DJ Hord

[d9cornel]

I think a lot of fans are forgetting Hord's potential. As a freshmen I thought he looked promising on Kick returns and just his over all athleticism makes me excited about his return. I don't know about the rest of you but I am encouraged about the future and I think that our WR's are going to be pretty good.

 

[FleaFlicker]

Our WR's will be fine next year, and will get stronger in year's to come. The only issues with guys like Horde and Grimes are always their size. That is what we will miss next year, with Jeff and Rhema being gone.

 

[NDOM]

I think a lot of fans are forgetting Hord's potential. As a freshmen I thought he looked promising on Kick returns and just his over all athleticism makes me excited about his return. I don't know about the rest of you but I am encouraged about the future and I think that our WR's are going to be pretty good.

Dude trust me on this one. I have NOT forgotten about D.J. Hord at all. I am super excited to see him play more. He's going to be great but I think he need to add a bit of Muscle to his frame and get some weight.

 

[ACamp1900]

I would expect him the compete for a starting spot for sure....

 

[NDOM]

I would expect him the compete for a starting spot for sure....

Absolutely.

 

[timm3117]

Our WR's will be fine next year, and will get stronger in year's to come. The only issues with guys like Horde and Grimes are always their size. That is what we will miss next year, with Jeff and Rhema being gone.

Size is overrated! Ever heard of Laveranues Coles, Santana Moss, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Terry Glenn, Donte' Stallworth, Donald Driver, Steve Smith, or Darrell Jackson? There all 6 feet or under!

 

[claynd105]

Size is overrated! Ever heard of Laveranues Coles, Santana Moss, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Terry Glenn, Donte' Stallworth, Donald Driver, Steve Smith, or Darrell Jackson? There all 6 feet or under!

While size is very valuable for a WR it isn't as important as creating enough seperation to get the ball thrown your way.

 

[luckofirish8]

size is not a be all end all...it is a bonus. DJ Hord will be a very nice WR in the years to come. there is no doubt in my mind about that.

 

[timm3117]

While size is very valuable for a WR it isn't as important as creating enough seperation to get the ball thrown your way.

My point is height is nice to have, but its talent that makes a top notch WR.

 

[ACamp1900]

Hord for Heisman in 07!!!!!!!

 

[d9cornel]

I think DJ was the Gatorade Player of the Year for his state if I'm not mistaken. I know that doens't substantiate anything but just for reference.

 

[deleham]

He is 6'1" so he's not tiny. I'm looking forward seeing him get on the field next year. He was the only really top class recruit that stuck with ND through the Ty debacle so hopefully he'll be rewarded for his faith with some great play next year.

 

[Indydomer]

I thought he was around 6'3". Maybe I was wrong. Anyway it doesn't matter. He will finally get a chance to contribute this year. I loved the way he returned kicks his freshman year. He ran with passion, and ran the ball with everything he had. He wanted to be on the field and that is the best attribute you can have in a kid. A kid that would die to be on the field.

 

[matt_99]

Sign me up for the Hord horde!

 

[kickerbg31]

I'd rather have a guy that runs good routes and gets open over a guy that can only catch balls because of his size.

The common denominator for all those short guys is they get OPEN. If the receiver is all alone on the field, it doesn't matter if he is 5'5" or 6'5". Once the ball is in the receiver's hands, size is not as important as speed and play-making ability.

 

[johnnd05]

He showed some SERIOUS speed on those kick returns last year.

 

[timm3117]

I'd rather have a guy that runs good routes and gets open over a guy that can only catch balls because of his size.

The common denominator for all those short guys is they get OPEN. If the receiver is all alone on the field, it doesn't matter if he is 5'5" or 6'5". Once the ball is in the receiver's hands, size is not as important as speed and play-making ability.

Yup a good receiver just knows how to get open, and catches the ball when its thrown to him. Example good WR Hines Ward, Bad WR Plaxico Burress . Hines plays hard, gets open, plays to every ounce of his ability. Plax Drops balls, takes plays off, quits routes, has awsome ability but doesn't always use it.

 

[tgolden]

I thought he was around 6'3". Maybe I was wrong. Anyway it doesn't matter. He will finally get a chance to contribute this year. I loved the way he returned kicks his freshman year. He ran with passion, and ran the ball with everything he had. He wanted to be on the field and that is the best attribute you can have in a kid. A kid that would die to be on the field.

He's 6'1". but you're right, it really doesn't matter that much.

 

[BGIF]

Our WR's will be fine next year, and will get stronger in year's to come. The only issues with guys like Horde and Grimes are always their size. That is what we will miss next year, with Jeff and Rhema being gone.

ND lists Hord as 6-1 and Rhema as 6-2. Do you think that one inch is that significant?

Two years ago Stovall bulked up - and slowed down. The first thing Weis did was tell me to lose weight. He did and posted great numbers.

If Hord's rehab is successful he'll do fine.

 

[beaudoj]

Where was he on the depth chart prior to the injury? Would he have seen playing time ahead of Grimes or Anastasio this year had he been healthy.

 

[irish4ever]

Where was he on the depth chart prior to the injury? Would he have seen playing time ahead of Grimes or Anastasio this year had he been healthy.

Grimes, possibly not. Anastasio I would say yes.

 

[Indydomer]

Yes he would have been the third receiver in my opinion.

 

[FleaFlicker]

I'm really surprised that they list Hord at 6'1. He never looked like 6'1 to me. But you guys make good points. He should be fine.

 

[HoffVir]

The 3rd WR spot would have been a battle between Hord and Grimes.

 

[illinoisirish88]

I see Hord, Grimes, and either Kumara or Paris as the top 3 next year.

 

[SBhomer]

Hord might end up being the number one next year.

 

[huntzjess]

i think grimes showed a good ability to get open and catch the ball....imo he will at least start at 1

 

[ndirish302000]

as long as he stays healthy he has a huge upside

 

[BGIF]

The 3rd WR spot would have been a battle between Hord and Grimes.

Where is this coming from? There was no battle or even a perception of a battle. After preseason camp CW stated in a press conference that Hord was clearly the #3 WR. "Now we're looking for #4". CW noted that the difference between #2 and #3 was less than the difference between #3 and #4. Nobody surfaced for awhile.

ND played a lot of 2 TEs sets early in the season to support a rookie OL at RT. Just as much a reason was the absence of a 3rd WR. Carlson was actually the 3rd WR while lining up at TE.

Grimes played in all but one game but started 5 of the last 6. He didn't have a reception til he "arrived" against UM. Anastascio got a start against Purdue in game 2 and didn't get another start until the last game of the season. Parris had his only catch against UM. West didn't get any catches until USC.

If Hord had been healthy the latter three guys would have had a tough time finding the field except on Special Teams.

 

[BGIF]

Grimes probably improved his play this year more than any other player on the team. He, a healthy Hord, and a returning Carlson (I hope) will help take the load off the whichever QB wins out while the OLine and tall receivers break in.