'24 GA WR Mike Matthews (Tennessee)

#2,901
#2,901
therickbol said:
But here is the reality of that situation. It is ridiculously challenging to transition from HS to SEC level football. When a 5-star comes in and he plays before he is ready (which is almost all 5-stars) then when he struggles we got fans complaining because he isn't an All-SEC performer as a true freshman. Then it's.... why do we get the 5-stars that aren't ready and need to be developed?!?!
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I'm not saying it isn't a two-edged sword. Fans will absolutely complain if highly-rated kids don't contribute early on. I'm just saying Marvin Harrison Jr. wasn't going to see the field a ton as a freshman, regardless of his physical abilities, because he was behind three future 1st round picks at WR, all with experience. Mike Matthews might not make a huge, immediate impact next year, but it won't be for the same reason as Harrison Jr. Unlike him, opportunity will certainly be there for MM, but as you said, the step up from HS to SEC football is immense, so expectations should be tempered.
 
#2,902
#2,902
TheMookieMonster said:
Webb has not looked that impressive so far. We’re losing Keyton. Thornton just needs to be shown the door. We’re going to be young at WR next year.

Matthews has a skill set that currently no receiver on our roster possesses. If Matthews isn’t ready to contribute on Day 1, I’ll have concerns about our player development. He shouldn’t need 1-2 years to learn. He has elite tools and needs to play the moment he gets here.
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Look at Burden for Mizzou. 5* recruit, no real better options on campus, all world physical talent. complete non factor as a freshman, taking over as a sophomore. was that bad player development by Mizzou?
 
#2,903
#2,903
LouderVol said:
Look at Burden for Mizzou. 5* recruit, no real better options on campus, all world physical talent. complete non factor as a freshman, taking over as a sophomore. was that bad player development by Mizzou?
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I wouldn’t call appearing in all 13 games and catching 45 passes for almost 400 yards receiving and 6 TDs “a complete non factor for Mizzou”. That would be a pretty respectable campaign for Matthews as a true freshmen.
 
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#2,904
#2,904
vol94 said:
Respect. Other schools play freshmen. Bama played /started a freshman O lineman yesterday. I hear freshmen players called out throughout Saturdays while watching college football.

He was an elite talent but Tua played 2nd half of title game to beat UGA as a freshman.
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Wasn't it the Bama freshman that gave up the strip sack?
 
#2,905
#2,905
TheMookieMonster said:
I wouldn’t call appearing in all 13 games and catching 45 passes for almost 400 yards receiving and 6 TDs “a complete non factor for Mizzou”. That would be a pretty respectable campaign for Matthews as a true freshmen.
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squirrel was 30 catches and almost 500 yards as a freshman. sounds like now you are saying that a regression (Burden freshman stats) by our freshman would be good player development. which is it?

Burden was 3 for 19 with 1 td against our atrocious pass D last year, I would call that a non-factor.
 
#2,906
#2,906
LouderVol said:
squirrel was 30 catches and almost 500 yards as a freshman. sounds like now you are saying that a regression (Burden freshman stats) by our freshman would be good player development. which is it?

Burden was 3 for 19 with 1 td against our atrocious pass D last year, I would call that a non-factor.
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I like how you cherry picked one game by Burden in a 13-game season last year and used that to illustrate that Burden was a “complete non-factor”. Luther Burden had more touchdowns last year than every Tennessee wide receiver not named Jalin Hyatt. I don’t see how that is being “a non-factor.” I guess our entire WR corps last year was basically a non-factor.

Your point would make sense if I had ever said Squirrel’s season last year was disappointing or unacceptable, so I’m not even sure what point you are trying to make.
 
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#2,907
#2,907
TheMookieMonster said:
I like how you cherry picked one game by Burden in a 13-game season last year and used that to illustrate that Burden was a “complete non-factor”. Luther Burden had more touchdowns last year than every Tennessee wide receiver not named Jalin Hyatt. I don’t see how that is being “a non-factor.” I guess our entire WR corps last year was basically a non-factor.

Your point would make sense if I had ever said Squirrel’s season last year was disappointing or unacceptable, so I’m not even sure what point you are trying to make.
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how do I cherry pick but also talk about the whole season?

are TDs the only metric for a WR? yards, yards per catch, yards after catch, blocking in our scheme. plenty of ways for a WR to be a factor.

weren't you complaining about development of our players? seems like if we can get a good season out of squirrel who only started 1-2 games, our development is just fine. and its doesn't mean our coaching is a problem if a WR isn't starting day 1.
 
#2,908
#2,908
LouderVol said:
how do I cherry pick but also talk about the whole season?

are TDs the only metric for a WR? yards, yards per catch, yards after catch, blocking in our scheme. plenty of ways for a WR to be a factor.

weren't you complaining about development of our players? seems like if we can get a good season out of squirrel who only started 1-2 games, our development is just fine. and its doesn't mean our coaching is a problem if a WR isn't starting day 1.
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Your direct quote is “Burden was 3 for 19 with 1 td against our atrocious pass D last year, I would call that a non-factor.” So, yes, I would say you cherry picked a game as evidence that he was a non-factor. Those are your words.

Again, we’re arguing two different points. I never put a metric on the yards and receptions Matthews needs to be successful in Year 1. I also said in a previous post that I wouldn’t expect him to be #1.

Your example of Squirrel is just a weird one because not only did he have a good freshmen season and was a contributor, he played behind the Biletnikoff winner, a talent that likely would have gone 1st or 2nd round if he didn’t get hurt, and another WR (Bru) that would have been a 2nd or 3rd round talent this year if he didn’t get hurt.

It’s similar to the Marvin Harrison Jr. situation. We were deep at WR last year. That isn’t the case next year.
 
#2,909
#2,909
TheMookieMonster said:
Your direct quote is “Burden was 3 for 19 with 1 td against our atrocious pass D last year, I would call that a non-factor.” So, yes, I would say you cherry picked a game as evidence that he was a non-factor. Those are your words.

Again, we’re arguing two different points. I never put a metric on the yards and receptions Matthews needs to be successful in Year 1. I also said in a previous post that I wouldn’t expect him to be #1.

Your example of Squirrel is just a weird one because not only did he have a good freshmen season and was a contributor, he played behind the Biletnikoff winner, a talent that likely would have gone 1st or 2nd round if he didn’t get hurt, and another WR (Bru) that would have been a 2nd or 3rd round talent this year if he didn’t get hurt.

It’s similar to the Marvin Harrison Jr. situation. We were deep at WR last year. That isn’t the case next year.
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I compared Burden's season stats to Squirrels. you were the one who cherry picked the TDs.

The depth thing is why I brought Mizzou/Burden last year. Mizzou didn't have the depth problem we did last year, but our #4 WR, a freshman, produced more than their 5* guy, both were freshman. And I don't think most people would have thought Burden had a successful year his freshman year. I am not sure how you can argue the expectations for Mathews should be to start and do better than our current crop of WR, but also consider Burden's freshman year "successful" as that would be a step back for our starters.
 
#2,910
#2,910
Someone remind me how did Jalin Hyatt do his freshman year? Anyone remember Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy? How did they do as freshman?
 
#2,915
#2,915
VolInDayton said:
Webb, Nimrod, Leacock, at least1 transfer. Matthews isn't a guaranteed day 1 starter.
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They should be solid receivers, but if they were All-SEC type guys we wouldn’t see so many passes going to Keyton and Thornton would be completely out of the rotation. If we don’t get good production from one of the three you named, and Matthews doesn’t get an opportunity to make a significant impact. Something is wrong.
 
#2,918
#2,918
allvolrecruiting said:
In this offense, receiver is a complicated position. Matthews is too good to keep off the field but when he doesn't get 1K yards as a freshman or necessarily even start it's not the end of the world lol
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Are you suggesting that we might overreact and start firing coaches and benching players if they don't live up to our often unrealistic expectations?!?!
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#2,919
#2,919
Dude already looks like the best complete athlete that will be on our roaster. Wouldn’t be surprise at all seeing him connect with Nico next year and start.
 
#2,921
#2,921
volfan_28 said:
They should be solid receivers, but if they were All-SEC type guys we wouldn’t see so many passes going to Keyton and Thornton would be completely out of the rotation. If we don’t get good production from one of the three you named, and Matthews doesn’t get an opportunity to make a significant impact. Something is wrong.
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Hilarious.

Why does something always have to be wrong? Could it not just be that if that scenario plays out that Matthews actually needs a little more time to learn the intricacies of the system?

Or we gotta go full “something’s off” immediately?
 
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#2,922
#2,922
MarcoVol said:
Hilarious.

Why does something always have to be wrong? Could it not just be that if that scenario plays out that Matthews actually needs a little more time to learn the intricacies of the system?

Or we gotta go full “something’s off” immediately?
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I don't think you've thought through the scenario I described. If we don't get good production from more than one receiver (Squirrel) in year 4, something is wrong with either player evaluations or player development. There's no other way to slice it. Now that's a BIG if. I expect Webb, Nimrod, and Leacock to all be solid players and I expect Matthews to be elite.
 
#2,923
#2,923
allvolrecruiting said:
In this offense, receiver is a complicated position. Matthews is too good to keep off the field but when he doesn't get 1K yards as a freshman or necessarily even start it's not the end of the world lol
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He'll be in on most special teams units.

I think his usage overall usage on offense will depend on if Bru comes back next year. We don't rotate a ton at WR. Squirrel White has one spot locked down, Bru would be two. That would leave one starter between Webb, Nimrod, Thorton, Dee William ;) .......then the incoming freshmen.

Without Bru I think we'll see more rotation at receiver, we're already seeing it so when Keyton is gone there will be even more.

Matthews is an elite talent, by the end of the year he will be getting consistent snaps. It take time for anyone to adjust to College Football though. Our offense in particular is difficult because of the tempo and the game plan doesn't allow for putting a guy in for one or two plays then taking them out.
 
#2,924
#2,924
white65 said:
He'll be in on most special teams units.

I think his usage overall usage on offense will depend on if Bru comes back next year. We don't rotate a ton at WR. Squirrel White has one spot locked down, Bru would be two. That would leave one starter between Webb, Nimrod, Thorton, Dee William ;) .......then the incoming freshmen.

Without Bru I think we'll see more rotation at receiver, we're already seeing it so when Keyton is gone there will be even more.

Matthews is an elite talent, by the end of the year he will be getting consistent snaps. It take time for anyone to adjust to College Football though. Our offense in particular is difficult because of the tempo and the game plan doesn't allow for putting a guy in for one or two plays then taking them out.
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He appears to have a lot of speed and talent as well as football savvy. It may difficult to keep him off the field if he can learn the offense and sync with Nico. Done write him off too early.
 
#2,925
#2,925
This kid will play. Likely from game 1. He is more elusive than anyone we have currently and he is a play maker. We do not currently have that go up and get it do all WR. He fits that mold. That is the spark we are missing at WR.
 
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