Wide receivers embracing adjustment process

The adjustment to McDaniel’s new scheme is obvious with the wide receivers, too.

After what was a long spring of learning new techniques that will maximize McDaniel’s offense, the group feels like they’re in a good spot to open camp.

“So far I feel like we’re pretty good,” Quentin Johnston said. “Obviously, we’re nowhere near where we need to be at yet, but the season isn’t here yet.

“We’re still working at it day by day, but as far as right now, I feel like we’re pretty good thus far,” Johnston added.

The unit has made their splash plays early on, including an explosive Day 2 on Thursday that saw a number of long completions.

There has been more and more adjustments along the way, however, such as getting the timing down and an emphasis on the receivers moving their head to the quarterback quicker.

Overall though, it’s a process that each of them have been getting comfortable with, even for players like McConkey, who missed some time during spring.

“It’s been an adjustment,” McConkey said. “Really just learning that new offense, I didn’t get all those reps in OTAs. It’s a little bit of a different element of looking at it on the page and, ‘Oh yeah, I know it.’ Then here in the huddle lining up fast and going.

“Just learning to process that, hearing it more, getting more comfortable with it,” McConkey added. “I’m loving the offense, I’m loving what we’re doing and I know it’s only going to get more dynamic.”

Part of the excitement that comes with McDaniel’s offense? The track record that speaks for itself.

It’s no secret that the offense has proven to be capable of big things, which is one of the many reasons the players continue to work through it with excitement.

“I think if you hang around with Mike and listen to him talk, you’ll gain some confidence just the way he’s confident in himself and his ability,” McConkey said. “He instills that in us and lets us go out and make plays. I think that’s something I’ve been very appreciative of.

“He’s got the tape that speaks for it and the numbers to speak for it, it’s like let’s get this stuff right,” McConkey added. “We’ll really blow those numbers out of the water.”