[ChicagoCard]

I've never heard of this guy Joey Holland (turns out is a senior at U of Oregon), but I like his suggestion that the tall guys Cajuste and incoming freshman Owusu might overtake Montgomery in 2013...

http://goldengatesports.com/2013/06/15/s...-receiver/

I had thought it was interesting that the coaches didn't attempt to make Cajuste a tight end. And the narrative of Owusu having good success at Stanford certainly would be a nice one.

[ChicagoCard]

I've never heard of this guy Joey Holland (turns out is a senior at U of Oregon), but I like his suggestion that the tall guys Cajuste and incoming freshman Owusu might overtake Montgomery in 2013...

http://goldengatesports.com/2013/06/15/s...-receiver/

I had thought it was interesting that the coaches didn't attempt to make Cajuste a tight end. And the narrative of Owusu having good success at Stanford certainly would be a nice one.

[washingtonismoney]

I like his suggestion that the tall guys Cajuste and incoming freshman Owusu might overtake Montgomery in 2013...

Why? Seems like a classic case of "new guyism" -- wherein fans and writers overrate the new guy out of a quest for novelty. Montgomery is much more accomplished than Cajuste (who's the same recruiting class as he), and has shown flashes of being a really good receiver. Owusu is a blank slate -- we've seen true freshmen step up immediately, particularly at WR, in college football, but that's not at all the same as thinking one particular true freshman WR will do it.

Holland doesn't offer a rationale for why he wouldn't be surprised that either Cajuste or Owusu's production would exceed that of Montgomery's. I also think it's a bit odd that Rector wasn't mentioned -- if you were betting on a previously-unknown wideout to step up, he's the guy I'd bet on.

[washingtonismoney]

I like his suggestion that the tall guys Cajuste and incoming freshman Owusu might overtake Montgomery in 2013...

Why? Seems like a classic case of "new guyism" -- wherein fans and writers overrate the new guy out of a quest for novelty. Montgomery is much more accomplished than Cajuste (who's the same recruiting class as he), and has shown flashes of being a really good receiver. Owusu is a blank slate -- we've seen true freshmen step up immediately, particularly at WR, in college football, but that's not at all the same as thinking one particular true freshman WR will do it.

Holland doesn't offer a rationale for why he wouldn't be surprised that either Cajuste or Owusu's production would exceed that of Montgomery's. I also think it's a bit odd that Rector wasn't mentioned -- if you were betting on a previously-unknown wideout to step up, he's the guy I'd bet on.

[ChicagoCard]

You're right, it's a bit like a Bleacher Report piece. I understand he's talented but I don't recall many examples of Montgomery coming up with tough, contested catches. Of course I hope he has a great '13 season, and it'll be interesting to see which others emerge, also at tight end.

[ChicagoCard]

You're right, it's a bit like a Bleacher Report piece. I understand he's talented but I don't recall many examples of Montgomery coming up with tough, contested catches. Of course I hope he has a great '13 season, and it'll be interesting to see which others emerge, also at tight end.

[Roberton3]

I just like that the writer can spell "corps" correctly.

[Roberton3]

I just like that the writer can spell "corps" correctly.

[pcgoode]

Isn't the real issue here wide receivers that will step up for medium to long passes?  My view is that both Hewitt and Gaffney are reliable pass catchers out of the backfield for the short stuff, and Kelsey Young certainly showed flashes of brilliance on some swing passes this past season.  Montgomery did some pretty impressive things in his freshman year (recall the USC game and the Fiesta Bowl), and to the extent he can stay healthy and regain some of that form, he should be able to help keep the safeties he faces honest.  I have trouble believing that at least one from what looks like a talented group (Cajuste, Owusu, Rector, Whitfield, or Young) won't step up at the other receiver spot. 

[pcgoode]

Isn't the real issue here wide receivers that will step up for medium to long passes?  My view is that both Hewitt and Gaffney are reliable pass catchers out of the backfield for the short stuff, and Kelsey Young certainly showed flashes of brilliance on some swing passes this past season.  Montgomery did some pretty impressive things in his freshman year (recall the USC game and the Fiesta Bowl), and to the extent he can stay healthy and regain some of that form, he should be able to help keep the safeties he faces honest.  I have trouble believing that at least one from what looks like a talented group (Cajuste, Owusu, Rector, Whitfield, or Young) won't step up at the other receiver spot. 

[Bruce Wang]

My hope is that iron sharpens iron ie facing the nasty Stanford secondary in practice will elevate the Stanford receivers.

[Bruce Wang]

My hope is that iron sharpens iron ie facing the nasty Stanford secondary in practice will elevate the Stanford receivers.

[OutsiderFan]

I'm expecting Owusu to be a major contributor as a Frosh.  He has freakish athletic talent, and it sure seems his size is going to have him physically up to the challenge of playing early.

Nobody is talking about the guy who received the most glowing reviews in Spring, Jeff Trojan. 

[OutsiderFan]

I'm expecting Owusu to be a major contributor as a Frosh.  He has freakish athletic talent, and it sure seems his size is going to have him physically up to the challenge of playing early.

Nobody is talking about the guy who received the most glowing reviews in Spring, Jeff Trojan. 

[ChicagoCard]

Funny, Stanford has a T r o j a n and Oregon has a Stanford at wide receiver.

[ChicagoCard]

Funny, Stanford has a T r o j a n and Oregon has a Stanford at wide receiver.

[stupac2]

I'm expecting Owusu to be a major contributor as a Frosh.  He has freakish athletic talent, and it sure seems his size is going to have him physically up to the challenge of playing early.

But will he be able to get enough of the playbook down to have a shot early? I seem to remember that was an issue cited for some of the younger guys last year, but I may be misremembering.

[stupac2]

I'm expecting Owusu to be a major contributor as a Frosh.  He has freakish athletic talent, and it sure seems his size is going to have him physically up to the challenge of playing early.

But will he be able to get enough of the playbook down to have a shot early? I seem to remember that was an issue cited for some of the younger guys last year, but I may be misremembering.

[Roberton3]

[quote author=OutsiderFan link=topic=8025.msg63407#msg63407 date=1371602061]I'm expecting Owusu to be a major contributor as a Frosh.  He has freakish athletic talent, and it sure seems his size is going to have him physically up to the challenge of playing early.

But will he be able to get enough of the playbook down to have a shot early? I seem to remember that was an issue cited for some of the younger guys last year, but I may be misremembering.
[/quote]

Learning the playbook as a WR is probably the easiest of any of the offensive positions.  The bigger issue in a lot of cases is blocking.  Talented high school WRs generally don't get much experience blocking, but being able to block is important in Stanford's offense.  So that's a skill that incoming WRs often need to pick up.  But Owusu's size will help him there.

[Roberton3]

[quote author=OutsiderFan link=topic=8025.msg63407#msg63407 date=1371602061]I'm expecting Owusu to be a major contributor as a Frosh.  He has freakish athletic talent, and it sure seems his size is going to have him physically up to the challenge of playing early.

But will he be able to get enough of the playbook down to have a shot early? I seem to remember that was an issue cited for some of the younger guys last year, but I may be misremembering.
[/quote]

Learning the playbook as a WR is probably the easiest of any of the offensive positions.  The bigger issue in a lot of cases is blocking.  Talented high school WRs generally don't get much experience blocking, but being able to block is important in Stanford's offense.  So that's a skill that incoming WRs often need to pick up.  But Owusu's size will help him there.

[pcgoode]

Different players at different positions, but take a look at these stats of Ertz vs. Montogomery.

In the two seasons preceding Ertz's 2012 senior season when he became our best receiver, he had 16 receptions for 190 yards in 2010 and 27 receptions for 343 yards in 2011.  He missed three games in the 2011 season because of a knee injury.

In 2011, Montgomery had 26 receptions for 213 yards, and in 2012 he had 24 receptions for 350 yards.  He missed three games in the 2012 season because of a knee injury.

This comparison has its limits, but it does show that production can ramp up quite substantially from year to year in Stanford's system.

[pcgoode]

Different players at different positions, but take a look at these stats of Ertz vs. Montogomery.

In the two seasons preceding Ertz's 2012 senior season when he became our best receiver, he had 16 receptions for 190 yards in 2010 and 27 receptions for 343 yards in 2011.  He missed three games in the 2011 season because of a knee injury.

In 2011, Montgomery had 26 receptions for 213 yards, and in 2012 he had 24 receptions for 350 yards.  He missed three games in the 2012 season because of a knee injury.

This comparison has its limits, but it does show that production can ramp up quite substantially from year to year in Stanford's system.