Tech receivers lack experience, not talent

[Scoops]

From the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal website (sounds like they have very capable replacements for departed WRs!)



Red Raiders sort out receiver situation

By DON WILLIAMS
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

With preparation at hand for the season opener, Texas Tech has mapped out a tentative receivers rotation.

Now it's up to several inexperienced players to keep the rotation firm.

It will be Jarrett Hicks backed by Danny Amendola at split end; Nehemiah Glover backed by Trey Haverty at "H" inside receiver; Cody Fuller and Bristol Olomua sharing time at "Y" inside receiver; and Joel Filani and Brandon Douglas playing flanker.

The biggest question marks: Amendola's ability to provide acceptable relief as a true freshman, and the uncertainty at flanker since Filani and Douglas have never been used more than a few plays a game.

"It's a lot different being a role player and being a starter," wide receivers coach Sonny Dykes said Wednesday. "None of those guys (in question) at that outside spot have ever done that before — played 60, 70 snaps — so we've got to see how they respond. It's a completely different mentality, and you've got to have a whole different level of consistency."

Dykes and head coach Mike Leach said they want to determine whether JUCO transfer Marquis Johnson has a redshirt year available; if so, they might consider it.

"Part of the deal on that is Cody Fuller's flexibility kind of allows us to maybe do something like that," Dykes said. "Cody's capable of playing (split end) and (flanker) and 'Y' as well. There's not many guys that can do that."

Fuller's a safety net, depending on how the young players come along. A junior, Fuller spent his entire career as an outside receiver until August, when he was moved to the inside "Y."

He got a few snaps Wednesday at flanker.

"I just want everybody to play well," said Fuller, who caught 10 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown last year. "As long as everybody stays consistent at their positions, I don't think anybody'll have to be moving around as much. If coaches don't feel like they're getting what they want, then I'll do what they tell me to."

Fuller put on 8 pounds in the off-season, bumping up to 6-foot and 197. Extra muscle is a bonus for his new position, the one occupied last year by then-senior Mickey Peters.

"I think I'm adjusting pretty well," Fuller said. "The thing is, it's more physical. You're having to get around linebackers, and learning how to set them up is a lot different than trying to set up a finesse corner. That part of the game is something I've had to learn. Once you get it down, i think it could be a real good position."

Fuller, Olomua and another "Y,", Joey Hawkins, are so distinctly different that much of their usage will depend on who best fits what play the Raiders want to run. Fuller's a pure receiver, Hawkins more of a tight end, and Olomua something in between.

Leach said he considers Olomua the starter "if we want a big guy," and Fuller the choice "if we want a littler guy."

Olomua (6-5, 252) solidified a job by performing well in the past week.

"Bristol, I think, as time goes on, his role could expand," Leach said, adding that Olomua still has some unknowns. "How many snaps can he go? How quick can he pick everything up? He can do a lot of things. Can he do everything right now? I don't know, but he can do a lot of things."

The presence of Glover and Haverty, both seniors, has pushed Brian Bishop and Slade Hodges to the fringe at "H."

With Filani and Douglas running one-two at flanker, the opportunities for Johnson might be limited. Johnson suffered a season-ending knee injury the second week of his 2002 seas