Northwestern University Athletics
Wide Receivers Look to Rebound This Spring
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill - Tuesday's spring football recap examines the wide receiver position. With injuries to key pass-catchers Ashton Aikens (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day) and junior Mark Philmore (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg), the wide receivers struggled at times, which affected NU's passing game in 2003.
Two receivers who made the most of their opportunities in 2003 were Shaun Herbert (Oxon Hill, Md./Bishop McNamara) and Brandon Horn (Farmington, Mich./Detroit Country Day). Both played an intricate part in the Nov. 8 win over Penn State, with Herbert hauling in seven receptions and Horn pulling down a pass that bounced off a State player directly into his hands for a crucial NU touchdown.
Nusports.com sat down with receivers coach Garrick McGee and Philmore to discuss spring ball and the upcoming season.
Wide Receivers Coach Garrick McGee
NUsports.com: What sort of coaching style do you bring to Northwestern?
Garrick McGee: I'm extremely demanding of my players, because the position itself is very demanding. When it's fourth-and-10 and the game is on the line, a wide receiver needs to be able to come through in the clutch and make the catch. If they don't, the game is over. I coach as if it's fourth-and-10.
NU: As you evaluate your players this spring and into next fall, what sort of skills do you look for in a wide receiver that could give them the maximum opportunity to play?
GM: The first thing I look for in a guy is his "coachability." If he doesn't do the things he's coached to do, then that is the best way to get us beat. Speed and quickness are essential, but I love players that enjoy playing the position. As a wide receiver, you get to run, catch, jump, and spin; I like guys who have fun doing those things.
NU: With a passing game that wasn't where it needed to be in 2003, how do you intend to get your players where they need to be once again?
GM: The most important thing that the players need to do is to play fast and do what they're coached to do. Some of the offensive breakdowns that we had involved some freelancing on the wide receivers' part, which in turn made the quarterback look bad. If guys know their role within the offense, and they do the little things champions do, then that will make the difference in this offense.
Wide Receiver Mark Philmore
NUsports.com: What impact did injuries have on the wide receiver corps and the passing game in 2003?
Mark Philmore: It had a huge impact on myself and Ashton (Aikens), because we had such high hopes for last season. For us, the positive that did come out of 2003 was the development of Shaun (Herbert) and Brandon (Horn). Last year's struggle was this year's gain in the sense that, coupled with mine and Ashton's return, guys like Shaun and Brandon gained valuable experience which will give us even more weapons for next season.
NU: Which do you enjoy more, playing wide receiver or catching punts?
MP: There are different aspects to enjoy about both. I've always played wide receiver, which is my main concern. As a receiver, I always dream about making the big catch in every game. With catching punts, all eyes are going to be on me the entire time. As a punt returner, and as a receiver also, I have the mentality that I'm going to score every time I touch the ball.
NU: What aspects of your game do you feel you need to improve upon/strengthen this spring, and even looking to the 2004 season?
MP: As I progress through this spring, I need to work on being more physical when it comes to bump-and-run coverage. When a defensive back comes up on me and is physical, I need to get around/through him as quickly as possible. We don't work on bump-and-run coverage as much as we do route-running, so it is vital that I make the most of my practice opportunities and work on my physicality.
Practice Five Notes
The 'Cats practiced on NU's outdoor practice fields for the third straight session Tuesday, with sunny skies and temperatures reaching the middle 60s ... Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kim Thompson (Inkster, Mich./Detroit Country Day) starred in 7-on-7 drills with two nice catches. The better of the two came when Chris Malleo (Wall Township, N.J./Wall Township/The Hun School of Princeton) hit Thompson on a crossing pattern which he then took 50 yards for the score, outrunning all of the defensive coverage ... Senior cornerback Marvin Ward (Landover, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) made the defensive play-of-the-day as he laid a bone-crushing tackle to snuff out a screen play. Ward avoided one blocker on his way to hitting the receiver just as he was catching the ball, putting him flat on his back.
