'23 CA WR Rico Flores (UCLA Transfer)

[PutuporShutup]

These comments are nothing but BS excuses. A freshman is supposed to come in and play at an NFL Pro Bowl level. Did I get that right LB and PU?

BTW, you don't need athleticism to get separation. Just ask Brandon Stokely, Julian Edelman and a bunch of other guys that made a living in the pros catching passes.

They’re more athletic than you think and also predominantly play slot… I like rico better at slot but greathouse and tyree are there… I think greathouse and Rico have a lot of similarities, and neither are really outside wrs imo. I do think greathouse is a little more athletic

 

[Me2SouthBend]

No one is frichan coming for Rico. All i stated was he's less athletic than I expected. Even i said he will probably be a solid reliable WR.

People need to stop making up stuff that's not true.

With that said, our WR play as a whole was terrible saturday and hasn't been very good this year.

His TD vs OSU was a busted coverage, he didn't beat anyone, his big catch vs duke the DB fell down. He still made the play, that's awesome. But we don't have a WR right now that can win vs 1-1. Rico is a frosh, he will improve, he was put in an unfair situation saturday, but it is what it is. Parker also didn't help the WR group out at all. We just need WR to be better, it's our biggest weakness and what could hold us back from a great season. If we need to rely on Rico this year to play a ton then like freeman states, he needs to improve with urgency, he's far from alone.

Finishes previous post under D LBerry, switches laptops and rifles off this one.

 

[Terry Jillery]

Rico is exactly what you want him to be. Great routes, rarely drops passes. He’s a true freaking freshman. He shouldn’t even be on the field and he’s already twice the receiver Colzie and Merriweather likely ever will be. Nobody with a brain expected him to be Will Fuller fast. He’s going to catch a lot of passes in his career, especially as Greathouse and Cam Williams start taking on a larger role.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Don’t want to listen so I haven’t… what did urban analyze, was it just osu’s final drive?

I think Rico’s best route was his 2 pt conversion vs duke not td vs osu… that was great call and route and execution

I don’t waste a single second of my life listening to what Urban Meyer has to say.

 

[Irish#1]

They’re more athletic than you think and also predominantly play slot… I like rico better at slot but greathouse and tyree are there… I think greathouse and Rico have a lot of similarities, and neither are really outside wrs imo. I do think greathouse is a little more athletic

Doesn't matter what they played. They weren't as athletic as you think, yet found a way to get open. Flores just needs experience. He'll be fine.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I had only added a few people to my ignore list because I'm pretty stingy but after exorcising that conservative demon, I've put two posters on ignore and....

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I had only added a few people to my ignore list because I'm pretty stingy but after exorcising that conservative demon, I've put two posters on ignore and....

My list went from zero to over a dozen the last two months.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Finishes previous post under D LBerry, switches laptops and rifles off this one.

Have you ever seen them in a room together? Hmmm

 

[Irish4life]

Why do you guys keep on giving nincompoop number 5 the attention he's so desperately and obviously baiting for lol

 

[NDpendent]

 

[PutuporShutup]

I wish I was joking, but i honestly think it’s due to his blocking since we can’t complete a pass vs man at that position and Pitt runs a ton of press man coverage

 

[IA4irish]

My thoughts are it’s about damn time. I tried to remember the last time I was this disappointed in a receiver when thinking of Merriweather. Then I remembered Lorenzo Styles used to play for us…

 

[DillonHall]

Merriweather is a joke. He and Styles are competing for title of Worst WR Hands

Forget the recruiting rankings- he is who he is. He should probably transfer, he's only going to go further down the depth chart once the 2024 kids arrive

 

[jason_h537]

Merriweather is a sophomore. A true sophomore. The idea that people on this board are happy to give up on him is beyond stupid. The idea that they are giving up on him when the receiving room is so thin and green is even stupider. Players get better all the time. It's actually pretty common in college.

it's honestly impressive how some people can write something out and hit post without thinking.

 

[DillonHall]

Merriweather is a sophomore. A true sophomore. The idea that people on this board are happy to give up on him is beyond stupid. The idea that they are giving up on him when the receiving room is so thin and green is even stupider. Players get better all the time. It's actually pretty common in college.

it's honestly impressive how some people can write something out and hit post without thinking.

I'd be surprised if Merriweather doesn't transfer. The writing's on the wall, just like Jordan Johnson. The II guys have been very consistent in saying that Merriweather has never been impressive in practice. I just don't think he can play at this level

In terms of receiving options, he'll be behind Greathouse, Flores, Cam Williams, Staes, and probably at least 2 of J. Thomas, Tyree, and Evans (hopefully all three come back)

 

[ulukinatme]

Styles did one thing well that Merriweather has not: block. He was pancaking USC defenders as a freshmen, he was hungry to see the field that year. I'm not sure what happened his Sophomore year, I've never seen a worse 2nd year slump. Hard to tell how much of that was on Pyne, but either way Lorenzo didn't stick around and he hasn't done himself any favors at OSU. I ate crow, I really thought he was going to build on his freshman year.

 

[DillonHall]

Styles did one thing well that Merriweather has not: block. He was pancaking USC defenders as a freshmen, he was hungry to see the field that year. I'm not sure what happened his Sophomore year, I've never seen a worse 2nd year slump. Hard to tell how much of that was on Pyne, but either way Lorenzo didn't stick around and he hasn't done himself any favors at OSU. I ate crow, I really thought he was going to build on his freshman year.

I think Tobias has been an effective blocker- it's probably the only reason he's been on the field as much as he has

I don't think there was a single ND fan who didn't expect Styles to have a great career after the Oklahoma State game

 

[PutuporShutup]

Styles did one thing well that Merriweather has not: block. He was pancaking USC defenders as a freshmen, he was hungry to see the field that year. I'm not sure what happened his Sophomore year, I've never seen a worse 2nd year slump. Hard to tell how much of that was on Pyne, but either way Lorenzo didn't stick around and he hasn't done himself any favors at OSU. I ate crow, I really thought he was going to build on his freshman year.

I was wrong about styles, Tobias, and Thomas

At some point soon the wr group has to play well or Stuckey could be part of the issue

 

[stlnd01]

Stuckeys guys are looking pretty good. It's the other guys guys that aren't

Stuckey's been the WR coach for nearly two full seasons. At some point they're all his guys.
I'd push back a bit on Thomas though. He has been hurt most of this season. When healthy he has been solid.

 

[Plankton]

Stuckey's been the WR coach for nearly two full seasons. At some point they're all his guys.
I'd push back a bit on Thomas though. He has been hurt most of this season. When healthy he has been solid.

Unless you are Brian Kelly, the minute that you begin coaching a player, he's one of your guys.

 

[MacIrish75]

I was wrong about styles, Tobias, and Thomas

At some point soon the wr group has to play well or Stuckey could be part of the issue

What the heck is wrong with how Jayden Thomas has performed?

 

[DillonHall]

What the heck is wrong with how Jayden Thomas has performed?

He's underperformed (only 15 catches this season), but it's obviously due to injuries. I think we all expected him to be WR1 for us so that's disappointment, but again, not really anyone's fault. Maybe we can blame Under Armour?

 

[GoIrish41]

At some point soon the wr group has to play well or Stuckey could be part of the issue

Ding!

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Ding!

So pretty much at this point Mickens is our only coach we shouldnt be looking to fire if anyones following along we th all the posts this season.

 

[GoIrish41]

So pretty much at this point Mickens is our only coach we shouldnt be looking to fire if anyones following along we th all the posts this season.

I don’t think any of the coaches should be fired. I also don’t think their shortcomings should be ignored. They all need to up their development game.

 

[Crazy Balki]

How anyone can blame Stuckey is beyond me.

We've gone through multiple weeks of the season where we had 3 scholarship receivers who were healthy in Merriweather, Flores and Tyree. One of those guys is a true freshman, another is a converted RB who has never played receiver prior to this season and another is a sophomore who is clearly in his own head.

Stuckey is a football coach, not a miracle worker. You can't realistically expect a position to excel when you can't even run 4 wide.

ND could not afford to lose anyone to injury and they've lost 4 key rotational guys for extended periods for injury in Thomas, Greathouse, Colzie and Salerno. That isn't Stuckey's fault. That's on Del and Kelly 100%. Why we're having to rely on freshman and a converted RB to pick up the slack is an indictment of how horrendous the recruiting and retention had been for years. It's come to a head.

As for Merriweather, his issues aren't technical or effort. It's all about confidence. He doesn't have it and it's gotten to the point where he needs to sit and get his head right. He'll still play, because...well, we literally don't have much other choice. Hopefully, this gives him the chance to get his head on straight.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I don’t think any of the coaches should be fired. I also don’t think their shortcomings should be ignored. They all need to up their development game.

Development isn't the issue.

Talent is.

The OL doesn't have issues with guys who aren't developing. Their interior is made up 2 guys with incomplete skillsets and a center who is undersized and always will be.

WR is woefully short on numbers, experience and talent. When you are relying on a freshman walk-on LAX player to turn in major reps, you know things are bad.

DL has impressed, namely DT. Cross and Mills have been two of the most productive DT's in the country. Edge hasn't been as good as some hoped, but that's more a talent/experience issue. Botelho isn't a fit at Vyper and the guys behind him are just starting out at Vyper. Meanwhile, JJB has been good, but there's not much behind him in terms of quality pass rushing at big end.

LB hasn't been perfect, but they've produced. JD, Marist and Kiser have been very productive and have helped this unit be one of the top units in the country. Sneed has progressed and is coming off his best game vs. USC.

Corners are elite. Safeties, in spite of the heat they get, have been mostly solid. Watts is budding into an elite safety, while Brown and Henderson have been mostly solid. Safety's issue is talent, as this unit would likely benefit from a guy like Downs or Bowen. But those were outside of the staff's control.

 

[PutuporShutup]

What the heck is wrong with how Jayden Thomas has performed?

He was downright awful vs nc state when healthy and bad against osu before getting injured late in the game

All but 8 of his yards have come against navy tenn state and Cmu

 

[PutuporShutup]

So pretty much at this point Mickens is our only coach we shouldnt be looking to fire if anyones following along we th all the posts this season.

I’d rank biggest issues in order as

Offensive play calling
Wr play
Oline play or Safety play (other than watts)
Dl development after mills cross baptiste
Lb development

 

[PutuporShutup]

How anyone can blame Stuckey is beyond me.

We've gone through multiple weeks of the season where we had 3 scholarship receivers who were healthy in Merriweather, Flores and Tyree. One of those guys is a true freshman, another is a converted RB who has never played receiver prior to this season and another is a sophomore who is clearly in his own head.

Stuckey is a football coach, not a miracle worker. You can't realistically expect a position to excel when you can't even run 4 wide.

ND could not afford to lose anyone to injury and they've lost 4 key rotational guys for extended periods for injury in Thomas, Greathouse, Colzie and Salerno. That isn't Stuckey's fault. That's on Del and Kelly 100%. Why we're having to rely on freshman and a converted RB to pick up the slack is an indictment of how horrendous the recruiting and retention had been for years. It's come to a head.

As for Merriweather, his issues aren't technical or effort. It's all about confidence. He doesn't have it and it's gotten to the point where he needs to sit and get his head right. He'll still play, because...well, we literally don't have much other choice. Hopefully, this gives him the chance to get his head on straight.

We were healthy vs nc state and osu and wr play was bad vs them

Im not writing Stuckey off yet but we have a really good accurate qb and our wrs can’t do anything vs a D with a pulse… there’s no denying that. You’d think maybe one wr other than a walk on or rb transition could beat man