is anybody else getting frustrated with the lack of play from our WRs. JC has played well the last two games but our WRs keep dropping gimmies. paris dropped a pass that hit him in the hands on 4th and 17, kamara dropped a nice pass from JC down the sideline that hit him in the hands, carlson even had one bounce of his pads. whats going on with the WRs where they can't even catch the easy ones.

is anybody else getting frustrated with the lack of play from our WRs. JC has played well the last two games but our WRs keep dropping gimmies. paris dropped a pass that hit him in the hands on 4th and 17, kamara dropped a nice pass from JC down the sideline that hit him in the hands, carlson even had one bounce of his pads. whats going on with the WRs where they can't even catch the easy ones.

 

idk russ, but JC must be happy to see us bringing in Floyd, Goodman, or Walker/Baldwin/Robinson(think we definitly get 1 if not 2).

 

if we didnt have some of those dropped passes ala the 4th and 17, we would have won atleast 42-7.

Jimmy must be putting some massive velocity on those passes or the receivers are taking their eyes off the ball or both.

Someone tell Parris and Grimes that catching the ball is step one in being a WR.

Someone tell Parris and Grimes that catching the ball is step one in being a WR.

 

No doubt. NOT catching them is step one to riding the pine...which they will do next year if they continue to drop passes that should definitely be caught. We've all talked about depth and why it's important...this is example numero uno with the WR's.

I believe the problem is the speed in which JC passes are coming, If you recall, Michigan receivers were having the same problems with Mallet. He was throwing the ball so hard that they could not catch it. If you really look at the game, the main problem with Jimmy Clausen and the receivers is the timing, they're not on the same page. I think that's why his deep balls and out routes are either long or short. He's trying to make the perfect throw instead of knowing the speed of each receiver and throwing it to a spot. That timing really comes in the spring, and off season where they can learn each other. Not to mention the fact that Jimmy's adrenaline is flowing early. The receivers have worked with three quarterbacks this year, so I'm sure it's an adjustment. It's also the receivers fault, they need to learn to catch the ball with their hands instead of their chest. John Carlson does a great job of using his hands.

Great points MikejND. Another thing with catching the ball is confidence and experience. When things are not going your way, these things happen sometimes. Same idea as a kid in basketball coming off the bench late in the game to make clutch free throws. It's a little different situation when you've been in flow of the game for a while and have done it a few times.

Great points MikejND. Another thing with catching the ball is confidence and experience. When things are not going your way, these things happen sometimes. Same idea as a kid in basketball coming off the bench late in the game to make clutch free throws. It's a little different situation when you've been in flow of the game for a while and have done it a few times.

 

thats true, but we're talking about games 10 and 11 in particular here. There is no excuse this late in the season for the easy ones to be dropped. As much as I love to see a WR make an amazing play that he prolly shouldn't (Golden Tate's 43 yard bomb comes to mind), it drives me even more crazy when a guy flat out drops a ball that hits him in the numbers. Jayvee players try to trap the ball against their chests or shoulder pads, not big time D1 players. Get the problem corrected boys or prepare to lose playing time to other players. What am I talking about....Weis would never subbed a guy into the game that, you know, could make a play.

 

On a side note, it would not surprise me in the least to see Robby Parris be one of the alleged players we think might transfer after the season if we do indeed get any Walker/Robinson/Baldwin to go along with Floyd and Goodman. I'll make that prediction right now.

NY - I don't disagree that they still need to catch the ball and I'm not defending anyone in particular, but just wondering if that has something to do with it.

 

Speaking of that Purdue game, I remember watching Kamara dropping a TD pass on a drag route in the back of the end zone. My reaction was "very soon that guy is going to start grabbing those balls" and he's had some money catches since then.

 

What boggles my mind is when older players do that. I still haven't figured that one out yet.

D fence, are you sure that wasnt the Penn State game where duval missed the TD in the back of the endzone? or did he do it in the Purdue game aswell?

D fence, are you sure that wasnt the Penn State game where duval missed the TD in the back of the endzone? or did he do it in the Purdue game aswell?

i saw it in the state penn game........

Other than getting no seperation from a defender, having trouble getting off the line of scrimmage, terrible blockers and lacking the ability to catch the football they're a pretty good lot.

Other than getting no seperation from a defender, having trouble getting off the line of scrimmage, terrible blockers and lacking the ability to catch the football they're a pretty good lot.

 

hahah...yeah, other than that they might be the best in the land.

ND Fan2 - my bad, I believe you are right - it was Penn State. Not sure how I got that wrong, but there are many games this year I've been working on repressing from memory.

Other than getting no seperation from a defender, having trouble getting off the line of scrimmage, terrible blockers and lacking the ability to catch the football they're a pretty good lot.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot they don't come back to the QB when he has to break the pocket either.......

Grimes and West are small without great speed. Parris is big, but inconsistent. DJ Hord has left the building. Kamara has shown some talent, especially for a FR. Tate has speed and hands, but needs another spring to learn the routes and all. Someone needs to stepup. I can see Floyd starting early in his career at this point.

I don't care how fast or hard the ball is coming in,,,,

 

They need to catch the ball if it's in reach!

 

It didn't matter to Shark how fast the ball was coming in, he caught the ball like there were suction cups on his fingertips.

First Clausen doesn't throw hard and now he throws too hard!! Geez! From watching the game, I have to say that Parris should never see the field unless he vastly improves. Ever since BC he seems like he is scared he is going to drop the ball. And he is not very good at adjusting to the ball when it is in the air. He is 6'4 and a good receiver makes plays on a ball. Its not just about catching them when you are open. You have to fight for the ball as well. And there is a difference between Mallett zingin them and Clausen. Mallett will try and hit a receiver who is wide open sitting in a soft zone with a bullet pass head-high. If the receiver doesnt catch it, it is tipped into a defender's hands. clausen zips balls to the sidelines, but his checkdowns and passes over the middle are by no means bullets. Receivers get little sympathy from me because there position one where talent beats work ethic every day.

Grimes and West are small without great speed. Parris is big, but inconsistent. DJ Hord has left the building. Kamara has shown some talent, especially for a FR. Tate has speed and hands, but needs another spring to learn the routes and all. Someone needs to stepup. I can see Floyd starting early in his career at this point.

 

On Hord... been a little quiet on him... has he fully recovered from his injury? Do u think he's on the transfer watch list?

Jimmy must be putting some massive velocity on those passes or the receivers are taking their eyes off the ball or both.

That's not completely unheard of GD.

 

I haven't seen Jimmy throw like this all year.

His velocity the last two games has helped me remember the kid I saw last year on TV all the time.

If his receivers haven't seen it either, they actually might not expect to see the ball getting to them as quickly as earlier in the year.

I know they've dropped some earlier in the year, but not Carlson so much, and not a nice pass like that.

 

Hard to say. Timing is huge.

if it touches your hands, you have to catch it!!!!!!!!!!!!