'23 CA WR Rico Flores (UCLA Transfer)

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DillonHall

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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

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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.
 
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DillonHall

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jason_h537 said:
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.
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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

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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.
 
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DillonHall

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ulukinatme said:
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.
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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
 
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PutuporShutup

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ulukinatme said:
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.
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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
 
Plankton

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stlnd01 said:
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.
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Unless you are Brian Kelly, the minute that you begin coaching a player, he's one of your guys.
 
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MacIrish75 said:
What the heck is wrong with how Jayden Thomas has performed?
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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

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Te'o4Heisman said:
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.
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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

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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

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GoIrish41 said:
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.
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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.
 
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PutuporShutup

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Te'o4Heisman said:
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.
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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
 
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PutuporShutup

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Crazy Balki said:
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.
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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
 
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PutuporShutup

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NDFAN2008 said:
I know Flores has been better than Merriweather but maybe this is a wake up call for Merriweather.
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We do a lot of inline blocking with our wrs, and Tobias has been bad there…. This may be a move to try and be better at running against a stacked box…. Yay
 
Crazy Balki

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PutuporShutup said:
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
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1) Hartman has not been accurate, namely against NC State, he was off his mark more than a few times.

2) NC State has one of the better tandem of corners in the country. In spite of their sheer offensive ineptitude, they are a good defensive team.

Even then, ND's receivers have made plays, but again, when you're relying on inexperienced freshman and sophomores and converted backs to make plays consistently, that's not a recipe for success, no matter who's coaching them.
 
NDBoiler

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NDFAN2008 said:
I know Flores has been better than Merriweather but maybe this is a wake up call for Merriweather.
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It’s 3/4 of the way through the season and he’s done virtually nothing this season besides blocking. I want him to show out and live up to his potential as much as anyone, but I think it’s a little naive to think that he’ll all of sudden “get it” now. He might just not be good enough.
 
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PutuporShutup

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Crazy Balki said:
1) Hartman has not been accurate, namely against NC State, he was off his mark more than a few times.

2) NC State has one of the better tandem of corners in the country. In spite of their sheer offensive ineptitude, they are a good defensive team.

Even then, ND's receivers have made plays, but again, when you're relying on inexperienced freshman and sophomores and converted backs to make plays consistently, that's not a recipe for success, no matter who's coaching them.
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Thomas was given 3 opportunities vs nc state… one brutal drop on perfect deep ball, one perfect pass drop but he got hit hard so understandable, then wrong route

We all get our wrs are inexperienced, but not one is stepping up… I really thought Thomas was going to be a stud this year… that’s a me issue lol
 
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PutuporShutup said:
Thomas was given 3 opportunities vs nc state… one brutal drop on perfect deep ball, one perfect pass drop but he got hit hard so understandable, then wrong route

We all get our wrs are inexperienced, but not one is stepping up… I really thought Thomas was going to be a stud this year… that’s a me issue lol
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envy.JPG

We are so fortunate to have you as part of the "Fan" base.
 
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brewdog_14527

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PutuporShutup said:
View attachment 3054672
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You have 5 of the last 10 posts on this page. Are you talking to yourself? Your posts about what you would do, or what should be happening, or who we should be recruiting, or how this guy seems good, but really isn't are getting tired. You take over almost all of these threads with you "expert" opinions. Seems if you were as qualified as you believe you are, you would be coaching for a living, or at least working in someone's front office, breaking down film, correcting the coaches, or anything else you have posted about.
 
Lberry

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brewdog_14527 said:
You have 5 of the last 10 posts on this page. Are you talking to yourself? Your posts about what you would do, or what should be happening, or who we should be recruiting, or how this guy seems good, but really isn't are getting tired. You take over almost all of these threads with you "expert" opinions. Seems if you were as qualified as you believe you are, you would be coaching for a living, or at least working in someone's front office, breaking down film, correcting the coaches, or anything else you have posted about.
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He actually has things to say and uses examples. High frequency posts, which I'll personally welcome all day whether I agree with someone or not.

Yours is a low frequency post. Nothing said, nothing insightful, just "I don't like you dummy" stuff. Low F.
 
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