Are Tech's receivers that slow?

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3518techie

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Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Bill O'Brien was on the Zone today. From what has been reported, he said that hadn't been able to pass vertically because Kelly Campbell is gone. He hoped that they would be able to do more when Curry is 100%. At the NFL scouting combine, Campbell ran a 4.5 40. Does this mean the other receivers (Glover, Watkins, Logan, Thomas, Bridges) are running 4.7 40's? I find it hard to believe that our receivers are a group of tortoises who can't go deep against some of the worst pass defenses in the country like BYU and Wake Forest. Maybe I'm on of those fans who overrates the talent at his school. However, I would like to know the 40 times of those 5 receivers. If somebody has that info, I would appreciate it.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Sorry, Add Jonathan Smith to that list as well.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

We don't post official 40 times anywhere that I'm aware of but the Recruiting Database on The Hive has what was reported as HS seniors. From that Thomas, Glover and Smith were all listed at 4.4 and Curry (before the injury) 4.3. From what I read about the combine time for Campbell he was injured and the time was very slow for him. He was supposed to have been 4.3 at least.

Of course, none of these times are official and could all be wrong. On the same site, Hollings was listed as 4.5 which seems awful slow when you see him in a game. But, I would guess that we don't really have a burner this year, but there's more to going deep (or at least medium) than just speed. Or at least that's what I've always been told.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Our receivers are plenty speedy. O'Brien is not.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Our receivers have great speed the problem is we play a QB that never throws the ball 10+ Yards
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

O'Brien must go! Not having Kelly Campbell is like waking up in a wet bed! Yeah, right.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Somebody explain this to me then. Every time I can remember AJ going deep (except for the one against Wake) he has overthrown the receiver by a mile. Is that lack of speed, inability to get clear of the defender or bad timing on AJ's part.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

The long bomb against Wake was thrown by Bilbo.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Originally posted by Big Buck:
The long bomb against Wake was thrown by Bilbo.
Click to expand...
<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">Buck, the last one was thrown by Bilbo but the first one for the early TD was thrown by AJ.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

I was actually talking about the first TD pass against Wake, which wasn't that long but was at least a deep throw (over the top of the defense). But whatever, the long one was thrown by Bilbo.

Nobody has answered my question though, and I'm not trying to defend anybody or make any particular point. I simply have a basic football question. To restate: If AJ consistently has overthrown his receiver when he's tried to go deep, it that a function of lack of WR speed, inability of the WR to get off the line, or bad timing on the play?
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Goldbuzz, I believe you are on to something there. Speed is one thing, deception, quickness in the routes, and instructions for catching and holding on to the ball are another.

Speed can not be taught to a great degree, however, the remaining items are all taught.

wink.gif
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Slow receivers? Hogwash. I will assure you there is nothing slow about Bridges,Thomas,Smith or Glover. As for 40 times in general...4.5 is pretty fast if you've ever witnessed it up close. THWG
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

NCJacket,

I'll attempt to answer your question. It's a matter of timing. Either our QBs are letting the pass go too soon because they feel pressured (real or imagined) or the long pass is just not part of the normal practice repititions that one must have in order to get the timing issue worked out. I tend to think it is a combination of the 2 but I also think that the long passing game is not a priority with this offense, for whatever reason. Even if you can't complete the pass, you still have to show it in order to keep a defense from crowding the line of scrimmage by keeping the defense honest.

Until our team can prove that they can throw the ball down field, and complete a few, we will continue to see the opposition dictate what our offense will run.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Speed is not the whole issue for the WR. Routes, technique, pass, timing, and determination are also factors. I believe that our receiver corp has the speed, but we are breaking down on something else.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

GoldZ, when you say, "4.5 is fast when you see it up close", do you mean, "when you see it whiz by you?".

laugh.gif
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

what a crock, since the fridge left we havent been deep many times with or without kelly campbell. let him go up there to the vikings and join kelly and george.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

NCJacket, don't you think it's largely a matter of the QB getting in sync with his receivers? Some stuff you can caoch, like certain moves that a receiver can add to his natural ones, but running routes seems to me like running the ball. They are both rooted in very basic human reactions to danger and to chasing prey. Throwing passes is a little more cerebral, i.e., a little more coachable, but it's really a combination of timing and practice, practice, practice with the guys you're throwing to.And of course that whatever-it-is that makes a great QB whether or not he has great athleticism. Godsey, for instance. Or Billy Lothridge. Not that both of them were not good athletes, but they weren't in the Roger Staubach/ Michael Vick range. They were smart players.

Of course, some of you may detect a prejudice that sports is about people playing, not coaches coaching. You're right, that's my prejudice.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Belly, sync is right on. I remember the "Baby Bombers" from Auburn (can't remember their names now). The QB would have his back to the line in a statue of liberty and would turn and throw without looking for his receiver. In their interviews it was said that they knew each other so well thru practice, that they could anticipate where the ball and receiver would come together.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

belly and mustard, that's kind of what I was thinking. We've been close to some big plays but somehow never connect. AJ has overthrown some by a lot on occassion, but he has also put it close only to have the ball either dropped or the defender beat the WR (knock the ball out of his hands). It just seems we aren't in synch overall on the passing game not just on the deep balls.
I don't know if it's practice reps or what but the big difference I see is that Dez and Kelly (although not so much last year) had the knack for stepping up and making a play they had no business making. This year I see that in Kerry but the rest of the guys see timid to me.
 
Re: Are Tech\'s receivers that slow?

Originally posted by ncjacket:

Nobody has answered my question though, and I'm not trying to defend anybody or make any particular point. I simply have a basic football question. To restate: If AJ consistently has overthrown his receiver when he's tried to go deep, it that a function of lack of WR speed, inability of the WR to get off the line, or bad timing on the play?
Click to expand...
<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">All I can say is what I've seen. There have been a few deep balls where the receiver got held up by the defense (including one last week at Maryland). There have also been a few deep balls that were catchable but the receiver didn't make the play (including one last week at Maryland). I imagine there have also been some that were just overthrown by the QB, but even Hamilton and Godsey weren't perfect in that respect.

JRjr
 
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