Trifecta Box: Wide Receivers

Sorry for the delay.  My fantasy football draft is over, work is calming down just a touch, and I'm ready for a hard rally down the stretch.  Let's get to it.

If I'm betting a trifecta box on UVA's wide receiver position this fall, here's how I'd structure the bet...
 

Kris Burd: Virginia's new go-to receiver.

 

 

WIN: Kris Burd, junior & Tim Smith, sophomore

 

Youngsters Kris Burd (31 receptions, 413 yards, 1 TD) and Tim Smith (15-204-2) emerged as the starting WRs last year.  Their stats were unimpressive, due mostly to a poorly-conceived offense and general ineptitude from the quarterback position... to put it nicely.  My point is that I think the WR production was down because of extenuating circumstances moreso than because of poor play from the receivers themselves.  I actually like the Burd/Smith combo quite a lot heading into 2010.  Burd is the savvy route runner with sticky hands and the chip on his shoulder, and Smith is the blazingly fast deep threat.  Burd is a plus blocker, which always helps in a run-first offense.  Smith is a tireless worker who is hellbent on improving his game.  I think we're pretty well set with these two guys breaking the first offensive huddle next month.  Burd will be the steady short and intermediate range posession guy, and Smith will be the guy that stretches defenses.  They complement each other well, and both are top-tier talents in their own right.

 

 

PLACE: Dontrelle Inman, senior & Bobby Smith, redshirt freshman

 

Inman is a senior, after having not received a redshirt last year during an injury-plagued season.  He should have two years of college football left to play... but his old head coach payed him a disservice during a lost season.  Inman is looking to go out with a bang in 2010, and he has the goods to produce on the field.  He's a big, strong, sure-handed possession receiver who should be a nice fit in the new offense.  I list Bobby Smith here alongside Inman based more on a hunch than on any actual insider information or working knowledge of the depth chart or wide receiver pecking order.  Bobby Smith is HUGE (6-5, 215) for a receiver, but moves with enough quickness to be able to stretch defenses.  As a die-hard Bengals fan who has spent the last two weeks celebrating the Terrell Owens signing, I have recently learned that I prefer my receivers to be big, tall, hulking freight train m*therf#ckers who can beat up on DBs.  Bobby Smith brings a little TO to the table, I think.  And I think that's something that a guy like Mike London will want to get on the field.

 

 

SHOW: Jared Green, junior & Matt Snyder, junior

 

After showing serious flashes as a freshman, Green regressed quite a bit last year.  He's tallish (6-2) and can run pretty well, but just seems to struggle to get open and make plays when the ball is in the air.  If the light flickers on and he takes the next step, he could challenge for much more playing time.  As it stands right now, he's being lost in the shuffle just a bit.  Matt Snyder meanwhile, has battled his way from unknown walk-on to a true factor in the wideout rotation.  Those of you who are fans of the pro game -- watch Houston's Kevin Walter.  Snyder and Walter are true parallels.  I think Snyder has a good chance to see the field this fall... and if he gets there, my gut says he will produce.  He's not flashy, just a solidly-built guy who runs good routes and catches the ball well.

 

 

ALSO RAN:

• E.J. Scott, true freshman -- A Tim Smith-esque speed burner, Scott has been the star of the early summer practices.  By most accounts, he is a truly explosive downfield receiver, and could force his way onto the depth chart as a true freshman.
• Kevin Royal, redshirt freshman -- In spring practice, Royal was moved over to tight end, where coaches thought his big (6-3, 215) frame and quickness would jive well at H-back... but that experiment went bust and Royal is back with the wide receivers this summer.  His skill set is fairly redundant with what we already have in Inman, Bobby Smith, and Matt Snyder.
• Ray Keys, junior -- This walk-on was the star of the spring game, and won a scholarship for this season through his hard work and improvement in practice.  He's a heady downfield guy who has deceptive deep speed.
• Khalek Shepherd, true freshman -- I covered this guy in the trifecta box for the running backs.  Here's what I said about him there: "He's smurfy (5-6, 165), and likely bound for the wide receiver position as a slot specialist after his redshirt year... but if he sticks at running back, he's got the most pure speed and wiggle of anyone else on the roster at the position. Dare we think Dexter McCluster? Naaah, that's a reach. Call Shepherd the Poor Man's McCluster."

ANTE POST: A long touchdown pass from Marc Verica to Tim Smith will win us a game we aren't supposed to win this year.  I'm thinking either against UNC on October 16th or Miami on October 30th.  With opponents' #1 corner on Kris Burd, Smith will have some chances to get deep.