'23 TX WR Braylon James (Notre Dame Signee)

[stlnd01]

Flores is a good ballplayer. He's a true freshman who has made huge catches for us late in our two closest games of the season. I don't know what you all are talking about.

 

[IA4irish]

Flores isn’t the best in the world, but he’s literally having the best freshman wide receiver season since Stepherson. take it easy on him

 

[Lberry]

Moderate floor, semi low ceiling. Does his job and won't let the team down, will fight. He's not going to be a #2 or #1 but not every WR needs to be. He'll probably play a small part in every game next year and beyond and that's perfectly ok.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Flores isn’t the best in the world, but he’s literally having the best freshman wide receiver season since Stepherson. take it easy on him

Since Jaden Greathouse* who actually is having the best freshman WR season since Stepherson (and could be better than that by the season’s end)

 

[ColinKSU]

Flores isn’t the best in the world, but he’s literally having the best freshman wide receiver season since Stepherson. take it easy on him

It’s wild that anyone would come for Rico’s performance. He’s exceeding what I expected from him as a true freshman.

 

[irishff1014]

Flores is a good ballplayer. He's a true freshman who has made huge catches for us late in our two closest games of the season. I don't know what you all are talking about.

He is good he just needs to catch the ball. I would say Greathouse has been better over all.

 

[NDMatt91]

Flores is a good ballplayer. He's a true freshman who has made huge catches for us late in our two closest games of the season. I don't know what you all are talking about.

He's definitely an NFL player.

 

[stlnd01]

He is good he just needs to catch the ball. I would say Greathouse has been better over all.

I'd agree Greathouse has been better overall and Flores has room to improve, but Rico has been our second or third best WR this season and he's a true freshman who was the third-best WR recruit in his class. I have zero complaints.

 

[irishff1014]

I'd agree Greathouse has been better overall and Flores has room to improve, but Rico has been our second or third best WR this season and he's a true freshman who was the third-best WR recruit in his class. I have zero complaints.

I think he will be good for the Irish. We needed him to catch that ball around the 10 yard line after the pick.

 

[ulukinatme]

Flores isn’t the best in the world, but he’s literally having the best freshman wide receiver season since Stepherson. take it easy on him

Since Jaden Greathouse* who actually is having the best freshman WR season since Stepherson (and could be better than that by the season’s end)

This. Greathouse is it right now, we need him healthy. He's leading all receivers in TD catches and his hands have been money, great route runner. Rico had a couple big catches last night though, and he's looked good too.

 

[dublinirish]

Thought we’d see him

he aint beating out Leo Scheidler

 

[Crazy Balki]

The whole notion that you need elite athleticism to get open is laughable.

It's not just about having great top end speed or being able to jump out of swimming pool. JSN wasn't an elite receiver because of his size or top end speed. But he ran routes with surgical precision and could get out of his breaks quickly.

Flores is built in a similar fashion and it's why he came to ND ready to play as a true freshman, because he was a good route runner, and while he didn't have elite speed, could get out of his breaks quickly.

That's not to say he'll be JSN, but Flores isn't going to have issues getting open. It'll come down to him rounding out his game, getting stronger and perhaps a little faster through conditioning. As others have said, being in a college S&C program definitely leads to increases in athleticism.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

He’s young, so he’ll get better, but won’t really get more athleticism.

We need someone to be able to beat man

You just go from bitching and beating down one thing to the next. There are plenty of WRs in both college and the NFL who get open and beat man without elite athleticism relative to their peers. Take a break man.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Moderate floor, semi low ceiling. Does his job and won't let the team down, will fight. He's not going to be a #2 or #1 but not every WR needs to be. He'll probably play a small part in every game next year and beyond and that's perfectly ok.

Agree, he’s just out in a really thought spot right now being asked to do something he physically can’t

 

[PutuporShutup]

He's definitely an NFL player.

Who?

 

[PutuporShutup]

The whole notion that you need elite athleticism to get open is laughable.

It's not just about having great top end speed or being able to jump out of swimming pool. JSN wasn't an elite receiver because of his size or top end speed. But he ran routes with surgical precision and could get out of his breaks quickly.

Flores is built in a similar fashion and it's why he came to ND ready to play as a true freshman, because he was a good route runner, and while he didn't have elite speed, could get out of his breaks quickly.

That's not to say he'll be JSN, but Flores isn't going to have issues getting open. It'll come down to him rounding out his game, getting stronger and perhaps a little faster through conditioning. As others have said, being in a college S&C program definitely leads to increases in athleticism.

But you need other really good wrs around you to help open things up when you don’t have good athleticism… Rico is being asked to do something hes not equipped to do

 

[Irish#1]

But you need other really good wrs around you to help open things up when you don’t have good athleticism… Rico is being asked to do something hes not equipped to do

WTF dude? There are very few FR WR's that step into a major program and look like a 3rd or 4th year player right out of the gate. Rico is doing fine and isn't as unathletic as you think he is.

 

[PutuporShutup]

WTF dude? There are very few FR WR's that step into a major program and look like a 3rd or 4th year player right out of the gate. Rico is doing fine and isn't as unathletic as you think he is.

JSN ran a 4.48 40, that isn't Rico.

With that said, I don't think you understand my take on Rico as I agree with you. Rico is probably way ahead mentally of where most Frosh are, it's allowing him to play almost every snap and not really blow assignments. He also has very good hands, despite a big drop early Saturday night.

I'm talking about physical abilities with speed/quickness. I've seen Rico in person twice and he's not very athletic, and doesn't break very good. He's going to be a solid, smart, phsyical WR for the irish, but I don't see him being very good on the outside. James isn't ready to play despite the fact you can tell he's faster, he cuts better, but he drops passes in warmups so his hands, and possibly mental side aren't where Rico is.

Me selling on Rico is that he won't ever IMO be a #1 or #2 WR due to physical limitations, but he can be a solid reliable WR for the irish moving forward.

Again, i've now watched him in 2 warm ups and 2 games in person, he is not overly athletic. Has a pretty darn thick lower body that you don't see often in WRs/DBs.

 

[mrmcgrail]

I don't know they say he runs a 4.58 and 36 inch vertical walking into nd so with time he can get better but I don't think anyone thinks he's will fuller put there running but as a true freshman he has played great and was most likely so gassed during Duke since they couldn't rotate at all

 

[mrmcgrail]

Didn't jerry rice run like a 4.7? There is a lot more to being a receiver then how athletic you are mr big ten cb

 

[ndbroski]

Didn't jerry rice run like a 4.7? There is a lot more to being a receiver then how athletic you are mr big ten cb

Jerry Rice played against firemen and plumbers

 

[NDMatt91]

Who?

Flores

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Wide receiver room vs Duke, but James is not ready yet. Could he run a go route?

 

[Lberry]

Some wild takes in here, and some wild push back to some obvious observations, lol.

 

[IrishLax]

Per ISD, the thing with Braylon James is that he's not a developed player. Seems like he would be sorta lost out there and isn't the answer. Greathouse and Flores both had better HS coaching.

Flores... there is no evidence he is "slow" lol... he's not Tyreek Hill, but for a true freshman he certainly doesn't look worse than a TJ Jones or equivalent for how he moves.

 

[dankgesang]

Per ISD, the thing with Braylon James is that he's not a developed player. Seems like he would be sorta lost out there and isn't the answer. Greathouse and Flores both had better HS coaching.

Flores... there is no evidence he is "slow" lol... he's not Tyreek Hill, but for a true freshman he certainly doesn't look worse than a TJ Jones or equivalent for how he moves.

The TJ comp is both highly complimentary and accurate imo.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Watching Braylon James highschool film hes a very good redzone WR can jump higher than guys and bring the ball down can't tell me you can't put a few packages in for him.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Flores

That's a bold take, hope so

 

[Lberry]

Per ISD, the thing with Braylon James is that he's not a developed player. Seems like he would be sorta lost out there and isn't the answer. Greathouse and Flores both had better HS coaching.

Flores... there is no evidence he is "slow" lol... he's not Tyreek Hill, but for a true freshman he certainly doesn't look worse than a TJ Jones or equivalent for how he moves.

Braylon to me is Tobias in physical makeup. Have to wonder how close the coaches are to saying "what do we have to lose", and eyeing the upcoming BYE week for a potential transition.

Post BYE we conveniently have 4 scheduled games (RS implications).

 

[PutuporShutup]

Per ISD, the thing with Braylon James is that he's not a developed player. Seems like he would be sorta lost out there and isn't the answer. Greathouse and Flores both had better HS coaching.

Flores... there is no evidence he is "slow" lol... he's not Tyreek Hill, but for a true freshman he certainly doesn't look worse than a TJ Jones or equivalent for how he moves.

The evidence is in the inability to create separation all night when 1-1. His big catch the defender fell down.

Rico clearly is way ahead mentally, physical toughness/strength, and has really good hands.

He can become a very good WR despite IMO being on the slower not quick side. I just feel the odds are less, due to seeing him in person really struggle getting separation vs duke.