August 27, 2007
Adam Gorney
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor
The unknown is the scary part for coach Urban Meyer. Florida has looked stellar on offense this preseason and the inexperienced defense, which returns only two starters, has improved, but what happens when the coaches aren't on the field and the team has to fend for itself? Meyer and the Gators will find out at 12:30 p.m. Saturday when Western Kentucky comes to town.
"Last year we were a little more mature team, so we were a little more confident in what was going to happen," Meyer said. "I'm happy because there's zero resistance on the team and a bunch of guys trying hard, but I'm not quite sure what's going to happen when we tear that ribbon off the Christmas present next week.
"There are a lot of young guys. We'll be explosive, but as a coach you always worry about minimizing mistakes. Mistakes on defense lead to touchdowns, and mistakes on offense lead to lost yardage plays. That's my biggest concern."
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow takes over Florida's offense, which is stockpiled with athletic players who should be able to light up the scoreboard. This past weekend, freshman quarterback Cameron Newton was named Tebow's backup.
The receivers are loaded. Andre Caldwell and Percy Harvin are Florida's marquee players at that position but Jarred Fayson, Cornelius Ingram, Louis Murphy and others will get their opportunities. Meyer has been pleased with Riley Cooper and David Nelson in recent practices. Tebow should have little trouble getting the ball to receivers in open space and letting them use their athleticism to move the ball downfield.
"A group with talent without leaders is just awful," Meyer said. "We've seen that around here for years. I know I've said that about the running back groups. I have not seen that until this year, and all of a sudden Kestahn Moore and our running backs are protecting the quarterback, and when your main guys are doing it as well as he does.
"When Bubba Caldwell, Dallas Baker, we've had some phenomenal leaders at (wide receiver). So talent plus leadership means an excellent group. Last year we had four senior receivers, and they all graduated. Every guy that should got a chance to go to the NFL, and that's the sign of a good position group. We have some depth there and we have some playmakers."
The offense is pretty much set. Florida is confident with Tebow. The running backs have performed well and the receiving corps is loaded. Florida's offensive line is one of the nation's best. Expect to see Phil Trautwein at left tackle and Jason Watkins at right tackle, a recent switch, in the season opener.
Defensively, it's going to be more wait and see. The defensive linemen are in flux. Defensive end should be fine with redshirt junior Derrick Harvey, who led the team with 11 sacks last season, and sophomore Jermaine Cunningham expected to start. Others will get their opportunities. Freshman Carlos Dunlap, the highest-rated player in Florida's No. 1 recruiting class, has performed well recently.
"He's come a long way now," Meyer said. "He was on a different planet there for a little while. He's getting near to planet Earth, but he's not there yet. He's getting close, though. He's a talented guy. He'll play next week…(Justin) Trattou, Duke Lemmens will (play), Carlos will, I think Torrey Davis will. I'm not sure about Jerry Howard yet, but they are all getting ready to play. We haven't decided about those guys yet. You don't want to waste a year."
Sophomore Brandon Spikes leads the linebackers. Meyer said recently he wants to see more from sophomore Dustin Doe and redshirt freshman A.J. Jones, the other two projected starters at linebacker.
Sophomore Markihe Anderson locked down one cornerback spot early on. A battle was waged for the other job and it looks like freshman Joe Haden came out on top. Markus Manson, Wondy Pierre-Louis and others will be there as well. Senior Tony Joiner, one of two defensive captains along with Harvey, and senior Kyle Jackson should start at safety. Trautwein, Caldwell and center Drew Miller are Florida's other captains.
More Meyer Quotes
On the difference between a left-handed and right-handed offense: "I haven't noticed it. I keep asking and asking and asking, and I haven't really noticed it. One thing to concern yourself about, and I've heard this, is the receivers coming out of a pack of people finding that ball.
"It's coming here as opposed to here. I wish we had all left-handed quarterbacks. We're working on Cameron now trying to teach him to throw lefty (smiling). We worried abut that last year as well, but that's the way it is. I haven't noticed a big difference."
entering the unknown
entering the unknown
Good stuff. That stuff about the left handed quarterbacks I've heard takes adjusting to for the receivers. I remember when Mark Brunell was still in Jacksonville, the receivers said it took them a while to get used to, because the rotation on the ball was opposite of what they were used to catching.
