The depth chart at Florida was released today: http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20110829/MULTIMEDIA/110829528/1153?Title=UF-releases-depth-chart-for-opener And after perusing down the list I realize the significant number of erstwhile top 4 and 5 star recruits that remain on the team plus a pair of running backs that could be the best tandem in the SEC. That coupled with the very positive articles I keep reading about Charlie Weiss and how much the players buy into his scheme and how much Brantley is so much more suited to what Weiss does and I am thinking 9-3 or 10-2 could be in the works for this team......and possibly even better. I am going out on a limb and predicting 10-2.
The players we have great potential, however depth may become an issue. If we don't have injuries I feel we may contend for the SEC. If we have injuries we could slip back to last year. But like you I am much more optimistic that a lot of Gator fans.
I didn't think you guys would have any SEC type of running backs on the roster, Urban seemed to favor light weight fast guys who were more wingback than running back.
Demps and Rainey both have had dazzling TD runs over the past three years.....several during the 2008 national championship run. That's a lot of experience and skill at the RB position. Trouble last year was Rainey's personal problem that began on September 15th and Demp's foot injury that plagued him all year. Then an injury to the top kicker esssentially cost UF victories vs. LSU and MSU that would have given UF the SEC East Championship and a 10-2 record last season. Like Bill says if both stay healthy and especially if we get lucky with good health on the O-Line these guys should shine in their senior season. Earnest Graham was a pound the rock kind of back....a damned good one. I do think he was the last great one at UF in that style. I am still cautious.....but now growing ever more optimistic about this team and those two RBs plus coach Weis running the offense is a big reason why.......not to mention some absolute top studs on the D-line who could blossom this year.
Weis did not show a big commitment to running the football at ND, he was a guy who liked to throw the rock. Now maybe he never had a great rB, or maybe he never had an OL that was good at run blocking. But we were always medicore at running the football.
I see that Dan Wenger is starting for you on the OL. He didn't have a very good career at ND, but he battled a lot of injuries and the whole concussion thing as well. So maybe he's 100% now and will have an excellent year. I hope so Dan seems like an really nice kid.
I hear he is smart with knowledge of Weis's system....that may be the deciding factor. Actually that could be an X factor that you don't often have available with OC changes.
Terry, so far so good with Wenger. He has added maturity to our OL and from what I have read has been like another coach on the field. As far as running backs. Yes our first two running backs are smaller but very fast. Both have broken long plays in their careers. Behind them, or on the field in a different position are Trey Burton who will play FB, running back and rotate around weighs 224 and he set a Gator record with 6 TD's in the same game last year, Also Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown are bigger backs who could be called on in short yardage. Weis, if you analyze his career he has a mix of passing and running. However if one isn't working he will stick with the other. Last year in Kansas City he had a smallish running back who gained well over 1,000 yards. I look for the Gator running game to do quite well this year. How long it's been since we have had a big running back who could really pound it isn't an issue to me, the issue is how will this group do. I imagine Earnest Graham is probably the last pound it type back we have had, but since then we have won two National Championships. I do look for that to change over the next few years though, we already have verbals from two big backs and both Rainey and Demps will be gone after this year.
Well one thing is for certain, a lot of people (myself included) will be curious to see how the Muschamp/Weis thing works and what both guys will do for their side of the ball. Will Brantley undergo a Brady Quinn like transformation is the big question. Charlies opening game at Pitt at Night was a thing of Beauty. Most prognosticators were saying the Irish would open 0-8, ended up 6-2 with the 2 being very close losses. Brady and Jeff Samardzja emerged as mega stars, Jeff ended up being a 2 time 1st team AA. Brady a 1st round draft choice. To bad Charlie couldn't keep it going.
Good content Bill. Terry....Weis is a proven winner as an offensive coordinator. He is quoted as saying these are very fast players he has inherited. I'm more confident but time will tell.
Big words from Weis from an article on Gatorsports; "In his 33 years of coaching, Weis says, he's never seen anything like the two tailbacks he now has leading the Gator offense in seniors Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. “Not close,” he said after practice on Tuesday. “I'm talking period. Not college-level. Period. “I'm a big fan of Demps and Rainey. I'm not used to having two guys that are that fast and that quick.” The article also mentions that his KC Chiefs offense last season led the NFL in rushing.....and had a two back feature. .....should be interesting....
If those guys are small like Darren Sproles is small then you do have something there. But small and light with speed I don't know how that will work in a pro set offense, of course if you OL opens some good holes that will be a different story. As I said earlier it will be very interesting to see what Weis has cooked up for you Gators.
Florida's best teams (NC teams) could pound the ball. Spurrier used a RB, Meyer had Tebow. Without that, they've had really good teams but the ability to pound it out has always been the difference maker for Florida. They have all the athletes to score and to play great defense. The key to winning football is the ability to control yourself and your opponent. The only sure fire way to do that is to control the clock as well. This is a silly section name... Florida is only a surprise if they suck. It's like 'Yankee upset'.. unless you're talking about them losing, there's no such thing.
Well...for three games last year.....possibly 4 if you count MSU the Gators did indeed "suck". Mostly I would say injuries to key offensive players were the reason but at times the D had lapses and soft spots that they have to prove won''t happen this year. Poor play in the secondary and injuries to the O-line are the key to UF having a poor year this year if they do. Otherwise it should be a decent at least top 15 team. I like your pound the rock theory because without Tebow....even as a freshman.......getting those tough as nails short yardage first downs it was a different story for the Gators. I think we have some guys that can squeeze out those tough yards but we'll have to see.
Just because you have better players doesn't mean you won't get beat. I'm just saying there's no one that gets better players. Some get players as good, but no one gets better. You can't honk your horn all off-season about your all-world talent and then when it comes time to drop the puck start acting like you're little Mary Sisters of the Poor.
You got the wrong offseason pal. I'm just now peeking through my fingers at this season after the humblings administered to Florida last year. This off season was probably a 5 year low for me for starting posts about Florida Football and for one main reason.......the Gators have not been relevant this offseason. Actually the main relevancy has been the addition of the glamor name at OC in Weis and the overall coaching change. I will say also that UF has been in major recruiting headlines though for good reasons. As I have said....when the Gators are relevant I post. When they are not.....not so much.
Here is some serious irrelevancy for Florida: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/09/01/preseason-crystal-ball/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 Wait.....you wonder how? Lot's of team talked about and prognosticated on......AND NOT ONE MENTION OF THE GATORS!!! That's being irrelevant.