2013 WR group

[TnCamoGator]

I wanted to see some opinions of the 2013 WR group and how they will fair this year together and what kind of opportunities they will give Driskel to pass for 2500+ yards. Also wanted to see where each WR will stack up in the line ups.

At the 1 and 2 spots, I can see it being Robinson, Dunbar and Hawkins all rotating. With Robinson and Hawkins all being big and physically ready to handle press coverage and jams from college DB's, I think they'll be pressing Dunbar from the get go. Which will all make them better.

In the slot it'll be between Patton and Bailey obviously. They'll both see touches and that's a given. Bailey could and most likely will be Trey Burton ATH role after he graduates so we could see some flashes and packages for Bailey like Burton.

As for Fulwood I see him maybe redshirting if he shows he's not yet ready physically, i could be wrong (and hope I am). He could easily mix in with Robinson and them which is where he most likely will be this season.

Chris Thompson I see being redshirted.

Debose/Pittman/Andredes is anyone's guess at this point where they will end up in the mix.

[grant1]

wouldn't count on any true freshmen

[bofusgators]

Yes, hard to count on true freshmen. Basically too much on the table coming from high school to college.

[gymgator]

Robinson is the most likely because he is here for Spring. No reason he won't be in the 2 deep in the fall camp.

My next in line of the FR...is Bailey. I know Hawkins & Fulwood (and hopefully Clark) have more physical tools than him, but he just seems like the player that will learn fast and go after a stop. With Patton, Debose & Burton SRs, it wouldn't be terrible if he redshirted, but he just might earn a spot in the two deep and I know he could help on STeams.

[BobbyGator72]

I wouldn't count on a freshman to be a breakout star like Watkins did at Clemson a couple of years ago but I do think that we need 2 to 3 to contribute. Obviously with coming in early I think Robinson has the best shot, after that who knows. Fulwood is a big kid and only going to get bigger once he gets in the weightroom. I think with this group it is obviously who picks up the playbook the quickest, who performs ahead of them, whether they can contribute something else (blocking, running the reverse, special teams). If we sign six then I hope 3 play and 3 redshirt.

[theghost]

I hope none of the freshman redshirt, unless they are injured.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Andrades as a starter. Maybe not the leading receiver, but a starter.

[theghost]

I hope none of the freshman redshirt, unless they are injured.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Andrades as a starter. Maybe not the leading receiver, but a starter.

[Tito22]

Quinton Dunbar.leading receiver by a mile. #2 spot rotates throughout the year. Not sure if JD hits 2500 but hopefully over 2000.

[gatorev12]

IF the freshman come in ready to play and contribute, then our passing game could look much different next year. Many of them have the physical tools, but a lot depends on their ability to transition to the next level in the other facets: route running and blocking.

Best-case scenario would be to have someone turn in an Amari Cooper-type production next year.

I think Dunbar, Burton, Patton, and Kent Taylor will be our primary receiving threats next year...but there's certainly room for one of the freshman to step up and become an additional downfield threat. Then again, Debose could *finally* make the grade in his last season with us, but I'm not exactly holding my breath.

[geauxgator1]

Originally Posted by gatorev12

IF the freshman come in ready to play and contribute, then our passing game could look much different next year. Many of them have the physical tools, but a lot depends on their ability to transition to the next level in the other facets: route running and blocking.

Best-case scenario would be to have someone turn in an Amari Cooper-type production next year.

I think Dunbar, Burton, Patton, and Kent Taylor will be our primary receiving threats next year...but there's certainly room for one of the freshman to step up and become an additional downfield threat. Then again, Debose could *finally* make the grade in his last season with us, but I'm not exactly holding my breath.

Debose is really a puzzle. Seems clear he isn't the guy we thought he was. Maybe he'll finally turn it around this year, like we all hope. So much talent going to waste.

[BobbyGator72]

Originally Posted by theghost

I hope none of the freshman redshirt, unless they are injured.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Andrades as a starter. Maybe not the leading receiver, but a starter.

I wouldn't expect Andrades to start since he will be splitting time this spring with Baseball. Hopefully he contributes to both.

[SirRaj]

I think Pittman is going to surprise us.

[Ahab]

Sometimes players really respond to a new coach. Let's hope Joker can get Debose on track.

[fox]

I like Joker. Something tells me he is going to do great things for us. Just having a real WR coach for a full year should do wonders. We should have enough athletes so the bench becomes a factor again.

[grant1]

Originally Posted by gymgator

Robinson is the most likely because he is here for Spring. No reason he won't be in the 2 deep in the fall camp.

My next in line of the FR...is Bailey. I know Hawkins & Fulwood (and hopefully Clark) have more physical tools than him, but he just seems like the player that will learn fast and go after a stop. With Patton, Debose & Burton SRs, it wouldn't be terrible if he redshirted, but he just might earn a spot in the two deep and I know he could help on STeams.

The question is of WR, not freshmen WR. Unless you have a "Julio Jones" or "AJ Green", don't expect much from any true freshman. I don't think we have a "Jones" or "Green".

[theologator]

Originally Posted by grant1

wouldn't count on any true freshmen

Count on? No. Absolutely agree with you.

What can happen, should and I hope will, is that 1 or 2 freshmen show enough spark to merit defensive attention. Right now defenses are able to recognize who is very likely in just to block & they don't have to respect many if any of the Gator WRs. I expect that will depend on what happens between their ears more than size and speed. Whoever transitions smoothly can be a huge help without being "the guy".

Reidel & Quezzie were able to do that for example. Match 1 or 2 guys who fit that Quezzie or Reidel freshman impact and it will help Dunbar, Patton, Pittman, etc.

The one older guy that CAN be scary is Debose, IF he can get his head & heart straight he could be special. But we've been saying that for 3 years. Show me time!

[gatorntuscaloosa]

Very seldom do you see players that have been no better than average over the course of 3 years finally have real break through seasons. It can happen. It has happened. But more often than not, what you see is what you get. All that we have witnessed out of Debose is straight ahead speed exampled in having caught 2 or 3 bombs for long gains and a handful of Kick returns for tds. We want him to suddenly be a legitimate threat. HOPEFULLY HE WILL BE. But i wouldnt hold my breath on it.

[Ahab]

I've seen many players realize this is their last go around and that they're playing for their football lives. For instance, McCray last year went from being a contributing player to someone that made a real impact and may have worked himself into a late NFL pick.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by gatorntuscaloosa

Very seldom do you see players that have been no better than average over the course of 3 years finally have real break through seasons. It can happen. It has happened. But more often than not, what you see is what you get. All that we have witnessed out of Debose is straight ahead speed exampled in having caught 2 or 3 bombs for long gains and a handful of Kick returns for tds. We want him to suddenly be a legitimate threat. HOPEFULLY HE WILL BE. But i wouldnt hold my breath on it.

It depends on how you define "breakthrough." Will he be an all-league player? Not necessarily. Can he be a genuine contributor? I think so. Look at Hammond last year: he had his best season as senior despite our incredibly limited passing game with a sophomore quarterback and new offensive system. I suspect Debose can be capable of the same improvement. It is almost astonishing that this will be the first time Debose has played under the same offensive coordinator two seasons in a row since he was a senior in high school. That has to pay some limited dividends, especially for a kid who by all accounts has difficulty adjusting to new schemes and such.

I am confident that, assuming health, he emerges alongside Dunbar as a starting receiver and they provide a much improved receiving tandem. Not elite by any stretch, but improved. With Dunbar, Andrades, and Robinson (who I suspect contributes next year, though maybe not at the level some expect), we will have a decent group that stands to be very good by 2014 once Fulwood, Bailey, et al are ready.

I also really like Burton taking over the Hines role, along with the screens we threw so often to Reed. He is going to be an important and versatile piece to the puzzle next season.

[Dreamliner]

To the contrary, I wouldn't count out true freshmen. (See: Sammy Watkins).