Barring injury, Marsh and Becker are set at 1 and 2, but who do you expect to be our 3, 4 and 5 receivers? I think people think or want Morris because of his spring performance and the injury comeback story, but I sort of think it will be Chandler, Morris and then Preston or Bond. From folks who have seen much of spring practice, Chandler is the name of the other guys I've heard the most. Plus, how do you bet against a guy that has a 1:1 TD to reception ratio, and averaged 65 ypr?
Think it will be Morris as our slot getting the 3rd most targets, Preston will be the #4, but have more yards and TDs than Morris. Had 40 catches and 700 yards at Tulane last year. 5 will be Lebron Bond. Got a lot of hype as someone who may contribute as a true freshman entering last year. Saw the field a fair amount mostly in garbage time, excited to see if he'll get more targets and what he does with them.
I think it is Morris then Preston then Chandler. Cig loves experience.
Thinking Morris Preston and a TE will emerge……just too many wr will vulture each other
Cig will keep the young hot talent a bit under wraps. Helps keep the NIL down. So, yeah, Morris.
I think Morris will start as the 3 and Preston has a good chance at taking the job midway through the season. Either way they will probably rotate a lot, similar to 2024 where Cross/Williams/Price all rotated heavily. Their skill sets are a little different, Morris is shiftier and I think would have an easier time getting consistently open in the slot whereas I think Preston has more YAC and contested catch ability.
Preston is probably the highest rated player on the team out of HS. He was a 5* on ESPN, 50th composite. If you watched Tulane play last year, he made a lot of really impressive catches. He had solid numbers despite their team being a run-first team, with middling QB play.
I know it's a bit muddy now with NIL, but I love guys playing balls out in their "contract years."
For Preston, this season is his audition to become an NFL draft pick.
All things being equal with our WR rooms run blocking, I can see this team rotating 6 or 7 WRs early in first halves and third quarters to wear down secondaries, especially early in the season when the weather will be hotter up into the OSU game.
This will also help keep things a bit more vanilla and not reviewable on tape for Oct 17.
@hoosierdaddy Think AJ Harris was a 5* out of HS also. Has anyone seen a "Blue Chip" count for this year's roster? That seemed to be a thing last year and I think we had 7 4/5*s on the roster. Guessing it's a little higher this year.
Surprised not much love for Chandler. I don't think it will be to the extent of Becker last year, but I think from all the spring chatter, he will be the break through guy this year.
You are correct, Harris was higher rated out of HS than Preston
Surprised not much love for Chandler. I don't think it will be to the extent of Becker
I like Chandler but its hard for me to see him getting meaningful opportunities this year. We are a very low volume passing attack where outside of the starters its going to be hard for guys deeper on the depth chart to get looks, and then you factor in Chandler is 5'11 / 180lbs and hes not going to be subbed in for the packages where Shanahan & Cig want a backshoulder throw
Morris and Shazz Preston I think will be slot and #4 receiver.
For 5, I think Bond and Chandler are pretty even. They both got on the field last year, with both playing meaningful snaps in some games.
This is a really good problem to have.
Cig will keep the young hot talent a bit under wraps. Helps keep the NIL down. So, yeah, Morris.
The best guys will always play. You destroy the culture if people who have earned their spots don’t get them.
In theory. And yes, per Cig.Cig will keep the young hot talent a bit under wraps. Helps keep the NIL down. So, yeah, Morris.
The best guys will always play. You destroy the culture if people who have earned their spots don’t get them.
Becker hadn't earned snaps, prior to an injury? They didn't know he was a talent?
I was mostly saying it tongue in cheek, but not all. I'm sure he values experience, and so 'the best' play. But sometimes it feels like a little bit of saving guys. Cig does say, the ones who earn the spots play. I dont doubt him. He doesnt promise PT.
In theory. And yes, per Cig.Cig will keep the young hot talent a bit under wraps. Helps keep the NIL down. So, yeah, Morris.
The best guys will always play. You destroy the culture if people who have earned their spots don’t get them.
Becker hadn't earned snaps, prior to an injury? They didn't know he was a talent?
I was mostly saying it tongue in cheek, but not all. I'm sure he values experience, and so 'the best' play. But sometimes it feels like a little bit of saving guys. Cig does say, the ones who earn the spots play. I dont doubt him. He doesnt promise PT.
I believe Cignetti is very aware and selective what he puts on tape. Which there is a player specific element to that.
A couple examples.
First half of last regular season, Mendoza had very few rush attempts, and that aspect of the Offense ramped up as the season moved along.
There was also a greater emphasis and success at the tail end of last season to rush outside the tackle box when that same success was always there in the blowouts against lesser opponents.
Thinking ODU and Iowa here when it felt as though there was a distinct effort to rush behind the Guards.
Morris and Preston as 3A and 3B... Then a bunch of guys like Bond, Chandler, TE's...
I think we run the ball, a lot, early in the year especially. And then Marsh and Becker will be, and should be, heavily targeted when we do throw it. So it could be difficult for many guys to break in to the WR rotation, barring injuries.