Could The 2009 Florida Gators Become an All Time Great in College Football?

Now I know what you are thinking. The season hasn't already started and your already doing this? The answer is yes, and I think for good reason. This team could become the best team College Football has seen in quite a good bit. Calm down Miami fans, I didn't say they would be, but very well could. Let's just look at what would make me think possibly something this bold.

1) Defense - Best in the nation, hands down. No question about it, this team is loaded beyond belief. Not only did the 1st string only allow 8.3 ppg's(note I said first string), but they ALL return. That's the SEC leader in interceptions, sacks, and ppg. Not scarred? Let's just look at the rankings of the Florida D nationally according to Lindy's magazine.

Defensive line - best in the nation - 3 of 4 players are likely early draft picks next year. Cunningham and Dunlap are the best combination of ends in the nation, and Marsh sures up the middle better then anyone expected.

Linebackers- 1A slightly behind Alabama in the nation - Spikes is the top LB prospect depending on who you ask(Mcclain from Bama can make an argument as well). His supporting cast Ryan Stamper and Brandon Hicks are also potential draft picks.

Defensive Backs- Number 1 in the nation and it is not even close. This team has the best set of corners, and the best set of safeties. They had 26 interceptions last season, and they are ALL back. What's amazing is they have gotten even deeper with Dee Finley coming back and finally getting on the roster.

2) Tim Tebow - You had to assume he would get his own special part in this article. Tim Tebow is the best leader in College Football right now. He is a proven winner, has great game management skills, and is always consistent. He may not have Bradford's NFL type skills or Mccoy's speed but I would not replace him for any QB in the last 20 years of College Football. Of course I don't mean I wouldn't take Brady as he is now, but Brady's college career was less then stellar.

3) The rest of the Offense - This is the really the only doubt's people have of the Gators returning team. Replacing two great tackles and two amazing receivers is never an easy task. The Pouncey twins are back, and Maurkice Pouncey has actually moved to Left Guard because of an astonishing spring game and practices from Sam Robey. Carl Johnson moves to left tackle, and he is as good as you will find. Now the rankings from Lindy's magazine.

Backfield - 2nd in the nation  - Moody, Rainey, Demps. All three averaged over 7 yards per carry. This backfield is just plain scary. You miss a tackle they score a touchdown. Demps and Rainey alone had 14 touches that went for over 30 yards last season.

Offensive Line - 6th in the nation - considering they lost two great lineman, this line is still one of the best. There are at least 2 future draft picks in this bunch. Their names both surprisingly end in Pouncey.

Wide Receivers - third in SEC - Lost two of their big play makers. Too bad for the rest of the nation this is still the fastest core in the nation. With players like Frank Hammond Jr. showing amazing strides this off-season, as well as the high expectations for new recruit Andre Debose and the expected continued great play of Riley Cooper and Carl Moore and Deonte Thompson.

4) Special Teams - This team can block punts and kicks better then anyone. They allowed a total of 13 punt return yards the entire SEASON! Brandon James is as explosive and smart a returner you will find, with 4 career returns for touchdowns. Lindy's Magazine Ranking.

Special Teams - Best in the nation

5) Coaching - Urban Meyer is the best coach in college football most seem to think. Rivals ranks him the top coach, while Lindy's ranks him 2nd this decade behind Pete Carroll. Charlie Strong is back, the guy who coached his defense into allowing 82 total yards vs Troy Smith and the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2006 title game. Then he proceeds to hold the highest scoring football team in modern football history to 14 points with two mind blowing stops in the red zone.

This team has the potential to be one of the best teams ever. Everything is just there waiting for them to grab it. They have senior leadership, seasoned veteran's, amazing coaches, great drive, and title experience.

This team is loaded, and all this talk of complacency and complete non sense like the Gators have never gone undefeated(which isn't true btw) before so they won't now is only said by people who are probably jealous. This team is deeper then anyone in the nation, and is set to blow.

They lost to Ole miss last year, afterwards they proceeded to beat every team they played by double digits, including two number 1 ranked teams back to back. They had the highest M.O.V. in the history of the SEC conference. They are also having the toughest off-season they have ever had, Meyer said he will work these boys so hard they can't even pick up a magazine to read their rave reviews(couldn't find direct quote).

A title win this season puts the Gators on a very short list. They will be only the fifth team in history to win 3 titles in 4 seasons. Nebraska(1994,95, and 97), Notre Dame(1946-48), Minnesota(1934-36), and Harvard(1910,12-13) are the only other teams to do this.