WR recruiting needs to be a point of emphasis

[UOducksTK1]

... especially for this class.

Really the only WR we have coming back is Tuinei. The rest are walk ons or 2 star recruits. I know WR recruiting hasn't been a strong point since we've implemented the spread, but this depth chart alone should be enough to bring in some WRs who can start from day 1.

http://championsportsviews.wordpress.co ... gon-ducks/
Wide Receivers: Lavasier Tuinei, Justin Hoffman, Ben Butterfield, Will Murphy, Nick Cole, Blake Cantu, *Tyrece Gaines, *Diante Jackson

Analysis: This unit could be a very great concern heading into the 2011 season. D.J. Davis, and Jeffrey Maehl will have departed, and the lone proven receiver will be Tuinei. If Gaines, and Jackson can return to Kelly’s good graces, the unit will take a big boost in terms of talent.

Butterfield, Hoffman, and Murphy have a year to become hidden gems and Cantu was a quality recruit from Texas. Don’t be surprised to see Keanan Lowe, Eric Dungy, and other defensive players switch to the receiver position before the 2011 season. The understatement of this article is that Oregon needs to land quality and quantity at this position in 2011.

2011 Unit Analysis: Poor to Average

[glazeduck]

Unquestionably this is THE area for concern looking forward.

Kind of scary when you look at that list of options. Hell, even moving Dion Jordan back to WR is no guarantee of anything promising.

If DJ and Tyrece can't make it back we'll see alot more TZR position and alot of 2 TE sets. Even with that though, you can only hide weaknesses in so many ways. Moving Hawkins has been tossed around as a possibility, and I think both Mariotta and Manziell are wr possibilities as well, but none of those guys would make me feel any better about the WR position next season.

I'm really hoping we're doing 4 things right now for the WR position.

1) The obvious one -- Heavily scouting JC wrs to find a guy or two that can walk right into the position - like what James Finley was SUPPOSED to do (god how much of a disappointment was he?!?)

2) Showing WR recruits film of our incomming QBs. Certainly Dixon and Masoli were more "run-first" qbs, but Thomas, Bennett and hopefully Hundley (not-as-much for Manziell, Mariotta, Hawkins, and Randall it would appear) all look like great pocket passers who have the ability to run. This might help alleviate some "I'm not gonna get the ball very often" concerns these kids WILL have.

3) Pimping our complete lack of depth to elite HS wrs. Kelly has said many times that the dominant running game our spread produces is just the first phase of a truly dominant spread. I cannot wait to see what he'll be able to do with already talented QBs and (hopefully) a host of great wrs!

4) I really hope they're also looking at RBs who wouldn't mind turning into WRs. With our success @ rb the past few seasons we're going to be popular with alot of the nation's top RBs, however with our ridiculous stable of young backs, we're likely going to miss out on alot of these kids. While it may not be their absolute BEST use, my hope is that Chip & co. can find a player or two with the athleticism to be able to move to WR and become dominant there. A guy like James Wilder perhaps, who probably COULD see the field @ rb in his 2nd or 3rd season, OR could (hopefully) move successfully to WR allowing us to use that depth @ rb.

So here's hoping that DJ and Tyrece can make it back and that we can put up BIG passing #s early in the season to catch some recruits attention before it's too late!

[buckmarkduck]

You forgot Lowe and Huff. I know Huff is coming in as a Tazar, but it sounds like the coaches want him lining up all over the field on O, so he can get the touches.

[glazeduck]

You forgot Lowe and Huff. I know Huff is coming in as a Tazar, but it sounds like the coaches want him lining up all over the field on O, so he can get the touches.

Accurate or not, I think our WRs need to be divided into 2 different groups, based on what they're being asked to do...

We need big, DJ Davis/Jeff Maehl type WRs to block on the edges, and we need little, quick, essentially extended RBs in the slot (TZRs) to stretch the D sideline-to-sideline.

Not that I'm Chip or anything, but I don't expect to see Lowe, Huff, Barner, or many other TZR's doing much blocking on the edge unless it's just an absolute emergency situation.

We'll be fine at TZR for a long time. Essentially it's just WRs w/ hands and quicks. It's the BIG wrs we're running dangerously low on...

[greenyellow]

WR is my biggest concern for this team. It has turned into DL in the way that they can't seem to get or keep recruits.

[GrandpaDuck]

I agree it will be a point of emphasis.

I have high hopes for Lowe to be an early contributor. The Tazer position is not new for him and as he was both an accomplished wide-out and running back in high school.

Nick Cole is my dark horse. He came on late in High School, but by the end of the year he was tearing it up. He played in the same conference as Diante Jackson and he outplayed Jackson and his team won their match-up at the end of the year. He is tall, fast and athletic.

Heck it's summer and so here's to hoping for one of the three in state walk-ons becoming our own mini Mike Haas.

[gofightingducks]

If the Ducks QB(s) can put up some good passing numbers I think we have a good shot at landing a couple of highly rated WR's (Williams, Farmer maybe) but if they don't why would those guys want to come here just to block for the RB's. I would love to see those guys come to Oregon but I would just be happy to land 3-4 guys that may not have 4-5 stars but the coaches like.

[Sooth]

I'm also curious to see how Eric Dungy will do at WR over time. I don't expect to make an immediate impact obviously, but maybe he can develop into a solid receiver.

[liberalduck]

Glazeduck,
In regards to your comment, "1) The obvious one -- Heavily scouting JC wrs to find a guy or two that can walk right into the position - like what James Finley was SUPPOSED to do (god how much of a disappointment was he?!?)"

If I remember correctly, I actually think James Finley played well-especially his first year with the program. It seems like he got hurt at some point and never quite made it back to the level he was palying prior to the injury. He seemed fast and tough. I remember a block on a Fresno State player that was nasty-good. I'll have to youtube it to be sure.

[liberalduck]

Actually, I think it was against USC. Check it out on YouTube.

Glazeduck,
In regards to your comment, "1) The obvious one -- Heavily scouting JC wrs to find a guy or two that can walk right into the position - like what James Finley was SUPPOSED to do (god how much of a disappointment was he?!?)"

If I remember correctly, I actually think James Finley played well-especially his first year with the program. It seems like he got hurt at some point and never quite made it back to the level he was palying prior to the injury. He seemed fast and tough. I remember a block on a Fresno State player that was nasty-good. I'll have to youtube it to be sure.

[UOducksTK1]

http://scoutcombines.scout.com/a.z?s=45 ... id=4252992

ESPN has a story on Landry where he says he'd love to talk to Oregon and try to get something done. He's personally called Scott Frost a few times, but he's gotten no reply.

I trust the coaches 100%, but man, a nation's top 5 WR knocking at your door? Got to wonder what the coaches don't like in him.

[briarduck]

Holy crap TK, really about Landry he looks great!

[greenyellow]

http://scoutcombines.scout.com/a.z?s=45 ... id=4252992

ESPN has a story on Landry where he says he'd love to talk to Oregon and try to get something done. He's personally called Scott Frost a few times, but he's gotten no reply.

I trust the coaches 100%, but man, a nation's top 5 WR knocking at your door? Got to wonder what the coaches don't like in him.

Maybe they don't think they have a shot with him, considering he's from Louisiana and is committed to LSU right now. They probably feel better in their chances with a player like Blackmon.

[picksix]

people keep bringing up D. Jackson and T. Gains in articles. So can someone tell me there OFFICIAL status with Oregon? I understand they are ineligible, BUT are they still a part of the football team? Are they still under a schollie? Are they on campus enrolled in classes? Thanks for anyones help on this.

[UOducksTK1]

people keep bringing up D. Jackson and T. Gains in articles. So can someone tell me there OFFICIAL status with Oregon? I understand they are ineligible, BUT are they still a part of the football team? Are they still under a schollie? Are they on campus enrolled in classes? Thanks for anyones help on this.

We probably won't get any answers officially until the summer term is finished. However, both will likely be done, so I'd assume their scholarships would be open after this offseason.