Gator Fever;n184453 said:
I think we have more talent than the rankings reflect at RB and WR / TE. We just need another receiver to emerge in addition to Robinson and have McGee stay healthy. At RB I think we will be alright if the O line can block some.
Devil's Advocate for a moment, but for the RB we have Taylor as the only returner with any experience, and he was deep enough on the roster to only get 560 yds on the season? Behind him you have a one-game-wonder in Lane, and a freshman with no SEC experience (much less college level experience). Not a lot to hang your hat on, especially given the OL they will have to play behind. Do we really want to count Powell in the stable of RBs? It doesn't help the case if you're looking at his rushing success last season.
I'd also have to go with the Devil on the WR/TE count since we have no experience returning this year at TE other than McGee who has no SEC experience and is coming off a season ending injury. Think about how it looks from outside Gator Nation, you had converted DE's playing TE over your roster of TEs. Not promising. As for WR, you have Robinson with 54 receptions for 821 yds and a grand total of 7 TDs on the season. You're GO-TO guy with 7 TDs. Nobody else with over 525 yds (lowest I could find on the NCAA Stats site) or more than 3.3 rec/game average. We may have some talent on the roster, but unless you've seen it at practice (which very few have, it if is there), then those rankings are pretty accurate and we do have a big hill to climb. Hang the WR/TE poor stats on QB that can't throw and an OL that can't give him time to throw....but we do not have a lot returning for us that non-Gator's have seen to have confidence in.
The plus side of that is perhaps Lane/Scarlett are diamonds in the rough ready to burst onto the scene under a proper offensive coaching system. Similarly, maybe the OL talent we're bringing in can be healthy and play well enough to give a developed QB time to throw, and our coach can play call offensively to help these TE/WRs shine. There is tremendous chance for a surprise upside on all these areas, but to date we haven't had it show up on the field where those making these rankings can see it and say 'yeah, there is some talent there'. In fact, for us pumpers on forums, we're all about the upside but the reality is it is just hopes at this point until JMac has time to work with them and we get those kids out there hitting pads against a team from another town.