Panther Talk: Position Group Preview: WR/TE
Next up on the Position Group Preview docket is a combination of both receivers and...tight ends? Did I spell that correctly? Just asking since they were nowhere to be found these last two seasons. On the other hand we've said it before and we'll say it again, the receiver corps is quite talented and definitely deeper than recent years. There may be no superstar along the lines of Bryant, Fitz, Baldwin, Street, Boyd, among others, but there is an arsenal. What will the lineup look like? Let's figure it out:
WR's on the Roster
Maurice Ffrench (Sr) #2
Tre Tipton (RS-Sr) #5
Aaron Mathews (Sr) #6
Michael Smith (RS-So) #9
Taysir Mack (RS-Jr) #11
Shocky Jacques-Louis (So) #18
Michael Vardzel (RS-Jr) #46
Cameron O'Neil (RS-Fr) #80
John Vardzel (RS-Fr) #83
Garrett Bickhart (RS-So) #85
Dontavius Butler-Jenkins (RS-So) #88
Jared Wayne (Fr)
Will Gipson (Fr-Technically coming in as an "Athlete").
AJ Woods (Fr- Technically coming in as an "Athlete").
Projected Starters
It's pretty evident the top 2 options are Ffrench and Mack. We believe they can be one of the top combos in the ACC and the teams' top play-makers. With pass-heavy offenses today, including Whipple with his track record at UMass, we'll throw out two more possible starters - Mathews and Tipton. They have seniority, although Tipton has been injury-prone, giving them the leg-up. Mathews is the best blocker on the outside, a rare skill from WR's, but a very valuable one, and with his height we hope he can start taking advantage of smaller defenders on the outside. When healthy, i.e. the spring game, Tipton is dynamic and a leader so he should receive early playing time.
Best Case Scenario
Ffrench and Mack make the ACC secondaries look like a JV squad, receive All-ACC honors, and at the same time younger receivers come into the fold as real weapons for the offense. We've seen how dynamic Jacques-Louis can be with his electric speed and we've heard that Butler-Jenkins has flashed serious potential in practices, but yet to see the field a lot. Hopefully Whipple and Beatty coach-up some new studs.
Worst Case Scenario
Ffrench and Mack are the only productive pass-catchers and the youngins fail to get meaningful playing time or production
TE's on the Roster
Will Gragg (RS-Sr) #10
Jake Cortes (RS-Fr) #16
Batman...uhh we mean Jimmy Medure (RS-Sr) #81
Grant Carrigan (RS-So) #84
Nakia Griffin-Stewart (RS-Sr) Grad Transfer
Jason Collier (Fr)
Projected Starter
Cop-out answer, it will be a combo of Gragg and Carrigan. Carrigan is a big boy, essentially a 3rd tackle and if he proves to be a weapon in the pass game...hahahaha good luck defenses. Gragg on the other hand showed to be a pure receiving TE; he was a highly touted recruit who hasn't yet panned out, but showed some of that potential in the spring game. The possible heir to George Aston, Jimmy Medure, may come in handy as a jack of all trades at FB/wing/TE.
Best Case Scenario
Gragg is effective in the playmaker-friendly Whipple offense. Carrigan not only boosts the o-line/run-game production, but starts to become a respected red zone threat. Medure or somebody proves to be a bruising full-back. Griffin-Stewart...does something. Most importantly, the offense proves to recruits that we're not allergic to TE's!!!
Worst Case Scenario
Gragg disappears like he did in 2018. Carrigan doesn't show any growth. And Griffin-Stewart, a man with an unproductive career at Rutgers, is to be the #1 TE option. Collier is forced into an early starting role. The offense has to rely off of a more spread look.
Overall WR Group Rating: B+
Group Gif:
Overall TE Group Rating: D
Group Gif:
What are your thoughts on the WR and TE groups for Pitt this season? Let us know and thanks for reading! As always, Hail to Pitt!
- Aaron and Ryan, TGYK
WR's on the Roster
Maurice Ffrench (Sr) #2
Tre Tipton (RS-Sr) #5
Aaron Mathews (Sr) #6
Michael Smith (RS-So) #9
Taysir Mack (RS-Jr) #11
Shocky Jacques-Louis (So) #18
Michael Vardzel (RS-Jr) #46
Cameron O'Neil (RS-Fr) #80
John Vardzel (RS-Fr) #83
Garrett Bickhart (RS-So) #85
Dontavius Butler-Jenkins (RS-So) #88
Jared Wayne (Fr)
Will Gipson (Fr-Technically coming in as an "Athlete").
AJ Woods (Fr- Technically coming in as an "Athlete").
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| post-gazette.com |
Projected Starters
It's pretty evident the top 2 options are Ffrench and Mack. We believe they can be one of the top combos in the ACC and the teams' top play-makers. With pass-heavy offenses today, including Whipple with his track record at UMass, we'll throw out two more possible starters - Mathews and Tipton. They have seniority, although Tipton has been injury-prone, giving them the leg-up. Mathews is the best blocker on the outside, a rare skill from WR's, but a very valuable one, and with his height we hope he can start taking advantage of smaller defenders on the outside. When healthy, i.e. the spring game, Tipton is dynamic and a leader so he should receive early playing time.
Best Case Scenario
Ffrench and Mack make the ACC secondaries look like a JV squad, receive All-ACC honors, and at the same time younger receivers come into the fold as real weapons for the offense. We've seen how dynamic Jacques-Louis can be with his electric speed and we've heard that Butler-Jenkins has flashed serious potential in practices, but yet to see the field a lot. Hopefully Whipple and Beatty coach-up some new studs.
Worst Case Scenario
Ffrench and Mack are the only productive pass-catchers and the youngins fail to get meaningful playing time or production
TE's on the Roster
Will Gragg (RS-Sr) #10
Jake Cortes (RS-Fr) #16
Batman...uhh we mean Jimmy Medure (RS-Sr) #81
Grant Carrigan (RS-So) #84
Nakia Griffin-Stewart (RS-Sr) Grad Transfer
Jason Collier (Fr)
Projected Starter
Cop-out answer, it will be a combo of Gragg and Carrigan. Carrigan is a big boy, essentially a 3rd tackle and if he proves to be a weapon in the pass game...hahahaha good luck defenses. Gragg on the other hand showed to be a pure receiving TE; he was a highly touted recruit who hasn't yet panned out, but showed some of that potential in the spring game. The possible heir to George Aston, Jimmy Medure, may come in handy as a jack of all trades at FB/wing/TE.
Best Case Scenario
Gragg is effective in the playmaker-friendly Whipple offense. Carrigan not only boosts the o-line/run-game production, but starts to become a respected red zone threat. Medure or somebody proves to be a bruising full-back. Griffin-Stewart...does something. Most importantly, the offense proves to recruits that we're not allergic to TE's!!!
Worst Case Scenario
Gragg disappears like he did in 2018. Carrigan doesn't show any growth. And Griffin-Stewart, a man with an unproductive career at Rutgers, is to be the #1 TE option. Collier is forced into an early starting role. The offense has to rely off of a more spread look.
Overall WR Group Rating: B+
Group Gif:
Overall TE Group Rating: D
Group Gif:
What are your thoughts on the WR and TE groups for Pitt this season? Let us know and thanks for reading! As always, Hail to Pitt!
- Aaron and Ryan, TGYK
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