Is Grimes a #1?

[IrishAlum1997]

I've seen a lot of posts indicating David Grimes is the foregone conclusion as our '#1 receiver' to open 2007. His success this year was predicated on the fact that he was a THIRD OPTION behind a couple of tall receivers. Solid job making some tough catches in traffic, but does he possess the skill to go up and get those jump balls against the average college DB that is of comparable size?

I'll take my chances with Little or Kumara stepping up and being the impact WR option(s) and continuing to utilize Grimes as a possession guy and intermittent deep ball option.

 

[GoshenGipper]

I wouldn't count out Robbie Paris, or Richard Jackson just yet. They remind me of Jeff S. and Sovall respectivly.

 

[Iron Machine]

Were also forgetting about DJ Hord here, he was a high rated recruit coming out of high school and was expected to do good things. And also no one is giving Jackson any respect i think he'll be an excellent receiver for ND.

 

[GoshenGipper]

His injury is really tough to come back from, especially for a skill position player such as a WR. Plus I heard he had problem consistanly catching the ball before he was injured. I'm not counting him out, but to go from no significant PT and a really bad injury to the #1 WR is unlikely.

 

[brownkj002]

I think he could be. He doesn't look like a #1 but then again, Deion Branch, doesn't either.

 

[Satans Little Helper]

I dont see #1s and #2s etc. in Charlies offense I know he has referred to them as such before but i look at it like he referred to the TEs one interview between Carleson and Freeman playing different postions.

I think the WR will be the same soon. I understand there maybe specific recievers on the field based on the play call and routes like last year, but i could see an intermingling of all the recievers during a game. I dont see a clear cut #1 or #2 based just on size alone. Grimes has great hands and is great in the open zone areas, but he is not a go route reciever like 6'5 guy would be. In a 1 WR set if the route went on a slant or post i could see him in it, if it were a go route or an under route i could see others running that.
Just my opinion, i hope it makes sense.

 

[HeavenKnows]

David Grimes is way ahead of the other receivers coming back. Grimes was open on several occasions against LSU and Brady didn't throw to him. This guy is a super recruit who has surpassed anything expected of him. He will be the number one receiver next year.

 

[goldenlid]

Grimes is like alot of good wide outs in the NFL Steve Smith for one. He is small but seems to be the quickest wide out on the feild this year. Can't wait to see what he can do.

 

[weisbankaccount]

Grimes was fantastic this year. If you question if he can go up and take a ball, just watch the first half of the Sugar Bowl and see him do that. He played his role this year, 3rd receiver and was as productive as you could ask. I think most all of his catches were first down receptions and a lot of them on 3rd down.

I dont know if that translates into a #1 next year. Maybe he remains a "possesion" receiver and gets double the production. I think youre either a homerun threat or a possesion guy and you dont just change stripes.

DJ Horde has the inside track in a lot of ND circles as a potential #1 receiver. This coming year is a lot like last year, we dont know who is going to step up and be the next guy for the most part, but obviously somebody is going to.

 

[tgolden]

until someone else proves otherwise, I think Grimes is definitely the #1. Not only does he catch the ball well, for someone his size, he is a very good blocker. On several of Darius' long runs, he had key blocks as he has all year.

 

[BestBIrish47]

I like Grimes, he seems real relliable as a receiver, how many times did Rheema drop an important pass this year? I hope that our number two is more relliable because that killed us this year. Grimes, Hord , Kumara, West, Parris, Jackson, Little

 

[Satans Little Helper]

until someone else proves otherwise, I think Grimes is definitely the #1. Not only does he catch the ball well, for someone his size, he is a very good blocker. On several of Darius' long runs, he had key blocks as he has all year.

shoot yeah, he came inside and pancaked a couple of people. I love that.

 

[FleaFlicker]

His hands are really impressive, he made some HUGE catches that were both very tough catches to make AND he hads tons of pressure on him. In fact, most of his catches were big ones, because he would be in there when we had 3-4 receiver sets because we were down.

i.e. his sideline catch that set up Jeff's catch against UCLA. He's got great hands, he's got great quickness. I think the only way he isn't a No.1 guy to start the season, is if some of the other receivers just dominate in Spring ball, and I just don't see that happening yet.

 

[Junkhead]

He'll be #1 most likely. I wonder if we will have a QB that can get him the ball regularly however.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

I think Kamara works his way into the top 3 and possibly #1.

 

[kickerbg31]

I like Grimes, he seems real relliable as a receiver, how many times did Rheema drop an important pass this year? I hope that our number two is more relliable because that killed us this year. Grimes, Hord , Kumara, West, Parris, Jackson, Little

Rhema absolutely killed us against USC and LSU. I remember 3 drops against USC, including an easy touchdown on a slant. I saw 3 drops in the Sugar Bowl, including the one that hit him in the chest and was intercepted.

 

[scooper]

Grimes will be #1. A couple have you have hit on the reasons. He gets open. He may have been the best route runner this past season. He has reliable hands and he is versatile. That's why the reverses went to him. He won't be jump ball #1 guy we've seen the last couple of years, but he will be better in open space with the ball.

The jump ball position is up for grabs.

 

[Stalking_Eagle]

Does Grimes have good speed? I know he returns kickoffs but I usually don't think of him having great speed. I like him better in the slot, but there is a reason I'm on IrishEnvy and not HC of the team.

 

[scooper]

Does Grimes have good speed? I know he returns kickoffs but I usually don't think of him having great speed. I like him better in the slot, but there is a reason I'm on IrishEnvy and not HC of the team.

Not elite speed, but good sprinter speed. He can cut on a dime, which makes you a lot faster when running routes.

 

[FleaFlicker]

Does Grimes have good speed? I know he returns kickoffs but I usually don't think of him having great speed. I like him better in the slot, but there is a reason I'm on IrishEnvy and not HC of the team.

I'm not sure what his 40 speed is, but one of the benefits of being smaller is obviously a lower center of gravity, which makes it much easier to make quick cuts and evade people...

One of the reasons you don't see many 6'3-6'5 running backs.

 

[kjones]

Not elite speed, but good sprinter speed. He can cut on a dime, which makes you a lot faster when running routes.

Exactly. Agility and the ability to make good cuts is MUCH more important than flat out speed. Don't get me wrong, flat out speed is awesome, and helps a lot, and he definately has speed. But getting open is more about cuts than speed. See Jerry Rice for a perfect example of someone who never had "elite" speed, or that kind of "out run everyone down the field and throw me a bomb" kind of speed, but he's the best receiver there ever was. He got open, and he caught the ball.

(not saying Grimes is Jerry Rice-worthy, just that speed isn't the only thing a receiver needs. If you got ONE guy with speed, it makes the safeties play back, and it doesn't have to be your #1 receiver. See Matt Sheldon.)

 

[FleaFlicker]

(not saying Grimes is Jerry Rice-worthy, just that speed isn't the only thing a receiver needs. If you got ONE guy with speed, it makes the safeties play back, and it doesn't have to be your #1 receiver. See Matt Sheldon.)

Unless your safeties are Ndukwe and Zibby of course.

 

[tgolden]

Rhema absolutely killed us against USC and LSU. I remember 3 drops against USC, including an easy touchdown on a slant. I saw 3 drops in the Sugar Bowl, including the one that hit him in the chest and was intercepted.

While Rhema did have some very costly drops against USC, he still had over 100 yards and a TD. I recall him with a drop on 4th down, but not in the endzone. I don't think it lost us the game. and I saw 1 drop by him against LSU, when the game was far out of reach. the one that ended up being intercepted was definitely hit by a defender as he was catching it.

Rhema was far from perfect this year, but I think a lot of people don't realize how much he will be missed. He tied Jeff's single season TD record from last year. He's 2nd all-time in receptions. He's got to be 2nd or 3rd in all-time receiving yards. He was obiously a guy that players looked up to as a leader on the team. I know I personally am really going to miss him.

That being said, I think between Grimes, Hord, the guys who are going to be sophmores and the freshmen coming in, we'll have a good group of receivers out there.

 

[tgolden]

also, I don't know if this is out, and it wasn't major, but Grimes did have some sort of surgery on one of his legs right after the bowl game. I know he was having some problems early on such as against Penn St. and UM where he was a little banged up. I'm guessing he wasn't quite 100% all season. so we'll see what he can do when he is healthy hopefully next year.

 

[TexasNDFan]

I think Grimes will take over in the slot and run alot of the plays that were ran by Smardiza. Alot quick slants, WR screens and deep passes, so as to keep the secondary guessing.

 

[sonomairishfan]

David Grimes is way ahead of the other receivers coming back. Grimes was open on several occasions against LSU and Brady didn't throw to him. This guy is a super recruit who has surpassed anything expected of him. He will be the number one receiver next year.

great point. i am really impressed with the vast improvement in his route running this year. i think that he will turn into a special WR for the irish. he will be our go to guy for sure. he was by far the most improved player on the team.

i also think that horde has a shot, but he is well behind grimes as far as experience.

 

[sonomairishfan]

While Rhema did have some very costly drops against USC, he still had over 100 yards and a TD. I recall him with a drop on 4th down, but not in the endzone. I don't think it lost us the game. and I saw 1 drop by him against LSU, when the game was far out of reach. the one that ended up being intercepted was definitely hit by a defender as he was catching it.

Rhema was far from perfect this year, but I think a lot of people don't realize how much he will be missed. He tied Jeff's single season TD record from last year. He's 2nd all-time in receptions. He's got to be 2nd or 3rd in all-time receiving yards. He was obiously a guy that players looked up to as a leader on the team. I know I personally am really going to miss him.

That being said, I think between Grimes, Hord, the guys who are going to be sophmores and the freshmen coming in, we'll have a good group of receivers out there.

i think that we will see the single season recieving TD record broken numerous times in CW's tenure. the irish have never had a coach that throws as much as CW. rhema is a hard worker and a decent WR but he had many drops that were costly.