Include me too as big Jones fan!! He's been very impressive
Iowa's Wide Receivers
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Include me too as big Jones fan!! He's been very impressive
Me too, he is a talented tough young man
Again no correlation between catching punts and passes. Whoever is catching the ball uses completely different techniques. So it is impossible to say Jones has the second best hands in the WR core without seeing him catch a pass.
It's not just techniques. It's largely an innate ability. There are many who work very hard on technique but never develop into good receivers.
I said that rating was subjective, but if you can't see, based his punt receptions and based on enough prior success at Buffalo as a pass receiver for both he and Iowa to think he could do the same here, then it seems you are just arguing to be argumentative.
Ragaini arguably among Iowa's WRs had the best hands ... at least in terms of consistency. The problem is that since he's the "slot guy" ... he still needs to do a better job of holding onto the ball after absorbing jarring hits.
Obviously Brandon and Ihmir were the "experienced" guys ... being our SRs. However, Ragaini and Tracy were both RS SOs ... who both played some quality snaps as TR FR. Thus, Ragaini and Tracy were guys who had been in our system - LEARNING OUR O through 3 years. Last year, Jones was forced to sit out ... so he was mostly stuck getting scout-team reps. Knowing the O and having the trust of the QB are HUGE.
I agree with you that IF Jones had the benefit of a "normal" spring camp and fall-camp last year ... I believe that he would have been a #5 WR who likely could have earned more positional reps. However, COVID greatly diminished Jones's opportunity to become more "fluent" with our offense. And, if a guy isn't on the same page as the QB ... he's going to be far less likely to contribute in a meaningful way.
My guess is that Jones's blocking was probably decent ... Buffalo likes to run the ball ... so he must have learned it there. Furthermore, on the scout team, you have to block the DBs in that context too.
I would suppose that Jones probably rates pretty high on most other metrics ... but the experience one ... particularly as it relates to KNOWING our offense (fluently) ... was the most important point that you highlighted.
"Again no correlation between catching punts and passes".
Except the ability to focus on the ball, adjust body and hand positions to field the ball, catch on the move and good down field vision. Otherwise, nothing similar.
Except the ability to focus on the ball, adjust body and hand positions to field the ball, catch on the move and good down field vision. Otherwise, nothing similar.
In 2019 Petros was the backup QB and Jones was the only backup WR among those being discussed.
Therefore the two of them would have been on the same page more so than any other QB/WR combination going into 2020, especially with no 2020 spring practice.
Petras was the #2 QB back in '19 ... he would have been working with the 2nd team.
Jones was setting out the year ... would have been working with the scout team (likely exclusively). That's not to say that they didn't work some together ... probably not as much as you would have expected though.
Don't underestimate the importance of getting quality reps with the QB. The fact that Brecht won't be joining the team until late (because of baseball) ... that will likely impact his chances as it relates to seeing the field early.
As another poster alluded ... should he impress and should me learn the O well ... he might yet get to see action in the 4-games. However, Copeland has been doing quite a good job of developing a quality WR room.
I think you may be overestimating the importance of those reps. It's not like we have an intricately timed passing game and are throwing receivers open. If a receiver can get open (remember Douglas as a true freshman) and the QB has a good enough vision to find him (Tate), we think we are in high clover.
Count me on board the Charlie Jones hype train. Get him the ball early and often.
There were lots of practice highlights this past pre season of Petras throwing bombs to Jones. We'll see lots of him in 2021
Actually, listen to Ken O'Keefe sometime. A really big part of our passing game really is premised upon timing.
Part of what helped with Douglas's impressive FR campaign was the fact that he had a wily SR QB throwing him the ball. However, even part that was attributable to the fact that Herb Grigsby was a dud ... and Drew had to get the ball to somebody other than Chandler. Brodell at least finished the season strong ...
Coach Copeland (or, whoever recruits AZ for the Hawks) needs to get on this kid:
Salpointe Catholic always contends for AZ state championships, and graduates outstanding young men and women. He has four offers (AZ, HI, TCU, & Purdon't).
Salpointe Catholic always contends for AZ state championships, and graduates outstanding young men and women. He has four offers (AZ, HI, TCU, & Purdon't).
I think Ragaini was considered as the one with somewhat better hands. I don't think either guy necessarily was considered as having "bad hands" ... both guys got the ball dislodged more than was ideal ... but that is going to happen to young guys too (particularly guys trying to make plays over the middle).
Tracy dropped a few passes early on. Seemed to be distracted. Not uncommon for a young player.
