Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

The two most underrated aspects to wide receivers are hands and body control (understanding spacing would be the third, if I got to choose). If you think about it, premier receivers are the guys where you can throw it and say 'go get it' and they do. In that regard, I'm concerned by the way Thornton sort of 'basket catches' and 'clap catches' the ball instead of snatches it out of the air. Here is a short video and maybe you can spot what I'm seeing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zeU4A0Csvw The second part is just that his highlights lack the sort of high-degree-of-difficulty catches that I like seeing in a WR. Those are the leaping, shielding-a-defender, gets a foot down and you don't know how kinds of catches that you think "Damn, I want that guy on my team." But at 6'4+ and 4.4-4.5 speed, you can't teach those things, so I think he's a good project.

StevensTechU wrote:The two most underrated aspects to wide receivers are hands and body control (understanding spacing would be the third, if I got to choose). If you think about it, premier receivers are the guys where you can throw it and say 'go get it' and they do. In that regard, I'm concerned by the way Thornton sort of 'basket catches' and 'clap catches' the ball instead of snatches it out of the air. Here is a short video and maybe you can spot what I'm seeing.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zeU4A0Csvw The second part is just that his highlights lack the sort of high-degree-of-difficulty catches that I like seeing in a WR. Those are the leaping, shielding-a-defender, gets a foot down and you don't know how kinds of catches that you think "Damn, I want that guy on my team." But at 6'4+ and 4.4-4.5 speed, you can't teach those things, so I think he's a good project.

STU, good find. It’s crystal clear and almost hard to watch. Still love the size and speed, but he’s got JWill-Level frustration written all over him. Fortunately, unlike the JWill era, we will have so much talent around him that we’ll be able to play only to his strengths.


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^ Why did you have to go and burst our bubble. Yikes. I don't see anywhere close to a top 50 player. Dang

His hands looked really poor in that video.

lukeyrid13 wrote:^ Why did you have to go and burst our bubble. Yikes. I don't see anywhere close to a top 50 player. Dang

His hands looked really poor in that video.

His hands look a lot better in his commitment video.

Duck07 wrote:

GoDucksTroll wrote:Thornton is now announcing at 3 PM PST on Tuesday. Was originally planning on waiting for the All America game.

Weird, Dwight Jaynes and a bunch of USC people keep telling me that Oregon is a bad place for QB's to develop so it's so odd that so many top-end WR recruits would be so interested in the Ducks. Clearly they haven't been listening to those people at USC.

When is the last time SC developed a qb? They are where 5* go to die.

Yea, sorry about that. But to be honest, it's not like I'm in Baltimore and get to see the kid up close, just doing the scouting I can from home. I think with Franklin and Ware-Hudson, we're in good shape, and if Thornton lives up to his rating then we're talking about one of the best WR classes in UO history.

StevensTechU wrote:Yea, sorry about that. But to be honest, it's not like I'm in Baltimore and get to see the kid up close, just doing the scouting I can from home. I think with Franklin and Ware-Hudson, we're in good shape, and if Thornton lives up to his rating then we're talking about one of the best WR classes in UO history.

As you said, much rather work and refine a player with his attributes than one that doesn't. The thing that is always an unknown with young men is what their mindset will be once they get into the program and are being pushed by other Elite-level players (as the recruiting across the board continues its upward trend). I watched that video you posted and his commit video and the thing that stands out to me is he's like a young pony and that the coaches can help him the most by teaching him how to use his size/body better as a route runner. I think part of that will happen as he gets through the weight program/training table and grows into himself.

We should have a decent starting WR corps going into that season too so any WR from that group that shines right off the bat should be special.

We should also take into account that the linked video was from over 2 years ago. Chances are he has improved significantly since then. I don't think he would be this highly sought after if he was seen as a project.

Quietduck wrote:Ok you got me.. But any one in the 4.4 class is fast enough for me.

I was being a smart--ass, sorry. I agree with you though. He is fast enough. I'd like to see him improve his 1) strength (his build looks like he can add weight) 2) route running.

This kid could be a monster.