Eric Francis - Getty Images
Jamal Turner looked like a gamebreaker early in the season, but freshmen mistakes limited his time as the season wore on.(Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
Going into 2011, we weren't sure what to expect at receiver. It looked like Brandon Kinnie was going to lead this group, and we were hopeful that a freshman would jump up and make us forget Niles Paul. (It seemed that half the time, we wanted to forget Niles Paul, only to have Paul then make a play to make us forgive him for a moment.) Last summer, we were sure that freshman was going to be Jamal Turner...but it turned out to be Kenny Bell.
So who's on the list for 2012?
Returning: Kenny Bell (starter), So.; Quincy Enunwa (starter), Jr.; Tim Marlowe, Sr.; Jamal Turner, So.; Khiry Cooper, Sr.; Taariq Allen, RFr; K.C. Hyland, Sr.; Steven Osborne, Sr.
Incoming: Jordan Westerkamp, HS Verbal Reaffirmed
Jon: The 2012 team loses Brandon Kinnie, a player that many Husker fans won't be sad to see go, but Kinnie tied with
Kyler Reed as the team's third-leading receiver in yardage. The Huskers return a huge amount of talent, especially in Kenny Bell, Quincy Enunwa and Jamal Turner. Marlowe isn't a bad receiver either (although unfortunately, fans will remember that drop in the bowl game), and Cooper has shown he can play pretty well too, getting a start this season.
Mike: I liked Kinnie, but something went wrong with him this past season. Or maybe, the ghost of Ted Gilmore was still holding him down. I really like Kenny Bell as a receiver. Great speed, and perhaps even better hands. He really does cover up for some of
Taylor Martinez's shortcomings in the passing game, because Bell can make the catch even when it's not perfectly thrown. Jamal Turner has shown flashes of being a gamebreaker, but he really needs to learn his role this spring. He's got the physical talent to dominate.
Honestly, if Jamal Turner can become more consistent, I think Nebraska could have one of the top receiving corps in the Big Ten. Think about that for a second.
Jon: Now, if we could get the rest of the team to play more consistent, and the offensive coordinator to not get stuck in a rut.... one more thing that deserves mention, will
Stanley Jean-Baptiste stay on the defensive side of the ball, or move back to a receiver position?
Andy: Our wide receiver corps is like a 70's rock band along the lines of Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac or The Who. Some moments of true brilliance (Running With The Devil, The Chain, Teenage Wasteland, Kenny Bell's reverse, deep to Jamal Turner, Enunwa stiff arming a Huskie through the field turf) interspersed with not-so impressive stuff (repeatedly ingesting enough booze/drugs to kill a rhino, dropping more balls than the male wing of a retirement home).
Brandon Kinnie is a great kid, and hopefully not watching his daily struggles with catching a football will make for a less stressful dynamic in practice. The remaining youngsters may still possess the natural uneasiness that comes with not knowing if the next pass will hit you in stride or whistle by your left ear. There is real talent here. Here's hoping that Martinez develops enough accuracy to keep them from developing nervous eye twitches every time he steps to his left to throw right and bends at a 45 degree angle.
Westerkamp is solid again for the Huskers, although if the rumors are to be believed, this is because the Notre Dame offer may have dried up once two of their three WR commits who went dancing with some other pretty girls/colleges reaffirmed their verbals. Such is the recruiting life. Westerkamp likely spends next year on the scout team which is not a bad thing.
Mike: I'd like to see Westerkamp redshirt, but if he's as reliable catching the ball as it sounds he might be...it'll be hard to keep him off the field.
So what's your take on the receivers? Do you agree that this group has the potential to be one of the best in the Big Ten? Or am I just looking at things through Husker red colored glasses?
(Bonus question: Anybody still want to call these guys wingbacks and split ends?)
Could definitely be the best in the Big 10
There is so much speed and talent there, but their drops overshadowed everything good they did this year. I feel like the younger guys get a bit of a free pass, but veteran players (BK, Tim Marlowe, and even Kyler Reed a few times) really shouldn’t drop catchable passes.
I’m still trying to figure out what went wrong with Brandon Kinnie this year. One moment in particular stands out to me as a microcosm of his season. I believe it was a 3rd and long late in the second half of the Northwestern game, and we still had a chance. Kinnie is open and drops a very catchable pass. As BK trots to the sideline with his head down, amidst the groans coming from the crowd I hear a random lady shout “What’s your problem Kinnie!?” Oh well, it’s all in the past. I wish him the best and I hope he gets a shot in the NFL.
I think the Westerkamp kid is a great addition, and Bo definitely isn’t afraid to play true freshmen if they earn it in practice.
Billgrip - January 11, 2012
Anyone else notice
BK caught 95% of the balls thrown his way when he was standing still (quick screen or button-hook)? Even if the DB was all over him. But if he was moving (slant, pretty much every other pattern) he caught like 40-50% of the balls (at best). Quite the enigma.
And Cooper is a Sr already?!
brutus1382 - January 11, 2012
Why must Marlowe be back :(
I think he’ll probably be the receiver that everyone will hate on next year. So so athleticism, average at best hands.
In any case, all the excitement for next year will center on the offense, and what the receiving corps should be is part of whats driving that. Bell and Turner have game breaking ability and I think Enunwa has a good shot at taking a big step forward next year as well. Those three should be extremely difficult for opposing defenses to manage, especially considering what our running attack will look like next year.
I’m sure plenty of opposing fans (and some Husker fans) would pooh pooh this saying “but we need a quarterback to get them the ball!!!” Nonsense. Martinez isn’t a great thrower and certainly has made Husker Nation collectively facepalm before, but I feel drops probably hurt his completion % by close to 10 points. When you’re talking about going from mid-50s to mid-60s, that kind of changes the perception of how good of a thrower someone is. (Yes, I realize this last paragraph isn’t really germane to the post, but I sensed that the “doesn’t matter, Martinez can’t throw” talking point could easily slip into this post’s comments).
jdhusker - January 11, 2012
You're right to include it though
A WR can only be as good as his QB and vice versa. Martinez needs to get the ball in a spot for the WR to make a play and the WR needs to make said play. It is all relative. There was a definite correlation this year between the number of silly drops in a game and my overall beer consumption during the game. They drove me nuts this year. I think, with Bell, Marlow, Enuwa, and Turner all growing this year with Martinez, they could be even better next year. I look forward to seeing this offense and hope the defense can improve to the point where the offense can win without putting 30 pts on the board each game.
CCE718 - January 11, 2012
One more thought on Turner
I know Rex Burkhead is our “wildhusker” (wildcat) guy, but why not let Jamal Turner take a few snaps back there next year? I feel like he’d be more of a threat to throw than Rex. Obviously he’s not going to be a downhill runner like Rex and get you 4 tough yards, but he could at least do some zone read plays…if the hole is there he has the speed to hit it and break a big run.
Billgrip - January 11, 2012
I like that idea...
But I’d like Turner master the wide receiver position first. That will get him on the field more, and that’s what the Nebraska offense needs…
Husker Mike - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Said the same thing this year...
Someone asked me why Turner was not running the wildcat and I said the dude needs to learn WR before letting him get creative. I think he will be really good next year.
CCE718 - January 11, 2012
I'd rather have Rex as the Wildcat QB since he is here this year still.
And let Turner take over in 2013. But I’d rather see Turner as the in-motion wingback instead of Marlowe. So much more dynamic in he brief flashes we’ve seen of him.
brutus1382 - January 11, 2012
Or...
How about lining the two up next to each other? Can motion one out, sometimes Turner, other times Rex. Could really confuse defenses. IMHO, I have never been a huge fan of the wildcat, unless you have the WR or RB do a read option pass vs run. Otherwise, no different than a handoff. Again, just my opinion.
CCE718 - January 11, 2012
How about a split-back formation
With Burkhead to one side of Martinez and Turner to the other. Then you have THREE players who are capable of throwing a pass in the backfield. Two of them are capable of catching a pass, and one of them can just run right up the middle and break tackles. Two of them can beat you with speed to the edge, and all three can run the option. (I’m assuming Turner can run the option…most dual-threat QB’s can)
That would create nightmares for defensive coordinators.
Billgrip - January 11, 2012
I don't want to be a Negative Nancy
but, damn, I want our O to show some identity and then show they can execute that identity without problems before I want to see some flashy stuff used a couple times a game. If you could look back on our season and tell me what the O’s identity was, what would you say? I can’t answer that question because I don’t know. I do know that Beck called things decently at times and at others I felt he got “cute” when we needed to go to the plays we execute to perfection. I think the plays run after the Martinez 36 yard play to the 5 of USC during bowl game sums up my feelings of the year for the O. After that play, we should have done plays that were smart and knew we could execute. I don’t think we did that at all and instead showed our schizophrenia.
JimmytheRed - January 11, 2012
Rec this man.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 11, 2012
Walkons
I heard rumors of a walk-on that was running first and second team o in bowl practice because Marlowe was banged up, that reciever was Taylor Dixon, who is going to be a senior. He has got good hands, but his biggest problem is his size, only 5’10’, come on coaches give him a chance. He has put in 4 years of work now, give him a shot.
JohnDeereGreen - January 11, 2012
Do not know much about him
But, he may also not have the speed to play WR. 5’10" is not that short, as long as the WR possesses reliable hands and some speed. Might be more going on than we know.
CCE718 - January 11, 2012
Taylor Dixon's mom
Is that you?
Cheeseandcorn - January 11, 2012
LMAO
Pretty sure that Taylor Dixon probably isn’t the answer…
Andy Ketterson - January 12, 2012
You don't think he'd be the Courtney Grixby of wide receivers?
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 12, 2012
Courtney was a 4-star recuit
-with offers from Iowa, KSU, Notre Dame and UCLA.
I’m guessing Joe Brokemeier is Taylor’s upside. And that’s not a slam at all.
Andy Ketterson - January 12, 2012
That
And the commenter joined just to post that comment. Things that make you go hmm….
Cheeseandcorn - January 12, 2012
Well, I joined just to hype up Mike Nobler.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 12, 2012
Oi.
Kevin Cosgrove destroyed his promising career then.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 12, 2012
Collateral Damage
Nothing personal against Grixby. Cosgrove and the entire group of incompetents destroyed about everything they touched in their four years in Lincoln.
Husker Mike - January 13, 2012
:(
And did the same to Minnesota…and Akron…
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 13, 2012
WR seems to be a positive... weird
If we had to guess which positions we’d be most excited about for next year when the season began, would this be it? I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have been top 3 for me. I love Bell and Enunwa, and think both of them can make catches in traffic and ‘make up’ for some tall throws. The speed of Turner and his playmaking need to be tempered with some crisper route-running, but he’s pretty young and that comes with experience.
As for Marlowe and Cooper? Both show flashes of brilliance, but both make you want to kick puppies. I’m just praying that this offseason comes with some better hands drills. If Martinez gets them the ball, they gotta catch it. Still, five weapons at wideout going into the new year, plus the Chicago player of the year? Can’t complain.
KennardHusker - January 11, 2012
Wr for a while there
Seemed like we couldn’t get any solid recruits. I.e. big bodied fast I want the ball and get out of my way guys. Which to me was one of the big knocks I had early about Bo. Now we are getting some of these types along with some electric wr as well. Next year looks a lot better than this years drop fest. Put turner and bell on the outside to stretch the def. Cotton and reed over the middle and dump of to our quartet of rb.
huskermic - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Enunwa as a Denver Bronco
Wouldn’t he be a perfect fit? He catches well but will absolutely knock your head off when blocking. Hines Ward is the gold standard for WR’s blocking with violence. Enunwa has that kind of attitude and potential.
Overall the confidence level of Bell, Enunwa, and Turner should be very high next year and I expect they will play very well.
Robsa - January 12, 2012
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