'15 GA WR Preston Williams (UT Signee 2/4/15)

#6,751
#6,751
TMatthews19 said:
Were you happy with Josh Malone's performances last year? What about the fact Croom has yet to play to his size? Remember that play against Oklahoma? How about little to no progress from Marquez North from his freshman to sophomore year? We had one WR in the SEC top 15 in receiving in terms of yards.

You know this is being used against us in recruiting. I hope opposing coaches are your "reasoning" but I'd say they're using more factual information.
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Malone was a true freshman. He struggled with consistency and hit the proverbial freshman wall. That's what happens to true freshman. If that's your justification for Azzani being a sub-par WR coach, then every WR coach in the country is sub-par. And, as someone else mentioned, Malone was battling an array of injuries throughout the year. None of them were serious, but they took their tole.

North also battled various injuries all year, including the shoulder injury he had surgery on this winter. That was actually an old high school injury he had played through for a couple of years. I'm chalking his struggles up to his health, not his position coach. We'll see what happens this year. If he's healthy, I'm betting we'll see him do what we all think he can do. Also, keep in mind that North wasn't a WR in HS. He's been learning the position on the fly.

As for Croom, let's go all Bob Mueller and check his stats. As a RS FR, Croom played in 12 games, starting 7. As a RS SO, he played in 12 games, starting only one. We could debate why he started fewer games in year two, but regardless of that debate, his numbers are interesting. In more time, playing primarily as a starter in year 1, with an experienced O-line, he had 18 catches for 269 yards and 2 TDs. In year two, with a crappy O-line, starting only one game and playing fewer snaps, his stats improved in every area. He had 21 catches for 305 yards and 4 TDs (tying him for the team lead), one of which was the probably the biggest of the year to tie the game against USC at the end of regulation.

I think Croom gets a bad rap because people look at his size and think he should automatically be Megatron. IMO, physicality and aggression just don't seem to come naturally to him. Azzani is having to fight Croom's relatively passive nature to get him to play with the physicality we expect of someone that size. It's a work in progress, and I think the stats show that progress is being made.
 
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#6,754
#6,754
TMatthews19 said:
Were you happy with Josh Malone's performances last year? What about the fact Croom has yet to play to his size? Remember that play against Oklahoma? How about little to no progress from Marquez North from his freshman to sophomore year? We had one WR in the SEC top 15 in receiving in terms of yards.

You know this is being used against us in recruiting. I hope opposing coaches are your "reasoning" but I'd say they're using more factual information.
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Croom used his size versus Georgia, Mizzou, and Kentucky. That's called correcting a mistake(or coaching). North was injured but played very good in the Bama game. Guess that doesn't count. Playing with 2-3 QBs probably helped North produce too right? Heck outta here.
 
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#6,757
#6,757
highspeed said:
Malone was a true freshman. He struggled with consistency and hit the proverbial freshman wall. That's what happens to true freshman. If that's your justification for Azzani being a sub-par WR coach, then every WR coach in the country is sub-par. And, as someone else mentioned, Malone was battling an array of injuries throughout the year. None of them were serious, but they took their tole.

North also battled various injuries all year, including the shoulder injury he had surgery on this winter. That was actually an old high school injury he had played through for a couple of years. I'm chalking his struggles up to his health, not his position coach. We'll see what happens this year. If he's healthy, I'm betting we'll see him do what we all think he can do. Also, keep in mind that North wasn't a WR in HS. He's been learning the position on the fly.

As for Croom, let's go all Bob Mueller and check his stats. As a RS FR, Croom played in 12 games, starting 7. As a RS SO, he played in 12 games, starting only one. We could debate why he started fewer games in year two, but regardless of that debate, his numbers are interesting. In more time, playing primarily as a starter in year 1, with an experienced O-line, he had 18 catches for 269 yards and 2 TDs. In year two, with a crappy O-line, starting only one game and playing fewer snaps, his stats improved in every area. He had 21 catches for 305 yards and 4 TDs (tying him for the team lead), one of which was the probably the biggest of the year to tie the game against USC at the end of regulation.

I think Croom gets a bad rap because people look at his size and think he should automatically be Megatron. IMO, physicality and aggression just don't seem to come naturally to him. Azzani is having to fight Croom's relatively passive nature to get him to play with the physicality we expect of someone that size. It's a work in progress, and I think the stats show that progress is being made.
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This, he has the potential to be a great WR he just needs a mean steak.
 
#6,759
#6,759
OGbabyaviVol said:
How do you know whether he has a mean streak or not?
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The coaches have basically said as much in post-practice interviews. They're having to teach him to be mean and aggressive and use his size to its full advantage. For some people that may come naturally. For him, apparently, it does not.

Also, I don't mean any of this to sound like I'm criticizing Croom. I think he's made nice improvement since getting here, and I expect that improvement to continue.
 
#6,760
#6,760
white65 said:
This, he has the potential to be a great WR he just needs a mean steak.
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I don't think he's as athletic as the board thinks. He's a good athlete not this freak most make him out to be on here. He's a good WR. We haven't gotten to see one of our WRs get a full season of consistent QB play or decent play calling.
 
#6,762
#6,762
Wickman said:
Do you just not read updates from VQ or GFW? Pig Howard and Malone were the only two receivers healthy last year. The only 2. Pearson had nagging injuries all year, and it was obvious. North only was targeted 2-3 times a game from Worley and was hurt almost all year. Malone was a TRUE FRESHMAN going against the best players in college football in the SEC, not to mention VQ and GFW talked about how his mentality was not up to par. Josh Smith was INFINITELY better per reports and the few games he played until he was hurt. Croom hasn't played up to his size with Hinshaw or Z coaching. At what point is Z to blame if Croom doesn't use his size and high point a football like he is taught? Z isn't out there doing it for him, maybe Croom just isn't an aggressive human being... Pig was basically the only one healthy consistently and if you can't see he has improved dramatically since Z took over for Hinshaw then you need to open your eyes. We had JUSTIN WORLEY throwing the football. By the time Dobbs actually got here, half our receiving corps was sidelined or playing hurt. Isn't it crazy when we finally get healthy in the tax slayer bowl the receivers look good? We were able to take the top off the defense and receivers were able to get open with Dobbs at QB. Not to mention the oline was slaw all year. You wanna exile Z when if you were in the same situation, you'd be defending yourself to hell and back about the cards you were dealt. There is a reason we fought so hard to keep coach Z this offseason, even though a number of teams wanted him. That doesn't just happen because he can't coach. Maybe teams were impressed with the job he did because every receiver on the roster besides Malone was injured at some point last year.
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Worley being the QB and not having time to throw which he needed more than most QB's had tons to do with the passing game. If he had time or could produce with his legs when he did not have time, it would then be the WR's fault if the passing game suffered. Wide outs getting open is one of four things that make the passing game work. The other two, throwing the ball and having the time to do so where the receivers can get open was not good. The other part is catching it when it is on target. The two we did not have most of the year is what made it hard to tell how well the two things you could just Coach A and the receivers on had improved or not.
 
#6,763
#6,763
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#6,766
#6,766
do some of you realize that the kids you are bashing played with broke hands the first part of the season? Just like everyone bashing Josh Smith the year before for butter hands... Then felt like morons after finding out he was injured...SMDH...
 
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#6,769
#6,769
Per Hubbs, as of right now Williams should be ready to go game 1. He also listed Williams as a newcomer who will have a significant impact.


Man, I can't wait to watch PWill catching passes in a UT uniform. Soon...
 
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#6,771
#6,771
Ron Swanson said:
Per Hubbs, as of right now Williams should be ready to go game 1. He also listed Williams as a newcomer who will have a significant impact.


Man, I can't wait to watch PWill catching passes in a UT uniform. Soon...
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Would be amazing.
 
#6,774
#6,774
Pig, North, Von

Malone, Croom, Smith

Johnson

Wolf, Ellis

OH YEAH and the most talented frosh WR in the nation.
 
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