Joe: Florida desperately needs a playmaker in the passing game.
The Gators posted a record of 11-2 and earned a Sugar Bowl berth despite finishing last in the Southeastern Conference with 146.3 passing yards per game in 2012.
Imagine what a solid passing game would have meant for coach Will Muschamp’s team, which fell one win short of the SEC Championship Game last year.
While quarterback Jeff Driskel struggled with field vision and decision-making during his first season as Florida’s starting quarterback, I buy into the cliche that says, “A craftsman is only as good as his tools.”
The Gators’ receiving corps left much to be desired in 2012. The returners from last season’s group inspire even less confidence.
Florida’s returning wideouts combined for 44 catches, 426 yards and four touchdowns last year. They need a breakout guy, and it’s not Quinton Dunbar.
If the Gators’ passing game gets anywhere in 2013, the emergence of incoming four-star stud Demarcus Robinson will be the reason why.
Phil: While I will admit the passing game is missing some screws, there is a more pressing question facing the Gators’ offense: Can it replace Mike Gillislee? Behind him, Florida finished third in the SEC with 187.7 rushing yards per game last season and consistently took opposing defenses to the woodshed by utilizing heavy fronts late in games. Just ask LSU how that felt.
But Gillislee is gone. Although sophomore tailback Matt Jones received praise from Muschamp throughout the spring, he is a guy that carried the ball only 52 times as a freshman.
It remains to be seen whether Jones will be effective when facing SEC defenses on a weekly basis. Also, injury concerns arise when a tailback is asked to carry a much heavier load than in the previous season.
That’s where Kelvin Taylor comes in. The heralded four-star product out of Belle Glade will make an immediate impact in the backfield and could push Jones for first-team reps before all is said and done.
Joe: Gillislee had only 56 carries in 2011 before assuming the starting running back role last year. Look how he turned out.
Never mind that Gillislee averaged just 48.3 carries per season in his first three years as a Gator. Gilly is a talented back who flourished with an increased workload and an offense that highlighted his strengths.
I believe Jones will deliver similar results this season. And when Jones needs a break or UF needs a change of pace, Kelvin Taylor, Adam Lane and Mack Brown will be waiting in the wings to contribute.
But if Demarcus Robinson has an off day or cannot deliver at wide receiver, where will Driskel look?
Big target Jordan Reed is gone. That’s a devastating blow to this offense.
Dunbar had a great spring, coaches say. But when has the underperforming wideout ever not delivered in April? Let’s see it in October.
Loucheiz Purifoy is an option, but if you think Muschamp — a former defensive back — is going to let his best tackler in the secondary just switch to the offensive side of the ball permanently, you’re insane.
Kelvin Taylor is a very talented player at a crowded position. Robinson is also a very talented player but at a position with desperate needs.
Robinson will have the larger impact.
Phil: Remember when Latroy Pittman was the talk of the offseason this time a year ago? Like Robinson, Pittman was a four-star prospect who early enrolled at Florida and began impressing from the moment he walked on campus.
Then he caught two passes for 6 yards the entire season while battling an ankle injury.
Granted, Robinson is a better talent than Pittman.
I will admit that.
But, as Muschamp has said, it is very difficult to have an instant impact as a freshman receiver. How are you so sure Robinson will be any different than the other big names who have flamed out in their first year?
Adding to the degree of difficulty is the fact that Robinson has already suffered an ankle injury of his own that limited him throughout spring practice.
It would not be completely surprising to see him with numbers only marginally better than Pittman’s, especially if he is bothered by nagging injuries throughout the season.
Speaking of catching the ball, Taylor will separate himself in a crowded backfield with his ability to augment Florida’s passing attack.
I know you remember watching him scamper for a 40-yard receiving touchdown during a scrimmage in March. He has superior hands and instincts in the open field.
For as great as Gillislee was, he only had one receiving touchdown last season. That was not the strength of his game. But as a dual threat, Taylor will have an impact in the rushing and receiving game.
Joe: I’m going to take a page out of Muschamp’s book.
“Let’s let Kelvin be Kelvin, and Fred’s Fred,” Muschamp said on April 6.
Let Latroy be Latroy, and Demarcus is Demarcus.
Granted, Robinson could easily become lost in the fray, suffer an injury and become a mostly ineffective member of Florida’s receiving corps. But don’t count on it.
Robinson is a playmaker. Matched up head-to-head against Purifoy and Marcus Roberson during the spring “game,” Robinson held tough and made difficult catches against two premium SEC corners.
Regardless of how much or how little success Taylor enjoys this season, Florida will be fine at running back.
But the Gators desperately need a wide receiver to step up this season, and Robinson is that guy.
Phil: You’re right. Robinson was impressive against Roberson and Purifoy, and that’s a good start. That said, he better get used to making plays against elite SEC corners.
With the rest of the receiving corps nothing more than a ragtag bunch at this point, Robinson will be covered with the best defensive backs opposing defenses have to offer. He is going to have to work hard for everything he gets.
The depth at running back will keep Taylor fresh, and he will quickly carve out a niche because of it.
Robinson isn’t at fault, but he won’t match that production.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org. Contact Phil Heilman at pheilman@alligator.org.
Freshman running back Kelvin Taylor (21) scores a touchdown during drills at the Orange and Blue Debut on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
