Postion Analysis: Wide Receivers
By Brian Burke
8/9/99

As August camp opens, the receivers are probably the least of Notre Dame's
worries.  The group that the Irish will put on the field this year is a fairly
deep unit that (depending on how much the sophomores do) will be an upgrade
from recent years.  There is no Tim Brown or Derrick Mayes superstar type, but
there are guys who have made plays in the past and can be counted on, as well
as younger players that could have star (oh boy, here we go again) potential.
The leader of the receivers will be 5th year senior split end Bobby Brown. 
He was one of the less heralded prospects in the supposed recruiting bonanza
that arrived in 1995, and he has done a lot with the ability he was given.  He
does not have great speed but is the tallest receiver at 6'3", making him the
first guy Jarious Jackson will look to on 3rd down to keep a drive alive. 
People talk about how he had a great year in 1997 with over 500 yards
receiving and was a disappointment last year.  1997 however was a year where
the Irish had no offensive identity and because Ron Powlus threw the ball so
much it was inevitable Brown's numbers would go up.  In 1998 Brown may not
have done as well individually, but Notre Dame did better because they were
going back to a run oriented offense that had made them successful before the
1997 season.  Frankly, at his level of talent Bobby Brown should not be
expected to put up gigantic numbers.  He will not run away from defenses too
often (although he did last year from Baylor), and his strengths are good
hands and size, as well as downfield blocking.  Also, he will be expected to
help along the development of younger players, all of which makes him a very
important player.
Across the line in the starting flanker spot is Raki Nelson.  Nelson was
expected to become Notre Dame's next marquee wide out four years ago as the
Pennsylvania small school player of the year, but never displayed consistency.
 During his time at Notre Dame Nelson has had to work on running better routes
and overcome his tendency to drop balls he should catch.  He may have let his
share of passes get away, but he has made plays at crunch time as well, such
as the 48 yard reception on 3rd and 17 that saved the Irish from what would
have been a humiliating loss (it was humiliating anyway) at Hawaii in 1997. 
Nelson also caught the game winner with less than two minutes left last year
to beat LSU.  He has a little bit of everything: decent but not great speed,
some size but not physically imposing.  We know what Bobby Brown can do; it
would be nice to see Raki Nelson look even more like the player he was
supposed to be in 1996.
Another flanker in the mix is junior Joey Getherall.  Getherall was
considered a big recruit for the Irish two years ago for his blazing speed and
play making ability.  Of course there is a catch: he is very generously listed
as 5'8".  Getherall saw action right away as a freshman in the opener but was
hurt in that game and has since struggled with various injuries.  He has made
some nice catches, and he certainly does have very good speed, but probably
will not be the deep threat the Irish need for the following reason.  With his
height there comes a point where it does not matter how fast he is.  Getherall
realistically is 5'5" or 5'6", and there is no receiver, college or NFL, who
consistently beats his man deep by four or five steps.  To throw deep to a
player, he has to be able to see the pass with a defender (or two) in his face
and fight for the ball in the air.  Since Joey Getherall is shorter than Spud
Webb it does not behoove him to do either.  Kevin Roger's best bet is to call
plays where Getherall catches the ball underneath in full stride and then
makes people miss.  He for sure is a difficult target to hit, and that will
work to his advantage if he ever can get into the open field.  Getherall also
handled punt return duties but struggled at times fielding kicks.  This is a
spot where perhaps someone like Darcy Levy or a freshman could take over,
especially if Getherall is getting a lot of time on offense.
The second split end on the depth chart is Notre Dame's best chance for a
superstar receiver: sophomore David Givens.  Givens was rated as the top high
school player in the country by one service before committing to Notre Dame. 
Givens played many positions in high school, but it was deemed that he would
be needed most at receiver, even though he considered himself a more natural
running back.  Nonetheless, he does have experience as a receiver.  His
biggest play last year was a 22-yard touchdown run to draw first blood against
LSU.  A ton is going to be expected of Givens this year and rightfully so.  He
is the biggest receiver, and also has very good speed and hands; he should be
able to stretch out the defense, make catches in traffic, pick up yards after
the catch, and push around smaller corners, especially in the option where
receivers are important blockers.  The only question mark is how well he will
run his routes.  Overall, David Givens is most likely to be another Derrick
Mayes caliber player.
Another highly regarded sophomore from which much will also be expected is
flanker Javin Hunter.  Hunter was a highly touted recruit who may wind up
being a solid player, although probably more of a compliment to David Givens
the next few years.  Hunter had two long catches in the Blue Gold game and
immediately was anointed as a deep threat, but then again, consider the
secondary.  Notre Dame was continuously criticized for its porous deep pass
coverage last year, and these were not even the starters Hunter went up
against.  He was out there against Lee Lafayette, Ron Israel, Shane Walton and
Justin Smith, and Smith even managed to chase him down.  This all might be
over analyzing, but still Javin Hunter is not Raghib Ismail yet.  The other
thing that must be taken into consideration is that Hunter has aspirations to
be a basketball player for Notre Dame.  While Matt Doherty may be pleased,
playing two sports, especially in seasons that run into each other, can lead
to mediocrity in both.  On the up side, it is obvious that Davie wants to get
Hunter the ball.  In the Army game last year there were several plays designed
specifically for him.  Javin Hunter is at a point right now where Raki Nelson
was his sophomore year; they are very similar players.  If Hunter can be
depended on to catch the ball, he may be a big part of what gets Notre Dame
back to scoring 40 or 50 points in games.
A split end that will also get on the field at crucial points is senior Jay
Johnson.  Johnson is a role player, but his speed is underestimated.  Even
though he is among the group of receivers not thought of as game breakers, he
has showed a knack for getting open.  His 4th down catch with under four
minutes left against Purdue last year was huge.  Huge does not even come close
to describing it.  If the Irish did not convert on that play (they had nine
yards or so to go) it was game over.  Jackson was rolling right in trouble and
fired a high bullet that Johnson had to leap for.  He got his legs taken out
and was slammed to the ground but held on.  He may not have a lot of flash,
but that play alone shows he can come through big when the game is on the
line.  He is another possession receiver, but definitely a contributor.
As for incoming freshman, many expect Jamaar Taylor to get on the field right
away.  He supposedly is similar to Givens in that he is fast especially for
his size.  Taylor apparently arrived on campus last week with an injury that
only enabled him to work at 80 percent, but nonetheless has impressed in what
little anyone has seen.  Like tailback, the stable is crowded, but if Taylor
shows the maturity required, he could see action.  Taylor is at an advantage
over someone like Julius Jones to get playing time in 1999 because the Irish
will put three and perhaps even four receivers on the field sometimes and are
always shuttling wideouts in and out.  Look for Taylor to be put at split end
since Bobby Brown leaves after this year and Jay Johnson is on the bubble for
being offered a 5th year.  Glenn Earl apparently is a pleasant surprise,
showing more speed than at first anticipated.  He may stay on offense, but
probably should not play this year.
A couple of thoughts on the receivers this year: at the start of the season
this is the best shape Notre Dame has been in at receiver since 1995.  The
only reason they may were better in 1995 is that you cannot even measure the
value Derrick Mayes was to that team.  Most say Ron Powlus was a bust. 
Imagine what his career would have been like without getting to throw to #1
for two years.  This group of receivers is way deeper, but with Derrick Mayes
the Irish did not require much in the way of depth.  During the season,
perhaps a receiver will emerge as a big time player, there are at least three
(Givens, Hunter, Taylor, maybe Getherall) that have a solid shot.Something the
passing game has lacked even since Holtz's earlier days is getting receivers
to catch the ball on the run.  Especially with Malcolm Johnson last year, the
passing game often fell into a pattern of throwing buttonhooks and comeback
routes.  Those may keep drives alive, but they are not often big gainers. 
Also, Holtz probably threw long too often, especially on 1st down.  Last year,
the offense did not throw long often enough.  They need to take a chance once
in a while, if nothing else to keep the safeties from crowding up.  Hopefully
that was just Jim Colletto being his usual creative self.
Overall, these receivers have talent.  This is not a group that can yet be
considered at the same level as Florida St. with Peter Warrick and Laverneus
Coles, but Notre Dame's receivers do not operate in an offense that throws to
them as much anyway.  Still, some of these players have not been given enough
time to show what kind of ability they have.  Notre Dame still has experience
at this position even if several receivers are not spectacular.  The good news
is if the younger players can live up to even some of their hype, the Irish
could very well be back to putting games away in the third quarter.