Florida Gators Football Preview

Readers, consider yourselves lucky (yeah right)! I haven't published this preview on Saturday Sound Offs yet, but you Bleacher Report readers will get to see it first. I'm sure you're thrilled.

On with the Gators for the 2008 season.

Florida Gators

Nobody was really counting on Florida to play for the national title last year. As a matter of fact, besides the bowl game, Florida pretty much did what was expected: Tebow blew up and the defense was average.

That has to change. The expectations have been cranked up a notch, especially since their national title two years ago.

THE OFFENSE

Where do we begin? Tim Tebow won the Heisman trophy last year. I'm sure I'm not informing you of anything you didn't already know.

The freakishly impressive combination of accuracy, arm strength, speed, and power that is Tim Tebow should be in the running for the Heisman trophy again, even though it would potentially be his second time winning it. He led Florida to about 42-points a game, good for third in the nation in total offense.

The thing that really caught my attention was how balanced this team was. Percy Harvin is the biggest weapon outside of Tebow, and he usually gets the ball on end-arounds or other option plays. He's often used in this fashion, but it doesn't mean he isn't a receiving threat either.

Everything I hear or read is saying that Tebow won't be used as much. I pretty much agree with that—he was getting hit hard and often as the season wore on—but the reason for that will be the emergence of Chris Rainey, the redshirt freshman running back.

This guy is perfect for the kind of offense that Urban Meyer runs, and let's not forget, USC transfer Emmanuel Moody is ready to step in and lighten Tebow's load.

Now that the Gators have a true weapon at RB, it should make the offense that much more explosive and dynamic. Kestahn Moore should be the starter early on, but the youthful explosion of Moody/Rainey will make the most sense to play.

The TE tandem of Aaron Hernandez and Cornelius Ingram is the best in the country, in my opinion, but Tebow will need a solid No. 2 man behind Harvin if the offense is set to become the best in the nation. Louis Murphy should do a fine job, but Riley Cooper has the potential to see some more playing time.

The offensive line is led by guard Jim Tartt, who should be a really good anchor.  There is some youth, but there is plenty of untapped potential on the line. It's nothing to worry about.

If you get the picture, this should be the best offense in the country.

THE DEFENSE

Here's where things did not go too well. It was the best of times for the offense, and the so-so of times for the defense. Derrick Harvey, the pass-rushing terror that provided most of the excitement for this side of the ball, is gone, and that's something that a young secondary will have to deal with.

The defensive backfield needs to shape up its pass defense, or else the Gators will be watching the BCS championship game again this year. Wondy Pierre-Louis has to step up and be the man. He's certainly capable—it's just a matter of putting it all together at cornerback.

The other side is occupied by Joe Haden, who is only a sophomore, meaning there's more room for development. For the 98th-ranked pass defense, the secondary sure does have some athletes—it's just their inexperience that handicapped their efforts. Look for that to change.

On the defensive line, Jermaine Cunningham should have the kind of season that makes him shoot up draft boards. Carlos Dunlap will be the main man in replacing Derrick Harvey, and he will do all right his first season.

Brandon Spikes is another guy attracting attention from the NFL scouts. The linebacker should be gone after this year. I think A.J. Jones also has the ability to become one of the better LBs in the SEC.

All in all, watch out for the Gator defense. They have the talent to surprise a lot of people.

THE SCHEDULE

Aug. 30—Hawaii

Sep. 6—Miami

Sep. 20—at Tennessee

Sep. 27—Ole Miss

Oct. 4—at Arkansas

Oct. 11—LSU

Oct. 25—Kentucky

Nov. 1—Georgia (Jack.)

Nov. 8—at Vanderbilt

Nov. 15—South Carolina

Nov. 22—The Citadel

Nov. 29—at Florida State

This gauntlet is not for the faint of heart. Hell, even The Citadel shouldn't be that bad of a team. The opener against Hawaii will attract attention, but it won't even be close, due to the fact that Hawaii is the road team and going through a rebuilding kind of season.

For those of you awaiting the return of the Miami/Florida series, it comes back this year! Getting LSU and South Carolina at home are huge advantages to winning the East this year.

Don't Even Think About It: None 

Ehhhhh.....Maybe....: None 

Good/Probable Shot At It: The entire schedule.

THE OUTLOOK

Florida WILL be one of the best teams in the entire nation. Just scanning the roster should give you that idea—it's crazy. Urban Meyer has stocked the cupboards full during recruiting, and it is definitely showing.

Now, all they have to worry about is Georgia. The Bulldogs are the one roadblock keeping them from getting to the SEC Championship Game. Florida isn't going to win because they are still kind of young defensively, and it will hurt them at times, but not as much as it did in 2007.

Florida is just about as close to a lock as possible for the BCS.

BOWL GAME?

Sugar Bowl.

As usual, be sure to check out my home blog, Saturday Sound Offs.