[ATLCard]

I agree the freshmen are promising, but there are only so many balls to go around. With five talented WRs (not even counting IBS), three TE targets (not counting Fisk), and throws to the RBs and FBs, it is hard to see that there will be leftover throws to the freshmen. I don't know that we have ever thrown consistently to more than four WRs?

Not sure what "consistently" means, maybe over one catch per game? 

By that measure, here are the pass catchers we have consistently thrown to under HC Shaw (I'm grouping primarily slot guys into the WR column):

2017 - 3 WR, 2 TE
2016 - 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
2015 - 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB
2014 - 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
2013 - 3 WR, 1 RB
2012 - 3 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB
2011 - 3 WR, 3 TE, 2 RB

So, unless Luck is coming back we're likely looking at 5 guys with more than one catch per game. 
Choose your candidates. 
I'd go with JJAW, Irwin, Smith, Weddington, and one of Love/Scarlett … plus much weeping and gnashing of teeth over the guys not making the list.

This is great, CT. Thanks for the info gathering.

Yeah, I meant those regularly included in the pass game. Like, in the rotation, I guess. One catch a game is a good signpost. Basically, what I was asking "aloud" is if it would be worth playing the two talented frosh WR given that they would likely only get maybe 3-5 receptions over the whole season. (But, perhaps they will be special teams players, which seemed to be what Donald Stewart's true freshman season consisted of.) It's hard to see that JJAW, Irwin, Wedington, Smith, Parkinson, OSB, Love/Scarlett/Speights all getting their catches (again, ignoring Stewart, IBS, Harrington, Fisk, Maddox, and FBs).

-m.

Interesting analysis; depends somewhat on the cutoff because Stewart had 11 receptions and Parkinson had 10 last year and I would argue that both were consistently involved in the passing game.  For this year JJAW, Irwin, Smith, Wedington are all locks (top four receivers last year).  I would argue that Parkinson is next in line as a lock because of Schultz's departure and his growth.  It will be hard for Stewart (or OSB) to increase the 4th WR numbers because of OSB and the new redshirt rules which mean Fehoko/Wilson are more likely to get some snaps/targets this year for experience.  RB is a wildcard and depends on distribution.  Shaw could double the RB catches this year and if distributed the same as last year there still might be no one who gets above the 1/game cutoff (last year Love/Scarlett/Speights went 6/6/1).

Based on the finite number of targets and losing Schultz from last year, I predict Smith and Parkinson both increase their numbers, Love/Scarlett as well, and the overall WR allocation is flat but spread out more.

[ATLCard]

I agree the freshmen are promising, but there are only so many balls to go around. With five talented WRs (not even counting IBS), three TE targets (not counting Fisk), and throws to the RBs and FBs, it is hard to see that there will be leftover throws to the freshmen. I don't know that we have ever thrown consistently to more than four WRs?

Not sure what "consistently" means, maybe over one catch per game? 

By that measure, here are the pass catchers we have consistently thrown to under HC Shaw (I'm grouping primarily slot guys into the WR column):

2017 - 3 WR, 2 TE
2016 - 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
2015 - 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB
2014 - 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
2013 - 3 WR, 1 RB
2012 - 3 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB
2011 - 3 WR, 3 TE, 2 RB

So, unless Luck is coming back we're likely looking at 5 guys with more than one catch per game. 
Choose your candidates. 
I'd go with JJAW, Irwin, Smith, Weddington, and one of Love/Scarlett … plus much weeping and gnashing of teeth over the guys not making the list.

This is great, CT. Thanks for the info gathering.

Yeah, I meant those regularly included in the pass game. Like, in the rotation, I guess. One catch a game is a good signpost. Basically, what I was asking "aloud" is if it would be worth playing the two talented frosh WR given that they would likely only get maybe 3-5 receptions over the whole season. (But, perhaps they will be special teams players, which seemed to be what Donald Stewart's true freshman season consisted of.) It's hard to see that JJAW, Irwin, Wedington, Smith, Parkinson, OSB, Love/Scarlett/Speights all getting their catches (again, ignoring Stewart, IBS, Harrington, Fisk, Maddox, and FBs).

-m.

Interesting analysis; depends somewhat on the cutoff because Stewart had 11 receptions and Parkinson had 10 last year and I would argue that both were consistently involved in the passing game.  For this year JJAW, Irwin, Smith, Wedington are all locks (top four receivers last year).  I would argue that Parkinson is next in line as a lock because of Schultz's departure and his growth.  It will be hard for Stewart (or OSB) to increase the 4th WR numbers because of OSB and the new redshirt rules which mean Fehoko/Wilson are more likely to get some snaps/targets this year for experience.  RB is a wildcard and depends on distribution.  Shaw could double the RB catches this year and if distributed the same as last year there still might be no one who gets above the 1/game cutoff (last year Love/Scarlett/Speights went 6/6/1).

Based on the finite number of targets and losing Schultz from last year, I predict Smith and Parkinson both increase their numbers, Love/Scarlett as well, and the overall WR allocation is flat but spread out more.