This position is, again this season, a big question mark for the Clemson football team. Clemson was extremely unimpressive a year ago running routes, catching the ball, and blocking on the perimeter. We discussed the 2010 receiving corps and the job that Jeff Scott did with this group back in February. This is an advisable read to see where this group finished up a year ago.
Clemson's receivers have underwhelmed new offensive coordinator Chad Morris since his early 2011 arrival. Following Spring practice, Morris openly dogged this group, questioning the effort and athleticism of the veterans. Lack of effort and inability to improve is unacceptable and reflects poor attitude, poor player preparation, and lesser coaching leading up to Spring drills.
Chad Morris won't have the patience that Dabo had for poor play and poor effort. Further, he will not accept crap like Xavier Dye quitting then un-quitting the team. Nor will he accept some of the half assed attitudes that emerged from the Clemson pass catchers. He'll play the best players for his scheme regardless of seniority or 5-heart status. Make no mistake about it, we have a grand total of one (1) wide receiver who proved he is ready to play at the collegiate level today.
I believe that CM is a fundamentals guy. This means Jeff Scott will be pressed to implement proper pass catching skills and actually get the receivers to throw a decent block or two. I assure you, the piss poor play we have become accustomed to out of this group will not cut it under the new OC. Morris understands the importance of getting good fundamentals instilled early in young players. He also emphasized the need for our receivers to become more physical. Perimeter blocking over the past half decade or so has been pitiful and is unacceptable if you want to run the ball outside the tackles and/or throw screen passes. Hopefully this attitude will be adapted by the players and better implemented through the position coach.
The Veterans: Morris wants competition and stated that if some of the veterans don't give a better effort, they will be scholarship-awarded waterboys. Make no mistake about it, the ONLY receiver from last season who is assured PT is Nuke Hopkins. None of the others has contributed anything significant to this point and each has a tremendous amount to prove. The group as a whole was described by Morris as slow and unable to stretch the field. Morris told the veterans that they would have Spring practice to impress him and Fall camp would be devoted to the young guys. I don't believe there was much impressing out of this group. As the old saying goes, it's time to piss or get off the pot.
No. |
Player |
Position |
Ht |
Wt |
Class |
Exp. |
Hometown |
HS/JC |
6 |
WR |
6-1 |
195 |
So. |
1VL |
Central, SC |
D.W. Daniel HS |
|
9 |
WR |
5-10 |
160 |
*Fr. |
RS |
Gaffney, SC |
Gaffney Senior HS |
|
11 |
WR |
6-1 |
180 |
*So. |
1VL |
Minneapolis, MN |
Breck HS |
|
17 |
WR |
6-5 |
195 |
*So. |
SQ |
Gatlinburg, TN |
Gatlinburg-Pittman HS |
|
18 |
WR |
6-2 |
200 |
*Jr. |
2VL |
Cheraw, SC |
Cheraw HS |
|
25 |
William Bello |
WR |
5-11 |
185 |
*Fr. |
RS |
San Francisco, CA |
Saint Ignatius College Preparatory |
26 |
WR |
6-0 |
195 |
Sr. |
3VL |
Columbia, SC |
Blythewood HS |
|
38 |
Julian Patton |
WR |
6-0 |
190 |
*So. |
SQ |
Rock Hill, SC |
Northwestern HS |
47 |
WR |
5-11 |
195 |
*Jr. |
SQ |
Marietta, GA |
Walton HS |
|
88 |
WR |
6-2 |
185 |
*Fr. |
RS |
Johnson City, TN |
Science Hill HS |
The Freshmen: Camp this year will be all about the new guys. Chad Morris was quoted Clemson will have to find ways to get the new guys like Sammy Watkins, Charone Peake, and Martavis Bryant on the field early. Clemson needs the speed and flat out talent that these guys bring to the table. We expect Joe Craig will get more looks because of his quickness and versatility for the Morris offense. Long and short, many of the incoming freshmen will have a chance to contribute immediately. We need them to contribute immediately.
NAME |
Position |
Hometown |
High School |
Ht/Wt/40 |
Rivals Rating |
Martavis Bryant |
WR |
Chatham, VA |
Hargrave Military Academy |
6'4"/195/NA |
4 stars |
Adam Humphries |
DB |
Roebuck, SC |
Dorman |
5'11"/176/4.5 |
2 stars |
Charone Peake |
WR |
Roebuck, SC |
Dorman |
6'3"/200/4.4 |
4 stars |
Stanton Seckinger |
WR |
Charleston, SC |
Porter Gaud School |
6'5"/200/4.6 |
3 stars |
Robert Smith |
ATH |
Dorchester, SC |
Woodland |
5'10"/200/4.6 |
3 stars |
Sammy Watkins |
WR |
Fort Myers, FL |
South Fort Myers |
6'1"/180/4.5 |
5 stars |
Morris' strategy involves stretching the field with vertical routes. We talked about this in the Spring, but it is worth repeating: Clemson will throw the ball down the field early and often. However, as previously mentioned, Clemson lacks proven veteran speed. Last season this was apparent. Opponents would frequently cheat safeties for run support and dare Clemson to throw the ball down the field. Incapability at the WR spot limited the Tigers' ability to take advantage of what the defense sacrificed. Morris will look for a guy like Watkins to come in and immediately use his speed to stretch the field.
You will hear almost exclusively reports on the Freshman receivers. This is straight forward: they are much more talented than what we currently have and will get attention needed to assure early playing time. I am very interested in following this progression over the next month and throughout the '11 campaign.
I see Peake, Watkins, and Bryant playing early. Both Watkins and Peake have great speed and are very highly touted coming out of high school. Bryant spent last season in prep school and will get early repetitions. He also arrives with a lot of praise from talent evaluators. Joe Craig impressed the staff last season on the scout team and probably should have played in '10. He'll see significant PT. We expect McNeal to do more to live up to the hype he generated during his recruitment. Jaron Brown will need to become more consistent and Jones needs overall improvement. Everyone will get a fair shot and all these guys will see the field early. All eyes, however, will clearly be on the highly touted incoming freshmen.
Below is how we see the two-deep heading into camp. This is, by no means, an "official" depth chart. Tight Ends were omitted. Dwayne Allen and Brandon Ford are very likely to be flexed at times. The veterans got the starting roles by default. I would not be surprised to see everyone starter listed below except Hopkins replaced by the second team player behind him. In fact, I'll say that I expect chart to look dramatically different before September ends. First out will probably be Jones.
Z |
A |
H |
X |
Jaron Brown |
Marquan Jones |
Bryce McNeal |
Nuke Hopkins |
Martavis Bryant |
Sammy Watkins |
Joe Craig |
Charone Peake |