Should we feel good about our receiver room this year?

heversle

Founding Member
Baba Booey Tata Toothy
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
1,111
1,581
Founding Member
If we can't run the ball down the throats of the majority of the teams we face this year, I think it might be reminiscent of last season. I love what Napier is doing with the program since taking over and I think we will be a contender after the next few recruiting classes, but I just don't see the playmakers at wide receiver for this team to have a dynamic offense this year. I have a strong gut feeling that the defense will be much better though. However, I think there will be too much pressure for Richardson and the running backs to carry the team with their legs. I hope they prove me wrong, but it could be another long year. Thoughts?
 

MJMGator

Founding Member
Slightly amused
Lifetime Member
Jun 10, 2014
20,038
41,113
Founding Member
We’re absent playmakers in several positions. Certainly lack quality depth. We’ll be better simply because we won’t have Mullen and Grantham roaming the sidelines, but we’re still gonna take our lumps for the next couple of years.
 

oxrageous

Founding Member
It's Good to be King
Administrator
Jun 5, 2014
36,935
97,629
Founding Member
The ghost of ryan.joseph still haunts the Gator Nation.

Perhaps we can land some good receiving playmakers in this upcoming class.
 

GatorJ

Founding Member
Hopeful
Moderator
Jun 11, 2014
20,998
33,555
Founding Member
WR is not great now. We don’t have speed. That’s being looked at in this class but it’s crazy we don’t have speed.

I think the two freshmen TEs coming in this summer are better than any returning TE on our roster.

RB depth is crazy good.

I was worried about safety depth but I’ve seen that Collier has taken off this spring and has been great.
 

soflagator

Senior Member
Lifetime Member
Sep 4, 2014
21,131
78,737
I think Shorter breaks out this season. He probably could’ve last year with more accuracy at QB. Hendo is still solid and should benefit from the improved accuracy as well. And then the combination of Whittemore, Fraziers and Burke will produce someone that surprises. If I were to guess I’d say Burke. I actually think we’re ok.

As was said, we do lack elite speed. I don’t think we’re 2019/2020 type WR corps, but I think we’re better than last year.

Good to see you, hev.
 

heversle

Founding Member
Baba Booey Tata Toothy
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
1,111
1,581
Founding Member
Well played with the ryan.joseph references. :lol: I don't think we're dangerously thin, but dangerously average at the position. I can't think of one guy who strikes fear in the opposition from a skill or especially a speed standpoint, which is strange. I hope one of the newcomers steps up and emerges, as we seem a bit too one dimensional for my liking right now.
 

neteng

Fuga!
Lifetime Member
Oct 15, 2018
6,084
16,194
Im not overly excited about any room this coming season. Maybe RB and AR, maybe...just hoping the OL gets better. The only thing that helps not having speed at WR is the QB having more time to throw it. And RBs punishing DBs.
 

rogdochar

Founding Member
RIP
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2014
25,397
29,513
Founding Member
Want to see AR throwing speedy receivers clear. Gotta have a Percy burner. So I guess Napncrew will have to develop one, develop one. Who runs a blistering 40.?
I bet we have a few already on the roster,? Teach'em route running. Can any GC poster list some 40s speed of the guys on hand.? What happened to that h.s. 440 champ who supposedly signed with our Gators. He was 440's champ running on a burst meniscus.? Maybe named Smith? Where oh where.?
 

gatormandan

Are we back yet?
Lifetime Member
Oct 15, 2014
12,120
16,824
I think with our RB stable and ARs legs, it should open up some opportunities for receivers to get open. I dont think we will see a bunch of downfield stuff but quite a bit of short passes and screens. We have a few RBs that can catch too. I dont expect a title but I do think we see improvement on both sides of the ball. We should be ok as long as our Oline plays well and stays healthy.
 

NavetG8r

Founding Member
Stupid
Lifetime Member
Jun 11, 2014
16,720
16,674
Founding Member
I think we're gonna be alright. By all the reports I'm hearing Shorter is looking good. We know what we have in Whittemore, he can be quite productive when healthy, staying healthy is key for him. By all accounts Burke is a burner, just needs to get more consistent. I'm not sure why, maybe it's the cool-aid I've been drinking, but I feel like the new staff will do a fine job of getting everybody ready to play. I'm excited to see them put the O&B on and hit the field. First spring game I've been excited about in a few years.
 

rogdochar

Founding Member
RIP
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2014
25,397
29,513
Founding Member
Plenty of Natty teams have won many a game throwing short to a "burner" who turns those 5-yard flights into 32-yard gains over & over again. Maybe this O & B game will give us encouraging answers. Us Gator fans have been waiting too long for a faith-healing offense/defense. Just have to wait and watch Napncrew develop so many amped-up players.?? So here we all stand, hoping for this rejuvenation of Gator football.
 

Joegator96

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Nov 5, 2019
1,847
3,563
Fenley Graham Has Been a ‘Joy to Have’ Says Gators WR Coach Keary Colbert - Sports Illustrated Florida Gators News, Analysis and More

Florida isn't just utilizing Graham as a player who can catch some passes, the team is also giving him an opportunity to return kicks, something the previous staff failed to do during his first two years on campus. Still, Graham remains locked in and focused at receiver, impressing his coach as the days move forward.

Graham was lightning at LHS. He returned 23 kickoffs for 920 yards (40 yards per return) and three touchdowns, while adding 40 punt returns for 766 yards (19.2 yards per return) and two touchdowns.
 

GatorJB

Founding Member
Senior Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 12, 2014
3,449
6,124
Founding Member
I'm not excited about this group of WRs, but I'm not concerned either. Good QB play, good RBs, and good coaching will elevate their play. Napier loves using play action to take shots downfield, and I don't think this WRs group will stop him from doing that. If the running game is going well, then that'll help WRs get open.

Now if you're hoping that we throw the ball at least 40 times a game and score over 40 points per game, then this WRs group is a concern. But if you're satisfied with an offense that can move the ball and score in the mid-30's on average, then they are fine.
 

Gator By Marriage

A convert to Gatorism
Lifetime Member
Dec 31, 2018
14,773
27,945
I'm not excited about this group of WRs, but I'm not concerned either. Good QB play, good RBs, and good coaching will elevate their play. Napier loves using play action to take shots downfield, and I don't think this WRs group will stop him from doing that. If the running game is going well, then that'll help WRs get open.

Now if you're hoping that we throw the ball at least 40 times a game and score over 40 points per game, then this WRs group is a concern. But if you're satisfied with an offense that can move the ball and score in the mid-30's on average, then they are fine.
Well said.

When it comes down to it, it's really going to be all about the OL. If they can open holes for the run game consistently and effectively, the offense will be fine. Not as exciting as we would all like perhaps, but able to move the ball and score points. I'm actually more concerned about the defense. To me there are more questions on that side of the ball, even though we have some real potential superstars there.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.