'20 NE WR Xavier Watts (Notre Dame Man)

[tussin]

I trust Kelly to make the correct personnel decisions and always play the best player. I complained a lot this year about the WR group; but, he gave significant time to both Tyree and Mayer so we can be sure that it's not some stubborn allegiance to seniority. I won't lie though... it's shocking to me that Javon, Skow, and Davis was the best ND could do. It really is an indictment on our ability to get that position group developed early.

I'm optimistic that will change next year though. We could end up having a transformation where WR turns into one of the stronger position groups, similar to what happened at RB this year. Many programs would kill to work with a receiver room that has the raw abilities of Austin, Johnson, Lenzy, Styles, Colzie, Thomas, and Keys.

 

[317Irish]

You've been around long enough to answer this

Well done

 

[snoopdog]

As a senior, JJ has 28 catches and just over 500 yards receiving. He was second team all-state in Missouri. Those numbers don’t exactly translate into 5 Star to me.
He went to the elite UA camp and surprisingly took most of the last day off?
If there was ever a Max Redfield comparison as a 5 star ( pre gun charges) its JJ.

 

[Irishize]

Jordan Johnson was a top 100 recruit.

"Welcome to Notre Dame, high school WR recruit. You will be able to buy a case of beer before you play in a game."

The reports I’ve heard/read on him is that he had to take care of business off the field. Not sure if that meant grades or what but had the impression it had nothing to do w/ ability or readiness for football.

 

[ThePiombino]

This.

And fellas, it’s very rare that coaches actually end up in a Justin Fields situation where they play the veteran over the more talented younger guy *who is ready to play* for experience’s sake and cause a very good player to transfer. Most of the time if a guy transfers out after 1 year there is some bigger issue. There should not be an expectation from any freshmen that they will just immediately get PT because frankly that doesn’t happen at any top program unless there is a specific reason (e.g. Mayer being a beast).

I'm not suggesting Watts and Johnson start. I'm merely suggesting it would behoove everyone for the staff to throw then a bone and get them involved a little more. Give them a taste of what some hard work and dedication will do for them. Keep them engaged and motivated. We can say all we want about earning your stripes and not playing them if they're not ready, but bottom line is it's better for everyone if the young talent remains engaged.

 

[Dale]

I'm not suggesting Watts and Johnson start. I'm merely suggesting it would behoove everyone for the staff to throw then a bone and get them involved a little more. Give them a taste of what some hard work and dedication will do for them. Keep them engaged and motivated. We can say all we want about earning your stripes and not playing them if they're not ready, but bottom line is it's better for everyone if the young talent remains engaged.

Jordan Johnson may be the worst example for toss them a bone to stay engaged. He was visible on the front of the sidelines in nearly every shot of every game. Very engaged I would say. He also just saw his STL compatriot sit a year and then take off with heavy usage the next in Kyren. Who’s to say he has any issue with his role this year?

 

[ab2cmiller]

Jordan Johnson may be the worst example for toss them a bone to stay engaged. He was visible on the front of the sidelines in nearly every shot of every game. Very engaged I would say. He also just saw his STL compatriot sit a year and then take off with heavy usage the next in Kyren. Whos to say he has any issue with his role this year?

Maybe he does

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/jjohnsonj1/status/1340369198271393800[/TWEET]

 

[ThePiombino]

Jordan Johnson may be the worst example for toss them a bone to stay engaged. He was visible on the front of the sidelines in nearly every shot of every game. Very engaged I would say. He also just saw his STL compatriot sit a year and then take off with heavy usage the next in Kyren. Who’s to say he has any issue with his role this year?

Give me an example of a kid who is satisfied with not getting any PT and I'll show you a recruit not worth a scholarship. I'm sure JJ would have preferred to play, regardless of the optics of how well he handled it on the sideline.

EDIT: LOLOLOLOL see post #337

 

[Dale]

Equating wanting to play with having an issue with coaches decision to not this year is being sensational. Those are not equal.

 

[irishandy]

I didn't think ND would lose much in losing Chris Finke from last year, but it seems like the slot took a hit this year. Keys was hurt, Avery was used sparingly, and Mayer is hard to take off the field.

Besides Tyree who else was on kickoff returns? I would've thought Watts would've been good enough for punt returns.

With our WR depth and incoming freshman class is Watts willing to wait? I am also surprised that a couple of WR's haven't entered the transfer portal.

The waiting is the hardest part....

 

[Irishbounty28]

One thing that limited receivers playing, and productivity in general was the fact ND utilized multiple tight ends often. I would be interested in seeing a break down of how often there was more than 2 receivers even on the field. Would be easier to get young guys in if ND was always in 5 wide sets.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I didn't think ND would lose much in losing Chris Finke from last year, but it seems like the slot took a hit this year. Keys was hurt, Avery was used sparingly, and Mayer is hard to take off the field.

Besides Tyree who else was on kickoff returns? I would've thought Watts would've been good enough for punt returns.

With our WR depth and incoming freshman class is Watts willing to wait? I am also surprised that a couple of WR's haven't entered the transfer portal.

The waiting is the hardest part....

Jafar Armstrong

 

[rtrn2glory]

I didn't think ND would lose much in losing Chris Finke from last year, but it seems like the slot took a hit this year. Keys was hurt, Avery was used sparingly, and Mayer is hard to take off the field.

Besides Tyree who else was on kickoff returns? I would've thought Watts would've been good enough for punt returns.

With our WR depth and incoming freshman class is Watts willing to wait? I am also surprised that a couple of WR's haven't entered the transfer portal.

The waiting is the hardest part....

Keys fumbled a punt at the beginning of the year, which all but anced the chance of us having a punt return the rest of the season ala John Goodman always fair catching punts.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Keys fumbled a punt at the beginning of the year, which all but anced the chance of us having a punt return the rest of the season ala John Goodman always fair catching punts.

Keys also had a very bad concussion, so, you know, player safety...

 

[Dale]

One thing that limited receivers playing, and productivity in general was the fact ND utilized multiple tight ends often. I would be interested in seeing a break down of how often there was more than 2 receivers even on the field. Would be easier to get young guys in if ND was always in 5 wide sets.

Pro Football Focus might have this figure. I know either in the Bama game or ACC championship a recap article had it and the number was not pretty.

 

[Irishnuke]

Look at Tyree and Mayer and STFU about freshman not playing.

 

[calvegas04]

maybe he just wasn't fucking ready?

this

 

[Irishize]

Look at Tyree and Mayer and STFU about freshman not playing.

Don’t forget 3-star Clarence Lewis at CB.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'd go one step further and look up Kevin Stepherson's freshman year. 25 receptions and wasn't even a top 600 player. Context determines opportunities for young receivers. Obviously, an undefeated regular season run during COVID is going to have less opportunities for an unproven freshman than a 4-8 season where Deshone Kizer was given free reign.

Look at Tyree and Mayer and STFU about freshman not playing.

Both good points. The guys that are ready will find the field regardless of how long they've been in the program. I hope we find some real playmakers at WR next year, and hopefully Xavier and JJ are part of that solution. We need more if we're going to compete with the big guys. Gotta have a strong passing attack to compliment the run, otherwise the other teams just focus on shutting down the run.

 

[fightingirish26]

Don’t forget 3-star Clarence Lewis at CB.

Mills had a very real role as well

 

[T-Boone]

Look at Tyree and Mayer and STFU about freshman not playing.

People are just saying that certain positions freshman are a solid chance to play (CB, DT, TE, RB) and certain positions freshman are very unlikely to play (QB, LB, OL) and now it seems you can add WR to the later.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

The receivers on our roster have an opportunity to win 3 starting jobs next year. I think its wide open and I'd think the competitor in them would love the challenge. I'm not sure why we'd see someone transfer out unless they looked around the WR room and knew they weren't good enough to win one of the jobs.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Davis
Austin
Lenzy
Keys
Wilkins
JJohnson
Watts
Brunelle
Styles
Colzie
Thomas

Only one returning starter and imo Davis can be beaten out of the starting job next year. Go get it dudes.

 

[pumpdog20]

I see zero chance of Davis getting beat out next year for a starting role.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I see zero chance of Davis getting beat out next year for a starting role.

Why? He's not that dynamic. He's solid, I guess that's what we're after. We have more young talent at receiver than I can remember. At some point they have to play over a converted high school QB.

 

[kzoondfi]

Davis played significantly better this year.... But I had moved on from him after the prior seasons. I just couldn't keep watching him drop passes.

 

[BeatSC]

Our QB while serviceable was not going to make any of our WRs look draftable. Our WR were great blockers and I’m sure a lot better than the newbies. Book does it know how to effectively use anything than the TE or RB as evidenced all season by his fear of mistakes. When our guys Ben and Javon were given their 50/50 chances they shined. Phil would have made them all look alit better. Their I said it. Let’s see who stays healthy this year and let’s crows our fingers for a blue gold game.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Let's put it this way, if Davis gets beat out for a starting roll that's a VERY good thing because he's at very least a competent starting slot receiver.

 

[pumpdog20]

Why? He's not that dynamic. He's solid, I guess that's what we're after. We have more young talent at receiver than I can remember. At some point they have to play over a converted high school QB.

BK's history is on my side, regardless of what you think. You're talking about:

1) veteran player
2) stuck around through adversity
3) BK trusts him
4) a solid player
5) already a starter

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

BK's history is on my side, regardless of what you think. You're talking about:

1) veteran player
2) stuck around through adversity
3) BK trusts him
4) a solid player
5) already a starter

I don't disagree with the reasons but I'm not sure they should outweigh more talented, higher ceiling receivers in a year of offensive rebuild. This discussion happens every year, I get it, at some point the pass game needs to become more dynamic. Same old problems.