What Does Recent Exposure Say About the WR Depth Chart
Is Jehu Chesson the #1 WR on the depth chart, and we are just haven't noticed?
Seems to me everyone has shoehorned Darboh as the number one guy on the outside, while noting he is better suited as a compliment. Number 82 looks a lot more like Avant than Edwards. Maizenbrew.com just did their position preview for WR's and ranked Darboh/Chesson 1a/1b. And I'm sure everyone has read the position previews in HTTV, in which Jehu is the probable #2, due to experience over the others.
Not to be a DISCUSS guy, but I do want to open a discussion about Chesson, Harbaugh, favorites, team leaders, and how that affects a depth chart. With Chesson going to B1G Media Days, and staring in various UMichAthletics video shorts, is Harbaugh telling us in plain sight that Chesson is the #1 guy?
Here is a picture of Chesson in the Virtual Reality highlight video from a Freep Article.
And the link to the Summer Training Video, which was basically Chesson running a forty.
So what are your thoughts? Does the recent exposure mean that Harbaugh looks to Chesson as a leader on this offense? And if so, does that translate to a possible shake up of what we have in our minds as the WR depth chart? IMO, having Chesson leap Darboh would be a great sign. He has the ability to stretch the field, which could open up the passing game for not only Darboh, but the slot receivers and the TEs too.
[Edit:] Whoops, forgot a gif...
August 6th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
I think it's more credit to his leadership ability and his charisma than it is about the depth chart.
Exactly...it just means he's a leader and can hold his own with the media. And he's around during the summer and thus available to talk to the media.
August 6th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
August 6th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^
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August 6th, 2015 at 11:57 AM ^
I get what you're saying but he saw the field a lot as a freshman. Not a ton of production, but he was out there. Last year, the passing game was just awful so I don't know how much you can read into the production of the wr's last year.
As has been discussed on here all off-season, the coaching from a positional and overall perspective in terms of developing players probably was lacking quite a bit with the previous staff. I'm not ready to write off too many players just yet.
August 6th, 2015 at 10:58 AM ^
I don't think you have to be the #1 guy to be a great team leader, on and off the field.
That said, I'd love for Chesson to be the top guy, just because he's been a favorite of mine for a long time. (wasn't he at one of the mgopreview things in A2 a few years ago when Brian was talking about the competition of him vs. Darboh?)
August 6th, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
I think its a quiet period for football and you are trying to read into things.
Let's give it to game 4 or so before making any declarations. Depth charts mean crap as we have seen the past few years.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^
I don't think Chesson has what it takes to be a #1 guy. And Darboh was the one being targeted in the spring. I think the fact that he went to Big Ten Media Days is more about his personality. After all, James Ross isn't a superstar and didn't play a ton last year, but he was in Chicago, too.
Someone has to go talk to the media, but not everyone can go talk to the media.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^
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August 6th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
He got plenty of run last year and it seemed like he was simply never open.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
I don't think he's a great route runner, and I also don't think he's a natural pass catcher. He just doesn't have the same hand-eye coordination as a guy like Darboh (who has his own shortcomings, but is more reliable).
August 6th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
August 6th, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^
How much of that was because Norfleet was on Darboh though?
August 6th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
Not all of his targets were when Norfleet was covering him.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
I wonder if you are discounting the coaching issue. Experience says that some of these guys are bound to take a leap forward as a result of excellent coaching. Jehu has the physical tools (I primarily mean speed, I suppose), but given his overall football acumen, I remain hopeful that he can be a breakout player and a true #1 receiver.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^
He was coached all spring by these coaches. And at the end of spring (in the spring game), Darboh still looked like the go-to guy.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
Frank Clark wasn't the most eloquent on the team and he went to Big Ten Media Days last year. Some times, it's just whoever the coaches want to pick. Clark had a lot of hype at the time so perhaps that's one of the reasons why Hoke included him.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
If you have a star player or two, those guys are likely to go. That's who the media wants to see. Clark was one of the potential stars of the team, and that was shown by where he was drafted.
This year has very few stars, if any.
August 6th, 2015 at 12:24 PM ^
"Brady Hoke wasn't the most eloquent on the team and he went to Big Ten Media Days last year."
August 6th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
August 6th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^
I would say that is the biggest reason for the attention. It's a great idea for a new coach to rely on the older players, because they know how to handle situations.
I am personally most excited about the prospect of Brian Cole at the wideout position. I think he represents the best talent in the group, and it seems to be a trend lately that the top tier wideouts make a difference right away.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:05 AM ^
Jehu Chesson is a football player.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
Watch they way he blocks and you might get some insight into why he would be a Harbaugh favorite and included in the players at Big Ten Media Days
August 6th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
I don't think any of what we've seen thus far have anything to do with who is the actual #1 receiver. They haven't even had their first practice yet let alone their first practice in pads.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^
Could be that Chesson is also a pretty polished speaker who wears bow ties. Who knows? It's speculation at this point.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
He was incredibly impressive. Should already be on the short list for intelligent sports broadcast commentary (if such a thing exists anymore).
August 6th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^
Best speaker on the team is Tyrone Wheatley Jr. though. You guys should check out his interviews. He'll be heading up his own TV show one day.
Had already put Devin Gardner on the future TV list, as the smartly comedic sidekick.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^
If you're trying to start a discussion, fine. If you're actually suggesting Chesson is #1 WR because he went to media days, then no. The answer is no.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
August 6th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
find additional performance incentives based on comments from various "experts" that they are the weak link on this team.
August 6th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
I think the best we could hope for out of Chesson is basically Greg Matthews 2.0, which would definitely be helpful, but he's not a #1. Our receiver corps looks similar to 2005. The best athletes are really really young and the experienced guys just aren't deep threats. It would be a huge help this year if Canteen or Cole or Harris could blow up.
August 6th, 2015 at 12:27 PM ^
He'll surprise people in Moe Ways than one.
what you did there
August 6th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
I'm hoping that Cole is Manningham 2.0.
August 6th, 2015 at 12:46 PM ^
I think it's pretty clear that the guys brought to media day were a reward for good grades. I don't think Jim was taking walk ons with good grades to media days, but knowing what we know about Harbaugh it probably was a competition that these kids won weighted more towards grades than football.