FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Wide Receivers

by Grady Clapp on Sep 25, 2009 1:00 PM PDT

GRADE: B-

STATISTICS:

	Name	Yr	Pos	G	Rec.	Yards	Avg.	TD	Rec./G	Yards/G
1	Jared Karstetter	SO	WR	3	11	186	16.91	2	3.7	62.0
2	Daniel Blackledge	JR	WR	3	11	119	10.82	1	3.7	39.7
3	Jeffrey Solomon	JR	WR	3	10	110	11.00	0	3.3	36.7
4	Jeshua Anderson	JR	WR	2	4	66	16.50	0	2.0	33.0
5	James Montgomery	JR	RB	3	7	62	8.86	0	2.3	20.7
6	Tony Thompson	SR	TE	3	4	51	12.75	0	1.3	17.0
7	Johnny Forzani	JR	WR	2	2	50	25.00	0	1.0	25.0
8	Dwight Tardy	SR	RB	3	7	32	4.57	0	2.3	10.7
9	Gino Simone	FR	WR	2	4	24	6.00	0	2.0	12.0
10	Skylar Stormo	FR	TE	3	1	11	11.00	0	0.3	3.7
11	Logwone Mitz	SO	RB	3	2	2	1.00	0	0.7	0.7
	Total			3	63	713	11.32	3	21.0	237.7
	Opponents			3	78	1106	14.18	6	26.0	368.7

EXPLANATION:

This is a grade largely based on the fact this group is exceeding expectations. Before the season, it was Jeshua Anderson and a group of unproven, young wideouts. Now it's some great young receivers, and no Anderson - and the Cougar passing game looks like it may actually be able to reclaim some of its lost glory. The passing game has been largely carrying a struggling Cougar offense; accounting for both Washington State offensive touchdowns against SMU, and outshining the rushing game in yards per attempt by a solid 5.9 to 3.5 margin. Granted, the passing game will almost always beat out the running game in yards per play, but we certainly expected more out of our running game, especially before the injury to Montgomery.

Jared Karstetter is asserting himself as a true #1 receiver, something Jeshua Anderson couldn't even do before he decided to hang up the football cleats for good. That 16.91 yards per catch average is phenomenal - even if he only touches the ball 3-4 times per game. One common theme this year is that the ball is being spread around the whole receiving corps (and sometimes the running backs) - with seven players averaging more than two catches per game. That kind of variety has helped the Cougars take advantage of linebacker mismatches and has kept the QBs away from throwing at the opponents' best corner. There seems to be a quality trio developing in Karstetter, Daniel Blackledge and Jeffrey Solomon. That's good because it takes some of the pressure off of the man who will someday lead this receiving corps: currently concussed freshman Gino Simone.

We also got a wonderful debut out of junior Johnny Forzani Saturday against SMU: two catches for fifty yards. Look for him to get the ball more as the season wears on and his injury troubles (hopefully) slide away. Also encouraging is the occasionally spectacular catching ability of tight end Tony Thompson - although the TE position is likely to be utilized much less often than the wideouts. Maybe the Legend of Stormo can help change our lack of depth there.

HOW TO GET THE GRADE UP: Simple: More catches. More yards. WSU has had a good yard per play average in the passing game, and now just need to utilize it more and move the ball down the field. The main piece of bad news for the WSU receiving corps is that they haven't shown consistency. When your top receiver only catches 3.7 balls a game, there's some instability, and a lack of a go-to guy on third and long. The Cougars would also be well served if they keep avoiding the dropsies. Karstetter had a bad one in the endzone against SMU, but made up for it with the catch that gave Wazzu the chance to tie.

It's been a decent run for the receiving corps so far, but the question remains: can they keep it up against the rest of the Pac-10?

Poll

Los Receivers?

A

3 votes

B

22 votes

C

24 votes

D

6 votes

F

0 votes

55 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I think Simone might play this week

he’s playing (wearing a yellow jersey) in practice and is making some nice catches. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Forzani. The team has a said he is the fastest guy on the team—even faster than Anderson.

by james_WSU on Sep 25, 2009 2:13 PM PDT reply actions

Anderson was maybe a bit misunderstood

I wish Anderson was still playing although I understand his decision and can’t wait to see him healthy for track. Don’t get me wrong. Anderson is fast, but maybe not a “blazer”. He’s a 400 IM guy and his track speed is a bit different than someone in the 100.

I would think Anderson would probably beat Forzani in the 100 but my bet is Forzani would beat him out of the blocks.

The receivers our pretty solid especially whenever Norrell comes back. We don’t have a big play guy like Gibson or Hill but a bunch of solid receivers.

by BornCoug on Sep 25, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Yea,

I have no doubt Anderson would win those races, but Forzani would be the fastest football player on the football team. Anderson is a great track guy and hope to see him in the Olympics someday.

by james_WSU on Sep 25, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Part of this grade hinges on our QB situation

As we all know, it’s been downright dreadful at times during the first three games. This receiving core has much more potential than we’ve seen thus far, I think. Unfortunately, neither Lopina or Loebestaal have been able to get the ball in the right hands with a few minor exceptions. This means badly thrown balls, missing the open man, or making the wrong reads.

With improved QB play, I think this grade would be higher than it is right now. Far too often Lopina hit the checkdown instead of the open man down field and when he did hit the right read, the ball was poorly thrown. Same goes for Loebestaal at times. If they can consistently read a defense and make the throws they should, I think this receiving core could be great.

by Brian Floyd on Sep 25, 2009 4:09 PM PDT reply actions

Good point

by Grady Clapp on Sep 26, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Does anyone ever get concerned about people discussing how

young we are and see are rosters filled with juniors and seniors? I would feel better if we were starting 22 freshmen and people said that.

by ptowncoug3012 on Sep 25, 2009 4:50 PM PDT reply actions

We do have upperclassmen,

but they lack a lot of size, speed, athleticism, etc. Many of them are buried on the depth charts too. Towards the end of the SMU game our entire D-line was made of freshman; Karstetter and Bland are sophomores; Tuel (although we haven’t seen him yet), Simone, and Long are freshman; the entire left side on the O-line is underclassmen; plus we have a lot of young talent that we are redshirting that will fill in the secondary with a lot more speed.

There are a few upperclassmen that we’ll miss next year,but our team is by no means built on upperclassmen. Tardy and Mattingly leave behind positions with depth. Roxas will fill in Alfred’s position. Our secondary will be really young next year though.

by james_WSU on Sep 25, 2009 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions