WR Breakdown for 2018

[jandj]

I can understand the skepticism with B Smith. He was a true freshman last year that received extremely limited playing time. The college game hasn't slowed down for him yet.

Smith did have three catches last year and he had a few drops. Maybe 3? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Those were basically the only targets he got last year. He had 7 targets.

The kid did have 200+ receptions, 3600+ receiving yards and 41 TDs in his high school career. He has some speed, leaping ability and a INSANELY HUGE HANDS.

I have no worries about whether or not he can catch the ball. He just needed the game to slow down for him mentally. And from what the coaches are saying about him, it sounds like it may have.

Whether he has 25 catches or not, I have no clue. But IMO, I wouldn't be surprised by more than that.

Rajon Rando???

 

[dbrocket]

Devonte has been plugged in enough that he's been a special-teamer for the past two years. Will he be able to make enough strides to push for more legit playing time? Dunno. I know that Mo Brown didn't contribute much until he burst not he scene for us as a JR. However, on the flip side ... there really hasn't been much buzz generated by Devonte either. Where there is no smoke ... there is likely no fire. So yeah ... you might be right that he'll leave sooner rather than later.

Yeah, I was going off the lack of mention this Spring as much as lack of production to this point.

 

[TKingpin]

What year is Vejvoda at TE? Seems everyone at TE is passing him by.

Let’s see- there is Fant, Hock, Beyer, who made noise during Bowl prep, Cook, who is making noise during Spring and Weiting, who actually saw the field quite often as a RSFR.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

What year is Vejvoda at TE? Seems everyone at TE is passing him by.

Let’s see- there is Fant, Hock, Beyer, who made noise during Bowl prep, Cook, who is making noise during Spring and Weiting, who actually saw the field quite often as a RSFR.

Vejvoda will be a RS JR in '18. He saw the field a little bit in '16 ... but didn't see it at all in '17.

In addition to Vejvoda, the Hawks also have Coons. There are also a number of intriguing walk-on TEs too ... Bryce Schulte and Ben Subbert are particular ones who come to mind. Of course, I'm not even including Wieting ... he was a walk-on too (I'm not even certain he's been put on 'ship yet).

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Odd feeling about the LBs vs. WRs level of uncertainty. While we are replacing all 3 very good starting linebackers it seems there's a lower level of uncertainty of expectation about the new linebackers. It seems like most people think Iowa's got three good linebackers ready to go. Probably not as good as last season but still a group with which you can win most of the games.

Receiver, past the two tights and Easley is still a mysterious island filled with unknown creatures-and Iowa returns almost every receiver. Throw in the Wagner factor and potential outcomes and stories are everywhere.

 

[pkongsh]

I've run a few of these questions by my friend who knows the team well, fwiw. Said B Smith to Hillyer is no comparison other than size. Smith has rare explosiveness and athleticism, more comparable to Tevaun Smith but the potential is "much greater." He needs to translate it to live action, but "he has a chance to be special."

He laughed at ISM to DJK comparisons. Said everyone loves ISM, especially the coaches. He's goofy and can joke around too much sometimes, truly an individual that "marches to the beat of his own drum." Said his issues and relationship to the coaches and team are nothing like DJKs were and that he's responded well to the coaches challenging him.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I've run a few of these questions by my friend who knows the team well, fwiw. Said B Smith to Hillyer is no comparison other than size. Smith has rare explosiveness and athleticism, more comparable to Tevaun Smith but the potential is "much greater." He needs to translate it to live action, but "he has a chance to be special."

He laughed at ISM to DJK comparisons. Said everyone loves ISM, especially the coaches. He's goofy and can joke around too much sometimes, truly an individual that "marches to the beat of his own drum." Said his issues and relationship to the coaches and team are nothing like DJKs were and that he's responded well to the coaches challenging him.

Thanks! I only brought up the comparison of ISM to DJK simply as it related to immaturity. However, there is likely where the similarities end. From what I understood, DJK was a pretty selfish guy ... and he actively "sparred" with the coaches. He had quite a strained relationship with the coaches.

In contrast, Ferentz is on record suggesting that ISM has a rather "bubbly personality" ... which suggests that he and the rest of the team find ISM to be a fun, light-hearted guy ... a bit of an infectious personality too (in a good way). That is obviously the OPPOSITE of having a strained relationship with the coaches. This seems to be completely consistent with what you've heard on your end (again, thanks for the confirmation).

The only concern that I have (as I presume Harbinger has too) is that ISM's immaturity is potentially getting in the way of his development. Of course, he IS a young guy ... and it IS important for him to have fun too. However, he's also a guy who has a very high ceiling ... a really nice skill set. So it would be really exciting to see him continue to make strides to actualize his potential ... because, only then, will we see it translate to production on the field.