Florida Gators Pre-Season Football Preview: the Impact Players

Last year, the Florida Gators had a tough season in attempting to defend their National Championship. Tim Tebow, or SuperTebow as I like to call the Gators' Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, had a spectacular season but was unable to overcome limitations in the offense and the blunders by his own defense.

The Gators have an excellent chance to run the tables this season and play in the National Championship game because of an average schedule and these impact players.

QB Tim Tebow (Jr.)—

Obviously, Tim Tebow is the player that makes the Gators a serious contender for a national title. He was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and is looking to join the club with Ohio State RB Archie Griffin as the only player with two Heisman Trophies.

Tebow has many strengths to his game, like his arm strength, ability to run the football for tough yards, unbelievable strength (he can bench over 500 pounds), untouchable mental toughness, and will to win. SuperTebow does have weaknesses like his inability to read complex defenses, his speed, and sometimes his warrior passion leaves him vulnerable to big hits that can lead to injuries.

WR Percy Harvin (Jr.)—

Percy Harvin is not one of Tebow's targets; he is the only target for Tebow! Percy is one of the two fastest players in the SEC. Holliday, the LSU track star, only equals Percy's speed. Percy can run past anyone and he runs excellent routes.

Harvin's versatility to run the ball as a running back only enhances what he can do for the spread option attack. His only weakness is a major one. Percy just cannot seem to stay healthy for an entire season. Last season, it was his hip and his heel. If Percy can stay healthy for the entire season, Tebow will have a better season than last year and the Gators will not have to settle for a Capital One Bowl appearance.

RB Emmanuel Moody (Jr.)—

The USC transfer will need to prove why Pete Carroll brought him onto the Los Angeles pro football team disguised as a PAC-10 team. The Gators' running team was anemic outside of Tim Tebow and the addition of the effective Moody will provide the balance necessary to optimize the spread option.

Moody has a couple of strengths. He has a tremendous upside to his game and can make tacklers miss. This makes up for his lack of blazing speed. Moody is a big question mark because of his lack of playing time at USC and because his mental toughness was questioned after he transferred to Florida.

WR Louis Murphy (Sr.)—

Murphy showed glimpses of his productivity last season, but will need to step up to an All-SEC level this season to take the pressure off of Percy Harvin. A strength for Murphy is the experience of knowing Urban Meyer's system and facing single coverage because of the attention Harvin will get from opposing defenses.

Weaknesses for Murphy include his tendency to drop passes in key situations and the inexperience of being a "go-to" receiver with 39 catches with 590 yards in the last two seasons.

LB Brandon Spikes (Jr.)—

The leader of the Florida defense had a great year last year, but must do even better this year. Spikes has great speed and physicality from his linebacker position. This speed and ability to get off blocks helps him to slow down the opponents' running attack.

The one weakness that reared its ugly head is down-field coverage on tight ends and tailbacks. If Spikes can help the Gators and their untimely pass defense improve to above average, then the Gators will beat everyone like they beat the Vols last year (59-20).

CB Wondy Pierre-Louis (So.), S Major Wright (So.)—

The Florida Gators secondary was atrocious last season. Any lead the offense got was in jeopardy as soon as the secondary stepped on the field. The breaking point was the Capital One Bowl loss to Michigan when Adrian Arrington and Mario Manningham torched the whole secondary to the tune of 14 catches for 231 yards and three TDs.

This secondary must play much better to give the very talented Gators a chance to reach the National Championship game. The Gator secondary does have some strengths like being fast, physical, full of talent, and having a whole other year of experience.

The weakness of the Gator secondary has to be their collective problem of not covering receivers for the whole play and missing tackles that lead to big plays. The secondary is still attempting to fill the void left by Reggie Nelson and Ryan Smith.

If these players can make the impact I think they can, then the Gators will be one of the teams playing in the National Championship game, which will be in Miami this year.