[jayasena]

Nunes has been bad, but the wideouts have been worse. It's kind of baffling to me people have such high expectations for Nunes and such nonexistent expectations for the wideouts.

I completely agree with this and have been wondering the same. Clearly, JN is not an elite QB. But aside from the SJSU game (his first ever start) and UW game (his first road start), JN seems to be an average D1 starting QB. But we don't seem to have anyone that could come close to being considered an average D1 starting WR. Montgomery was supposed to be the savior in this department after the flashes he showed last year but has been a complete non-factor so far this year (even when healthy). JN's stats, and our third-down conversions, would look a lot better if we had at least one reliable receiver -- even a so-called "possession" receiver like the ones we relied on heavily in the Luck years (e.g. the Whalens).

Speaking of WRs, why haven't any of our fairly-well-regarded recruits panned out? Montgomery, JRP, Roberts et.al. were all 4-star recruits. Richards and Terrell were 3-stars. Statistically, what's the probability of them all being near-complete busts (yes, I realize it's not zero)? Or is there something lacking with WR coaching in the Harbough-Shaw era?

It's really depressing that our OL's strength right now seems to be pass blocking and we just don't have the QB and receiver(s) to make use of that.

[jayasena]

Nunes has been bad, but the wideouts have been worse. It's kind of baffling to me people have such high expectations for Nunes and such nonexistent expectations for the wideouts.

I completely agree with this and have been wondering the same. Clearly, JN is not an elite QB. But aside from the SJSU game (his first ever start) and UW game (his first road start), JN seems to be an average D1 starting QB. But we don't seem to have anyone that could come close to being considered an average D1 starting WR. Montgomery was supposed to be the savior in this department after the flashes he showed last year but has been a complete non-factor so far this year (even when healthy). JN's stats, and our third-down conversions, would look a lot better if we had at least one reliable receiver -- even a so-called "possession" receiver like the ones we relied on heavily in the Luck years (e.g. the Whalens).

Speaking of WRs, why haven't any of our fairly-well-regarded recruits panned out? Montgomery, JRP, Roberts et.al. were all 4-star recruits. Richards and Terrell were 3-stars. Statistically, what's the probability of them all being near-complete busts (yes, I realize it's not zero)? Or is there something lacking with WR coaching in the Harbough-Shaw era?

It's really depressing that our OL's strength right now seems to be pass blocking and we just don't have the QB and receiver(s) to make use of that.