Maybe you’ve noticed that Columbia’s roster lists an incredible
16 players at the wide receiver position.
Yes, that’s a lot.
Last season, there were almost as many.
And that big load is yet another reason why Columbia fans
should be very grateful for WR coach
Wendell Davis. It’s also why I’m sorry I haven’t singled him out for
special praise before.
Davis was a start receiver at LSU and a top draft choice by
the Chicago Bears. He played well for Mike Ditka before injuries ended his
career early.
Last season, Davis was a miracle worker as the Lions kept
producer new receivers who played extremely well every time the guy in front of
them went down with an injury.
First, Davis developed then-sophomore Connor Nelligan from a
seldom-used target in 2011 to one of the top receivers in the Ivies and
Columbia’s #1 go-to air target.
Then, Davis cultivated then-freshman Isaiah Gross and turned
the raw recruit into a spectacular deep threat.
When Gross tweaked his hamstring Davis got another
then-freshman, Chris Connors, ready to play and he ended up leading the receiving
corps in TD receptions.
Transfer Jake Wanamaker was not really healthy enough to
start the season, but Davis got him in playing shape and good enough to make an
impact by the Yale game.
And there was even the improvement he helped Ryan Flannery
make the leap to being a real contributor with the varsity.
Davis has his hands full again this offseason as he has a
ton of receivers to get into shape for the season.
But this is really an embarrassment of riches for a team
that was without any depth at all at WR and a little thin on talent after Austin Knowlin graduated.
Remember that after Mike
Stephens was injured in week one of 2010, Columbia had to convert players
from other positions to play receiver.
Now I count four very talented WR’s who could start on a lot
of other Ivy teams: Nelligan, Gross, Connors, and Wanamaker. Plus, we have
probably the best pass-catching TE in the league in Hamilton Garner and some very good looking reserve WR’s include Louis DiNovo and Flannery.
Just on paper, there are also 2-3 very promising freshmen WR’s that Coach Davis will have to evaluate quickly to see if they deserve to jump the line and get on the field early.
Based on size alone, I like the chances for Toure Douglas, Denzel Hill, and 6-6 TE Connor Spears may get into the receiving mix very early too.
Just on paper, there are also 2-3 very promising freshmen WR’s that Coach Davis will have to evaluate quickly to see if they deserve to jump the line and get on the field early.
Based on size alone, I like the chances for Toure Douglas, Denzel Hill, and 6-6 TE Connor Spears may get into the receiving mix very early too.
But when I look at the receivers, I see quality, depth and good coaching. And that's a real recipe for success.
9 comments:
All we need now is a QB that can put the ball in the end zone
And we have several of those, IF the line can protect them. Fingers crossed.
We are much stronger at the skills positions this year than in the past. So much so that the line will have a much easier time protecting the quarterbacks than in the past. Don't forget that we have the best running back in the Ivy League in Garrett and some terrific wide receivers and tight ends.
It used to drive me crazy to see our receivers slow down on fly patterns only to see the ball go over their heads. Last year the coaching difference was obvious. I didn't see any of that.
Fly paterns?
We were last in the league in scoring. No?
Beware the wrath of Air Columbia !!
Jake, in your review of the freshmen wide receivers you left out Ben Kaplan. He's a good one (see Coach M's roster comment), plus his mother wouldn't like it. You shouldn't ignore him just because he may be from the tribe, I may have to report you to the ADL. ;)
Jake doesn't want to be accused of being ethnocentric.
Got it ;)
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