JHAWK

[hammb]

With as deep as our receiver corps were, it was hard for any one player to put up stellar numbers. Thus explaining not one of them making 1st team MAC, which was still a joke.

I wonder if this will hurt us with future WR recruits with the Ron Lewis mentality?

Our system utilizes a ton of WR and builds up big Offensive numbers and often produces W's but will it turn away some good players?

I think we've got a long ways to go before we are recruiting the types of kids who are thinking primarily about how our offense will effect their NFL chances. Those types of kids are not going to BG no matter what offense we run.

[Falconfreak90]

With as deep as our receiver corps were, it was hard for any one player to put up stellar numbers. Thus explaining not one of them making 1st team MAC, which was still a joke.

I wonder if this will hurt us with future WR recruits with the Ron Lewis mentality?

Our system utilizes a ton of WR and builds up big Offensive numbers and often produces W's but will it turn away some good players?

I don't think so, Charles Sharon, Steve Sanders, and PJ Pope are all going to graduate with a lot of career TD's and receptions.

And I will be very surprised if these 3 are NOT drafted in 2006.

[hammb]

With as deep as our receiver corps were, it was hard for any one player to put up stellar numbers. Thus explaining not one of them making 1st team MAC, which was still a joke.

I wonder if this will hurt us with future WR recruits with the Ron Lewis mentality?

Our system utilizes a ton of WR and builds up big Offensive numbers and often produces W's but will it turn away some good players?

I don't think so, Charles Sharon, Steve Sanders, and PJ Pope are all going to graduate with a lot of career TD's and receptions.

And I will be very surprised if these 3 are NOT drafted in 2006.

I won't be.

Sharon & Sanders need to back up last year with some serious improvement. Sharon will need to put a sub 4.45 40 to go with whatever numbers he accumulates. Sanders is larger and could handle a slower 40 time, but he still will need to have a very good year. If each of these guys catches 1200 yards then they can be hopeful, but both need big years in order to be on the draft landscape.

PJ's got the bigger hill to climb. First he must overcome the fact that MAC backs rarely are worth a crap in the NFL. Travis Prentice was god in this conference and worthless in the NFL. Marshall has had a couple guys do nothing in the league. Anyone see a Michael "the Burner" Turner sighting recently? Seriously, Chester Taylor is about the only MAC back I can remember having any success at the next level in recent years. I'll put it down as a given that PJ has another year with solid improvement over last year. That will definitely open some eyes.

After that scouts will LOVE how he catches the ball out of the backfield. This is absolutely his best asset, and will definitely make some teams take notice. The best way for him to utilize that skill is if he can put up a good 40 time. The way he catches the ball he's a prototype 3rd down back, if he can run a sub 4.55 40. If he's in the 4.6+ range teams are going to deem him too slow.

I can really see Pope in a Chester Taylor type role in the NFL. He seems quick to hit the hole, and great out of the backfield on pass routes. I'll admit I don't watch it much, but if his blocking is solid it would definitely help that role as well.

That said all 3 of these guys have things they must prove before they are "draft worthy". I think all 3 are capable, but it wouldn't shock me in the least if one or more of them didn't do what was capable; be it a disappointing season or a nagging injury, these guys are all 3 on the draft bubble, and too many things have to go right for them to get picked. I'd love to see 'em all go, and go high, but I'll wait & see.

[UK Peregrine]

Sharon & Sanders need to back up last year with some serious improvement.....PJ's got the bigger hill to climb.

I agree with your Sharon and Sanders assessment and yes if they can each throw up 1,000+ yards, then they have a decent shot of being drafted in the later rounds.

I have to disagree vehemently with your PJ Pope assessment however. PJ has rushing and receiving numbers, and the size and speed comparable to what Doug Chapman had at Marshall. Doug was the #88 pick in the 2000 draft. I have to believe a back of Pope's skills in the backfield and running routes will be drafted fairly high as Chapman was. He is not one dimensional like Turner, which makes him a valuable comodity to an NFL team.

Another thing in all three players' (Sharon, Sanders and Pope) favor right now is they have no real big injury history which shows their durability. I have to believe Pope will be drafted fairly high next spring, but then again he is my favorite player on the team. Perhaps I have Pope blinders on.

[1987alum]

Pope has a chance, but hammb is right, he'll have to improve on last year's numbers AND post a good 40 time. Otherwise, he's a UDFA. I think Pope can be a very useful back in the NFL.

hammb, FWIW, when I think of Pope blocking, this is the picture that comes to mind...



Yep, he's not afraid to take on the big boys!

[BGDrew]

Great picture, and I agree with your assesment. More and more, the NFL is slowly moving to a more dynamic offensive attack and less "three yards...." A guy that can catch the ball out of the back field (A 3rd down back) will have an excellent career. I also think that Pope has shown he can break off big runs (that WMU run immediately comes to mind). Again, the question will be his 40 times and probably the Shuttle and his cut-back skills.

I think Sanders could have a lot of potential at the next level if he continues to improve his speed. He looked like a man possessed at the Spring Game on that reverse. I think he's got the size to be a formidable possession receiver.

Sharon is where I get a bit of doubt. There is no doubt that he has amazing hands and when he gets in a rhythm, you won't stop him. But, he's going to have to put on a good bit of muscle to get a serious look for a first round pick. I also think he needs to showcase the playmaker skills I think he has.

[1987alum]

Sharon is where I get a bit of doubt. There is no doubt that he has amazing hands and when he gets in a rhythm, you won't stop him. But, he's going to have to put on a good bit of muscle to get a serious look for a first round pick. I also think he needs to showcase the playmaker skills I think he has.

Who said anything about Sharon being a first round pick?

If Sharon gets picked in the first round, I'll eat a bug!

[hammb]

I do agree that Pope compares quite favorably to Chapman. However, what was my clause on Pope getting drafted? I said if he can run a sub 4.55 forty. Chapman was clocked between 4.45 and 4.55 in his workouts pre-draft. If Pope continues his on the field production and puts a time like that, he'll be drafted for sure.

I have seen a LOT of college RBs, however, look pretty good and then time in the 4.7 range. That won't be good enough for him to be drafted.

Like I said, I think all these guys have a good chance to get drafted, but they will need another year of performing & to post good workout numbers first.

[kdog27]

Sharon is where I get a bit of doubt. There is no doubt that he has amazing hands and when he gets in a rhythm, you won't stop him.

Remember his freshman year when he couldn't catch the ball for the life of himself?

[TG1996]

Remember his freshman year when he couldn't catch the ball for the life of himself?

I wanted to drag him out back after the EKU game and have a few words with him. He's gotten a little better, I'd say.

[kdog27]

I do agree that Pope compares quite favorably to Chapman. However, what was my clause on Pope getting drafted? I said if he can run a sub 4.55 forty. Chapman was clocked between 4.45 and 4.55 in his workouts pre-draft. If Pope continues his on the field production and puts a time like that, he'll be drafted for sure.

I have seen a LOT of college RBs, however, look pretty good and then time in the 4.7 range. That won't be good enough for him to be drafted.

Hammb, you are an NFL draft encylcopedia

[BGDrew]

Sharon is where I get a bit of doubt. There is no doubt that he has amazing hands and when he gets in a rhythm, you won't stop him. But, he's going to have to put on a good bit of muscle to get a serious look for a first round pick. I also think he needs to showcase the playmaker skills I think he has.

Who said anything about Sharon being a first round pick?

If Sharon gets picked in the first round, I'll eat a bug!

Hm, meant to say first day.

[1987alum]

Sharon is where I get a bit of doubt. There is no doubt that he has amazing hands and when he gets in a rhythm, you won't stop him. But, he's going to have to put on a good bit of muscle to get a serious look for a first round pick. I also think he needs to showcase the playmaker skills I think he has.

Who said anything about Sharon being a first round pick?

If Sharon gets picked in the first round, I'll eat a bug!

Hm, meant to say first day.

Hmmmm, I might still eat a bug. Stay tuned! 8)

[golfertk14]

Sharon is where I get a bit of doubt. There is no doubt that he has amazing hands and when he gets in a rhythm, you won't stop him. But, he's going to have to put on a good bit of muscle to get a serious look for a first round pick. I also think he needs to showcase the playmaker skills I think he has.

Who said anything about Sharon being a first round pick?

If Sharon gets picked in the first round, I'll eat a bug!

Hm, meant to say first day.

Hmmmm, I might still eat a bug. Stay tuned! 8)

Come on, Philly's got better cuisine than that!

[Flipper]

FWIW, Gregg Brandon has said that "people who know football" say that PJ is our best overall player. He looked a little faster than last year during the spring game. On his long TD run there were a couple of guys that looked like they had an angle on him at the end of the run but he outran them anyway (I didn't have the best view, Freddy was talking to my kid and that blocked my view for most of the play).

If Artoose Pinner can hang out in Detroit for a few years, there's a spot in the league for PJ.