Tag: wide receivers

What Condition the Position is in: Assessing Raiders level of need at WR ahead of free agency

What Condition Raiders Position is in: wide receiver

With free agency under a month away, it’s time to check in on the Raiders’ wide receiver position to give it a condition of either Strong, Stable, Unstable, Serious, or Critical.

Starters: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow
Depth: Tre Tucker, DJ Turner, Kristian Wilkerson
Free Agents: DeAndre Carter

Adams had a down year with the Raiders due in large part to the QB situation. But keep in mind a down year for Adams is still better than the best year for most receivers. Meyers enjoyed a career year while Adams was dragging coverage away from him. Renfrow had his second poor season in Josh McDaniels’s offense that forgot he existed. Tucker flashed late in his rookie season and could be one to watch.

Condition: Strong

Adams is still one of the best in the game and getting a QB with an arm and pocket presence will bear that out. Meyers proved he is a worthy number two starter. The prevailing thinking is that the team will be moving on from Renfrow, opting for the cap money it would save. His departure would only drop the condition to Stable, mainly because the team likes the speedy Tucker to step up in that case, so they’d still be ok.

Tulane adds former USC and Alabama receivers in transfer portal

The Tulane Green Wave bolstered their offense Monday with two transfer portal additions. Former USC wide receiver Mario Williams and former Alabama wide out Shazz Preston, both former top 100 recruits, committed to Tulane.

The Tulane Green Wave bolstered their skill group Monday with the additions of former USC wide receiver Mario Williams and former Alabama wide receiver Shazz Preston.

The two receivers will join head coach Jon Sumrall, who was named the next head coach of the Green Wave after former head coach Willie Fritz left to fill the vacant role with the Houston Cougars.

Sumrall was 23-4 as the Troy head coach over the past two seasons, and he will look to keep Tulane in the mix as one of the top teams outside the Power 5 conferences.

Williams and Preston are both former top-75 recruits. Williams spent one season at Oklahoma before he transferred to the Trojans to join head coach Lincoln Riley.

In three college seasons, Williams caught 104 passes for 1,316 and added 11 receiving touchdowns. He racked up 29 receptions for 305 yards and two touchdown catches in the 2023 season at USC.

Preston featured primarily on special teams for the Crimson Tide and has yet to record a reception in college.

Williams and Preston are the latest transfers as Sumrall overhauls the Tulane offense. On Jan. 5, Tulane added former Oregon quarterback Ty Thompson to be the team’s new signal caller.

Thompson, a former top-50 recruit, spent two seasons with the Ducks. He’s thrown for 456 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions on a 64% completion percentage in limited action for Oregon.

With SMU leaving for the ACC, the path for Tulane to get back to the American Athletic Conference Championship and compete for a College Football Playoff spot has become more reasonable.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice defends teammates amid criticism of poor performances

#Chiefs WR Rashee Rice defended his teammates amid recent criticisms of their performance.

The Kansas City Chiefs enter the holidays with clinching the AFC West on their minds this weekend while still trying to clean up their offense. A positive from their offense this season has been rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice, who has quickly become a favorite target of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The high number of drops and frequently discussed miscues have thrown many doubters at the core of the Chiefs’ young receivers. Rice appeared on the most recent FUBO Sports’ “Airing it Out” episode to speak up for his receivers’ room, including Kadarius Toney, while speaking with former NFL receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh.

“To be honest, I feel like just from us, hearing that we ain’t got a good receiver room, stuff like that, it just makes it easier for us to lean on each other and not be the people that’s bringing each other down because we already got that on the outside,” Rice explained. “So as long as our room is tight, nah, we’re not really worried about it.

“We know that he knows that he (Kadarius Toney) should have made the catch,  I’m saying, and we didn’t lose the game, so when we get to practice, we’re going to be heavy on catching the ball with your eyes. Like even, you know, I’m a rookie, but I’ve got (to) sometimes to be a little more vocal, but with little stuff like, I work every day, you know, catching a tennis ball, so I can really, you know, lock in on catching with my eyes.

Rice has taken a significant step forward in his development, becoming the top productive target for the team in his position group. He is quickly approaching the Chiefs rookie receiver records in several statistical categories with three games remaining in the regular season.

“But some players probably don’t really focus on all the fundamentals because they got… everybody got talent,” said Rice. “But, obviously, you know it’s talent and it’s work ethic. You know, work ethic really keeps you in the NFL, and I’m learning that early.”

Rice’s work ethic is paying off as his stock is rising around the league. Opposing defenses could start making more of a game plan to slow him down as the postseason approaches.

Patrick Mahomes on Chiefs WRs: ‘They are in a great spot’

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes told reporters that Kansas City’s receivers are “in a great spot” heading into a pivotal matchup against the #Bills

During the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense has always been one of the team’s strengths. However, in 2023, the Chiefs executed an about-face, leaning on their defense to win games as Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense, specifically the team’s pass catchers, have struggled to find traction.

While speaking to the media on Wednesday, Mahomes downplayed the offense’s issues, voicing his confidence that the unit will continue to get better.

“You just come into work and try to get better, that’s all you can do,” Mahomes explained. “I think the guys have done a great job of trying to do that. We’re going to continue to get better. I thought we had a lot of great things in the last game, obviously just didn’t execute in the red zone. It’s the little things in this league that are the difference between winning and losing, so we’ll continue to focus on those and try to get better into this week.”

Later in his comments, the reigning MVP emphasized the need to keep the morale of his receiving corps high ahead of the Chiefs’ Week 14 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.

“They seem like they are in a great spot,” Mahomes said of his receivers. “In the locker room I think everyone knows we’re all trying to go out there and be great and trying to win football games. I have a lot of trust in those guys. I see how hard they are working. For us it’s about keeping it within the locker room.

“We’re still sitting there atop the AFC West, and I think a lot of stuff is out in front of us, we just have to go out there and capitalize on it. I think if we can start this week with a great week of practice and try to beat a really good football team, the Buffalo Bills – it’s kind of like next week, we’ll be talking about how great we are. It’s kind of how the NFL works.”

While every week presents a new challenge for Mahomes and the rest of Kansas City’s roster, the sky-high expectations placed on the Chiefs are nothing new. Expect the offense to do its best to get all of the kinks worked out of their game against Buffalo as Kansas City makes its push for the AFC’s top playoff seed.

Notre Dame lands big-time receiver through transfer portal

Big get for Notre Dame next year!

Much needed help is on the way for the Notre Dame wide receiver corps.

On Tuesday, senior-to-be Kris Mitchell announced that he has committed to play his final year of college football at Notre Dame in 2024.

Mitchell comes from Florida International University where he led all of Conference USA in receiving yards this year with 1,118.  That was on 64-receptions as he also scored six touchdowns.

This comes just days after a mass exodus at receiver for Notre Dame.  Mitchell brings a speed element that will significantly soften the blow of losing both Chris Tyree and Tobias Merriweather.

Mitchell has just one year of eligibility remaining.  The 6-1, 175-pounder will join Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie in that regard as Notre Dame certainly isn’t done looking to add more at receiver in the portal.

Notre Dame football: Marcus Freeman on firing of Chasni Stuckey

Freeman speaks on the move…

In a bit of surprising news Tuesday, Notre Dame announced the termination of Chasni Stuckey as wide receivers coach.

Stuckey had been with Notre Dame for each of Marcus Freeman’s two years as head coach as he replaced Del Alexander in the role.

Notre Dame released a statement on Tuesday evening regarding the move.  It included the following statements from Freeman:

“First of all, I want to thank Chansi for all of the work he put into our program,” said Freeman. “ I wish Chansi and his family all the best. 

Over the past few days, we had continued discussions on the overall performance of our wide receiver group and my expectations for the development of that position. I decided it was in the program’s best interest to part ways.”

The release also noted that current offensive coordinator Gerad Parker will coach Notre Dame’s receivers in preparation for their upcoming bowl game.

Andy Reid isn’t concerned about Chiefs’ failure to trade for a WR at the deadline

Head coach Andy Reid isn’t concerned about the #Chiefs’ failure to trade for a wide receiver at Tuesday’s deadline.

The NFL trade deadline has passed, with the Kansas City Chiefs staying pact with their current weapons at wide receiver. The several drops and low offensive production have been criticized recently, leading many to believe Kansas City would be interested in adding another veteran.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has continued to defend his receivers during miscues and maintains his collaboration on personnel with general manager Brett Veach. Reid addressed the criticism of the receivers with reporters during Wednesday’s press conference, dismissing the notion that they are the problem.

“So listen, I mean, we’re gonna be okay there; we keep getting better all the way along. It’s not just a wide receiver thing. It’s all of us,” said Reid. “So a week ago, we were saying how good they did, so we just keep the consistency going on the offensive side is what we need to do all the way around. Not just wide receivers.”

The Chiefs were linked to several veteran receivers projected to be on the move, but nothing materialized. Veach and the coaching staff remain hopeful that the young core will find their way and have a second-half breakout.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on Rashee Rice: ‘He continues to get better and better’

Kansas City #Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says wide receiver Rashee Rice continues to get better this season.

The Kansas City Chiefs offense seemed back on track during Sunday’s victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Various Chiefs receivers made an impression aside from the superstar outing from tight end Travis Kelce.

Chiefs rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice has been a fixture in recent games as one of Patrick Mahomes’ top targets. He has been on the field for more plays as the weeks have gone on and has seen success within the system. Mahomes opened up about Rice’s development and his pride in his growth during the post-game press conference.

“Yeah, he’s just learning, not only from me but from Travis (Kelce), from Marquez, he takes in information well, he learns,” Mahomes explained. “We continue to give them more, and he continues to get better and better, and so he’s obviously a physical player, I think y’all can see that.

“But the way he’s able to start recognizing coverages and get himself open, and starting to really translate, and then we’ll continue to get better and better. And if I can hit him on that one route. It’s an even bigger game. So, I think he’s done a great job. He can’t be satisfied. Gotta continue to get better if he wants to be the player I think he wants to become.”

Rice finished Sunday’s victory with five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, becoming a consistent target for Mahomes this season. Mahomes and Rice have been linked since the infamous offseason throwing session that many critics believe pushed Rice to be drafted to Kansas City.

“I think the biggest thing I can tell – I mean obviously you see the physical stuff and everybody has the physical stuff,” Mahomes said. “When I have those passing sessions in the offseason, I think y’all know, I’m talking through stuff with the receivers, I’m talking about recognizing coverages and stuff like that. I can tell that even though he didn’t know, because he hasn’t played in the NFL, he had a good grasp of [the] feel.

“He understood how to kind of settle in certain areas and if he made a mistake, he would fix it the next time. I think that was the biggest thing that I saw with him. I mean obviously, the physical stuff is there but the way he was able to comprehend and do stuff and adjust on the fly, I think that stuff is what is going to – what makes you great in this offense and I think he does of it.”

Rice has quickly ascended the depth chart and may have earned the trust of the coaches and his teammates.

Notre Dame without leading receiver

Not ideal.

Notre Dame and Duke are set to kickoff in just moments and although widely speculated this week, we now have official word that Fighting Irish leading receiver Jayden Thomas will not play.

Thomas tweaked his hamstring in last week’s loss against Ohio State.  The injury occurred in the second half and he did not return after suffering it.

Along with Thomas, it also sounds like freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse won’t be able to play either.

It’s not an ideal way for things to start on a huge night for Notre Dame at undefeated Duke.

Keep it at Fighting Irish Wire throughout the night for everything on the game.