Spring Practice Wish List: Wide Receivers

Dec 31, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Rice Owls cornerback Phillip Gaines (15) chases down Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Jameon Lewis (4) during the second quarter at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Spring Practice started March 18. The Bulldogs will start their preparation for the 2014 football season and it ends on April 12 with the Spring game, the marquee event of Super Bulldog Weekend. Mississippi State is poised to have one of their best seasons in 2014, but there are a number of things that need to be developed to get the most out of this team as possible. Today we look at the Wide Receivers.

There was some trepidation about the Wide Receivers entering the 2013 season. There was never any question about the talent that this group possessed, it was more if they could finally see them live up to some of that potential. After a bit of a low start, this group came on strong to end the year. Here is what needs to happen this spring for the Wide Receivers.

Unleash Jameon Lewis: Jameon Lewis quietly had one of the best seasons ever for a Mississippi State Receiver. He put up 923 yards, second highest total ever at MSU, to go along with 5 touchdowns. And by the way, he also ran for over 100 yards and three touchdowns plus he threw for three touchdowns as well. His signature performance was his 200+ yard game in the Liberty Bowl. When the offense was going right this year, Prescott and Russell were able to find Lewis in the slot and pick up major yardage. Having an entire Spring and Summer to work with Prescott can only help the two put up even bigger numbers

Find a Second Option: The one thing that was lacking in the offense was a consistent #2 option for Prescott and Russell to throw to. After Lewis there was a pretty big drop in production. Lewis had 923 yards on the season, but the second most yards came from Robert Johnson with only 389 yards. There were times when Johnson would have a good game, and there were times when Bear Wilson would have a good game, but you never knew who the second favorite target was. One of them needs to be the guy that Prescott goes to when he can’t get the ball to Lewis. My belief is that Wilson is going to be that guy. He is the perfect compliment to Lewis in the slot. He is tall and fast, a perfect combination for the corner routes that sometimes turn into jump balls. They need to work on that play repeatedly during the Spring. I’m tired of them trying to run that play through the short of stature Jameon Lewis. It just isn’t going to work.

Buy Joe Morrow some Stick em: This is a joke of course because that would be illegal. The point is that Morrow is one of the fastest players on the team, but he has dropped at least three touchdowns in his time at MSU. With his speed and Prescott’s arm, Precott should be able to use him as an outlet to just throw the ball down the field and let Morrow run under it and catch it. Every time they have tried that, Morrow has dropped it. I don’t know if it is a mental thing with Morrow, but whatever it is, they could certainly use his speed if they can get his issues solved.

The wide receiving corps is oozing with talent and potential. We need to figure out what roles each receiver is going to play this spring so we can have a dynamic offense this fall.