid makes plays. He's routinely one of the smartest guys on the field...he's not getting passed up, no, not even by that top 150 recruit.

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Mr. Yost

October 4th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^

 

 

WR1:

  1. DPJ/Collins (whichever turns out to be better at the end of fall camp)
  2. Harris
  3. DPJ/Collins loser (chances are they both won't be ready to contribute in a big role from day 1)

 

WR2:

  1. Crawford
  2. Ways/McDoom
  3. Black

 

SLOT:

  1. Perry
  2. McDoom
  3. Johnson / Martin

 

I don't think any of the freshman redshirt. Maybe Martin because of the depth, but I think all 4 see time and 1-2 have big roles.

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TheTeamTheTeam…

October 5th, 2016 at 7:33 AM ^

I like you're Depth Chart here with a few alterations, I'm going to assume your WR 1 is the Z position (usually off the line), DPJ is a good Z because he has the height and strength to be an outside guy while also possessing great speed. I would keep DPJ off the line in his first year so that he could focus on his routes and would not have to worry about being pressed as much as the X position. Personally I would put Ways ahead at the X position. Because he is a big body, more of a possession type, is strong and has years of experience under his belt. I know he isn't the most dynamic WR but he will beat the press and be a steady target. Perry in the slot is almost a no brainier to me. Lastly I just can't see both true freshmen walking in and starting day one, or even all 4 playing next year. I think Black and Martin take the redshirt, with Collins being a rotational guy but not a huge factor year one Z- DPJ, McDoom, Harris X- Ways, Crawford, (Maybe) Gentry) Slot- Perry, McDoom, Johnson

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Guy Fawkes

October 5th, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^

Right now DPJ and Collins are arguably the #2 and #4 receivers in the country according to Rivals. Both 5 stars and if they are in fact that talented and perform to that ranking then there is no way they wont start. Crawford looks to have a great future but I think he'd fall to a #2, of course he'd still play alot.

Looking in years past Frosh WR's have had great success, IE. Treadwell, Ridley, Kirk, who were all ranked similar to DPJ and Collins. This is a great problem to have.

 

WR1 - DPJ

WR2 - Collins/Crawford

Slot - Perry/McDoom

Fill in the rest accordingly

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