After early-season lull, receiver Andrew Flory stepping into his desired role: Playmaker
After Andrew Flory stepped up for the absent Titus Davis in last year's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, it appeared Central Michigan had found its No. 2 receiver.
Throw in a five-catch, 86-yard performance in the season opener at Michigan and the 1-2 combination of Davis and Flory seemed like a real possibility. He followed up the next week against New Hampshire with four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, but his contributions -- and presence -- soon dwindled.
Things appeared to boil over after the Sept. 28 game at North Carolina State, in which the sophomore receiver had just one catch for 9 yards, when Flory took to Twitter to let out his frustrations. "Not being used like how I should. That's all I'm saying ... Now onto Miami of Ohio!"
He later deleted the post and followed up two days later with a quasi-apology, writing: "Made a dumb mistake. I'm proud to be a member of this team! #BeatMiami"
"Me and (Coach) Enos have been going back-and-forth in this offense about little things, like fixing up my routes," Flory said. "I'm really getting in-tune with the offense, and me and Cooper (Rush) are getting on the same page."
Flory about matched his season-opener performance against Northern Illinois, catching five passes for 81 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. Enos later voluntarily called it Flory's best game of the season.
"We were very encouraged by it," Enos said. "He looked fast, he looked explosive. I hope that's a real confidence builder for him."
Flory agreed.
"I felt like I was in to the game a lot, helping out teammates and all that," he said. "I was just making plays when my name is called."
He likes it when his name is called. Last year, knowing Cody Wilson was on his way out, Flory latched on to the fearless slot receiver. They became close friends as he watched the way he ran his routes and conducted himself on the field.
"I put that pressure on myself," Flory said of trying to fill Wilson's shoes. "I just try to do it as good, if not better."
While trying to solidify the run-game has been a key for the CMU offense, Enos has also stressed the need of having a second, reliable threat at receiver. Davis has more than lived up to expectations, leading the team 627 yard and five touchdowns despite missing a game.
After that, it's been a crap shoot -- with Flory (279 yards, 2 TDs) having breakout games and junior Courtney Williams (200 yards, 1 TD) stepping up when needed.
"The more playmakers you can put on the field, obviously, the less chances they're going to have to key in and hone in on what you're doing," Enos said.
Ironically enough, that's just what Flory wants to be in this offense.
"A playmaker," Flory said. That's how I put it: Playmaker."
Contact Aaron McMann: aaron.mcmann@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @AaronMcMann.
