Badgering the MTB Staff: How big of a deal is it to find a 2nd WR option?

We're on the third hot topic of the preseason and once again our crack staff was hounded and pressed until they squeezed out their answers. After finding out about the chances for a four-peat and how the 3-4 defense will go over in Madison we turn our attention to the offensive side of the ball. 

No, we aren't talking QB's, but rather the folks that will end up on the receiving end of whomever is behind center in 2013 – and that means we're talking wide receivers and for good reason. Here is the 3rd of our 5 part "Badgering the MTB Staff" preseason edition. 

Question: How big of a deal is it to find a viable 2nd option at wide receiver?

Paul Kilgas: I’m not really worried about the lack of a second wide receiver right now because I think that that Jordan Frederick or someone like A.J. Jordan will seize the day during training camp. Even if no one materializes, it’s important to find a viable second option at wide receiver only if the tight ends (Jacob Pedersen, Sam Arneson, Brian Wozniak and Brock DiCicco) are unable to stretch the field. I like Arneson a lot, and when I watched Utah State last year they used their running backs in the passing game a fair amount. I think that Wisconsin’s running backs are good pass catchers, and they could put Melvin Gordon or James White in the slot if they wanted to stretch the field.

Arman Belding: Significant, but not a be-all-end-all. It's significant in order to take pressure off Jared Abbrederis. He's one of the best WRs in the Big Ten, if not the country, but his secret is out. Other teams will be all over his routes, double covering him if necessary, to prevent being beaten over the top. If another legitimate threat doesn't emerge, teams will be able to key on him. However, if another legitimate threat doesn't emerge, all is not lost. Wisconsin also has Jacob Pedersen, the reigning Best TE in the conference. He, along with the many other TEs, will bring significant mismatches against linebackers and secondaries all season long, bringing balance to the receiving core.

Andy Coppens: I think we found out just how critical it is to find a weapon in the 2nd wide receiver position big time last year. Just look at how quickly injuries and double teams killed off the effectiveness of Jared Abbrederis as a weapon and a good decoy. Everyone on the field knew who the threat was and it showed. I'm watching three names that could really help Abby this season and those are Jordan Fredrick, who seemed to put it together more this spring again, Kenzel Doe, who may find a home as an option as a short field threat which in turn opens up the rest of the field for others and his speed, and finally Rob Wheelwright, who as an incoming freshman already looks the part and could be the next downfield threat at Wisconsin. Something that is sorely lacking from the rest of this group.