[winflop]

It might be worth asking why our receivers can't get open.  It's not because they are any slower than receivers we've had in the past who have been able to get open.  So one of three things: either they don't have time to get open (because of OL issues), are not learning how to run routes properly (player development), or the routes they are running are easily defended by our opponents (possibly scheme).

It's definitely worth it.

Broadly I'd go with player development as at least the foremost issue.

I haven't been able to watch enough this year to have a really good feel (or more exactly to rewatch enough - because in real time I'm too much of a fan to analyze), but it seems to me that firstly the WRs aren't recognizing the defenses, so they end up doing things like sitting down in what they think is a gap in the zone while the defense is actually playing man. I also think the routes aren't crisp or run with purpose, so guys are just running around or even running toward coverage as much as trying to get open.

You are correct that it's not because they are slower than previous guys - Stanford has almost always had slower than average receivers. But, only rarely to WRs get open by explicitly running away from the defenders in a foot race. One of my favourite Stanford players was DeRonnie Pitts. By memory he was slightly slower than most Centers, but is also #2 on the Stanford all-time receptions list.

Like others in this thread I think Wilson is our best receiver at the moment, but he still runs indecisive routs and what appear to be the wrong routs at times. Weddington has promise but he seems to be confined to the dinks and dump offs role, which makes him harder to evaluate. Parkinson by his height has some "he's open even when he's covered" nature, but he needs to be tougher and play the box out game better.
Those three have to be the core of our receiving corps and I see each could break out, but none give me much confidence yet.

Have also seen/heard that route combos are a problem but I don't know enough to say what the root cause is. All I know is that other than Wilson nobody else in the WR corps can get separation and that means defenses can key on Parkinson and single-cover the rest

[winflop]

It might be worth asking why our receivers can't get open.  It's not because they are any slower than receivers we've had in the past who have been able to get open.  So one of three things: either they don't have time to get open (because of OL issues), are not learning how to run routes properly (player development), or the routes they are running are easily defended by our opponents (possibly scheme).

It's definitely worth it.

Broadly I'd go with player development as at least the foremost issue.

I haven't been able to watch enough this year to have a really good feel (or more exactly to rewatch enough - because in real time I'm too much of a fan to analyze), but it seems to me that firstly the WRs aren't recognizing the defenses, so they end up doing things like sitting down in what they think is a gap in the zone while the defense is actually playing man. I also think the routes aren't crisp or run with purpose, so guys are just running around or even running toward coverage as much as trying to get open.

You are correct that it's not because they are slower than previous guys - Stanford has almost always had slower than average receivers. But, only rarely to WRs get open by explicitly running away from the defenders in a foot race. One of my favourite Stanford players was DeRonnie Pitts. By memory he was slightly slower than most Centers, but is also #2 on the Stanford all-time receptions list.

Like others in this thread I think Wilson is our best receiver at the moment, but he still runs indecisive routs and what appear to be the wrong routs at times. Weddington has promise but he seems to be confined to the dinks and dump offs role, which makes him harder to evaluate. Parkinson by his height has some "he's open even when he's covered" nature, but he needs to be tougher and play the box out game better.
Those three have to be the core of our receiving corps and I see each could break out, but none give me much confidence yet.

Have also seen/heard that route combos are a problem but I don't know enough to say what the root cause is. All I know is that other than Wilson nobody else in the WR corps can get separation and that means defenses can key on Parkinson and single-cover the rest