There was talk in the NFL that Turner wasn't much a pass catcher either before the draft. But Schottenheimer was quoted after seeing Turner in their rookie camp that was surprised how good The Burner's hands were.

In the Western Michigan game, NIU lined up Wolfe at the wing and ran a deep wheel pass to him but the pass was broken up by the LB. So, NIU must be confident in GW's pass catching ability.

As for the person who said you don't see Wolfe catching many balls downfield, how many RB's are asked to catch the ball downfield? It's mostly screen and swing passes that RB's need to be able to catch.

Field Turf Wrote:In the Western Michigan game, NIU lined up Wolfe at the wing and ran a deep wheel pass to him but the pass was broken up by the LB. So, NIU must be confident in GW's pass catching ability.

As for the person who said you don't see Wolfe catching many balls downfield, how many RB's are asked to catch the ball downfield? It's mostly screen and swing passes that RB's need to be able to catch.

Exactly.

This whole thread continues to amaze me; first talk of Wolfe leaving early- nonsense. Now talk he can't catch or return kicks; before he became the starting running back he was the kick returner and would line up in the slot pretty often.

HuskieFan84 Wrote:Now talk he can't catch... and would line up in the slot pretty often.

First, never said Wolfe can't catch, just made the observation that he doesn't catch many balls in NIU offense. It's just a function of the style of offense NIU runs, its not right or wrong, just an observation that he doesn't get a lot of balls thrown his way. As for lining up in the slot, great! Omar Jacobs lines up at slot occasionally as well, but that doesn't mean he's catching passes. For comparison purposes of backs that catch a lot of balls, if you look at PJ Pope in BG's offense, he caught 50 balls in 2004, while Garrett caught 10 in 2004 and 20 in 2005. The numbers don't lie. Wolfe just doesn't get as many thrown his way as other backs in other offenses. The point is that I would guess the NFL would just like to see this skill a little more, not that he can't do it. I'm not trying to demean the man, he is undoubtedly the best back in the MAC, its just an observation that he doesn't get an overabundance of balls thrown his way.

dynovinyl Wrote:Then go back to the first 3 games of the 2004 season when he was utilized in that role before becoming the featured back with 200 yards in the second half of the BG game.

Look at the first three games in 2004 to see how he was utilized? Why? Did he catch all 10 balls he caught that year in those first three games?

Everyone seems to be a tad bit touchy when it comes to Wolfe. Garrett is fine back and really is the class of the MAC at RB. He will not and should not go to the NFL this year. Next year when he finally does, he'll land a spot on someone's roster, he just likely won't be the starting feature back.

UK Peregrine Wrote:Look at the first three games in 2004 to see how he was utilized? Why? Did he catch all 10 balls he caught that year in those first three games?

Everyone seems to be a tad bit touchy when it comes to Wolfe. Garrett is fine back and really is the class of the MAC at RB. He will not and should not go to the NFL this year. Next year when he finally does, he'll land a spot on someone's roster, he just likely won't be the starting feature back.

No one's being touchy. Point is that no one here expects him to leave early and we just want to clearify his skill set for those making judgements on him without having watched him his entire career. You said he needs to show he can go down field to catch the ball, I told you he lined up as a slot reciever before taking over the feature roll. We also clearified that he returned kicks before being the featured back. Just trying to help out.

UK Peregrine Wrote:

HuskieFan84 Wrote:Now talk he can't catch... and would line up in the slot pretty often.

First, never said Wolfe can't catch, just made the observation that he doesn't catch many balls in NIU offense. It's just a function of the style of offense NIU runs, its not right or wrong, just an observation that he doesn't get a lot of balls thrown his way. As for lining up in the slot, great! Omar Jacobs lines up at slot occasionally as well, but that doesn't mean he's catching passes. For comparison purposes of backs that catch a lot of balls, if you look at PJ Pope in BG's offense, he caught 50 balls in 2004, while Garrett caught 10 in 2004 and 20 in 2005. The numbers don't lie. Wolfe just doesn't get as many thrown his way as other backs in other offenses. The point is that I would guess the NFL would just like to see this skill a little more, not that he can't do it. I'm not trying to demean the man, he is undoubtedly the best back in the MAC, its just an observation that he doesn't get an overabundance of balls thrown his way.

Your quote:

Quote:The concern with Wolfe is his pass catching ability

Anyone that has watched Wolfe play has no concern about his pass catching ability. Not catching 5 a game doesn't mean that you can't do it, and a quick look at any film will answer this question for scouts.

Wolfe's only question is his size. And it is a legit question for his NFL prospects.

dynovinyl Wrote:someone tell, BGSUAlum87 that Wolfe did return kicks until he became the featured back.

Yeah, someone tell that two-bit jouranlist-hack-wannabe to get his information straight.

;-)

dyno: I was going from this year's statistics, which showed that he did not return kicks this year. The point is still valid, I think, because scouts would want to see that a small back could return kicks and punts while carrying a regular workload on offense.

As for his pass-catching abilities ... well, the offense isn't set up for the backs to catch a lot of balls. That's a fact. That does not mean he can't catch or wouldn't be effective catching the ball in the NFL. Think about a TE like Keith Jackson or a FB like Tom Rathman ... neither caught a lot of balls in college, but obviously thrived on doing just that in the NFL.

But all of that talk is just that, talk. Because, as someone pointed out, there's only one concern about Wolfe - his size.

UK Peregrine Wrote:

HuskieFan84 Wrote:Now talk he can't catch... and would line up in the slot pretty often.

First, never said Wolfe can't catch, just made the observation that he doesn't catch many balls in NIU offense. It's just a function of the style of offense NIU runs, its not right or wrong, just an observation that he doesn't get a lot of balls thrown his way. As for lining up in the slot, great! Omar Jacobs lines up at slot occasionally as well, but that doesn't mean he's catching passes. For comparison purposes of backs that catch a lot of balls, if you look at PJ Pope in BG's offense, he caught 50 balls in 2004, while Garrett caught 10 in 2004 and 20 in 2005. The numbers don't lie. Wolfe just doesn't get as many thrown his way as other backs in other offenses. The point is that I would guess the NFL would just like to see this skill a little more, not that he can't do it. I'm not trying to demean the man, he is undoubtedly the best back in the MAC, its just an observation that he doesn't get an overabundance of balls thrown his way.

dynovinyl Wrote:Then go back to the first 3 games of the 2004 season when he was utilized in that role before becoming the featured back with 200 yards in the second half of the BG game.

Look at the first three games in 2004 to see how he was utilized? Why? Did he catch all 10 balls he caught that year in those first three games?

Everyone seems to be a tad bit touchy when it comes to Wolfe. Garrett is fine back and really is the class of the MAC at RB. He will not and should not go to the NFL this year. Next year when he finally does, he'll land a spot on someone's roster, he just likely won't be the starting feature back.

Wolfe's receiving statistics are similar to Turner's. They didn't throw the ball to Turner much, but he almost always caught the ball when they did. Still, the scouts for some reason thought he didn't have good hands, have no idea where they got that idea. Wolfe is in the same situation, only the occasional pass thrown to him. But NIU fans that have watched him know that he can catch the ball. The only concern is size and durability.

Even then, Warrick Dunn is about the same size, very slightly larger. And he works well sharing the carries with Alstott or T.J. Duckett. I think Wolfe could do the same thing.

Montell Clanton had a good run in the WMU game, hopefully he or someone else can be effective so we can give Wolfe more rest next year. Wolfe averaged 27 carries a game. Reggie Bush only averaged 15.6 carries. I wonder if even Reggie Bush will be able to handle an NFL schedule without wearing down?

Intersting to note that next year is a 12 game season, with the possibility for two more. For 12 games, maintaing his 175 yrds/game average thats 2100 yards, and 2450 yards for 14 games.

If GW does have a great senior year, these kind of numbers will be impossible to ignore come Heisman time.

BobL Wrote:Intersting to note that next year is a 12 game season, with the possibility for two more. For 12 games, maintaing his 175 yrds/game average thats 2100 yards, and 2450 yards for 14 games.

If GW does have a great senior year, these kind of numbers will be impossible to ignore come Heisman time.

The key is for Wolfe to remain healthy. He hasn't shown that he can last a full season.

Part of his health problem is Joe giving him the ball 42 times a game - that is crazy no matter who you are. 30 is a lot but good, 42 is DUMB.

If Wolfe can show the NFL that he can last for a 12, and hopefully 14, game season he will make a ton of $$$$.