Should Funchess Move to WR?

For this year, I would use him primarily as a WR. If, however, he can improve his blocking technique, he could prove much more valuable as a do-it-all guy who can line up as TE, move out on the edge, or line up in the backfield as an H-Back. If you want a big, mauler TE, bring in someone else. But if he can at least be a threat to block, he is even more of a match-up nightmare at TE than at receiver.

At this point, it doesn't really matter what slot he is placed into on the depth chart; he's going to be a pass-first offensive player who probably won't play near the line much.  I do expect him to still chip in as a TE because, well, they don't have many other options.  But he'll also be featured heavily as a 2nd/3rd WR on most passing downs, and given the dimunitive nature of the senior WRs will only help stretch the field along with Chesson.

Let the strentght/weaknesses of each opponent determine which position he plays most. 

Seems like we should just line him up as both to confuse defenses.

Whatever they have to do to move the ball, I am all for, even if that means putting in a trick play to pass to Lewan in their heavy formation.

He's already there for all intents and purposes

"Funchess is a TE" versus "Funchess is a WR" is a distinction without a difference.

He is The Funchess, whatever you call him, he is a match-up nightmare

Long term upside for him IMO is to develop blocking to the point where he can block on the LOS or at least at the H back. That gets him the most favorable match-ups, against LBs sucked up on PA. 

This year, he's not there yet and we need another WR option. He's good enough to be a problem for a lot of DB's in the Big 10, but if he's got aspirations for playing in the league, I don't think being a big and slow (for NFL) WR gives him his best shot at being successful.

Just use him like those NFL TEs that always split out and play like WR's.  He can still be listed as a TE, but we use him like a WR most of the time.

This is clear.   He played there all thru high school and seems more comfortable.  He can definitely separate from CB's too.   But whether the coaches move him there officially is not so cut and dry. 

1.  With our TE depth not so good right now, we may need him there some of the time.  More if someone gets injured.

2.  If he stays at WR, he doesn't want to get any heavier.  If he stays at TE he needs to gain weight.  Kind of an either/or, but no in betweens.

3.  Where does Devin WANT to play?  Players will usually do better where they're happiest.  Maybe he honestly doesn't care, I don't know. 

Maybe the answer is he's a hybrid TE/WR like we're starting to see in the NFL and they move him around like has been suggested above. 

I think he's suited to do both. He's in the exact mold of what the TE is evolving into now in the NFL. Wherever you line him up, he's going to be a mismatch and a nightmare to try and defend.

So yeah, line him up to do both. Helps keep opposing defense that much more off-balance.

in both roles like vs Minny, match issues.

Butt and Williams can serve TE, and Funchess, a bad if not horrible blocker, should play WR this season so that his talent does not get wasted.

Down the road, he needs to improve his blocking next spring, and maybe back to TE next season.

 

I am no expert in body types, but Funchess looks to have a fairly slender frame.  Not saying he can't be a tight end, but some guys just don't carry the extra mass particularly well.  I am starting to suspect that Funchess doesn't have the body type to carry the extra weight he needs for TE.  If you look at Butt, he looks thicker through the trunk and shoulders.  Am I just imagining that or does anyone agree?

Besides, he has everything you could want in a dominant WR outside of blazing speed which, like, okay?  I'll take that.

I like Funchess at WR some but not exclusively. I still want Funchess up the seams at TE. I want more 2 TE with Funch and Butt.

Let's just classify Funchess as an offensive weapon and have him play TE, WR, slot, H-back, or whatever, according to the situation.  As Fred Jackson would say, a bigger version of Percy Harvin - not quite as fast but makes up for it in size.

Where do we all keep getting that Funchess "isn't that fast?" He looks plenty fast to me. And dollars to donuts he sticks to WR for the remainder of his career. Then runs a 4.65 at the combine in '15. Count it.

on the changing of the starting TE. I stated that would allow us to move Funchess to WR where he has clearly been better at catching balls than lining him up at TE where he is an inferior run blocker.  However, that doesn't necessarily translate to him being a weak blocker at wide receiver because of the different things they work on during the week and he having already, obviously,  spending countless hours learning blocking technique.  I am all for moving him all around personally. I don't think he necessarily has to be penciled in at wideout, but wherever he goes he'll create a matchup problem. That's why I'd prefer to see him line up in the slot, at wide receiver when it's not necessarily a passing down, but where a pass might go big, like a second and one, something of that nature.  Use your freaks wisely, but use them often. And BTW, a kid his size is open no matter his speed, not unlike a Junior Hemingway who would simply box out smaller dbs in the same manner seen under the boards on the hardwood.  He has a lot to offer and they're using him correctly imo.

I like it! I am not educated enough to say if its a good idea or not, but at first thought, I like it.

and someone at TE works for me. Fat Uncle Fester man please watch the Patriots play fuutball. really.

As long as Funch gets 10-12 targets a game, I don't care what his position is listed as. But if Borges goes back to pounding square-peg-into-round-hole, he needs to be shown the door.

Funchess may not have the down field speed of an elite receiver but short to moderate routes with his leaping ability would be a great help for our offense! I see him as a great 3rd down and redzone threat. He will allow Gallon and Dileo to get open more often. I think it would be a great move.

He already has

I say yes.  Why?

Aside from the implications in 2013 - i.e. disallow teams to bracket Gallon and then say "Dileo + Chesson - try to beat us, we don't care", it is a key move for 2014.  Why?  The only returning WR with an ounce of experience will be Chesson.  It is the only position group that will have less experience than the OL in 2014.  Might be tons of talent but w/o Funchess there we are probably looking at a starting 3 of uhh, Chesson, Darboh and maybe Drake Harris?  Or one of the freshman from this year etc.    There is a very good chance Funchess would be the #1 WR next year - Chesson is improving and all but has all of 7 catches this year I believe.