Wetjen In Space DOWNFIELD!?

MelroseHawkins

MelroseHawkins

Well-Known Member
Isn't there a damn way Lester or coaches can design a play to get Wetjen a bit downfield in space to receive a pass. On O, it seems they either have a jet sweep, that when the D sees him in motion are going to key on him or a pass to the outside.

As Iowa fans, we always cringe at the thought of our LB's covering receivers, especially when new. Well, can't they design a play to get Wetjen between the LB's and D-backs or force a LB to cover Wetjen? Hell, put Moulton & Wetjen both in the backfield and run Wetjen on some kind of downfield route to a space. You could always have him in the backfield and put him in motion to pull a defender and hand off to the RB if wish to offset going to him.

I dunno, he kills in space so I would think it would be a good idea to utilize him a bit more downfield instead of just laterally.
 


MelroseHawkins said:
Isn't there a damn way Lester or coaches can design a play to get Wetjen a bit downfield in space to receive a pass. On O, it seems they either have a jet sweep, that when the D sees him in motion are going to key on him or a pass to the outside.

As Iowa fans, we always cringe at the thought of our LB's covering receivers, especially when new. Well, can't they design a play to get Wetjen between the LB's and D-backs or force a LB to cover Wetjen? Hell, put Moulton & Wetjen both in the backfield and run Wetjen on some kind of downfield route to a space. You could always have him in the backfield and put him in motion to pull a defender and hand off to the RB if wish to offset going to him.

I dunno, he kills in space so I would think it would be a good idea to utilize him a bit more downfield instead of just laterally.
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Once he's in space with the ball he's great. Getting the ball to him in space is the problem. He's 5'9" tall against against guys with 6'8" wingspans, some of whom can probably dunk a basketball from standing. We don't have a QB who can thread that needle.
 


Fryowa said:
Once he's in space with the ball he's great. Getting the ball to him in space is the problem. He's 5'9" tall against against guys with 6'8" wingspans, some of whom can probably dunk a basketball from standing. We don't have a QB who can thread that needle.
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I disagree a bit. Good route runners can offset that size and wingspan. Quickness and acceleration can offset that. Maybe he lacks with those skills, I dunno but he seems like he could be a Wes Welker kind of player to me. Teach him. Quick guys who run quick routes and not round their routes, and make 90 degree cuts can peel off defenders.

Hell, the NFL has its share of smallish receivers every season.
 


MelroseHawkins said:
I disagree a bit. Good route runners can offset that size and wingspan. Quickness and acceleration can offset that. Maybe he lacks with those skills, I dunno but he seems like he could be a Wes Welker kind of player to me. Teach him. Quick guys who run quick routes and not round their routes, and make 90 degree cuts can peel off defenders.
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Wes Welker had Tom Brady and Peyton Manning throwing to him.

He can run the best routes in the world but who's going to hit him in those windows across the middle?
 




MelroseHawkins said:
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So he's 3 inches shorter than the average receiver...

Kinda goes along with what I was saying. And still doesn't address the QB situation of who's going to hit an undersized target moving across the middle where there's the highest concentration of defenders. Our QBs aren't equipped for that. They have a hard enough time hitting giant TEs who get open across the middle.
 


Fryowa said:
So he's 3 inches shorter than the average receiver...

Kinda goes along with what I was saying. And still doesn't address the QB situation of who's going to hit an undersized target moving across the middle where there's the highest concentration of defenders. Our QBs aren't equipped for that. They have a hard enough time hitting giant TEs who get open across the middle.
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My point is NFL WR's aren't all 6'4" like many think they are. The average was surprisingly shorter on average than I thought. I thought it would be 6' 2" or so. Yea, the roster says he's 5' 9" so is prob 5' 8" but still many WR's have succeeded at that height, and NOT ALL had Manning or Brady throwing to them.

On a side note, it is pretty surprising that the average NFL player (all positions) is only 6' 2"!
 




Hawkfnntn said:
Isn't Phillips like 5'7? He's been getting the ball more lately and he's a smaller target then Wetjen
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One of Wetjen's issues is he does not seem to have the ability to get open downfield. Phillips does, and it shows in the statistics of each player. Phillips is getting better and better, along with Gronowski.
 




I actually think these receivers are decent. If we had an average D1 quarterback we would likely be a top 15 team right now.
 


Wetjen is 3rd on the team in receptions. They have tried to get the ball to him in space, but I don’t think he is the most polished route runner that has walked the face of the Earth. It isn’t a Charlie Jones situation.
 




Wetjen might not be the most polished route runner, I get that, but, I also have a damn hard time believing that coaches can't design a play or two for a player with special speed/quickness to space, using some deception. There has got to be a way.
 


MelroseHawkins said:
Wetjen might not be the most polished route runner, I get that, but, I also have a damn hard time believing that coaches can't design a play or two for a player with special speed/quickness to space, using some deception. There has got to be a way.
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I think they are definitely trying to find ways to get the ball in his hands. From jet sweeps to swing passes and screens. It would be good to have him involved for sure.
 






My opinion is line him up and send him deep 4-5 times a half. You don't have to throw to him but the opposition is damn sure going to notice when he's out there and its one less defender to worry about whether he's a target or a merely a distraction.
 


kicker22 said:
My opinion is line him up and send him deep 4-5 times a half. You don't have to throw to him but the opposition is damn sure going to notice when he's out there and its one less defender to worry about whether he's a target or a merely a distraction.
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That's a good point. You could clear 1/3rd of the field with what I would be presuming is one of the best athletes in the D-back field and take him out of the play. Decoy Y receiver I guess with a chance at some touches.
 




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