Jimbo Unhappy With Wideouts

I have a question I’d like to ask Jimbo. I understand keeping fresh guys in at RB in the game to wear defenses out, but what about when you play a RB for a few weeks, sit him for a few weeks and throw him back out there in a big game? And not expect there to be some rust or mistakes like we saw on the last drive? Does anyone else see this besides me? Ty had a few big games early in the year, then you didn’t see him for a while then all of a sudden he is starting at TB against NCST. I think this contributed to the debacle on the last drive. Anyone else see this glaring fact?

Jimbo has need to say this for a long time. I think everybody (myself included) didn’t realize how much we would miss Rod Owens. That guy was Mr. Dependable. Throw in Goodman and the physical beast that was Fortson and we really were spolied last year by the receiving corps we had last year. The good news is I have great hope and faith in Shaw, Dent, and Green. Let’s just hope Halstead and Smith can progress enough for next year to be reliable.

Fisher made it clear that the issue isn’t solely on the shoulders of quarterback Christian Ponder.

No one has suggested that Ponder’s the only one to blame for the subpar passing game. What people ARE saying is that he has been a contributing factor. You can’t blame the WRs for all of Ponder’s fumbles, his throws into double coverage— I was at the NCSU game and there were multiple times when the outlet pass to the RB was open and he didn’t see it or take it. And then when he does decide to threw to the RB it’s when the play is covered and the RB gets crushed! We’ve seen what Ponder is capable of when he doesn’t make too many mistakes and makes smart decisions (UVA, um games). It’s perplexing why he can’t do this consistently every game.

I am not sure why everyone didn’t think the WR position was going to be an area for concern when we lost Fortson. Both Willie and Smith had practically no game experience when we started the season. Both are big receivers and big receivers normally take longer to develop. The fact that Ponder has been hurt and the line has not been as strong as expected with all their injuries has exposed these receivers even more. Looking forward, this is going to turn into one of our strengths. All four guys didn’t really have to fight for positions this year because the freshmen were not ready. Next year, we get all four back plus this talented freshmen class will be ready to the spots of anyone that not performing. I don’t thing you can fault Dawsey on this guys. Not sure what else he can get out of Burt and Easterling and if you look at how Fortson was developing, he was going to be a stud this yr.

If he continues to bash players in the media he is going to have a hard time finding guys that are going to want to play for him. Players and potential recruits are not going play for a coach who is willing to throw you under the bus to save another player from being criticized. That can turn people off in a hurry and he really needs get that under control. It just shows a lack of leadership as the head guy he needs to take all the blame and not pass it of to his players. All that finger pointing stuff is unnecessary you never see any of the top coaches singling out players. You can just watch espn now and see the two coaches that are doing it (shanahan and childress) are really losing their players and one is close to being fired. Maybe because I am in atlanta and get to see how a real coach and true leader (Mike Smith) runs his team I might be a little hard on Jimbo. But I believe as the Head Coach your players have to believe that you are willing to fight for them all.

/sarcasm.

Ton of talent, but minimum ability to grasp systems, and be coached?

on this year based on the fact that it could be just a coincidence that the two guys that were forced to step up this year both turned out to be guys that “don’t get it.” There’s always guys like that, and it could just be unfortunate luck there were to at the same time and place.

The only thing that worries me a little is that Shaw or Dent haven’t developed enough to take the spots of guys that aren’t performing.

Back when Rix and Weatherford were underperforming so much, I wasn’t so quick to condemn our quarterback coaching based on that alone. Some guys just never put it together, and any coach no matter how great, has some of those guys. The real indictment was that we never had another guy that was able to win the job away or outperform them.

For all the charges of favoritism, the various guys that had a chance to replace Rix or Weatherford, despite some flashes, never really performed consistently better. To me, that is the scathing indictment of the previous staff in terms of quarterbacks. And lo and behold, here comes Fisher and shortly thereafter has a lightly regarded 3-star ready to replace Weatherford.

That’s the situation I’m watching with the receiver coaching. It doesn’t really bother that Haulstead and Smith are underperforming, but it will bother me if we aren’t able to replace them with guys that are better. Perhaps that’s too much to ask of freshmen, but if by next year Shaw and/or Green haven’t been able to replace one of these guys (assuming the current guys don’t improve), then I’l have serious concerns.

That’s right it was MY fault and mine alone.

Literally seconds before the fumble I mistakenly asked my friend “Hey, remember that fumble at the GT game?”

Looking back at the film it’s obvious I should have just kept quiet and drank my Yuengling…the play was there, just poor judgement on my part. I promise you though, you will never see another fan read more about their team, go to more games and cheer on the mighty Noles.

God Bless

we are not asking our recivers to be Peter Warrik. Julio Jones, or AJ Green. We are just asking them to be servicable and dependable. I think Jimbo is asking them to do the same thing and they havent done that up to this point. I just kind of wonder why Kenny Shaw hasnt seen the field more?

With a spring, summer, and fall camp. Shaw should be in the fold with a much improved Haulstead and Smith. I think Reed and Esterling have reached their ceiling.

Recent history seems to have shown that Jimbo’s O is so complicated or the WR coach is of such an ability – that it takes at least 2 full years in the system for the WRs to run their routes mostly correct. We should have 4 WRs who fit that bill next year – but expecting any of this year’s WR class to do that next year is Overly Optimistic

We don’t have it. We have 2 Jr. receivers that are complimentary guys, not primary receivers. Reed is a good speed/slot guy, and he dropped something like 3 passes all year last year because he wasn’t relied on to be that guy. He also finished the season a close 2nd in eceptions and yards, so he has talent. Easterling is a possession receiver, but he only gets open when he isn’t getting all the attention of the secondary.

Bottom line with these 2, you can’t run a passing game with only Wes Welker’s on the field, but if you have a legitimate big guy (like Moss is when he wants to be), your Welker will lead the team in receptions and sometimes yards.

As for the Soph’s: Haulstead didn’t earn his way onto the field, but he is improving. Unfortunately, every time I watch him I think Fortson, i.e. big plays but big drops and wasted potential. Smith is just not worth the time he gets right now but he gets it because there isn’t much other choice. I don’t know that he will ever get there at this point.

So why aren’t the Soph’s playing well? PT on the cheap. Nobody is legitimately in front of them to force them to improve. Our freshmen aren’t seeing much time because they are being forced to improve before they do, which will pay dividends in the future. But until that point, the Jr’s are going to look worse than they are because we have to ask too much of them, and the Soph’s will only improve at their own pace, no matter the coach, because there’s nobody they have to compete with for PT.

Whiffed on Julio (understandable), Jarmon was a headcase and is at UNA. Surrency was pretty much a bust. Reed/Tai/Haulstead/Smith… no impact players.

Hope Green changes it starting next year.