Marquess Wilson was so good against San Diego State, it took me an extra week and a half to calculate his numbers. Okay, so maybe that isn't true, but he was still pretty good. Wilson's 19.67 YPT vs SDSU is a new season high and one we may not see challenged anytime soon.
Unfortunately, Wilson didn't get a lot of help. Of the other eight members of the party of nine, five didn't see a target and two others put up some abysmal numbers. Only Isiah Barton kept Wilson from being a one man show. Basically, if the WSU wide receivers were a band, there would be rumors in Rolling Stone or on TMZ that Wilson is thinking of taking some time off to focus on his solo career.
Player
Targets
Catches
Yards
Drops
1st Downs
YPT
Catch%
Drop%
1st Down%
Isiah Barton
8
6
70
1
3
8.75
75.00
12.50
37.50
Bennett Bontemps
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Henry Eaddy
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Jared Karstetter
11
5
40
1
2
3.64
45.45
9.09
18.18
Isiah Myers
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Bobby Ratliff
7
3
22
1
1
3.14
42.86
14.29
14.29
Gino Simone
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Kristoff Williams
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Marquess Wilson
12
6
236
2
6
19.67
50.00
16.67
50.00
WR Totals
38
20
368
5
12
9.68
52.63
13.16
31.58
Let's start with Wilson. The YPT is eye popping and the 50 percent first down rate is really nice, but his 50 percent catch rate is the lowest of the season. Some of those 12 targets were prayer deep balls thrown up by Marshall Lobbestael, but Wilson's first two drops of the season hurt as well.
Barton has been a big surprise for me. He struggled last season, but has performed at above average levels in all three games this season. If he continues along this path, he would be an ideal third receiver. Of course, that would require the 2010 version of Jared Karstetter returns to lock down the number two spot.
Karstetter's role as a possession receiver means he will never put up Wilsonesque YPT numbers, but 3.64 is bad no matter the role. To make matters worse, Karstetter usually thrives with a catch rate in the 60 percent range.
The good news? Ratliff saw more target than he had all season. The bad news? He did next to nothing with them. As many drops as first downs and a YPT that looks more like a batting average. Let's just forget this happened and move onto the season numbers.
Player
Targets
Catches
Yards
Drops
1st Downs
YPT
Catch%
Drop%
1st Down%
Isiah Barton
16
12
173
2
9
10.81
75.00
12.50
56.25
Bennett Bontemps
2
1
10
0
1
5.00
50.00
0.00
50.00
Henry Eaddy
7
3
32
0
1
4.57
42.86
0.00
14.29
Jared Karstetter
21
13
130
1
6
6.19
61.90
4.76
28.57
Isiah Myers
8
4
51
0
3
6.38
50.00
0.00
37.50
Bobby Ratliff
13
8
100
1
5
7.69
61.54
7.69
38.46
Gino Simone
3
1
20
0
1
6.67
33.33
0.00
33.33
Kristoff Williams
7
5
109
1
4
15.57
71.43
14.29
57.14
Marquess Wilson
25
15
429
2
14
17.16
60.00
8.00
56.00
WR Totals
102
62
1054
7
44
10.33
60.78
6.86
43.14
A few things stand out to me through three games. First, Wilson has 15 catches and 14 first downs. We could start calling him Mr. First Down, but then someone (me) would probably Photoshop his head onto Mr. Peanut and eventually someone (Kyle) would start a grass roots campaign to end all Mr. Peanut like monikers. We all saw what he did to beef references.
I'm very interested to see how Karstetter's numbers change when Jeff Tuel returns. His YPT and catch rate are both down from the 7.00 and 65 percent he posted last season. Possibly a product of missing Tuel's stronger arm?
The party of nine turned into the party of four last week. Will Williams, Simone and others get back into the mix? Or am I going to have to change the name of this post?