The Great WR Free-For-All of 2010

2010 continues to be the year of the question mark for the Gators, and perhaps the team’s biggest question mark is the wide receiver position.

There is only one certainty for the Gators wide receivers and that is Deonte Thompson will hold one of the starting jobs.

After that, it’s a virtual free-for-all as to who will fill out the remainder of the depth chart.

I think I’m going to have a little fun with this article and do it in a different format than the others, so bear with me here.

#6 – Deonte Thompson

The Case For Deonte – He is the only wide receiver on the roster who has had experience being in the starting three. He is a very fast receiver, and we all know Meyer is enamored with speed. He has the ability to get downfield and catch the deep ball. He will be deadly on quick slant routes.

The Case Against Deonte – Really the only issue Deonte seems to have as a wide receiver is his hands. He has unreliable hands, and just about any Gator fan you ask about Deonte Thompson can recall some instance where a sure touchdown could have been had and he dropped the ball. It’s something he will have to improve on pushing forward. Also, though I haven’t really observed this on my own, something tells me a guy Deonte’s size would not be a great run blocker. I could be wrong, that’s just a guess.

Likely position: Deonte will start. Period. Being the only guy with experience and a guy who can rocket downfield makes him immediately a favorite of Meyer.

And after that, all bets are off.

#3 Chris Rainey

The Case for Chris – We definitely have seen what Chris Rainey can do once he gets into space and past the line of scrimmage at tailback. With his open field ability, he could be a valuable weapon in the catch-and-run department. He’s also got the feet to get past his man at the line of scrimmage and get open. Has in-game experience, but at a different position. Could make an excellent slot receiver.

The Case Against Chris – He’s coming from tailback, and has little experience at the wide receiver position at the collegiate level. It’s a pro and a con, really. Also, he has been known to drop passes every now and then. His small frame is a concern and putting him opposite Thompson would create a size mismatch that works against the Gators.

Likely position: Chris will not play receiver full-time. He will split time at receiver and tailback and take over the Percy Harvin role. When he lines up at receiver, I think he will be in the slot and not on the outside unless there’s a speed mismatch the Gators want to exploit.

#4 Andre Debose

The Case for Andre – This was the man slated to replace Percy Harvin in the Gators’ slash role in 2009. Here is a guy who clearly has great speed and has flashed playmaking ability, and these are the kinds of things Meyer likes to have on the field. Though we haven’t seen much of Debose, he has shown good catch-and-run ability.

The Case Against Andre – Why did Andre sit out 2009 and almost the entire 2010 spring? Injuries. A hamstring injury (and surgery) forced him off the field and “injury-prone” will definitely be a stigma, true or not, that he will have to shake. The fact that he also has no in-game experience will work against him, though if he can prove himself, Meyer has shown he’s not afraid to put in the younger guys.

Likely position: I think Andre will split time with Rainey in the slot.

#7 Justin Williams

The Case for Justin – He’s definitely seen battle at both safety and wide receiver. His willingness to switch to safety for depth purposes in ’08 has to have impressed the coaches, even if he wasn’t the best safety. He’s a solid wide receiver. Though he’s not a big-time playmaker like Rainey or Debose have the potential to be, if you put him in the slot, he should be able to make a few catches.

The Case Against Justin – You could use the word “versatile” to describe what Justin is good at, but it’d be a euphemism for the phrase “He doesn’t really do any one thing particularly well.” Justin’s a guy who I could see turning into a decent No. 2 but really not much better, and playing him would likely keep playmakers and better role players off the field.

Likely position: He could crack the rotation as a fourth option and may even be the guy at the five spot when the Gators go five-wide. However, if he really goes off this summer, he could earn time on the outside at the number-two spot or even take that position for himself. Or, he could not even get into the rotation this year.

#9 Carl Moore

The Case For Carl – Carl Moore, when he can get on the field, is a guy known for making the tough catches. Moore’s size would make him a good option for the Gators because he has good hands and can make tough catches in traffic. A big target with soft hands in traffic can be an invaluable weapon for Qbs.

The Case Against Carl – He really didn’t impress in the 2008 season, when he was supposed to make an instant impact as a five-star recruit coming in. Granted, he never got thrown the ball. In 2009, injuries ended his season before it began. In 2010, word is he’s in Meyer’s doghouse.

Likely position: If the rumors are true and Meyer really is mad at Carl Moore for whatever reason, I see him falling out of the rotation entirely. At best, I think he’s the No. 4 receiver.

#18 T.J. Lawrence – See: Justin Williams. I see these guys as almost the same player, though Lawrence has a bit more upside because he’s younger. I think Williams and T.J. will be battling each other for the number five spot – but again, if one of these guys performs, don’t be surprised to see them on the outside.

#82 Omarius Hines

The Case For Omar – Omar is definitely the second-most experienced receiver the Gators have, and has proven to be a decent target on the rare occasion he saw the field with the Gators’ first-team offense last season. Being with that group is more than any other receiver save for Deonte Thompson can say at this point.

The Case Against Omar – To be honest, there really isn’t one. Maybe other receivers might have a speed advantage or a height advantage, but Omar hasn’t really given us in Gainesville any reason to say he shouldn’t be on the field.

Likely position: I really feel like Omarius Hines is going to be the guy playing on the outside opposite Deonte Thompson. As I’ve said before, if TJ Lawrence or Justin Williams totally ball out and Omar stinks it up, they could take it. But, for now, it’s 82′s job to lose.

#85 Frankie Hammond Jr.

The Case for Frankie – Frankie is a guy who got a good amount of experience working in garbage time last season, when he essentially was one of the top-two guys on the second team. He is a solid receiver who is above average in all aspects of the game and someone I would have expected to start this year.

The Case Against Frankie – He just lost his scholarship following a DUI arrest. This is an assumption, but my guess would be he’s in deep with the coaches after that one.

Likely position: Frankie is going to have to work his tail off to earn his place back on this team. Before the DUI, I would have said he’s a lock for the No. 2 position, but the DUI really opened that one up. Maybe I’m underestimating Meyer’s ability to forgive mistakes, but I think Hammond battles Lawrence and Williams and falls out of the rotation. At least for now, anyway.

#89 Steven Alli

The Case For Alli – Alli is probably my favorite of the wide receivers. For one, the guy brings the size that none of our receivers (save for Carl Moore, who’s on the bubble) bring to the table. He also “uses” that size well, and is a great jump ball target and will prove invaluable in the red zone. He’s also an intelligent man. His recruiting decision came down to Harvard and Florida, and he dual-enrolled at Florida his senior year of high school redshirted, and practiced with the team in 2009.

The Case Against Alli – The only reason I can see Meyer not putting Alli high up in the line up is because of the lack of experience. Sure, having been with the team in 2009 helps, but so has every other inexperienced receiver on the roster.

Likely position: I expect Steven Alli to take hold of the No. 4 spot and even earn a situational spot on the outside when the Gators enter the red zone.

The Spiffster’s Wild Guess at the WR Depth Chart

1. Deonte Thompson
2. Omarius Hines
3. Andre Debose/Chris Rainey
4. Steven Alli
5. Justin Williams/TJ Lawrence