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Hate to say it again but WR position needs a lot of help

DaCat

DaCat

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May 29, 2001
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Holy moly... was just browsing through the current roster and started looking at the WR situation again. Further proof of the existence of black holes, look at the junior and sophomore classes. From these 2 classes, only 2 juniors Carr (former walkon) and Scanlan and, ONE sophomore Wilson are scholarship players who will be back next year. We whiffed big time in these classes. Granted that Fuessel had an unforseen abrupt end to his career, but this is pathetic recruiting. Hopefully the current freshmen and incoming recruits step up big time.

(Returning scholarship players in BOLD)

JUNIORS - rising seniors
2 Christian Salem WR 6-3 195 Jr. Santa Monica, Calif. / Santa Monica
6 Mike McHugh WR 6-3 195 Jr. Kirkwood, Mo. / Kirkwood --> not returning
8 Stephen Buckley WR 6-0 185 Jr. Forney, Texas / North Forney --> not returning
80 Austin Carr WR 6-1 195 Jr. Benicia, Calif. / Benicia
82 Andrew Scanlan WR 6-2 215 Jr. Royersford, Pa. / Spring-Ford

SOPHOMORES - rising juniors
15 Macan Wilson WR 6-0 180 So. Houston, Texas / Kinkaid
16 Quinn Baker WR 5-11 190 So. Trout Valley, Ill. / Cary-Grove
24 Mark Gorogianis WR 6-0 190 So. Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic
36 Corey Acker WR 5-9 170 So. Ballston Lake, N.Y. / Shenendehowa Central
43 Cole Johnson WR 6-1 200 So. Avon, Ind. / Avon
83 Chad Hanaoka WR 5-10 170 So. Honolulu, Hawaii / 'Iolani School

FRESHMEN - rising sophomores (or RS-Freshmen)
81 Jelani Roberts WR 5-8 160 Fr. Owings Mills, Md. / The Gilman School
84 Cameron Green WR 6-3 210 Fr. Buffalo Grove, Ill. / Stevenson
85 Chris Cliff WR 6-2 205 Fr. West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern
86 Flynn Nagel WR 5-11 190 Fr. Lemont, Ill. / Lemont
89 Charlie Fessler WR 6-4 205 Fr. Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep

SENIORS
5 Miles Shuler WR 5-10 180 Sr. Long Branch, N.J. / Long Branch
11 Pierre Youngblood-Ary WR 6-3 190 Sr. Orlando, Fla. / Lake Brantley
14 Christian Jones WR 6-3 235 Sr. Houston, Texas / Westfield
19 Cameron Dickerson WR 6-3 225 Sr. Englewood, N.J. / Bergen Catholic
25 Luke Dauch WR 6-3 220 Sr. Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Lahser
87 Garrett Kidd WR 6-2 195 Sr. Midland, Mich. / Herbert Henry Dow
 
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I know Buckley never came back from that knee, but why is McHugh not returning?
 
Hungry Jack said:
The juniors (seniors to be) are all walk-ons save Wilson. What the heck happened?
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Long story short: missing out on a handful of top recruits combined with a lot of injuries... a LOT of injuries. Guys that could/should have been key to the group (Fuessel, McHugh, etc.) were essentially forced to retire early and/or into shorter, less effective careers.

Of the guys on the roster:

1) Scanlan is coming back for a fifth year, so he's another scholarship guy.
2) McHugh was a kid who put on a phenomenal camp performance, then was largely hobbled by injuries throughout his NU career.
3) Buckley was a QB-turned RB-turned WR who was similarly hampered by injuries, including a devastating broken leg from which he never really recovered.
4) Fuessel's promising career was cut short in a way that could never have been anticipated.
5) Wilson just hasn't panned out.
6) Vault was forced to move to RB after initially being recruited as a slot WR; would anticipate he largely moves to WR for the rest of his career.

Guys had a legitimate chance at but didn't get for whatever reason could also have done a lot to smooth over these issues (i.e. Conner Crane (Stanford), Jordan Westerkamp (Nebraska), Jehu Chesson (Michigan), James Clark (Ohio State), etc.).

None of that excuses the group's performance nor our historical ability to recruit more, better players... but that's how we got to where we are today.
 
It seems like a combination of bad luck and poor recruiting. But that sophomore class really sticks out as a big miss in recruiting. Our best returning receiver is a walk-on, thank goodness we picked him up. We really need the RS-Freshmen and true Frosh to step up big time, or else we will see some more of that putrid offense in 2016. Makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.
 
DaCat said:
It seems like a combination of bad luck and poor recruiting. But that sophomore class really sticks out as a big miss in recruiting. Our best returning receiver is a walk-on, thank goodness we picked him up. We really need the RS-Freshmen and true Frosh to step up big time, or else we will see some more of that putrid offense in 2016. Makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.
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The class of 2013 was probably the most impacted, first by missing out on guys like James Clark (seemed genuinely interested and took an official, but he blew up late in the process and ended up at Ohio State), which was then compacted by Fuessel's retirement.
 
gocatsgo2003 said:
Long story short: missing out on a handful of top recruits combined with a lot of injuries... a LOT of injuries. Guys that could/should have been key to the group (Fuessel, McHugh, etc.) were essentially forced to retire early and/or into shorter, less effective careers.

Of the guys on the roster:

1) Scanlan is coming back for a fifth year, so he's another scholarship guy.
2) McHugh was a kid who put on a phenomenal camp performance, then was largely hobbled by injuries throughout his NU career.
3) Buckley was a QB-turned RB-turned WR who was similarly hampered by injuries, including a devastating broken leg from which he never really recovered.
4) Fuessel's promising career was cut short in a way that could never have been anticipated.
5) Wilson just hasn't panned out.
6) Vault was forced to move to RB after initially being recruited as a slot WR; would anticipate he largely moves to WR for the rest of his career.

Guys had a legitimate chance at but didn't get for whatever reason could also have done a lot to smooth over these issues (i.e. Conner Crane (Stanford), Jordan Westerkamp (Nebraska), Jehu Chesson (Michigan), James Clark (Ohio State), etc.).

None of that excuses the group's performance nor our historical ability to recruit more, better players... but that's how we got to where we are today.
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I did not realize that McHugh had a lot of injury issues. Probably factored into his decision to not return for a fifth year.

I did not realize Buckley had broken his leg. I thought it was a dislocation, but I guess that does not preclude a fracture. I am guessing he fractured his patella, which, as you note, is devastating. Anything involving damage to the patella is devastating for an athlete (speaking from experience).

Fuessel's story is documented online if you bother to dig. It's great that Northwestern's medical center employs a specialist in this condition. Probably saved Fuessel's life.

So Wilson is probably the only guy that might be called a recruiting "miss" though that's unfair to label it as such. The misses are the guys we targeted that got away.
 
DaCat said:
Holy moly... was just browsing through the current roster and started looking at the WR situation again. Further proof of the existence of black holes, look at the junior and sophomore classes. From these 2 classes, only 2 juniors Carr (former walkon) and Scanlan and, ONE sophomore Wilson are scholarship players who will be back next year. We whiffed big time in these positions. Granted that Fuessel had an unforseen abrupt end to his career, but this is pathetic recruiting. Hopefully the current freshmen and incoming recruits step up big time.

JUNIOR - rising seniors
2 Christian Salem WR 6-3 195 Jr. Santa Monica, Calif. / Santa Monica
6 Mike McHugh WR 6-3 195 Jr. Kirkwood, Mo. / Kirkwood --> not returning
8 Stephen Buckley WR 6-0 185 Jr. Forney, Texas / North Forney --> not returning
80 Austin Carr WR 6-1 195 Jr. Benicia, Calif. / Benicia
82 Andrew Scanlan WR 6-2 215 Jr. Royersford, Pa. / Spring-Ford

SOPHOMORES - rising juniors
15 Macan Wilson WR 6-0 180 So. Houston, Texas / Kinkaid
16 Quinn Baker WR 5-11 190 So. Trout Valley, Ill. / Cary-Grove
24 Mark Gorogianis WR 6-0 190 So. Lombard, Ill. / Montini Catholic
36 Corey Acker WR 5-9 170 So. Ballston Lake, N.Y. / Shenendehowa Central
43 Cole Johnson WR 6-1 200 So. Avon, Ind. / Avon
83 Chad Hanaoka WR 5-10 170 So. Honolulu, Hawaii / 'Iolani School

FRESHMEN - rising sophomores
81 Jelani Roberts WR 5-8 160 Fr. Owings Mills, Md. / The Gilman School
84 Cameron Green WR 6-3 210 Fr. Buffalo Grove, Ill. / Stevenson
85 Chris Cliff WR 6-2 205 Fr. West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern
86 Flynn Nagel WR 5-11 190 Fr. Lemont, Ill. / Lemont
89 Charlie Fessler WR 6-4 205 Fr. Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep

SENIORS
5 Miles Shuler WR 5-10 180 Sr. Long Branch, N.J. / Long Branch
11 Pierre Youngblood-Ary WR 6-3 190 Sr. Orlando, Fla. / Lake Brantley
14 Christian Jones WR 6-3 235 Sr. Houston, Texas / Westfield
19 Cameron Dickerson WR 6-3 225 Sr. Englewood, N.J. / Bergen Catholic
25 Luke Dauch WR 6-3 220 Sr. Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Lahser
87 Garrett Kidd WR 6-2 195 Sr. Midland, Mich. / Herbert Henry Dow
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Solomon Vault practiced as a full time WR during bowl prep (confirmed) and will be on the depth chart as a WR come the spring (speculating, but educated speculating).

I expect Carr, Vault, Roberts to be listed as the starters coming out of the spring. There are 48 career catches, a few "ehhh" jet sweeps, and at least one game-winning kick return in that group. Could be worse, I guess...

In crisis there is opportunity...
 
If Flynn Nagel has sufficiently recovered from injury, you could add him to the list of potential starters. This group desperately needs strong contribution from the incoming freshmen and RS-freshmen, with Riley Lees leading the pack.
 
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NUCat320 said:
Solomon Vault practiced as a full time WR during bowl prep (confirmed) and will be on the depth chart as a WR come the spring (speculating, but educated speculating).

I expect Carr, Vault, Roberts to be listed as the starters coming out of the spring. There are 48 career catches, a few "ehhh" jet sweeps, and at least one game-winning kick return in that group. Could be worse, I guess...

In crisis there is opportunity...
Click to expand...
How on earth would you know who the starters will be coming out of the Spring? Nagle started a couple of times last year, or at least played a fair amount. Fessler and Green were both rather highly recruited. If either of these guys turn-out well, they have 4 years left.! Calm down until we see what happens in the Spring.
 
No Chores said:
How on earth would you know who the starters will be coming out of the Spring? Nagle started a couple of times last year, or at least played a fair amount. Fessler and Green were both rather highly recruited. If either of these guys turn-out well, they have 4 years left.! Calm down until we see what happens in the Spring.
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I'm just guessing, of course. But any combination you guess at, in all likelihood, has fewer than 50 career catches between them. This is incredible. That was the OPs point.

Apologies for, you know, having an opinion backed by facts, with a hint of optimism. Didn't mean to alarm you.
 
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NUCat320 said:
I'm just guessing, of course. But any combination you guess at, in all likelihood, has fewer than 50 career catches between them. This is incredible. That was the OPs point.

Apologies for, you know, having an opinion backed by facts, with a hint of optimism. Didn't mean to alarm you.
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My point is that you are the alarmist. I have no idea who will emerge in the Spring, but neither do you. If I had to guess, Carr, Vault, Nagle, Green and Fessler all will be in the mix. Roberts is interesting, but probably too small for anything but spot duty. I liked Scanlon in high school, and believe he might yet come to the fore. Keep the faith!
 
No Chores said:
My point is that you are the alarmist. I have no idea who will emerge in the Spring, but neither do you. If I had to guess, Carr, Vault, Nagle, Green and Fessler all will be in the mix. Roberts is interesting, but probably too small for anything but spot duty. I liked Scanlon in high school, and believe he might yet come to the fore. Keep the faith!
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I'm still angry about Vitale not playing against Tennessee. If not a WR, at least he can catch passes (and gain yards). I have absolutely no faith that we will put the right people on the field at the right time on offense, and/or develop any of our current WR's. With a couple exceptions, we have BIG problems on offense and have had for going on four years, and I don't see evidence of the insight necessary to change that. Now, there's alarmist. And, I'm an OPTIMIST, normally.
 
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Dumb question: Given the depth at CB, is there any chance that a guy that hasn't cracked the depth chart could be moved?

Westphal would be the obvious choice, mostly because I'm blinded by star ratings.
 
There's been talk that Stevie Reese may switch from safety to offense. Just talk so far. But I don't know if that helps that much, given that we have enough bodies but not much experience with the RS-frosh + incoming frosh group. We have 4 scholarship players in the current freshman class and 3 more coming in as new recruits. Our problem is that we only have 1 proven receiver in Carr. Vault has potential, and we have 2 good Superbacks in Dickerson and Taylor, but overall very thin on experience.
 
NUCat320 said:
Solomon Vault practiced as a full time WR during bowl prep (confirmed) and will be on the depth chart as a WR come the spring (speculating, but educated speculating).

I expect Carr, Vault, Roberts to be listed as the starters coming out of the spring. There are 48 career catches, a few "ehhh" jet sweeps, and at least one game-winning kick return in that group. Could be worse, I guess...

In crisis there is opportunity...
Click to expand...

No way that is our starting receiver combo. Not enough size to be effective outside. I have high hopes for Fessler and believe Green and Nagle will also need to step up in order for the WRs to step up this year. I have not been in favor of this move previously but perhaps now is the time to consider moving Yates to WR if he can have an immediate impact.
 
Hungry Jack said:
Am I the only one who has a hard time seeing Roberts in a regular receiver role? His size is really an issue. I see using him packages out of the backfield or in the flats where the goal is to get him isolated in space.
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I'm with you. I didn't see anything last season that makes me optimistic that he will be a major factor in 2016.
 
Hungry Jack said:
Am I the only one who has a hard time seeing Roberts in a regular receiver role? His size is really an issue. I see using him packages out of the backfield or in the flats where the goal is to get him isolated in space.
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I kept waiting all season to see him get the ball in space, but I don't think it ever happened . Seems like every time he came in the game we tried one of those sweep things, or whatever you call it, that never worked and the opposition was always expecting it.
 
I seemed to remember some bubble screens or short passes in the flats but not much success. Same with Vault, with the exception of that one long spectacular catch that was incorrectly ruled incomplete. I think that play opened a lot of eyes but unfortunately we didn't see anything like that again.
 
Our WRs will be amazing. We will power run to start games with JJ, teams will load the box. We will counter with a drive of dink and dunk to Nagel and Lees. Play action on 3rd and short...over the top to Vault. Expect 10+ wins.

PP
 
Predatory Pollyanna said:
Our WRs will be amazing. We will power run to start games with JJ, teams will load the box. We will counter with a drive of dink and dunk to Nagel and Lees. Play action on 3rd and short...over the top to Vault. Expect 10+ wins.

PP
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Let's take bets... is this Turk revived or another Wrassler account?
 
I get it.

You have to play David Spade to everybody's inner Chris Farley . . . but you do so without the charm.
 
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corbi296 said:
No way that is our starting receiver combo. Not enough size to be effective outside. I have high hopes for Fessler and believe Green and Nagle will also need to step up in order for the WRs to step up this year. I have not been in favor of this move previously but perhaps now is the time to consider moving Yates to WR if he can have an immediate impact.
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My statement was 'coming out of the spring', with an assumption that RSs without game experience are less likely to be listed.

Yates is an interesting name, and he's seemed destined to move from the time he signed. However, I wonder if the QBs on the roster have distinguished themselves to the extent nu would be comfortable moving him. (Given that Thorson was below average and Alviti never saw the field, and that there's a walk on or a freshman below them, should Yates be written off as an option?)

I would've never considered Reese as a WR. Interesting to see him rumored. I feel like there's opportunity at Safety next year.
 
Predatory Pollyanna said:
Our WRs will be amazing. We will power run to start games with JJ, teams will load the box. We will counter with a drive of dink and dunk to Nagel and Lees. Play action on 3rd and short...over the top to Vault. Expect 10+ wins.

PP
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I really, really want to believe you. I don't see any reason why it can't be that way.

(Except for the same reason Vitale didn't play in the Outback bowl--aaarrrrggh!)
 
stpaulcat said:
I really, really want to believe you. I don't see any reason why it can't be that way.

(Except for the same reason Vitale didn't play in the Outback bowl--aaarrrrggh!)
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C'mon, he played, he just wasn't used appropriately. (You seem a bit fixated on this theme!)
 
No Chores said:
C'mon, he played, he just wasn't used appropriately. (You seem a bit fixated on this theme!)
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It's true, I'm fixated on this. The more I think about it, the more fixated I get. All things considered it doesn't seem to make any sense. But then, I'm not the coach, who has to come up with some game plan.
 
Just think they needed Vitale to block and protect more in the Tennessee game. Dont know if that was the right thing or not. Cameron Green really stood out on the sidelines last year.....I kept asking" who is that big guy?" and the the answer was always Cameron Green. He looked like a superback....does he have speed? Will Nagle be the Ebert/slot receiver?
 
According to the official roster, Green is 6-3 210. Fessler is 6-4 205. 2016 recruit Skowronek is 6-4 200, RCB is 6-3 188. So we won't be lacking for size. Nagel should be the slot receiver, and looking forward to seeing what Riley Lees (6-1 190) can do too.

Don't think Green has elite speed. Lees may be in the similar speed category as Ebert.

Green bio: "Father, Mark, played collegiately at Notre Dame and in the NFL for the Chicago Bears ... Chose Northwestern over offers from several Big Ten teams including Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue ".
 
DaCat said:
According to the official roster, Green is 6-3 210. Fessler is 6-4 205. 2016 recruit Skowronek is 6-4 200, RCB is 6-3 188. So we won't be lacking for size. Nagel should be the slot receiver, and looking forward to seeing what Riley Lees (6-1 190) can do too.

Don't think Green has elite speed. Lees may be in the similar speed category as Ebert.

Green bio: "Father, Mark, played collegiately at Notre Dame and in the NFL for the Chicago Bears ... Chose Northwestern over offers from several Big Ten teams including Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue ".
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Size hasn't been our problem the past couple of years. Explosive athleticism, route running, and actually catching the frigging ball have been HUGE issues.
 
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DaCat said:
According to the official roster, Green is 6-3 210. Fessler is 6-4 205. 2016 recruit Skowronek is 6-4 200, RCB is 6-3 188. So we won't be lacking for size. Nagel should be the slot receiver, and looking forward to seeing what Riley Lees (6-1 190) can do too.

Don't think Green has elite speed. Lees may be in the similar speed category as Ebert.

Green bio: "Father, Mark, played collegiately at Notre Dame and in the NFL for the Chicago Bears ... Chose Northwestern over offers from several Big Ten teams including Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue ".
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I see Cam contributing next season. He does look bigger than 210. He isn't a burner by any means, but I think he has the size to catch those third down short passes and absorb some blows. He won't stretch the field, but how often do we air it out long. Think of a role along the lines of Kyle Prater in 2014.
 
stpaulcat said:
I'm still angry about Vitale not playing against Tennessee. If not a WR, at least he can catch passes (and gain yards). I have absolutely no faith that we will put the right people on the field at the right time on offense, and/or develop any of our current WR's. With a couple exceptions, we have BIG problems on offense and have had for going on four years, and I don't see evidence of the insight necessary to change that. Now, there's alarmist. And, I'm an OPTIMIST, normally.
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Why didn't he play? Was he injured?
 
It was discovered before the game that Dan Vitale holds the secret to the missing treasure of the Knights Templar. Rumor has it that the secret is buried inside his calves. However, he cannot reveal the secret until he turns 21 and joins the Freemasons (his age is misrepresented on the NU roster). Fitz received a phone call late in the night before the game instructing him not to put Vitale at risk of a concussive injury that might jeopardize his knowledge of the secret. Thus he was used sparingly vs. UT.
 
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Purple Pile Driver said:
I see Cam contributing next season. He does look bigger than 210. He isn't a burner by any means, but I think he has the size to catch those third down short passes and absorb some blows. He won't stretch the field, but how often do we air it out long. Think of a role along the lines of Kyle Prater in 2014.
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I just wonder if our guys will be able to get open for Thorson next season. How much of it is athletic talent, how much is technique, how much is desire... don't know. I hope Thorson and his receivers hang out all summer and just practice throwing and catching.
 
DaCat said:
I just wonder if our guys will be able to get open for Thorson next season. How much of it is athletic talent, how much is technique, how much is desire... don't know. I hope Thorson and his receivers hang out all summer and just practice throwing and catching.
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1) Desire doesn't get a player very far at the BCS level without requisite physical skills.

2) Essentially 100% of the team stays on campus over the summer, attending classes while working out and going through player-directed throwing sessions.
 
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