Wetjen In Space DOWNFIELD!?

[MelroseHawkins]

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.

 

[Fryowa]

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.

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.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

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.

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.

 

[Fryowa]

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.

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]

 

[Fryowa]

View attachment 11600

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.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

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.

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]

Isn't Phillips like 5'7? He's been getting the ball more lately and he's a smaller target then Wetjen

 

[haydensly]

Isn't Phillips like 5'7? He's been getting the ball more lately and he's a smaller target then Wetjen

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.