Joseph Manjack IV Leads The Young Wide Recievers to Unlocking the Houston Cougar Offense

C's house all right everyone is excited about the running game and the defense and all those things the wiie fritz Tera what if I told you that there's excitement to be had about a very special very young receiving [Music] court you are locked on coup your daily podcast on the Houston Cougars part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day welcome to lockon cou daily podcast by your Houston Cougars I'm your host Houston born teacher and Coach Parker anworth whether you're a Houston fan or just a hater can't St by thank you for making lockon cou your first Liston of the day Mak answer your first listen each and every day you're going to join in the conversation but don't know what to say tell us okay I was going to ask if you ever scored a touchdown but there are a lot of positions where you play football he didn't score touchdown and you also might not have played football tell us the question of the day at the first football practice was if you could medal if you think there's an event you could medal in the Olympics what would it be and why is that I like to tell myself that the shot put because that was one of my spring Sports at track but that's that's no chance I don't know maybe walking I don't know today show is brought to you by eBay Motors we'll tell you more about that later we got a bunch of stuff to break down I want to talk some about the wide receiver group and as a whole how Joseph manj going lead this group along the way boogieing with the wide receivers and some other guys to get uh acquainted with that are kind of at that a line words like kind of their turn to step up but first and foremost I want talk about two young receivers that are really really impressive and have already got a lot of heads turning in this uh football camp just two days in people already turning heads at who these two guys are and that is Kobe young true freshman and Jonah Wilson the red shirt freshman now Kobe and Jonah are both BigTime Playmakers they're also freshman and it'll be inter to see how the wide receivers transition into this offense we talked at the length in this show at previous episodes about Kevin Barb's offense uh at different points being extremely run heavy and kind of how that's also Willie Fritz's emo right I get why folks be like okay what's the big deal with the receivers I also get how you could look at the Houston go receiving core and be like okay but you lost the most production you had last year and Sam Brown he transferred to Miami you lost a ton of talent when Matthew golden went down the road to UT Austin right you think about these guys left the transfer portal amongst that coaching change you're like okay that is a bad sign I'm telling you Kobe Jonah and this group have a young core that is actually a good sign so Kobe young is a 6 foot 175lb kid and I think a lot of people get this idea like he's kind of unassumingly big he played at Holy Cross High School in Louisiana and a lot of Houston folks like what you know highly TI of a group but who is this guy again he he's a fourstar highend fourstar on Rivals uh a top 15 player in State Louisiana on all of your different re uh recruiting websites and stuff like that I think what's fascinating watching his high school tape and what he'll bring to Houston uh is he opens up the whole deep half of the route tree and what I mean by that is that uh on Route tree you have like odds go one way evens go the other like one two 3 four five on so forth uh different Slants outs ins drags curls Etc right the entire deep half of that route tree and every off corer might do a little bit different things here there but all the nine route the eight route the seven all the Deep stuff right Kobe Young's speed off the ball opens up a lot of that um I thought he was impressive as a high school kid catch the ball in traffic uh and then I think what really makes him someone that has a chance on the field this year is as a high school player understand appropriate R of salt as a a high school player he was really an impressive wide receiver blocker uh at the high school level and I say all that with those kinds of precursors because obviously it's a much different task to block a college safety than a high school safety but he was extremely physical at the point of attack for a 175 pound high school kid and I I say that to say that like sometimes blocking is as simple as angles and want to and I think at the receiver level that plays out even more so right because they're typically not laying the big Kill Shot blocks as often anymore especially with the safety rules and stuff like that but they are listen to me they are typically shielding off in ways that can help spring 20 yard runs 30 yard run touchdowns right and I understand that he blocked High School safeties a year ago and that's a whole different thing a High School cor year went a whole different thing but Kobe has shown that he can do those kinds of things too now he also again the Deep routes of the fun ones he goes out and get the football he makes contested catches he's running deep he's fast right all of those different things um he had a game lash with 300 yards he had a bunch of kickoff returns that went over 40 yards and and like he's he's a Speedster and and I think that speed translates as some of 43 is 43 is 43 right and I say that to say that combination speed contested catches running the Deep stuff right blocking doing the Dirty Work that actually appears very well in what Barb is trying to do right Barb is run the ball run run run bang run run run bang well if you gota get one the block and can have the Deep route concept like that works well so I don't I understand freshman receivers it's one of the easier positions to play as a freshman but it's really hard to get on the field as a freshman I think that Kobe's got a shot he's a Dynamic playmaker that will make a big impact in this program at some point it's just does he do it this fall I kind of think he does and the only person I could see getting his way is fellow freshman red shirt freshman Jonah Wilson now Jonah's from Houston went to kany but also played four games last year um had a gigantic 60 yard touchdown against Oklahoma State in those four games before ultimately uh he played the four games so he could keep his red shirt right so he didn't lose the eligibility um that touchdown against will state at the time did I should point out put Houston up 14 to3 at the time it was kind of like a oh you know with these kind of speedsters coming off the bench that we didn't yester use because the red shirt it was kind of you know the momentum we talk a lot last year about Houston playing two halves bad half and a good half they open up the good half againsta State Oklahoma State and that was because of guys like Jon Wilson up they're playing um I you know he only had a couple catches in college one of which being that 60- yard touchdown um I do think though when you go back to his high school tap again High School talents I know the difference arue with that once I do think that he also made contested catches he wasn't as much of the deep route guy actually which I think is fascinating that he had the 60 yard bomb I remember him from last year he's more of the or the middle guy he's not a giant he's 62200 uh that's what they list him at anyway he he might be a little bit stronger than that at this point who knows right um 62200 not a giant but he is kind of the guy that's going to make the contested catch kind of the usam rout under safety over Lineback uh over Mike right usum usom under safety over Mike kind of that little window there that's where he's CA the ball a lot in contested routes and I don't know I think that that combination of young receivers and there's other young receivers here they're just the two Headliners Jonah and Kobe I think that that's a really strong pair that maybe not exactly one to one right after it said but that's a really strong pair to be replacing Sam Brown and Matthew golden with 18 months after having to replace tankel right Kean was there too I guess but tank D's been the pro right and so I think the young group is really talented and poised to take over again receiver is the easi position for a freshman to step in and play I think both of these guys joanah and Kobe have skills and translate into this offense very well I would think a good Dynamic offense is rotating receivers uh Houston didn't do that last year Houston had trouble with what I would call being Dynamic last year right uh I think that they're going to make an impact very very quickly I also could see it going to some guys that have been around a little bit longer uh namely a guy goes by name of both he's he's a fan favorite I like Boogie we're talking about him in a second but first we're talking about putting together a championship kind of team your Championship kind of ride needs passion drive and patience that's the formula 4 championships and it's also what keeps you'll ride or die alive eBay motor say everything you need to maintain your vehicle level up to Peak Performance supercharges roof racks exhaust Gates LED headlights and more whether they speed power or style eBay Motors has got you covered with2 Million Parts when r or die always find exactly what looking for and E guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed fit your ride every time or your money back because eBay Motors you're burning rubber and not cash the park G the prices you want it's easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge huge wins you or die live at ebay.com only eBay guarante only available to us customers all right the more natural fit I think here for Houston is Boogie Johnson stepping up and being a big time playmaker now Boogie had kind of a roller coaster of a year for Houston last year he was transferred into sophomore having to get to play some Oklahoma State and Boogie did between special teams and traditional offensive reps get to play in every game last year right so it's not that he never saw the field at all but he had games like West Virginia where he has the game winning 49 I guess 50 yard touchdown uh big you know TI ball he catches and runs the end zone uh play of the Season far away first pick 12 Victory Etc he has that kind of a game he had another touchdown earlier in that game actually and then he has games like rice or he starts in the slot and only gets a couple catches right he has games where he played only special teams and that that roller coaster of a season kind of makes it hard to predict well what Boogie Johnson do we get this year it did feel like with last year staff and I'm not going to sit here and belittle them the whole time but with the last year's staff it felt like instead of rotating receivers they kind of had their core three and they went with them all through and through and then it did feel like Boogie was kind of like well if anyone gets hurt anyone has a bum bum ankle if anyone breaks a shoelace he's the one pulling it right and I think that speaks the talent he walks on the field with I was really impressed with his footwork um if you watch his feet in out of breaks if you watch his offy stff footwork ladder um his feet are incredible like top tier Big 12 athletes incredible how he end up Oklahoma State in the first place right um he has a burner speed meaning he can run straight lines really fast uh his footwork is really good so he doesn't lose that speed a whole lot in and out of breaks um I think he's most effective though because the two in like the Deep half of that route tree that we talked about earlier with Kobe um I I left last year wishing he had played more I think this year he's probably the second the second receiving threat um and and I think that that means we're going to see a lot more balls go his way but also kind of that deep stuff go his way because we talked to the offense run run run take a shot run run run take a shot right and I I think with you know his combination uh he's 6 foot 180 lbs got the speed got the footwork showed the hands and frankly some clutch Gene aspects of come up with the football at the end West Virginia game if you buy into any of that stuff right I think it's a good chance that he's that number two guy this year um I think the another guy it could be as far as having the same kind of speed um is maai Muse um he's made a lot of noise as far as transferring as a punt returner cord Turner he came to Houston from Georgia though University of Georgia National Champion Georgia yeah those guys um he spent three seasons at Georgia was kind of just a rotational returner has Dynamic speed he came to Houston I think for two reasons um it looks like unofficially reading through the internet two reasons right this is not because I've spoken with Mai but looking through the internet the couple reasons people are coming up with is first he was just a rotational returner at Georgia right they got a ton of Team Speed and he's 5'8 Buck 85 they weren't putting him in all the time right Houston he'll be the return the return or right that's way he goes okay the other thing is uh and we've seen Houston do the small return deal in the past so we're not scared of playing 5'8 is he'll get more looks at receiver at Houston than he will in a crowded receiver room at Georgia right um and he's got the kind of speed we're talking about a number two receiver having at the University of Houston right uh again really really I can't find a 40 time I look high and low for one but um shows up on the r turning film shows up in the practice film um I I mean I thought you could see some in the spring game last year he's got it U multiple turns over 50 yards uh while he's at Georgia um he was an all state receiver and all state return High School in the state of Georgia um I had to say that pretty good high school football state not Texas but pretty good High School Football State uh so clearly it's it's something in his bag back there other guys that are probably really contending to be this uh are a pair of guys that showed up to Houston at Tulsa um that are just hyper competitive and I think that's GNA bring the best out of this room so I think that's a good thing the Y of room is going to be uh competing for the football a lot but um both Devin Williams and Marquees shoulders uh transfer into Houston from Tulsa and kind of have like their biggest attribute being that they compete they compete for the ball in the air they compete while they're making blocks they compete while they're doing all kinds of different things uh on the football field um Dev Williams uh I guess was healthy longer last year for Tulsa but used a lot less 61 a buck 90 uh had two touchdowns while he's at Tulsa last year um he's from Temple Texas right so he's coming closer to home uh closer to home uh Maris shoulders played just five games last year was hurt was uh a much more used receiver in those five games had five touchdowns in those five games and as a Katie Tomkins kid um just 5'9 a buck 70 but I think that uh coming home will be nice for him the speed will be nice for him and again he showed the ability get in the end zone he just got hurt last your shoulder energy so I not just because shoulders shoulder injury um I think that that speed's going to play out in separation he more of a slot guy I wonder how that plays into this stuff some of the RPO stuff a quick slock eye could be big time so shoulders Muse big time right um some of the RPO stuff on the receivers they're going be need to run deep that's you might see Kobe young jonan Wilson Stefan Johnson Stefan being Boogie right um I think that all those guys create a very Dynamic wide receiver room right you've got the Deep threats you've got the over the-middle threats you've got the short Shifty slot guys right you got a bunch of different tools in the toolbox for uh Kevin Barb the offensive coordinater to use in an offense that frankly needs to be intentional about when certain receivers are on the field right um I understand people worry about giving stuff away with Personnel but truthfully this receiver group has a bunch of different talents and Houston's going to need to be efficient in picking who's on the field when because they have to maximize all of those talents because they're not going to have the ball in the air enough I don't think to be able to just kind oh we'll burn that play if we have the wrong gun that would they can't do that right um I'm not saying to take a time out three minutes into the first half because you have substitution wrong I do think that um it's going to be a constant well if you see third eight you see boogie you see Jonah you see Jose MJ right if it's third and four you see Maris you see uh Malik Carr the tight end and you see manic I think those are the kinds of things that are going be to see what Houston does in those first couple games against UNLV in Oklahoma I also think if we're being frank here they're they're obviously going to play to beat unob I don't mean that I can see this being the kind of team though that has something extra for wide sets something because Joseph manj got this versatility we'll talk about a second something to go with getting ready to uh to play Clan week two right like what do you keep in the back pocket is it some version of this Personnel set with all the different talents at the wide receiver spots there is one guy with all those different talents that will in all likelihood knock on wood unless he is injured there is no reason that this guy l footb football field all year long I'll talk about him in a second but first as we're talking about getting ready for football season I think the dog days of summer can kind of get to some people but this summer FanDuel is hooking up all customers with a boost or bonus every day to make your sports and summer that much more interesting and entertaining hof.com is the most out of your summer I've been telling you all all summer long check out the Astros I understand that bad May that's April May they're searching the right time find them on FanDuel the odds are getting closer to even every days make go catch it right now at fanduel.com F sports betting partner of Major League Baseball now I want to spend an entire moment here talk about Joseph manj now I say manjack for last and some people say well Parker you always say the best for last right that's I guess the way the saying goes but truthfully part of the reason I save Joseph manjack for last is he's the one with the least question marks Joseph manjack should not leave the field at all as long as he is healthy and frankly he's in good enough shape he's kind of an Iron Man kind of guy he's not gonna like NE Gatorade or anything like that I mean he's he's going to need to play 60 70 80 snaps a game and I understand that that's a big ask but truthfully it's kind of because he's earned that big ask now he's a leading R returning receiver from last year uh he had 46 catches last year the next highest returning is Boogie Johnson at 24 the next highest is Parker Jenkins a running back at 15 right so he has almost twice as many catches the next highest guy and the third highest guy's job is not to catch the football as far as returning catches off of last year's roster um for what it's worth if you go back two years the only three players that caught a football at all that are back from the team two years ago fall of 22 are Joe manjack Stacy Sneed and Matt Burns those only three guys on the roster presently that also caught a pass in 2022 um and for what it's worth he did have an injury that year he had like the big catch against UTSA um 11 of 15 catches happen the first four games before he gets hurt kind of feels like he might have gotten the ball rolling a little bit more that year than projected to a bigger 2023 had he not gotten hurt um he did the rest of History I do think though that navigating the American to the big 12 Dana to Willie uh the Litany of offensive coordinators he's played with between this and this time at USC as well I think that that veteran leadership is going to go a really long way for a jelling new young very talented wide receiver room at Houston right now he's not technically the oldest in the room but he is by far and away the most veteran and that's most veteran in terms of time playing Power for football that's most veteran in terms of time wearing a Houston Cougar uniform on the football field itself that means most veteran in terms of having any sort of a connection with Donovan Smith the quarterback right like all of those [Music] things are things that he just has more of than everyone else and BJ's a great person for this role I'm not wor worried about it at all and I don't think anyone else should be um I do think that this is a lot of eggs in one basket as far as like on the- field leadership goes for the University of Houston um he obviously is also a guy that's had a major injury or to right and and like you kind of Wonder like okay can we put all those eggs in that basket or is the bottom gonna fall out I don't think so and I think that frankly you know not going away that it doesn't happen obviously but something were to happen um he's also the kind of guy that's going to be a great leader off the field in the film room in the weight room he can do those things too but Houston needs him again on the field for 70 plus plays a game I mean I need him on specials I need him on the field all the time and I know this that doesn't seem fair and you think that well if he's really the star receiver of the team next year shouldn't we be finding ways to you know keep him fresh for the you know second and third down maybe let him run deak routes or just like not real routes when the balls going the other way you know if it's going to be a heavy running down or series take him out the game but he's the guy they need on the field for those things too he's the leader you want in the Huddle he's the guy you want doing the blocking he's not infallible and I don't mean to make him out to be the perfect wide receiver he's 63 205 he can play a couple different positions in the receiver group and I wonder if there's a world where you kind of have a four white out set but make him an h-back type of guy as well we know Houston wants to have tight ends on the field next year with Kevin Barb at the OC and that's technically a little different but I just I look at this room I see a ton of talent a ton of speed a lot of different skill sets and only won Joseph bjack right and you know he came home for a reason right he came home from USC um joined ufh joined the cougs and is is you know kind of now uh getting to be that leader with Houston on his chest that he wanted to be when he came back right um and that that's a big deal I think he's ready for it I think that the team's frankly going to surprise a lot of people Mally next year next fall or next I guess later this month um and I I can go on the record right now I think that that Oklahoma game in week two is kind of game where people are gonna be like oh will Fran cougs are whole different thing than we thought they were right um I I just think that when I look at this room as much talent it has and and everything it is all going to fall to Joseph manjack shoulders carrying this group as far as he can um we know they're going to want to run the ball we know they're going to be effective at that um you know things you practice the most you could get better at and Fritz is very disent coach they're going to do those things right this group this room you know hitting their capacity their cealing whatever in Talent with would really do a lot of things to catapult this football team a lot farther and mjac as the kind of adult in the room for like a better phrase is gonna be the guy that falls to fairly or unfairly now we're going to be breaking it down each and every day here locked on coups uh we we're getting back on a daily schedule been a little bit of weird roller coaster of a summer June and July were a lot hoping for August to be less so but we'll uh we'll see how that continues thank you for making us your first Liston of the day for a second lesson Drake over at lock on Big 12 doing a great job of breaking down comry alignment the potential for Oregon State to really come to Big 12 Etc um I'm hoping you listen this Friday morning to get a second episode out later today might be tomorrow on some updates on like you know kind of news around the corner update basketball schedule being finalized at least some the non-conference is and uh there's some stuff going on with that Big 12 stuff it said Drake's getting more info on all kinds of stuff out there I also want to talk about ESPN disrespecting case Keenan but that's not here nor there so keep subscribed hit the Bell so you know we're live we're supposed to be going live again internet dependent supposed to be going live after the forever CBS semi-final game in the TBT on Friday night so want to make sure you tune in for that with me and mik as well lock on coug is a prim of the locked on podcast now is your team are Houston Cougars each and every day go CS