We really need a solid 3rd option at receiver in addition to Bryant and Moore.

Instead we got an elite receiver, Malik Benson.

Yes, elite. He was merely good with an elite ceiling arriving at Oregon in the spring, and he is now elite.

The size, the speed, and now the agility, having looked like losing 10-15 pounds of baby fat since the spring game. Ross Douglas has also clearly been helping him in the other facets of his game, running crisp routes and positioning himself well relative to defenders.

Moore has clearly recognized this, by targeting him more than any other receiver.

It is just a sample size of one game, half a game really, and maybe he gets cases of the dropsies, and plays uninspired for stretches of games, but if he doesn't, look out, he will be as good or better than Troy Franklin.

I'm really excited about him.

Edited yesterday at 06:51 PM1 day by Solar

He would be definitely in the running at this moment, I'd also add Kasper as a possible WR3 as well.

I think there is a reason the QBs don't throw Kasper's way very often. He struggles to finish. Routes, catches and run after the catch. It's great he's so tall, but the downside of that is I don't think he has the coordination and balance required to be a great receiver.

His target to completion ratio including spring games has to be the worst I have ever seen.

That being said, I hope he does well when he plays, unlike the rest of his career at Oregon to date.

My understanding was that he was making solid progress last season until injuries derailed him. Hopefully he should pick back up that progress after a bit of time. He did have a solid 40 yard grab yesterday so that's a start.

I think its way to early to tell who is elite just yet. Ducks are not going to be tested until the Penn State game.

I think Benson is what they described him as, "a possession receiver," meaning that he is good getting open for first downs, but is not a game breaker.

I like how Stein is using running backs to get the pass in open field, make someone miss and get an explosion play as Jay Harris did during this game. BTW...didn't he get a TD that way in the Spring Game? He is a good receiver out of the backfield...

Jay Harris

He ran a 10.4 in high school. I think game breaking would be a matter of route selection. Now that he has leaned out, bring on the double moves.

He will likely be every bit as dangerous as Evan Stewart which is the point of this thread. Thoughts of concern about not being able to replace Evan Stewarts ability and production have been addressed by Malik Benson's development.

I'm projecting a little bit, but I'm trusting my eyes here. I'm excited about our ceiling in the passing game.

1 hour ago, Solar said:

He ran a 10.4 in high school.

Wow. Good catch, as I did not know that.

David Marsh revealed in his article that Benson was the surprise leader in receptions for the game, and it bodes very well for us. Like you, Solar, I am feeling MUCH better about the upside of our passing game.

3 hours ago, Solar said:

I'm excited about our ceiling in the passing game.

Maybe I could get excited about this, but it's hard to for me to get excited about something so high that I can't even see it.

Tri-focals might help...