Cats on the fast track at receiver
If there was a way an offense could place seven wide receivers on the field at the same time, El Dorado would've probably found it during the off-season. The Wildcats' squad of receivers will be deep with talent this season.
Coach Matthew Nash was asked how many receivers could see the field on Friday night.
“We believe in seven guys right now, seniors Kamron Bibby, Jackie Washington, RJ Thomas, juniors De Andre Burns, Jr., TJ Dunn, Jacobi Montgomery and Demarcus Young. Connor Black is hurt right now, but when he gets better that's possibly eight.
“I truly feel we can be really good if we're doing what we're coached to do and play fast.”
Playing fast shouldn't be an issue. Several of the wideouts boast sub 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash.
Burns and Bibby could, typically, line up on the outside with Washington returning as the primary slot receiver.
“When you have eight good wideouts they all can't play outside but Jackie has a gift that every coach wants his players to have - great feet,” Nash said. “I feel sorry for whoever has to guard him oneon-one because he is so good with his feet.
“What's so great about this bunch of receivers is you can plug any one of them anywhere. We have two other seniors that match well with Burns and Washington. RJ Thomas is a smart kid and works hard and Kamron Bibby is a guy to keep your eye on. He has everything you want in a receiver, length, speed, and great ball skills.”
Nash talked about some of the receivers who haven't gotten a lot of attention, yet.
“TJ Dunn has a huge upside with length and speed. Demarcus Young has great ball skills and size and Jacobi Montgomery is also fighting for playing time,” he said.
“Our speed is great, but our guys are more than just run deep and catch the ball. We run great routes, block outstanding, and we do the little things that you have to do to take care of each other on the field. We are going to be really hard to run with.”
Speaking of running, El Dorado's receivers feature in the rushing attack. The Wildcats run a variety of jet sweeps with the receivers, who also have big roles in the blocking schemes.
"As far as blocking goes, Coach Nash tells them, no block, no rock," said El Dorado head coach Steven Jones. "So, if they want to be a guy we want to get the ball to, they have to do a good job of blocking in space. That's something every single year that Greenwood is really good at, blocking out there on the edge. That's why they've been so successful. We've challenged our guys to be good at blocking on the edge to get the ball out there in space. They've really bought into that selflessness and just trying to get whoever into the end zone and not worry about what guy has the most touchdowns."
Nash said when the formation calls for five wides, he expects defenses to have a difficult time matching up. Finding the mismatch will be the key because there will usually be at least one.
“The wideout group as a whole has done a great job of buying in to what we are doing, and if they can keep taking coaching we should be alright,” said Nash.