Supposedly there are some ligament issues, but no one has confirmed if it is MCL or ACL. The second opinion I keep hearing about is probably less about if he needs surgery and more about when he will have it and who will perform it. (Players often like to have a home town doctor do the work.) This is such a tough break for a talented and reportedly good kid. You would have to assume he redshirts and rehabs the leg for the next 12 months.
Since the news broke, I've been coming around to what it means for the team. It is certainly a loss, but not a crushing blow. He is a talent -- no doubt -- but even our inexperienced and depleted WR group is still more talented than many of the groups we had in the TOB days. Plus we have a good group of Tight Ends. Injuries happen, but we should be okay.
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I wish I was as optimistic as you, ATL. We'll definitely miss Larmond's ability to stretch defenses. Really sucks having him out for the year, but hopefully Momah, Billy Flutie and at least one of the freshman will step up.
Larmond being out is bad. Almost as bad as losing the list.
Silver lining is the top 3 QBs will all be here for at least the next 3 years. Next year they will be one year more experienced and we could have two years of very solid QB play teamed with a legitimate homerun threat type receiver.
I think a receiver will step up! If the passing attack features a high percentage of passes to the TE and RBs, then Flutie should be able to shoulder the rest of the load provided that one of the freshman with speed can be used to stretch the D.
My biggest concern would be a freshman blowing a route that leads to an interception. If the TEs and Flutie run the more complex short to intermediate routes, that could leave the less complex deep routes to a speedy freshman.
Finally, if the O-line fulfills its goal of getting Harris over the 2000 yard mark this year, we may not need to pass very much.
A rough loss: I'm just not sure how reasonable it is to expect production from our true freshman their first season(Swigert or Phillips).
Thing is we don't really need a freshman to step up and be a breakaway receiver like Larmond. Just solid hands on short to intermediate routes. Montel/ Williams (haha I only just realized our RB duo this year could potentially be Montel Williams!!!) the TEs and Freese will help pick up some of the slack in moving the chains and scoring.
I feel bad for Mr. Larmond, Jr and wish him a complete recovery.
Rehab is difficult if he tore up his knee. It's lousey enough being on the sidelines - the rehab is no fun either.
I think it's a pretty big loss. Flutie? That's who we're relying on to carry the load? How is Phillips progressing? Is he legit?
Tranquil didn't throw to Harris or the TE last year, are they incorporating that into the play calling this yr? Who knows? It sounds like the #2 QB is getting a shot to win the starting job. That's either pretty good or really, really bad.
It sounds like we'll have to be surprised at WR this year. Oh, and Harris isn't running for 1500 or 2000 or whatever if we've got squadoosh running routes.
You've got to be kidding. Rationalizing that this group is better than TOB wide receivers? First, I don't think it's true. At least most of those guys were in their 3rd year plus by the time they were playing. Second, it ignores the reality that none of the remaining WR have caught many balls. That puts that much more pressure on Shinskie.
The more I read this blog over the past couple years, the more the commentary seems skewed by a homer's point of view.
CCW,
I am a homer, but seriously look at TOB's years. Was Grant Adams a huge talent? No, just smallish, solid college WR. He didn't and couldn't create the sort of mismatches that say a Momah can. Hazard was nice but not a game breaker. In 2005 we had to move Blackmon over because we had no one on offense who could do anything. Even in Ryan's best year, Purvis and Callender were Ryan's first looks (although Gunnell was emerging). I wish we had Larmond this year, but we are not lost without him.
First, Grant and some of those other guys weren't counted on until there 3rd or 4 year in the program. Some of the guys we have may be more talented but that doesn't matter if they don't run the right route or catch the ball. If you take those things for granted, then check out the typical contributions from rookie WRs in the NFL. It takes time for these kids to develop - something we can ill afford given the one dimensional nature of the offense. Momah may be a senior but he hasn't caught a ball in a real game in a long time.
Plus, a lot of the QBs throwing to those TOB stiffs were better than what Shinskie is right now. Some of the pain of losing Larmond would be diminished if we had a proven quality QB. We don't.
CCW,
Nobody is expecting these kids to come out and be All Americans but consider that through the first three scrimmages the QBs are a combined 79/110 with only 2 INTs between them all. Much better than last year. With an easier schedule, improved kicking and more depth behind Montel BC will manage.
The scary part is that usually several people have an idea of what direction the team will move given the injury...
Other than Billy Flutie, no other thoughts? Yikes... given how VA Tech proved that RBs are little more interchangeable last season given an experienced line, Larmond was more indispensable than Harris.
Momah at DE will have to wait...
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