SEC East No. 2: Florida Gators
2007 Results and Offseason
The Gators started out 4-0 before they were stunned by unranked Auburn in the Swamp for head coach Urban Meyer's first home loss. Quarterback Tim Tebow had a record-setting year on the way to becoming the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Meyer brought in another stellar recruiting class heavy on the lines and the secondary, where the Gators struggled last season. The injury bug has hit the Gators in fall practice, though, with five players out with ACL injuries.
2007 Record: 9-4 (5-3)
Ret. Starters: 15
Ret. Lettermen: 51
Offense: PPG 38.1 (1st) RYPG 186.1 (3rd) PYPG 250.4 (3rd)
Defense: PPG 28.0 (7th) RYPG 114.6 (1st) PYPG 256.6 (11th)
Offense (7RS 23RL)
Meyer's offense revolves around Tebow and his ability to run and pass the ball. To be as effective this year, though, Tebow has to stay healthy and limit the blows he takes. Look for backup Cam Newton to get a lot more snaps than last year to spell the Heisman Trophy winner and save his body for the grueling SEC schedule. The Gators did not have an every down back last year, but Meyer hopes that changes this year with USC transfer Emmanuel Moody now available.
Redshirt freshman Chris Rainey impressed during the spring game as well and will see action. Sophomore Mon Williams, coming off knee surgery in '07, and senior Kestahn Moore provide depth. Percy Harvin is listed as a wide receiver, but he was Florida's second leading rusher last season behind Tebow. The junior may miss early season action as he is coming off heel surgery in the spring. Redshirt freshman Deonte Thompson could fill Harvin's role early on as a quick playmaker. Other leading receivers should be senior Louis Murphy, who caught 37 balls last season, and junior college transfer Carl Moore. Tight end Cornelius Ingram went down with an ACL injury this fall. Sophomore Aaron Hernandez will take over.
The O-line returns three starters from last season and gets back Phil Trautwein, who was a second-team All-SEC choice in '06. If you couldn't tell from reading this, Florida is absolutely loaded on offense from a team that finished No. 1 in points in SEC play last season.
Defense (8 RS 26RL)
The D-line must replace two starters, but Meyer is hoping his recruiting efforts the last two seasons will pay off here. Defensive end Jermaine Cunningham will be the leader of this group of talented, but less experienced starters. The linebackers return all three starters from last year and will be led by junior Brandon Spikes. Spikes led the Gators in tackles a year ago with 131 and also had 14.5 tackles for a loss and seven pass breakups. Joining him will be fellow junior Dustin Doe, who finished second in tackles a year ago. True freshman Brandon Beal was expected to contribute but tore his ACL in fall practice.
5 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Bob Zen 10 months ago
Clap clap clap.... A very well written article. Florida has talent, but will UM use it correctly. My prediction is that if his run game using his RBs doesn't give him the 200 ypg that Tebow and Percy did, then he goes back to risking his two star players again. If that happens, he may find himself with a 2nd or 3rd place finish again. If he can gut it out and keep Tebow out of harms way then he has a shot at the MNC. Only time will tell, but UM has not shown the ability to think long term when it comes to his star QB.
Defense will be a question mark again and frankly, until he proves me wrong, I'm going with the fact that his D will be improved, some, but not much. Good teams, read Georgia, will be able to rack up some points. I agree that Jax is a HUGE game for them this season and may have MNC implications. Will you be doing a Georgia preview? I'm interested in your take on Georgia's chances against our daunting schedule.
Bob
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Nick The Only 10 months ago
Nice article. A few gripes:
1. Dee Finley is academically ineligible and will not be on the team this year.
2. Florida has 3 (not 2) returning starters in the secondary. Wondy Pierre-Louis started much of last year at the CB position opposite of Haden.
3. Brandon James, and not Deonte Thompson, is the guy who Meyer has said would fill Percy's role if Percy isn't ready to go. James, who was listed as RB and was primarily a return man (an excellent one), has been practicing as a WR. He is very dimunitive, but very strong for his size and extremely elusive (he led the nation with 7 returns of 50 yards or more).
Thompson will definitely play and he is definitely fast, but James will be playing Percy's role.
4. Proven second runner? Huh? Florida averaged 33 yards more per game on the ground than Georgia. If your reason for putting Florida behind Georgia is the running game, then you are very uninformed. Florida averaged 200 yards rushing to Georgia' 177.
The running game should be even better because Florida returns its 3 leading rushers (Tebow, Harvin, and Moore) and adds speedsters Chris Rainey (4.24 sec 40 yard) and Jeffrey Demps (fastest American teenager ever) along with Pac-10 Freshman of the year Emmanuel Moody and former projected starter Mon Williams.
Considering the returning talent and the addition of 4 quality RBs, Florida could have the deepest and most talented backfield in the country. After all their running game outperformed what many perceived to be a great running team (Georgia) and it is only going to be better and more diverse.
Overall, still a nice write up and fair assessment of the team's chance. I'm just upset by your implied characterization of Georgia as a better running team.
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Brian Smith 10 months ago
I think Nick covered it all. But also, Major Wright was never a corner. He started at safety in his freshman year. And I would have to say that defensive tackle was our weak point last year as they were the biggest reason for our secondary suffering as they were getting little to no pressure on QBs. The secondary benefited in the offseason with more film room time, more experience, and the new coach from Michigan who obviously knows how to shut down passing games.
I don't see why a bunch of the articles have Moody as the automatic starter for this offense when Meyer has clearly said Moore will be the senior leader and has developed more skills. Moore is the probable starter, but will be utilized more at fullback to allow Moody, Rainey, and company to see reps to spread the field even more. Just think we have Thompson, Murphy, and Harvin lined up at receiver with Moore and Rainey in the backfield beside Tebow. Then you have Hernandez at tight end who can release and create mismatches as well. Who does the defense key on? They can't or they will be sorry. Also, Meyer has stated that Demps is also going to be lining up at receiver just as James is. All I can say is thank goodness for having almost too many playmakers because I am a huge Gator fan but even I was sick of the Tebow-Harvin show! Go Gators!!!
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ACC SEC Blog 10 months ago
thanks for the update on finley and the secondary. updated the article.
if tebow is florida's leading rusher again this year then i think their national title hopes are in trouble. he will not be able to withstand that kind of beating again. if tebow is healthy last year against uga then florida probably wins that game, but he had a bum shoulder. if he doesn't have to play with a recently broken wrist against michigan, maybe florida wins that game.
reason i say a second proven rusher is because of percy harvin's health. from what i hear, the heel is not heeling quite as fast as they thought.
does rainey really run a legit, machine timed 4.24? that is usain bolt fast. that would make him the fastest player at the nfl combine last year as a redshirt freshman.
i think the cocktail party is rivalry again after what richt stirred up last year. this year's florida-georgia game will decide the east and the winner will be playing in miami for the bcs title.
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Brian Smith 10 months ago
I also think with the new depth at running back and receiver that Florida wouldn't be as lost if Tebow were to miss a game. Newton and Brantley are both capable of getting the ball to the playmakers of the offense. Newton is a good runner with a strong arm as Brantley is a terrific passer. And how hard is it to hand the ball off to our electric runners? Go Gators!!
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