JP (Parker) may have earned himself more playing time

[ghostOfHomer777]

On Mitchell's big run in the 4th quarter - #10 (Parker) delivered a key block that sprung Mitchell. He wasn't a wuss about the block either ... he put himself into it!

I thought that the young man deserved a little recognition for executing well in one of the more important but less recognized responsibilities of WRs. Nice block! If he can keep that up and then also consistently catch the ball ... he's going to eventually work himself into the WR rotation. He's just a SO, so I think that he could make some strides and really enter the picture more next year as a "more complete" WR. As it is, he could still earn himself reps while spelling the starters.

 

[WildTurk]

As his dad I'm sure you are coach Paul Roads proud!

 

[meatloaf55]

It was a great crackback block. That definitely allowed Derrick Mitchell Jr to get out in the open

 

[HawkeyeDenny]

I hope he can learn to hang onto the ball. he almost cost us losing Scherff for the year in the Ball St game...

 

[187hawk]

He can be a huge impact on the jet sweep and screen game.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

He can be a huge impact on the jet sweep and screen game.

He needs to develop into a more complete WR so that opposing Ds cannot defend us so easily. Right now, based simply on personnel, our hand is already tipped when he's playing. However, if he can catch and hold onto the ball ... then his role can expand.

If any fan is familiar with my posts, I have a bad tendency to look too much into the future. I'm already looking to 2016 and wondering how we're going to fill the voids in the receiving game left by Smith, Hillyer, Canzeri, Duzey, and Krieger-Coble. We all know that we should have a pretty darn good OL, a quality group of RBs, and an awesome QB ... however, our running game will be limited unless Beathard has guys to pass the ball to.

If we look at future guys who are most likely to receive targets, VandeBerg and Kittle are the first guys who jump off the page. Past those guys, I'm thinking that McCarron could develop into a role where he can be like a Holloway-esque #3 or #4 WR. I anticipate that we could potentially be in a pretty decent position at TE, with Outsey and Wisnieski complementing Kittle. Since Mitchell has converted from WR, he'll definitely be in the picture as a RB who can and will catch the ball out of the backfield.

But all of the above still begs the question ... who else will be able to step up and complement VandeBerg at WR? J. Smith seems like a guy who is getting "groomed." As I've mentioned above, Parker could be a guy who finds a bigger role. Maybe Scheel or Falconer?

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

As his dad I'm sure you are coach Paul Roads proud!

LOL! I wasn't even the mail-man in his neighborhood.

 

[ichawk24]

I bet the staff wants to keep MVB in the slot next year, which could complicate McCarron stepping in.

 

[The.Donald]

Parker is a guy that has really fallen off the face of the earth. He's like Herb Grigsby 2.0