Jared Sparks

[BoilerFYF]

To me, yet another guy in this program, like Jerod void where he has a rep as a hard worker, he’s clean cut, he looks like he’s selling out, so fans start acting like he’s way better than he actually is.

You can pretend he’s getting extra attention. he isn’t. Defenses are playing him one on one. For my money our third or fourth best recelver. Moore is obvious, but Zico is as well. Wright might be. Wright would be easy if he caught the ball yesterday.

Jared Sparks is not a threat to go up for a contested ball and bring it down. “But I like him.” Still not a threat to do so.

 

[IndySouthsider]

To me, yet another guy in this program, like Jerod void where he has a rep as a hard worker, he’s clean cut, he looks like he’s selling out, so fans start acting like he’s way better than he actually is.

You can pretend he’s getting extra attention. he isn’t. Defenses are playing him one on one. For my money our third or fourth best recelver. Moore is obvious, but Zico is as well. Wright might be. Wright would be easy if he caught the ball yesterday.

Jared Sparks is not a threat to go up for a contested ball and bring it down. “But I like him.” Still not a threat to do so.

He is learning a position he never played till last year. I think your being a little overly critical at this point.

He is certainly athletic and talented. Just has a lot to learn.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

To me, yet another guy in this program, like Jerod void where he has a rep as a hard worker, he’s clean cut, he looks like he’s selling out, so fans start acting like he’s way better than he actually is.

You can pretend he’s getting extra attention. he isn’t. Defenses are playing him one on one. For my money our third or fourth best recelver. Moore is obvious, but Zico is as well. Wright might be. Wright would be easy if he caught the ball yesterday.

Jared Sparks is not a threat to go up for a contested ball and bring it down. “But I like him.” Still not a threat to do so.

Nebraska tolled extra attention to Moore for obvious reasons. If Jared plays to his average, he likely had two TD’s. What I saw was probably Sparks worst performance as a WR. He will continue to make plays as a deep threat and he will win some balls that sustain drives and score TD’s. He will become, by the end of the season, one of the better outside WR threats in the conference.

 

[ptree06]

To me, yet another guy in this program, like Jerod void where he has a rep as a hard worker, he’s clean cut, he looks like he’s selling out, so fans start acting like he’s way better than he actually is.

You can pretend he’s getting extra attention. he isn’t. Defenses are playing him one on one. For my money our third or fourth best recelver. Moore is obvious, but Zico is as well. Wright might be. Wright would be easy if he caught the ball yesterday.

Jared Sparks is not a threat to go up for a contested ball and bring it down. “But I like him.” Still not a threat to do so.

I think he’s our best jump ball WR right now. He’s taller and stronger than Wright/Zico, so I’d prefer him get the fade routes over the others. He did draw a PI on a deep ball, so he is adding value.

Problem is he has average speed and cutting ability, so he doesn’t create much separation. Seems like both Ziko and Wright are faster and shiftier, which is getting them open more. For Sparks to really excel, he needs hands like glue to come down with more contested catches. He’s been close on a few TD’s, just needs to hang on to more of them. Most of his catches will be contested due to separation issues, so if he can’t develop those Anquan Boldin hands, he could get passed up next year on depth chart

 

[BoilerFYF]

Nebraska tolled extra attention to Moore for obvious reasons. If Jared plays to his average, he likely had two TD’s. What I saw was probably Sparks worst performance as a WR. He will continue to make plays as a deep threat and he will win some balls that sustain drives and score TD’s. He will become, by the end of the season, one of the better outside WR threats in the conference.

This isn’t based in reality. I don’t hate him and he doesn’t suck. But people thought he was our best or second best receiver. The coaches have said as much. Isaac Zico is better by a full notch ... and Isaac Zico was a non entity in the big ten three weeks ago

 

[rgarlitz]

Jared had a rough day yesterday. He dropped a few and couldn't come up with a couple more when closely covered.

I don't think anybody's calling him a great receiver yet. But like IndySouthsider said, this is his first full year at the position. Let's see how he develops.

 

[BoilerFYF]

I think he’s our best jump ball WR right now. He’s taller and stronger than Wright/Zico, so I’d prefer him get the fade routes over the others. He did draw a PI on a deep ball, so he is adding value.

Problem is he has average speed and cutting ability, so he doesn’t create much separation. Seems like both Ziko and Wright are faster and shiftier, which is getting them open more. For Sparks to really excel, he needs hands like glue to come down with more contested catches. He’s been close on a few TD’s, just needs to hang on to more of them. Most of his catches will be contested due to separation issues, so if he can’t develop those Anquan Boldin hands, he could get passed up next year on depth chart

Zico and wright don’t need to win jump balls, because.. with the attention Moore, the TEs and the backs demand of the defense, Zico and wright just get separation like you said. So if Sparks can’t get separation and he isn’t going up and just saying “f you MY ARM is gonna get in here, not yours” and snatching the ball, he’s gotta he considered our third or fourth best receiver.. and if Rice and Bell show up, or Bonner or Taylor develop, he likely gets anthroped next year, no? Unless something changes ?

 

[rgarlitz]

FWIW: after the last two games I'd probably call Brycen Hopkins our second best receiver.

 

[ptree06]

Zico and wright don’t need to win jump balls, because.. with the attention Moore, the TEs and the backs demand of the defense, Zico and wright just get separation like you said. So if Sparks can’t get separation and he isn’t going up and just saying “f you MY ARM is gonna get in here, not yours” and snatching the ball, he’s gotta he considered our third or fourth best receiver.. and if Rice and Bell show up, or Bonner or Taylor develop, he likely gets anthroped next year, no? Unless something changes ?

With our success in WR recruiting, it will be tough for him to hang on to his starting spot next year, even if Bell goes elsewhere. But he still has a role for this year since he’s our best jump ball guy. So any fades near the end zone will go to him, and he’s been solid on shorter routes.

I see his upside as a possession wr, like a poor man’s Reggie Wayne. Reggie also wasn’t more athletic than many cb’s, but he ran great routes and had great hands. Sparks could develop in both areas and keep his starting spot until he graduates. Or he could keep dropping contested balls, and get passed up by someone more athletic. Time will tell, but I like his work ethic and leadership, and hope he improves into a good possession receiver that fits perfectly next to Rondale and DBell.

 

[ImRonBurgandy?]

FWIW: after the last two games I'd probably call Brycen Hopkins our second best receiver.

Love Hopkins, but he has one drop a game which is aggregating.

 

[NVboiler]

I guess the "g" is a typo for "v", but it is aggregating.

 

[snowsquirrel11]

To me, yet another guy in this program, like Jerod void where he has a rep as a hard worker, he’s clean cut, he looks like he’s selling out, so fans start acting like he’s way better than he actually is.

You can pretend he’s getting extra attention. he isn’t. Defenses are playing him one on one. For my money our third or fourth best recelver. Moore is obvious, but Zico is as well. Wright might be. Wright would be easy if he caught the ball yesterday.

Jared Sparks is not a threat to go up for a contested ball and bring it down. “But I like him.” Still not a threat to do so.

There is a reason we are recruiting Bell

 

[FirstDownB]

It is what it is. There’s Rondale, then a big drop in talent to everyone else. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. We’ve got two 2 Stars (one a coverted QB), and two JuCo’s playing the position. There is a reason they are being recruited over.

 

[BoilerFYF]

Jared had a rough day yesterday. He dropped a few and couldn't come up with a couple more when closely covered.

I don't think anybody's calling him a great receiver yet. But like IndySouthsider said, this is his first full year at the position. Let's see how he develops.

That’s moving the goal post.. none of what the coaches, GBI or posters were saying 5 weeks ago was “well you know, first full year at position, he will have a rough go, but maybe he’ll do some things.”

It was “he’s our best receiver.” Which is kinda what I hear when people tell me Jerod void was as good as Kory sheets (and some people say that). You might LIKE Jerod void.. but that ain’t the truth.

 

[BoilerFYF]

With our success in WR recruiting, it will be tough for him to hang on to his starting spot next year, even if Bell goes elsewhere. But he still has a role for this year since he’s our best jump ball guy. So any fades near the end zone will go to him, and he’s been solid on shorter routes.

I see his upside as a possession wr, like a poor man’s Reggie Wayne. Reggie also wasn’t more athletic than many cb’s, but he ran great routes and had great hands. Sparks could develop in both areas and keep his starting spot until he graduates. Or he could keep dropping contested balls, and get passed up by someone more athletic. Time will tell, but I like his work ethic and leadership, and hope he improves into a good possession receiver that fits perfectly next to Rondale and DBell.

Why do people forget mershawn rice?? You realize locals where HE live likely think he’s every bit as good as bell.

He’s our best jump ball guy .. with three other guys who get separation such that they don’t need to win jump balls..?? It’s very confusing how this makes him close to our best receiver. And people can move the goal post, but that’s what posters, fans, GBI and coaches were saying five weeks ago.

And it’s totally fair to say “well no one thought Moore would be this good.” Okay, Isaac Zico has been our second best WIDE receiver, best if you remove Moore from preseason predictions.

I agree with the sentiment that Hopkins is our second best receiver behind Moore. He is.

I’m not against Sparks, I don’t dislike Sparks at all, but when I ask “where is this offense, which is very explosive, not giving us something that it can give us,” other than drops and other than the offensive line run blocking better and the much bigger Jones having as much fight as a dog as Dexter Knox, Sparks living up to his billing would be amongst things that would help us squeeze every last drop out of this Orange so to speak..

Things that most easily could make this offense very very explosive relative to right now:

1. Clean up the drops
2. Run block better
3. Tario toughens up and gets in the mix and Jones plays with more of the toughness and wreckless abandon of DJ Knox (who by the way must be at least a distant relative of mike rose lol)
4. Sparks is SPARKS
5. Blough stands in a little longer and gives plays a little more of a chance on the 10% of plays he’s not doing so (a very minor complaint for a guy playing ridiculous football)

 

[Dandelion1972]

If you think Sparks catch at the end of the Missouri game was not outstanding, then I think you need to go to Dr. Tavel.

Don't care what the final stupid ruling was, it was a SUPERB catch!

 

[cautiouslyoptimistic]

FWIW: after the last two games I'd probably call Brycen Hopkins our second best receiver.

Rough data on targeting of receivers against Nebraska:
Sparks - 4/9
Zico - 3/9
Wright - 0/4 Total for these three: - 7/22 = 32% They are getting opportunities!

Rest of team (5 different receivers) - 21/26 = 75% Rondale Moore - 9/10 and he is toughest covered receiver by Nebraska defense, and Brycen Hopkins - 5/8!

 

[BoilerFYF]

Rough data on targeting of receivers against Nebraska:
Sparks - 4/9
Zico - 3/9
Wright - 0/4 Total for these three: - 7/22 = 32% They are getting opportunities!

Rest of team (5 different receivers) - 21/26 = 75% Rondale Moore - 9/10 and he is toughest covered receiver by Nebraska defense, and Brycen Hopkins - 5/8!

Kinda crazy to me that neither Zico nor Sparks has a TD and that Moore has 9 more catches 26 more yards and 4 more TDs than Zico and Sparks COMBINED.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

That’s moving the goal post.. none of what the coaches, GBI or posters were saying 5 weeks ago was “well you know, first full year at position, he will have a rough go, but maybe he’ll do some things.”

It was “he’s our best receiver.” Which is kinda what I hear when people tell me Jerod void was as good as Kory sheets (and some people say that). You might LIKE Jerod void.. but that ain’t the truth.

I have never heard anyone try to relate Void to Sheets

 

[BoilerFYF]

I have never heard anyone try to relate Void to Sheets

Start asking on KC and here, who the best back since tillers hire was.. inevitably someone who just liked void will try to sneak void in.

Or for example, the reaction to dan bick playing as prominent of a role as he did should have been a unanimous “oh my god we have to rely on dan bick” instead of some percentage who came out with this “see, that’s a two star right there and that’s what they bring..”

No false narratives bud ... Purdue fans have latched on to several likeable players and tried to turn them into more than what they were. Sparks is a prime example ...

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Start asking on KC and here, who the best back since tillers hire was.. inevitably someone who just liked void will try to sneak void in.

So you created a false narrative to prove your point?

 

[BoilerFYF]

So you created a false narrative to prove your point?

No false narratives .. Purdue fans have tended to elevate certain players above their performance level for all kinds of external reasons ...

 

[destewart]

To me, yet another guy in this program, like Jerod void where he has a rep as a hard worker, he’s clean cut, he looks like he’s selling out, so fans start acting like he’s way better than he actually is.

You can pretend he’s getting extra attention. he isn’t. Defenses are playing him one on one. For my money our third or fourth best recelver. Moore is obvious, but Zico is as well. Wright might be. Wright would be easy if he caught the ball yesterday.

Jared Sparks is not a threat to go up for a contested ball and bring it down. “But I like him.” Still not a threat to do so.

Of course your opinion is diametrically opposite that of the coaching staff.

 

[Wolegib]

If Wright and Zico played up to their hype and talent levels, Sparks would be coming off the bench. He has far exceeded any expectations placed on him.

 

[Casey and his Brother]

No false narratives .. Purdue fans have tended to elevate certain players above their performance level for all kinds of external reasons ...

No they don't. Jacquil Taylor is definitely going to average a double-double for Purdue this year.

 

[FLAG HUNTER]

Sparks is doing his best, evidently the coaches like what they see , don't understand how a Purdue fan can say negative things about a Purdue player giving all he can.

 

[BoilerFYF]

Sparks is doing his best, evidently the coaches like what they see , don't understand how a Purdue fan can say negative things about a Purdue player giving all he can.

Because there’s a difference between effort and results. Your tone sounds like someone who thought Sparks would have the statline Moore has.

I’m not saying Sparks is bad. I’m saying that posters, coaches and writers said he’d be the best receiver on the team and he clearly isn’t close. And that’s true if he says the right things, always appears professional, sells out and on and on...

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Sparks is doing his best, evidently the coaches like what they see , don't understand how a Purdue fan can say negative things about a Purdue player giving all he can.

Hmmmm.....

 

[FLAG HUNTER]

I just think Sparks is doing the best he can and coaches have made decision to play him.

 

[PrintersRowBoiler]

Folks said he would be out #1 outside WR and he leads players you can put in that category for catches. I don’t think anyone said he would be great and in fact a number that bounced around in this thread was 80 catch potential (which is 6-7 catches a game, not unreasonable).

 

[BoilerFYF]

Folks said he would be out #1 outside WR and he leads players you can put in that category for catches. I don’t think anyone said he would be great and in fact a number that bounced around in this thread was 80 catch potential (which is 6-7 catches a game, not unreasonable).

Everyone says unanimously he was our best receiver leading into the season.. 4th best.. that’s my only point ...

 

[njm8845]

Because there’s a difference between effort and results. Your tone sounds like someone who thought Sparks would have the statline Moore has.

I’m not saying Sparks is bad. I’m saying that posters, coaches and writers said he’d be the best receiver on the team and he clearly isn’t close. And that’s true if he says the right things, always appears professional, sells out and on and on...

I just don't get your point. "Sometimes fans expect players to achieve more than they actually do" isn't a groundbreaking opinion and the fans certainly don't need to be chastised for it.

There was a thread before the season started that had a projected statline for Sparks. I personally thought it was optimistic, but so what? Projections are almost always wrong. But there's still a lot of season to be played, so Sparks may still achieve those numbers.

I created a thread which tried to forecast Moore's stats this year. It's looking like it will be wildly underestimated. Do we need a new thread stating "Sometimes Purdue fans don't respect what players are capable of!"

Also, you've mentioned a couple times how Sparks has been "selling out". What do you mean by this?

 

[BoilerFYF]

I just don't get your point. "Sometimes fans expect players to achieve more than they actually do" isn't a groundbreaking opinion and the fans certainly don't need to be chastised for it.

There was a thread before the season started that had a projected statline for Sparks. I personally thought it was optimistic, but so what? Projections are almost always wrong. But there's still a lot of season to be played, so Sparks may still achieve those numbers.

I created a thread which tried to forecast Moore's stats this year. It's looking like it will be wildly underestimated. Do we need a new thread stating "Sometimes Purdue fans don't respect what players are capable of!"

Also, you've mentioned a couple times how Sparks has been "selling out". What do you mean by this?

Is any thread ever needed?

 

[Purdue0034]

As a converted QB, I think Sparks has done pretty darn good. The Nebraska game was not his best, but hey we won this game by a mile. Sparks continues to be a very valuable asset to this team. Wouldn't mind seeing a trick play or two where he ends up making a pass down field.

 

[ahhculdee]

If Sparks becomes the new Nojel, I'm done.

 

[Purdue0034]

If Sparks becomes the new Nojel, I'm done.

Not sure where you are going with that, but. Maybe Sparks hasn't lived up to the hype, but I still think he is a solid contributor. Thought the call against Missouri should not have been reversed and thus his catch could have ended up being the game winning TD. Against Nebraska, I thought he lost out on a bunch of 50/50 balls but its not like the game was close; so live to fight another day.

 

[PrintersRowBoiler]

Everyone says unanimously he was our best receiver leading into the season.. 4th best.. that’s my only point ...

We had a long thread on this topic earlier this year leading into the season and I dont think anyone said that let alone "unanimous". Some said he was our best outside WR, some said he and Moore had the best spring, some repeated what coaches and teammates actually said about him, there was some discussion he could get 800 yards of offense, 80 catches which is not far off from where he is...

Aside from Moore, he has been our best WR statistically and our best "outside" WR. If the Big 10 doesnt wrongfully (admitted by them) overturn that TD he would be even more appreciated for his contributions.

 

[BoilerFYF]

We had a long thread on this topic earlier this year leading into the season and I dont think anyone said that let alone "unanimous". Some said he was our best outside WR, some said he and Moore had the best spring, some repeated what coaches and teammates actually said about him, there was some discussion he could get 800 yards of offense, 80 catches which is not far off from where he is...

Aside from Moore, he has been our best WR statistically and our best "outside" WR. If the Big 10 doesnt wrongfully (admitted by them) overturn that TD he would be even more appreciated for his contributions.

17 rec 160 yards
15 rec 272 yards

Which one is Sparks and which one is Isaac Zico

 

[BoilerAlumni12]

He is doing a great job as a converted WR. If the TD was not overturned he would be a hero.

The jump balls in my opinion were thrown short and wasn't on him against Nebraska.

You try doing what he does on the field and in the classroom and than come back to us.

 

[ahhculdee]

Not sure where you are going with that, but. Maybe Sparks hasn't lived up to the hype, but I still think he is a solid contributor. Thought the call against Missouri should not have been reversed and thus his catch could have ended up being the game winning TD. Against Nebraska, I thought he lost out on a bunch of 50/50 balls but its not like the game was close; so live to fight another day.

Weekly debate threads on if he is good or not.