ACK: A look at UF's 2008 Schedule
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:48 am
Now that spring football is winding to a close, it's time to take a look at who the Florida Gators will face in 2008. The SEC schedule will be tough as always but the Gators non-conference schedule will include Hawaii, which went to a BCS bowl last year, and Miami, back on the schedule for the first time since 2003. Here is a look at Florida's schedule and who to watch for in the fall.
Opening with Hawaii will still be interesting because you have to believe they will continue to throw the football. Unless Greg McMackin, a defensive coach, puts in the wishbone the Rainbow Warriors will test UF’s improved passing defense. The one issue is there will be no tape on his system if they change out of the run and shoot. It will be a good test for the Gator defense in the opener.
Player to watch: QB Tyler Graunke, senior who has played 24 games.
Miami just completed spring football and my sources tell me there is a lot of work to be done. They are young and Robert Marve and Jacory Harris (their two young quarterbacks) are not winning their first real start in college football at The Swamp. This will be young team with young talent. The best the Canes can hope for is to get better quick and win a big game late in the season, but not in September. This game will test UF’s run defense.
Player to watch: RB Graig Cooper, bulked up leading returning rusher.
UF gets the open week before going to Knoxville. Tennessee won’t be as easy of a game this season as it was a year ago. It is on their turf and Phil Fulmer has made some changes on his staff which will be closely watched in the opener versus UCLA. The Vols will have a new quarterback in Jonathan Crompton, which helps the Gator defense, but the Tennessee secondary should be very good.
Player to watch: DB Eric Berry. Does he see the field on offense?
Ole Miss gets a new coach (Houston Nutt) and Jevan Snead, who will come to Gainesville as the starting quarterback. The Rebels have always given the Gators fits so why would this year be any different? UF is coming off a big road game against a new emotional coach with a quarterback who was once committed to the Gators. This could be a dangerous home game for UF. The Rebels should be 4-0 when the come to Florida.
Player to watch: QB Jevan Snead, athletic and can throw.
UF goes to Arkansas, Houston Nutt’s old school, and faces new coach Bobby Petrino. This could be a tough game if it is 2009 but this year it should be bearable. As a Gator you hope it is not the 12:30 Lincoln Financial game because that is always scary in the central time zone. UF should be able to handle the Hogs in what is expected to be a tough first year for Petrino.
Player to watch: C Jonathen Luigs. It is the Hogs and they are still big.
LSU comes to town for a big game and some unfinished business. I realize LSU is probably going to lose two games in 2008 because that is the norm for defending national champions. With Ryan Perrilloux possibly gone and some veteran defensive players in the NFL they should be manageable. The Tigers will be talented and Meyer is 1-2 versus LSU in his three years as the Gator head coach.
Player to watch: DE Tyson Jackson. He will be a load for UF tackles.
Kentucky does not have Andre Woodson and UF is coming off an open week. This will be an easy win. This game will be good for UF if they beat LSU and don’t look ahead to Georgia. Take care of business at home and get the reserves in the second half. The one problem with this game is the Wildcat offense is much different than the Dogs. It will not be a good tune-up for the Gator defense.
Player to watch: RB Derrick Locke. He was big last year and runs tough inside red zone.
I think this game with Georgia could be two top five teams knocking heads in November. Mark Richt has loosened up as a coach and become more of a motivator and less of a play caller. Mike Bobo calls the plays now and Mathew Stafford is a big play quarterback. UF must eliminate big pass plays set up off the strong run game. Knowshon Moreno is terrific and keep an eye on Rennie Curran to emerge at linebacker. One good thing working for UF is that Georgia goes to Baton Rouge the week before they come to Jacksonville.
Player to watch: RB Knowshon Moreno. Stop him and you stop the Dogs offense.
Vanderbilt is a win but going there has never been easy. The problem is trying to get emotionally ready for the Commodores after the Game of the Century the week before.
Player to watch: QB Mackenzi Adams. They have two quarterbacks but my guess is he will get a shot.
South Carolina has gotten stale already under Steve Spurrier by missing a bowl game last year. Coach Spurrier has struggled on defense and finding a quarterback. Look for this game to be more competitive than last year but it is in The Swamp and Meyer will have his team ready. Urban is 2-1 against Spurrier.
Player to watch: WR Kenny McKinley. If the ball coach has his way this guy will be All-SEC.
Citadel is a “Brady Ackerman” game. Empty the bench and focus on FSU and the SEC title game if that is in the cards.
Players to watch: QBs Cam Newton and John Brantley Jr. They should get a lot action in this home game.
FSU is continuing to take steps back and won’t pose a threat this season. The Noles do play hard against Florida but their spring has been awful and they continue to lack offensive playmakers. The defense is on a three-year slide and that could send them into a tough season. I do think they will be bowl eligible, but not a player on the national scene.
Player to watch: WR Preston Parker. He is their one true playmaker.
SPRING PREDICTIONS:
Best Case Scenario: 12-0
Worst Case Scenario: 9-3
Bold Prediction: UF and Georgia will both be in the top five when they meet in Jacksonville. It could be the toughest ticket in series history
THIS AND THAT: It is good to see Riley Cooper practicing if only a couple times a week. He may be UF’s best deep route runner. There is more to running a deep fly than appears to the naked eye. He struggles with reading coverages on skinny posts and making in route adjustments. I think Cooper, Carl Moore and Deonte Thompson will all play big roles in the offense ... I told you a week ago that it was hard to evaluate the run game with so few carries. Based on our Gator Country staff’s report from Saturday it is pretty obvious Dan Mullen wanted to see the running backs tote the rock. I am happy for Mon Williams who had a great day. I know what it is like to wreck a knee and it is not a given that you will ever re-gain your form. (I did not have much form to regain). Fall practice will be very interesting at the running back position ... Carlos Dunlap is the latest defensive lineman to cross-train this week, getting starters reps at defensive tackle. I think UF is trying to get the best four guys on the field and his size and productivity has gotten the coaches attention. Justin Trattou at defensive end is more of a natual fit for him, in my opinion ... Jacques Rickerson and Ahmad Black continue to rise up the depth chart. These two guys have a nose for the ball and are showing great athleticism
Opening with Hawaii will still be interesting because you have to believe they will continue to throw the football. Unless Greg McMackin, a defensive coach, puts in the wishbone the Rainbow Warriors will test UF’s improved passing defense. The one issue is there will be no tape on his system if they change out of the run and shoot. It will be a good test for the Gator defense in the opener.
Player to watch: QB Tyler Graunke, senior who has played 24 games.
Miami just completed spring football and my sources tell me there is a lot of work to be done. They are young and Robert Marve and Jacory Harris (their two young quarterbacks) are not winning their first real start in college football at The Swamp. This will be young team with young talent. The best the Canes can hope for is to get better quick and win a big game late in the season, but not in September. This game will test UF’s run defense.
Player to watch: RB Graig Cooper, bulked up leading returning rusher.
UF gets the open week before going to Knoxville. Tennessee won’t be as easy of a game this season as it was a year ago. It is on their turf and Phil Fulmer has made some changes on his staff which will be closely watched in the opener versus UCLA. The Vols will have a new quarterback in Jonathan Crompton, which helps the Gator defense, but the Tennessee secondary should be very good.
Player to watch: DB Eric Berry. Does he see the field on offense?
Ole Miss gets a new coach (Houston Nutt) and Jevan Snead, who will come to Gainesville as the starting quarterback. The Rebels have always given the Gators fits so why would this year be any different? UF is coming off a big road game against a new emotional coach with a quarterback who was once committed to the Gators. This could be a dangerous home game for UF. The Rebels should be 4-0 when the come to Florida.
Player to watch: QB Jevan Snead, athletic and can throw.
UF goes to Arkansas, Houston Nutt’s old school, and faces new coach Bobby Petrino. This could be a tough game if it is 2009 but this year it should be bearable. As a Gator you hope it is not the 12:30 Lincoln Financial game because that is always scary in the central time zone. UF should be able to handle the Hogs in what is expected to be a tough first year for Petrino.
Player to watch: C Jonathen Luigs. It is the Hogs and they are still big.
LSU comes to town for a big game and some unfinished business. I realize LSU is probably going to lose two games in 2008 because that is the norm for defending national champions. With Ryan Perrilloux possibly gone and some veteran defensive players in the NFL they should be manageable. The Tigers will be talented and Meyer is 1-2 versus LSU in his three years as the Gator head coach.
Player to watch: DE Tyson Jackson. He will be a load for UF tackles.
Kentucky does not have Andre Woodson and UF is coming off an open week. This will be an easy win. This game will be good for UF if they beat LSU and don’t look ahead to Georgia. Take care of business at home and get the reserves in the second half. The one problem with this game is the Wildcat offense is much different than the Dogs. It will not be a good tune-up for the Gator defense.
Player to watch: RB Derrick Locke. He was big last year and runs tough inside red zone.
I think this game with Georgia could be two top five teams knocking heads in November. Mark Richt has loosened up as a coach and become more of a motivator and less of a play caller. Mike Bobo calls the plays now and Mathew Stafford is a big play quarterback. UF must eliminate big pass plays set up off the strong run game. Knowshon Moreno is terrific and keep an eye on Rennie Curran to emerge at linebacker. One good thing working for UF is that Georgia goes to Baton Rouge the week before they come to Jacksonville.
Player to watch: RB Knowshon Moreno. Stop him and you stop the Dogs offense.
Vanderbilt is a win but going there has never been easy. The problem is trying to get emotionally ready for the Commodores after the Game of the Century the week before.
Player to watch: QB Mackenzi Adams. They have two quarterbacks but my guess is he will get a shot.
South Carolina has gotten stale already under Steve Spurrier by missing a bowl game last year. Coach Spurrier has struggled on defense and finding a quarterback. Look for this game to be more competitive than last year but it is in The Swamp and Meyer will have his team ready. Urban is 2-1 against Spurrier.
Player to watch: WR Kenny McKinley. If the ball coach has his way this guy will be All-SEC.
Citadel is a “Brady Ackerman” game. Empty the bench and focus on FSU and the SEC title game if that is in the cards.
Players to watch: QBs Cam Newton and John Brantley Jr. They should get a lot action in this home game.
FSU is continuing to take steps back and won’t pose a threat this season. The Noles do play hard against Florida but their spring has been awful and they continue to lack offensive playmakers. The defense is on a three-year slide and that could send them into a tough season. I do think they will be bowl eligible, but not a player on the national scene.
Player to watch: WR Preston Parker. He is their one true playmaker.
SPRING PREDICTIONS:
Best Case Scenario: 12-0
Worst Case Scenario: 9-3
Bold Prediction: UF and Georgia will both be in the top five when they meet in Jacksonville. It could be the toughest ticket in series history
THIS AND THAT: It is good to see Riley Cooper practicing if only a couple times a week. He may be UF’s best deep route runner. There is more to running a deep fly than appears to the naked eye. He struggles with reading coverages on skinny posts and making in route adjustments. I think Cooper, Carl Moore and Deonte Thompson will all play big roles in the offense ... I told you a week ago that it was hard to evaluate the run game with so few carries. Based on our Gator Country staff’s report from Saturday it is pretty obvious Dan Mullen wanted to see the running backs tote the rock. I am happy for Mon Williams who had a great day. I know what it is like to wreck a knee and it is not a given that you will ever re-gain your form. (I did not have much form to regain). Fall practice will be very interesting at the running back position ... Carlos Dunlap is the latest defensive lineman to cross-train this week, getting starters reps at defensive tackle. I think UF is trying to get the best four guys on the field and his size and productivity has gotten the coaches attention. Justin Trattou at defensive end is more of a natual fit for him, in my opinion ... Jacques Rickerson and Ahmad Black continue to rise up the depth chart. These two guys have a nose for the ball and are showing great athleticism