Receiver Harvest

This past week, I have been thinking a lot about the receivers who graduated from Tech in 2008 (and in one case, 2007). In particular, I am thinking about Eddie Royal, Justin Morgan, Josh Harper, and David Clowney. Three of those guys are currently starting for NFL teams... Josh Morgan with the San Francisco 49ers, Eddie Royal with the Denver Broncos, and David Clowney with the New York Jets. Justin Harper could possibly have been a starter for the Baltimore Ravens if Derrick Mason hadn't decided to prolong retirement and come back for another season. With receivers of that caliber on the team, it is hard to believe that they were not mishandled in some way by our quarterbacks and/or our offensive coordinator.

In 2006 when all four players were seeing significant playing time (they were all getting roughly the same amount of time as our top four receivers), Sean Glennon was in his first year at quarterback for Virginia Tech. Glennon, who was recruited for his arm and obviously not his legs, was unable to supply the receivers with quality passes that year. There are all kinds of excuses that can be made including a not-so-great offensive line, but what it really comes down to are poor quarterback play or poor play-calling. When you look at the stats, no receiver reached 500 yards receiving on the season (Royal had 497), and no receiver had more than 34 catches (Clowney had 34). You might even try to argue that by spreading the ball around to so many receivers, the stats are a bit misleading. But that's just pure bullcrap. Glennon's 56.3 completion percentage is pitiful considering the quality of receivers that he had, with all of his wideouts having started since they were freshmen.

In the next season, David Clowney had graduated, but Josh Morgan, Eddie Royal, and Justin Harper remained at VT for their senior season. The touchdown totals for those guys are too embarrassing to even mention. The yardage totals are better than they were from the previous season, but the top yardage getter was Harper with only 635. Sean Glennon was able to top 60% completions, but just barely. This was an experienced offense with a 2nd year QB, a 3rd year RB, and three 4-year starters at wide receiver, and the numbers just aren't good enough given the talent. This offense should have been rivaling some of the best in the nation, but it didn't even come close.

So what is my final point here? My final point is, "What the crap?" That's it... I think the offense partly suffered as a result of the inept play-calling of Bryan Stinespring and his inability to position our offensive pieces correctly. I also think the offense partly suffered because of Sean Glennon and a not-yet-ready-but-forced-into-action Tyrod Taylor. Glennon was a good passer when given plenty of time to throw the ball against underwhelming defenses, but when he was forced from the pocket or rolling out on a designed play, he could never seem to hit his receivers on the run. That's partly his fault for being terrible. That's partly Stinespring's fault for calling bootleg plays for a QB who can't throw out of the bootleg. But I think what every Hokie fan can take from this situation and celebrate is that our receivers are flourishing under quality quarterbacks and cunning coaching in the NFL.

So my congrats to Eddie Royal, Josh Morgan, David Clowney, and Justin Harper... you made it against all odds!