Show Me Something: Sterling Griffin
by Jamie DeVriend on Aug 21, 2011 7:20 PM EDT
in USF Bulls Football
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Print(EDITOR'S NOTE: Our "Show Me Something" series, if you remember it from last year, is one where I profile several players who I will be particularly interested to see in action this season.)
I wonder if Sterling Griffin is being piled up with too many expectations. He only caught 14 passes as a true freshman in 2009 even though he played in all 13 games. If you subtract the 73-yard touchdown against Florida State where the Seminoles completely blew the coverage, he didn't even get to 200 total receiving yards. Then he missed all of 2010 after a serious ankle injury in summer drills. And now it seems like Bulls fans are expecting him to come right out and be B.J. Daniels' primary target.
Could Griffin break out and make 50+ catches and challenge Carlton Mitchell's season yardage record? Sure -- he's certainly not lacking in talent and big-play ability, and I think he'll end up being Daniels' primary deep threat. But there's a lot more talent at the receiver position, and we don't know how pass-happy Todd Fitch is going to be this year with Demetris Murray and Darrell Scott to run the ball. Plus Daniels might run more now that there's a known commodity backing him up if (heaven forbid) he gets injured.
I don't think there's going to be a revolving door of receivers coming in and out of the game, so that helps Griffin's chances of putting up big numbers. Unlike last year, though, Daniels can throw the ball to Griffin, A.J. Love, Evan Landi, Andre Davis, Lindsey Lamar (I'm not totally convinced about him playing running back), Murray and Scott, even Andreas Shields. And remember, Griffin has been through practices, but he hasn't actually played a game in the current offensive system.
The point is that Griffin shouldn't have to be depended on to save the passing game from complete disaster, like Dontavia Bogan did last year. I think it should be considered a bonus if he can.
What do you expect to see out of Griffin this season? Take this poll and tell us.
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I think he'll have a solid season
I feel spoiled to have this much depth at WR this season. Feels like night and day compared to last year.
Voodoo Five
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Jerry Rice couldn't get 1000 yards at USF.
No receiver gets crazy stats at USF because we rotate so many guys. The school records are 62 catches (Hugh Smith) and 704 yards (Carlton Mitchell). A mere “strong season” would be the best in school history. So yeah, I think we are piling on the expectations.
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Agreed Gary.
I think something like 30 rec and 400 yards should be realistic. 60 catches- thats 5 a game from a guy we’ve seen very little of so far. I dont see any passing records falling in this offense (or with this QB)
I don't know if that's still going to be the case.
In past years, the backs and receivers rotated just to get everyone some playing time. Last year, I think the WRs rotated so much (except for Bogan) because there were so few productive options that they decided to give a lot of guys a shot.
What I think is more likely is what happened with the running backs last year. Murray and Plancher were productive and healthy so they were the only two RBs who ever got in the game. If there’s a group of 5-6 WRs who don’t get injured and are good enough to play, they should get nearly all of the reps.
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by Jamie DeVriend on Aug 22, 2011 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions
honestly can you even guarantee more than 300?
he could easily be the third option behind love and landi and the wrs run really deep this year. i don’t think sub 300 is necessarily a disappointment if we have a bunch of guys who are around that total
by the great gunsby on Aug 21, 2011 11:58 PM EDT reply actions
Definitely at least strong season
Griffin is real talent at the WR position. He separated himself at camp as the #1. Jesse Hester managed 54 catches and 579 yards in 2008 as our leading receiver. I see no reason why Griffin won’t surpass that. We had Taurus, Mitchell, Bogan, and Love that year too.
Speaking of Love, I think everyone forgets how good he was. He had the exact same number of yards as Bogan in 2008 (254), and 189 more yards than Bogan in 2009 (489).
Looking at past stats, I found it crazy that Andre Hall led our team in receiving in 2005. Truly amazing that we made a bowl game that year.
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