Cam Burnett

[Yadkin]

I knew somebody would invoke Randy Moss and the very small 42” VJ NFL receiving fraternity...aka HOFamers catching passes thrown by QBs who can hit a Coke cap 20 yards away. Problem with that is the numbers go through the basement as you move down the talent chain, especially at the college level. You can count on one hand and have fingers left the number of fade route TDs registered by Furman WRs over the years. They nearly always fail.

[Paladin91]

I knew somebody would invoke Randy Moss and the very small 42” VJ NFL receiving fraternity...AKA HOFamers catching passes thrown by QBs who can hit a Coke cap 20 yards away. Problem with that is the numbers go through the basement as you move down the talent chain, especially at the college level. You can count on one hand and have fingers left the number of fade route TDs registered by Furman WRs over the years. They nearly always fail.

I think that was the whole point surrounding the discussion was having taller receivers. Furman has had very few. If you have a 6'4 or 6'6 receiver, the fade route is your friend.

[Yadkin]

No doubt true, but good luck recruiting 6-4 and 6-6 receivers to Furman. Furman’s best receivers, historically, have been in the 5-9 to 6-1 range. Andy Schumpert, who had a great senior year, was a walkon. Would be nice to have another RJ Webb, who was a great HS QB.

[AstroDin]

I'm going to lean on the coaches here and have faith they know what they're doing… CH said after the 2017 season we need playmakers. He's since added Bell, Watkins, Miller… I hope we add Hall to that conversation in 2019.

With the addition of Anderson so far and a 2019 rich class of offensive linemen - I'm feeling good about the future of the Paladin offense.

[Paul C]

Our 2018 team completed 105 passes to 15 different players for 1,494 yards (14.2 ypg) and 14 TDs.

Cam B caught 20 of them for 247 yards.

While I hope our passing O is more potent in 2019 that’s just a fraction of our total production

WRs caught 63 of those passes, so I can understand his desire to play in a more pass happy offense. Good luck to him I’m sure he’s a good kid.

[The Jackal]

That really is a short WR group.

Agreed, nice to have a taller WR for the fade route in the end zone. Not very big either in terms of blockers.

Brian Bratton 5'10 185
Isaac West 6'0 186
Justin Stepp 6'0 190
Adam Mims 5'9 198
Andrej Suttles 5'11 187
Patrick Sprague 6'1 191
Des Kitchings 5'9 178

Did you noticeably leave off Logan McCarter - 6'2 and Andy Shumpert - 6'5, who was a TE but used more as a receiver. But regardless, our receivers are small both height wise and weight wise.

No, I just looked at the list of Furman's all time top receivers (McCarter isn't on that list, by the way, and neither is Schumpert).

Besides, if you want to use the "Schumpert was tall" argument, why not add in our current TEs? They are all very good receivers and are 6'4, 6'3, and 6'1.

Let me guess, the facts don't fit your narrative, do they?

[AstroDin]

^^^ this - Jackal's point is spot on. The ways Furman uses tight ends don't fit the traditional mold, Furman's TE's are very good receivers and they are weapons catching the ball in space. Walker is becoming a critical piece of the offense, and Ryan Miller can play both TE/WR.

My guess is Bryce McCormick will play TE — Cam was 6-2 205, Bryce will come in as a true freshman at 6-2 218. McCormick is also the PG on the CPA BB team and just became a member of the 1,000 pt club for CPA. Bryce is very athletic and I bet he will play for Furman in the 225-230 range.

Players that aren't happy can be a locker room issue, I have no idea if this was the issue with Cam, but it's been hinted at. I think it's clear how Furman is building their offense.

Athletic long offensive linemen. Shifty, speedy tailbacks that can run and catch. Athletic type tight ends. Playmaker fast-twitch receivers that can also play in the run game. Receivers that are great route runners and blockers. Mix in power backs. And then you have QB - Furman appears to not want a pure option running back, they want a QB that can be a dual-threat.

And we should all know by now that CH is not going to just offer a player a scholarship just to feel a spot. If a QB is brought in with the 2019 class, it will be someone they truly believe in. Don't get your hopes up, Furman is talking to a bunch of QB's in the 2020 class.

[The Jackal]

The best ability is availability.

[The Jackal]

^^^ this - Jackal's point is spot on. The ways Furman uses tight ends don't fit the traditional mold, Furman's TE's are very good receivers and they are weapons catching the ball in space. Walker is becoming a critical piece of the offense, and Ryan Miller can play both TE/WR.

My guess is Bryce McCormick will play TE — Cam was 6-2 205, Bryce will come in as a true freshman at 6-2 218. McCormick is also the PG on the CPA BB team and just became a member of the 1,000 pt club for CPA. Bryce is very athletic and I bet he will play for Furman in the 225-230 range.

Players that aren't happy can be a locker room issue, I have no idea if this was the issue with Cam, but it's been hinted at. I think it's clear how Furman is building their offense.

Athletic long offensive linemen. Shifty, speedy tailbacks that can run and catch. Athletic type tight ends. Playmaker fast-twitch receivers that can also play in the run game. Receivers that are great route runners and blockers. Mix in power backs. And then you have QB - Furman appears to not want a pure option running back, they want a QB that can be a dual-threat.

And we should all know by now that CH is not going to just offer a player a scholarship just to feel a spot. If a QB is brought in with the 2019 class, it will be someone they truly believe in. Don't get your hopes up, Furman is talking to a bunch of QB's in the 2020 class.

It certainly seems that Furman is targeting QBs in the 2020 class.

It looks like this coaching staff isn't going to spend a scholarship on a QB every season. My guess is they are comfortable with Grainger and Sisson, are bringing in a number of walkons for depth, and will lock in another QB as a high priority in 2020.

That is a different strategy than a lot of coaching staffs. Furman is potentially trading that scholarship at other positions of need with guys that are most likely to make an impact in the near future and avoiding spending a scholarship on another QB that will likely be third or fourth on the depth chart behind two freshmen (and therefore, unlikely to play much during his career).

I would think this staff wants to get out of the business of having to sit good QBs for four years and start them as a redshirt senior. Reduce some backlog and develop/groom your next starter.

[apaladin]

Understand but it is dangerous to have only 2 scholarship QB's on board, both of whom are basically inexperienced and unproven. Grainger has played some and has shown potential but right now that is all it is. Scission has really not played at all. Depth is certainly an issue at QB.

[Paladin91]

That really is a short WR group.

Agreed, nice to have a taller WR for the fade route in the end zone. Not very big either in terms of blockers.

Brian Bratton 5'10 185
Isaac West 6'0 186
Justin Stepp 6'0 190
Adam Mims 5'9 198
Andrej Suttles 5'11 187
Patrick Sprague 6'1 191
Des Kitchings 5'9 178

Did you noticeably leave off Logan McCarter - 6'2 and Andy Shumpert - 6'5, who was a TE but used more as a receiver. But regardless, our receivers are small both height wise and weight wise.

No, I just looked at the list of Furman's all time top receivers (McCarter isn't on that list, by the way, and neither is Schumpert).

Besides, if you want to use the "Schumpert was tall" argument, why not add in our current TEs? They are all very good receivers and are 6'4, 6'3, and 6'1.

Let me guess, the facts don't fit your narrative, do they?

Jackal, the facts fit my narrative perfectly - our WR group is smaller both height wise and weight wise. It's not that hard to comprehend.

[Yadkin]

Yeah Jackal, the loss of two inches and 20 pounds in last year's starter (Burnett) vs. his likely replacement (DeLuca) is a complete game changer as far as our receiving corps goes. Can't you see that? There goes the passing game. No more fade route TD passes in the corner of the end zone (OK, never happened... I'm dreaming). Never mind DeLuca made one of the best moves of any Paladin WR last fall with his 24-yard 2H TD catch vs. Mercer. Guess we'll now run the wishbone since our passing game has no chance of succeeding. Good grief.

[The Jackal]

Yeah Jackal, the loss of two inches and 20 pounds in last year's starter (Burnett) vs. his likely replacement (DeLuca) is a complete game changer as far as our receiving corps goes. Can't you see that? There goes the passing game. No more fade route TD passes in the corner of the end zone (OK, never happened... I'm dreaming). Never mind DeLuca made one of the best moves of any Paladin WR last fall with his 24-yard 2H TD catch vs. Mercer. Guess we'll now run the wishbone since our passing game has no chance of succeeding. Good grief.

I went back and watched our highlights from the win over Western Carolina this year - a game where our offense was really clicking. DeLuca was on the field for virtually every big offensive play.

I think Furman is deeper at WR with Burnett. I am sorry to see him go. Still, we'll be fine.

Oh, and so you can all rest easy, Jake Kimmelman is listed at 6'2. So, lose a 6'2 guy and gain one.

[Paladin91]

Yeah Jackal, the loss of two inches and 20 pounds in last year's starter (Burnett) vs. his likely replacement (DeLuca) is a complete game changer as far as our receiving corps goes. Can't you see that? There goes the passing game. No more fade route TD passes in the corner of the end zone (OK, never happened... I'm dreaming). Never mind DeLuca made one of the best moves of any Paladin WR last fall with his 24-yard 2H TD catch vs. Mercer. Guess we'll now run the wishbone since our passing game has no chance of succeeding. Good grief.

Again, you're totally out of context. 10 or 20 lbs on a WR matters when you have to block on the edges for the run game or set up a screen - it's not just the receiving end. And no sense in singling out receivers, talking about the group as a whole vs past units. Again, noticeably smaller.

[The Jackal]

Yeah Jackal, the loss of two inches and 20 pounds in last year's starter (Burnett) vs. his likely replacement (DeLuca) is a complete game changer as far as our receiving corps goes. Can't you see that? There goes the passing game. No more fade route TD passes in the corner of the end zone (OK, never happened... I'm dreaming). Never mind DeLuca made one of the best moves of any Paladin WR last fall with his 24-yard 2H TD catch vs. Mercer. Guess we'll now run the wishbone since our passing game has no chance of succeeding. Good grief.

Again, you're totally out of context. 10 or 20 lbs on a WR matters when you have to block on the edges for the run game or set up a screen - it's not just the receiving end. And no sense in singling out receivers, talking about the group as a whole vs past units. Again, noticeably smaller.

I mean, I think the last 25 years of Furman football proves you wrong. But you can believe what you want.

Incidentally, the hands-down best WR in the SoCon last season is listed at 5'8 185. That guy will likely get cracks at NFL rosters.