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Florida (Last Year: 13-1)
2009 College Football Season Preview:
Star Players:
QB Tim Tebow, WR Deonte Thompson, TE Aaron Hernandez, G Mike Pouncey, C Maurkice Pouncey, DE Jermaine Cunningham, DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Lawrence Marsh, ILB Brandon Spikes, CB Joe Haden, CB Janoris Jenkins, SS Major Wright
Draft/Graduation/Transfer Losses:
RB Kestahn Moore, WR Percy Harvin, WR Louis Murphy, T Jason Watkins, T Philip Trautwein, G James Tartt, K Jonathan Phillips.
2009 Florida Gators Offense:
Gone is offensive coordinator Dan Mullens, who left to be the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Gone is the lightning-quick Percy Harvin, who left for the NFL. Returning is everybody’s All-American boy Tim Tebow.
Is that enough to win a back-to-back national championship for the Florida Gators? It just might be if the defense lives up to the hype.
Tim Tebow vows to improve his slow release and footwork this offseason, but let’s get real. Urban Meyer is not in Gainesville to improve Tebow’s draft stock. He is paid to win championships. We will see if Tebow can improve upon his weaknesses, but even if he doesn’t, he will still be regarded as one of the all-time greatest college football players to ever live.
Tebow’s leadership is inspiring. Nobody doubts that he can lead his team to the promised land (pun intended) and win another championship.
What people will doubt is if he has the skill positions around him to run an elite offense consistently?
I have always thought Florida’s greatest offensive weapon these past few years has not been Tebow, but Percy Harvin. Whenever this offense was in a jam, Harvin’s speed seemed to be the answer.
Who’s the answer this year?
Is it redshirt sophomore Deonte Thompson? Rumors were he had a great spring. Thompson possesses elite speed, but will probably need to continue to polish his route running before the season starts. Thompson had 18 catches for 269 yards next season. Somebody needs to fill in for Louis Murphy (655 receiving yards) and Harvin (644 receiving yards). I expect it to be Thompson, but I don’t know if seniors Carl Moore or Riley Cooper have anything to say about it.
Tebow needs a bail out at the receiving position for him to make plays. Some say it is Thompson, but others point to tight end Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez is an athletic player whom you’ve often seen running drag routes and digs in Meyer’s offensive system. He works the middle of the field for Tebow and Florida likes to exploit mismatches with Hernandez. Hernandez had 34 catches for 381 yards last year, but expect his production to go up a notch.
As usual in Gainesville, there are more questions than answers at running back. Urban Meyer vowed last season Tebow’s workout would decrease in the 2008 season, and it did. Tebow had 43 percent of Florida’s rushing attempts in 2007 and 32 percent of Florida’s rushing attempts in 2008.
However, Gainesville needs a workhorse. Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are more one-cut-and-go backs in this zone-blocking scheme, but will the speed of the SEC neutralize this rushing attack? I doubt it. Tebow takes all of the short yardage carries and Urban Meyer relies on his scheme for big plays in the running game. No worries here.
The offensive line only returns two starters, the Pouncey twins, albeit two good ones. I think there will be major upgrades on this offensive line dating back to last season at the tackle positions. Carl Johnson was a blue-chip recruit who has the size to be a dominant force in run blocking, and Marcus Gilbert should be a big upgrade over Phillip Trautwein.
We know the strengths of this Florida offense is the triple option design of Urban Meyer, Tebow’s leadership and the athletic offensive line. The question marks look to be at the receiving corps and the lack of an elite rushing threat at running back.
2009 Florida Gators Defense:
People are talking about this defense as it could be on par with USC’s formidable front in 2008. I would not go that far, but it is the best in the country – hands down.
I think it all starts up front. Carlos Dunlap will likely be drafted in the top 10 in the 2009 NFL Draft if he has another highly productive season. His size and athleticism have people comparing him to Mario Williams. The 6-6, 290-pound bookend had 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries in 2008.
Another star on the defensive line includes junior Lawrence Marsh. Marsh is a very good run-stopper who can collapse the A-gap when necessary. Look out for him to have a big junior campaign.
The player everybody seems to be talking about is MIKE-backer Brandon Spikes. Spikes is the No. 3 inside linebacker on my board entering the 2009 season, but he will be on many preseason All-American lists. I personally think he needs to work on his zone coverage and the angles he takes to the football, but his size, power and speed is virtually unmatched in the college game.
The defensive backfield is the best in the country. Strong safety Major Wright is a likely first-round draft pick in the near future. Wright had four interceptions, 66 tackles, and six pass break-ups last season.
Joining Wright are stars in the making at corner in Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins. Both players are locked down in press-man coverage, which allows defensive coordinator Charlie Strong to play a lot of Cover-1 and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The weak links on this defense seem to be at outside linebacker. Dustin Doe and A.J. Jones have speed, but they seem to bite on the play action too often which leaves receivers open on hitch routes and comebacks. With more experience, this weakness can turn into a strength for Florida. If Carlos Dunlap and company is wreaking havoc, it probably won’t matter.
Florida has an elite unit defensively and they like to play press coverage and really lock down opposing receivers. Watch out for Strong to call more safety and zone blitzes next season if the defensive backfield lives up to the hype. This defense on its own might be good enough to win a national championship and we could see a repeat of what happened in the 2006-2007 season.
2009 Florida Gators Schedule and Intangibles:
All this talk about offense, defense, blah blah blah, and we have yet to talk about one of the best special teams units in the country. Brandon James is an elite return man some people think can be drafted in the second round in next year’s draft on that ability alone. James had 13.8 yards per punt return last year and two punt return touchdowns.
When it comes to intangibles, it is hard to ignore the elite coaching staff here in Gainesville. Urban Meyer is always on top of his game as he runs one of the most productive offenses in the country year in, year out. This coaching staff is stacked at all levels and they simply know how to develop talent. You don’t win a national championship with a ridiculously young defense unless you have elite positional coaches. This is important as Florida needs to continue to develop their depth defensively.
Most years, Florida fans can brag about what a tough schedule they have to play in the SEC East, but not this season. The toughest home matchup is Sept. 19 against Tennessee. Urban Meyer can’t wait to get after Lane Kiffin, but Tennessee has an elite defense in their own right and they won’t walk out of Gainesville without throwing down. However, the Vols’ passing game won’t be there and Florida should have an easy win.
Other tough games on the schedule look at be at LSU on Sept. 10 and at South Carolina on Nov. 14. There is always good talent on those two teams and it isn’t easy to win on the road.
The middle of the schedule is fairly easy as Arkansas, Mississippi State, and even Georgia don’t have the talent to match up with Florida quite yet. Georgia is good defensively, but they have no quarterback to speak of and they won’t replace Knowshon Moreno.
2009 Florida Gators Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
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Offensive Line |
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Secondary |
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Running Backs |
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Defensive Line |
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Special Teams |
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Receivers |
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Linebackers |
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Coaching |
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2009 Florida Gators Analysis:
I don’t think the media and national pundits quite understand what Percy Harvin meant to this offense. When Urban Meyer needed a big play, he didn’t go to Tim Tebow; he went to Harvin. Nobody is going to replace Harvin. This team has the offensive line, quarterback and defense to dominate the SEC, but if they face Oklahoma in the national championship like I am projecting, I think Oklahoma has the defense to neutralize Tebow and put up enough points to win.
I could be dead wrong and Florida does win the national championship; this would not shock me at all. Florida is an outstanding team with an elite defense and a great college quarterback. Can Tebow make it three titles in four years? We will find out.
Projection: 13-1 (SEC Champions, National Runner-Up)
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