'06 Recievers, '07 Recievers and the impact of Norwood

[Kat Kid]

2007 Receiving Stats

RECEIVING      No. Yards        Avg        TD         Long       Avg/G    
Nelson, Jordy      56    727    13.0           3      68          121.2    
Murphy, Deon        29    287    9.9          4      28           47.8    
Johnson, James      21    121    5.8          0           16           20.2    
Mastrud, Jeron      15    161    10.7          0            24          26.8    
Pooschke, Mike      12    65    5.4           0           11          10.8    
Gonzalez,Daniel     10    115    11.5           0          21          19.2    
Patton, Leon          6    44    7.3             1        21             7.3    
Brown, Lamark         3    33    11.0           0      13           8.2    
Pierce, Ernie           2    19    9.5              0          12      6.3    
Wilson, Cedric      1    11    11.0            0        11            1.8    
Petrie, Terry         1    4    4.0              0           4       1.0    
Total..........     156    1587    10.2    8        68           264.5


RECEIVING    GP    No.    Yards    Avg     TD    Long    Avg/G    
Nelson, Jordy     13    39    547    14.0    1    74    42.1    
Norwood,Rashaad    12    36    358    9.9    0    28    29.8    
Figurs, Yamon     12    28    418    14.9    3    68    34.8    
Moreira, Jerm.     8    23    419    18.2    2    55    52.4    
Mastrud, Jeron     12    17    235    13.8    0    66    19.6    
Gonzalez,Daniel    11    15    199    13.3    1    30    18.1    
Wilson, Cedric     13    11    120    10.9    1    20    9.2    
Patton, Leon     12    10    126    12.6    0    33    10.5    
Johnson, James     10    10    87    8.7    1    32    8.7    
Clayton, Thomas    5    9    45    5.0    0    10    9.0    
Pooschke, Mike     10    6    24    4.0    0    7    2.4    
Raymer, Donald     12    3    8    2.7    0    7    0.7    
Brown, Antonio     6    2    9    4.5    0    6    1.5    
McCardle, John     13    2    8    4.0    1    6    0.6    
Alsup, Carlos     3    2    7    3.5    0    7    2.3    
Meier, Dylan     12    1    -9    -9.0    0    0    -0.8    
Total..........    13    214    2601    12.2    10    74    200.1

Thoughts that are mostly unorganized:

Overall-  The numbers suggest an immense improvement over last year.  I know that isn't earth shattering, but keep reminding yourself that the '07 numbers are after 6 games and the '06 numbers are the result of an entire 13 game season.  Seeing Dylan Meier on the stat sheet weirded me out.  I can't believe how long ago that seems (and I was on the wrong side of that argument).


On Norwood's loss and the effect on Deon/Jordy

How many times did Norwood get those over the middle dump offs that Freeman throws right in front of the backers in coverage?  While I know a lot of us would get frustrated with Norwood's hands at times and his proclivity for doing the standard tight end fall over move instead of using his athleticism to pick up some YAC.  Norwood's numbers (albeit with a poor sample size in Murphy's defense) are EERILY similar to Deon.  Same 9.9 ypc, same 28 yard long.  Murphy thus far has to be considered a bust as a deep threat (whether we blame Franklin/Prince or not I don't know).  His TD catches are very heartening though.  4 TD catches in 6 games with a 50% share of all Rec. TD's.  Deon also  has 6/21 Total Offensive TDs when adding in his Rushing TDs and that isn't bad at all for the clear #2 receiver in this offense.  Add in Deon's Punt returning and I'm not at all complaining, I'm just reiterating what another possession type receiver would add to this offense. 

Gonzo is mediocre and Norwood as the third guy with more of an ability to split out and basically be what Gonzo should be with Mastrud's surprisingly respectable numbers at the Tight End and all of a sudden you have some real options.  Every threat added increases the effectiveness of the others and stretches the defense and creates more and more favorable and exploitable match ups.  We are not as dependent on Jordy as I had casually thought but he is taking on what should be some of Norwood's responsibility to move the chains. 

If Jordy were unleashed running more aggressive routes (deep ins, deep come backs, backside slants, posts and verticals) then I think his big plays would come in bigger chunks than they do even now.  I know Prince has shown a preference in favor of quick hitters and short routes that apply the concept of "skill players in space" to more down field throws but, if Jordy could be used to stretch the defense, then it would open up Deon, Rashaad and Mastrud even more and get Jordy out of running so many out patterns which scare the bejeezus out of me in terms of a false sense of risk reward (read: pick 6 heaven).

[Kat Kid]

Have we heard a definitive answer why Ced Wilson hasn't improved at all?

He has to be better than Gonzo right?

[fatty fat fat]

Ced Wilson was recruited as a DB. We should move him back there immediately imo.

I'd love to see Patton get more catches, but that's cause I  Patton

Deon is much better than figurs. Our WR's were in total disarray heading into ku 2006.

[Kat Kid]

Ced Wilson was recruited as a DB. We should move him back there immediately imo.

I'd love to see Patton get more catches, but that's cause I  Patton

Deon is much better than figurs. Our WR's were in total disarray heading into ku 2006.

I know that part, but wtf?  Is the Texas game completely skewing my thoughts here?

[Kat Kid]

Another thing that I clearly highlighted then forgot about:

Our distribution of production is terrible right now.

Norwood never proved to be a big RZ guy, but wtf?  I know we have lots of running TDs, but 7/8 TDs with our top two receivers and only one of those on a long pass play?  WTF?

Does it not bother anyone that Deon's longest play from offensive scrimmage is 28 yards, yet he is a very capable punt returner?  Is this just me?

[Pittcat]

They're running the plays that best downplay their deficiencies.  i.e. short, quick passes with less protection time required.

[Kat Kid]

They're running the plays that best downplay their deficiencies.  i.e. short, quick passes with less protection time required.

Again, I know we are only 6 games in but Jeron Mastrud caught a 60 yard pass last year for Christsakes.

[KSU4ME]

Something you left out of your analysis that is mind shattering.

Deon Murphy's longest reception is 28 yards, 20 of which was YAC.

If Jordy is getting double teamed, like we've been told, then Murph should be getting some deeper passes. 

[Kat Kid]

Something you left out of your analysis that is mind shattering.

Deon Murphy's longest reception is 28 yards, 20 of which was YAC.

If Jordy is getting double teamed, like we've been told, then Murph should be getting some deeper passes. 

wow.  I kind of assumed that was the case, but that is gross.  Thanks for digging that up.

About Jordy's catches.  He has the 68 yarder which was just a fade (how far down field did he catch the ball, not complaining but it wasn't exactly like Josh aired that one out) and his 61 yarder against SJSU was because he punked the corner on a simple out.

[fatty fat fat]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

[Kat Kid]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

I'm not complaining per se, just curious.  Maybe this is all a product of our Snyder-era Big play mentalities?

I still think our Offense would be significantly better with Norwood assuming improvement.

[ksu_FAN]

1st, I agree that Norwood would be a significant improvement at least as a reciever in this offense.  There was no doubt Freeman looked for Norwood often last year and Norwood did a great job of getting open.  Mastrud and company are doing a good job, but Norwood's absense (b/c of his own actions) has hurt this offense to an extent.

2nd, I truly think our passing game is taking what the defense is giving.  CU was one of the first teams we've seen that gave us one deep saftey much of the time, otherwise we've seen 2 deep looks with man and zone underneath.  The thing that opens up the vertical game in Prince's offense is the running game and play action and hopefully last saturday was a step forward in getting that accomplished.  Even though it wasn't thrown 50 yards down field, the fade to Nelson was definately a vertical route b/c it was thrown over the top.  It was just a quicker throw b/c we knew we had the CU corner beat on the snap with that coverage.

3rd, Murphy has shown to be a good route runner and almost more of a possession reciever than a vertical threat.  That is fine.  I think the vertical part will come in time, but I'd much rather have a guy who is disciplined in the intermediate and short passing game.  The slant for the score in the 2nd half shows that you can still get big plays in the right coverages out of him on a throw that is only 10 yards down the field.

4th, from what I saw last spring, Wilson isn't disciplined enough yet to be a contributor.  The coaches were constantly on him in practice about his effort and discipline.  Gonzo definately isn't more talented, but he's doing what it takes to get on the field.  Still, I think its just a matter of time before Brown locks down the 3rd reciever spot.  I didn't expect much out of Wilson this year after watching him in the spring.  My biggest disappointment of the WR corp has been Pierce.

[steve dave]

If Norwood sits the whole year can he redshirt? 

[michigancat]

A big difference between last year and this year is there's only been about 15 minutes of football (2 outside the ku game) where we didn't have the lead or tie.

Makes a big difference in how you call games.

[Legore]

If Norwood sits the whole year can he redshirt? 

No he already used his redshirt  year.  He can't get a medical because he's not hurt.

Our receivers last year were more talented then this year but they were not healthy.  If you have a healthy Yamon Figurs a healthy Jordy Nelson and a healthy Jermaine Moriera then you have a damn good group of receivers with two of them being first day NFL draft picks.   Problem was they were were never all 3 healthy at the same time.  We've seen what Jordy can do this year when he's healthy throw him in with a healthy Yamon stretching the field and Moriera working the slot teams and would have a real hard time matching up.   

This year I think Murphey gives us a lot of what Yamon did but we don't have anyone with the skills over the middle to replace Jermaine.  That guy was just smooth and he could cut in either direction on a dime.  It's kind of a shame we don't have a guy to run those middle routes because I thought those were the routes that Josh threw the best last year.  Jermaine was our leading receiver at the time he got hurt. 

[catzacker]

My biggest disappointment of the WR corp has been Pierce.

QFT.  I'll add Lamark Brown to that as well. 

[steve dave]

My biggest disappointment of the WR corp has been Pierce.

QFT.  I'll add Lamark Brown to that as well. 

These two really need to step up next year.  I am about losing Jordy

[KSU4ME]

3rd, Murphy has shown to be a good route runner and almost more of a possession reciever than a vertical threat.  That is fine.  I think the vertical part will come in time, but I'd much rather have a guy who is disciplined in the intermediate and short passing game.  The slant for the score in the 2nd half shows that you can still get big plays in the right coverages out of him on a throw that is only 10 yards down the field.

He's shown he's good at what he's asked to do.

It's undeniable that he has the ability to beat a corner deep, especially if teams are willing to double up Jordy. 

[KSU4ME]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

Even more unrelated:  More than 10 points of that average isn't coming from the offense.  The starting QB is averaging exactly 1 passing TD per game. 

[fatty fat fat]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

Even more unrelated:  More than 10 points of that average isn't coming from the offense.  The starting QB is averaging exactly 1 passing TD per game. 

sounds like our 99' team.

[catzacker]

My biggest disappointment of the WR corp has been Pierce.

QFT.  I'll add Lamark Brown to that as well. 

These two really need to step up next year.  I am about losing Jordy

I don't see how our receiving corps next year is very good.  Neither Brown nor Pierce have shown much, especially Pierce.  Couple that with losing JJ    .  We'll probably have to go shopping for some JC receivers and hope they catch on quickly.  Also, maybe Cooper Bassett is the second coming of Jeremy Shockey. 

[KSU4ME]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

Even more unrelated:  More than 10 points of that average isn't coming from the offense.  The starting QB is averaging exactly 1 passing TD per game. 

sounds like our 99' team.

Yeah, 'cept the '99 team averaged about 1 more TD a game on offense through the first three conference games.

Not sure if that's a big deal or anything.

[fatty fat fat]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

Even more unrelated:  More than 10 points of that average isn't coming from the offense.  The starting QB is averaging exactly 1 passing TD per game. 

sounds like our 99' team.

Yeah, 'cept the '99 team averaged about 1 more TD a game on offense through the first three conference games.

Not sure if that's a big deal or anything.

Agree. 99' team went 11-1 and was a better team.

38.33 ppg in conference play is beyond excellent. Mostly considering who we've played.

[michigancat]

totally unrelated: we are averaging 38.33 point per game in conference play.

Even more unrelated:  More than 10 points of that average isn't coming from the offense.  The starting QB is averaging exactly 1 passing TD per game. 

sounds like our 99' team.

Yeah, 'cept the '99 team averaged about 1 more TD a game on offense through the first three conference games.

Not sure if that's a big deal or anything.

Agree. 99' team went 11-1 and was a better team.

38.33 ppg in conference play is beyond excellent. Mostly considering who we've played.

Worst defensive performance for Hawk, ever.

[steve dave]

Can you imagine how good we would be with one or 'gasp' two good receiving TEs?  I am sick and tired of having to throw the ball to Pooschke and Mastrud.  No offense to those guys who have played probably up to the peak of their potential (slow).

[Legore]

My biggest disappointment of the WR corp has been Pierce.

QFT.  I'll add Lamark Brown to that as well. 

These two really need to step up next year.  I am about losing Jordy

I don't see how our receiving corps next year is very good.  Neither Brown nor Pierce have shown much, especially Pierce.  Couple that with losing JJ    .  We'll probably have to go shopping for some JC receivers and hope they catch on quickly.  Also, maybe Cooper Bassett is the second coming of Jeremy Shockey. 

Agreed it won't be as good next year without Jordy.  But Josh should be better and the o-line should be better giving us a better run game.   Deon will be the go to guy and Lamark needs to step up and be our big receiver.  Be nice if we got something out of Pierce but I think we need to bring in at least 2 JC WR's in this class one speed guy and one bigger guy.  

[catzacker]

My biggest disappointment of the WR corp has been Pierce.

QFT.  I'll add Lamark Brown to that as well. 

These two really need to step up next year.  I am about losing Jordy

I don't see how our receiving corps next year is very good.  Neither Brown nor Pierce have shown much, especially Pierce.  Couple that with losing JJ    .  We'll probably have to go shopping for some JC receivers and hope they catch on quickly.  Also, maybe Cooper Bassett is the second coming of Jeremy Shockey. 

Agreed it won't be as good next year without Jordy.  But Josh should be better and the o-line should be better giving us a better run game.   Deon will be the go to guy and Lamark needs to step up and be our big receiver.  Be nice if we got something out of Pierce but I think we need to bring in at least 2 JC WR's in this class one speed guy and one bigger guy.  

My hope is that Lamark showed enough in the CU game (specifically a nice 3rd down catch across the middle) that he begins to take up Gonzo's plays when we go 3 wide or give Jordy a break.  By the end of the season, we've got to get Lamark involved more in the offense; he's the only guy with any size and somewhat speed that we have in our receiving corps (other than Pierce whose only redeeming quality thus far is his strikingly good looks) and we definitely need him to step up big time next year. 

[michigancat]

(other than Pierce whose only redeeming quality thus far is his strikingly good looks)

And what a quality it is.

[ksu_FAN]

IMO, Brown will only get better as the season goes along.  He likely won't be as good as Nelson as the season begins next year, but he is obviously the replacement.  Prince has said that one of Brown's main jobs this year is to learn from Nelson.  After that we'll have Murphy and Mastrud and hopefully some others like Pierce will step up.  We've had slow progressions for JUCO WRs in the past, and I'd guess that the responsibilities in this offense are just as complex for a WR (if not more) than in Snyder's.

[KSU4ME]

You guys are so discounting the cataclysmic impact Jeremy Mack will have next season.