He might not need them but I think there is generous evidence that he prefers them, and so I must agree that size won't matter. CW didn't have control of personnel in NE, so he coached the short guys the franchise had under contract.
But, given the choice, CW goes after tall receivers, and has since he began recruiting at ND.
2006 - Ausberry, 6-4; Parris, 6-4; Luckett, 6-3; R. Jackson, 6-3 (exeptions, Austin, West at 5-11)
2007 - Benn 6-2; Kamara, 6-3; Little, 6-3; J. Smith, 6-3; JR Hemingway 6-2; G. Jones, 6-1; a very late offer to Golden Tate 6-0
This year - Buckner, 6-4; Green, 6-4; J. Jones, 6-4; Floyd, 6-3; Stoneburner, 6-5; Goodman, 6-3; K. Tate 6-4 and the only exception is Odoms at 5-8.
So, I gotta disagree with ya Katz, I think it is obvious that CW would much prefer tall WRs.
If you think Weis didn't have any impact on who New England drafted, you're very, very, very wrong. Belichick, Pioli, Crennel and Weis all have remarked how in sync they were with each other, and how every player they picked would either a.) fit into the schemes the OC or DC wanted or b.) would have the approval of the OC or DC.
As for your lists -- cherry picking at it's finest. Let's take a look.
2005. David Grimes (commit) 5'9" -- this was an in-between year, so I won't look too closely.
2006. Barry Gallup (5'11"), George West (5'8) committed. Terrence Austin (5'10"), Chris James, Marques Wilkins (between 5'11" and 6'0) went elsewhere.
2007. Golden Tate (5'11) committed. Ronald Johnson (6'0) went elsewhere.
The guys you mentioned are pretty much the cream of the crop guys -- Benn, Green, Floyd, Jones, etc. EVERYBODY wants these guys, and Weis would be foolish if he didn't go after them.
I'm not saying that Weis won't play tall guys -- if they can pick up his system, then they'll see the field. But EVERY WHERE WEIS HAS GONE, the offensive scheme has relied on small, quick WRs. With the Pats it was Branch, Terry Glenn, Troy Brown, and David Givens (taller guys like Donald Hayes and Bethel Johnson struggled more in this system). With the Jets, it was Laverneus Coles and Wayne Chrebet (Keyshawn Johnson's production dropped after Weis became OC).
On the whole, Weis likes smaller guys who can get in and out of their cuts faster. He hasn't been playing with "his guys" in the last two years. Now he is.
The offense will look much different this year, I promise. There's a reason West and Grimes have been seen with the starting offense during Spring Practices. Weis' system likes those smaller guys.
Put it this way -- Golden Tate will see the field before Kamara does.
