2010 College Football Predictions: Mythbusting 2010 Florida Gators Football

This past Sunday, we at UFR Sports participated in our Sunshine State Football Forum. The object of the show was to get input to help determine which member of the Big Three should be considered the best team coming into the season.

As a Gator fan, the discussion with fans from other teams, made me take off the blue and orange glasses for a moment. Even without the "homer blinders," which I rarely wear any how, Florida still gets the nod, and I believe by a substantial margin.

Throughout the discussion, I realized one thing about those outside the Florida contingent. It seems fans of other schools have had a harder time shaking the Tim Tebow hangover than the Gator Nation itself.

To these people I say take off the Gator hate glasses, and view the situation with a clearer focus.

To help, I’ve listed the biggest five myths surrounding the University of Florida football team coming into the 2010 college football season.

You can listen to the recorded Sunshine State Football Forum podcast, by clicking the play button below:

Sunshine State Florida Football Forum Podcast | UFR Sports Online Sports Talk

The Florida Offense Will Be Lost Without Tim Tebow

Urban Meyer came to Gainesville with a reputation as a highly skilled and creative offensive mind. He demonstrated that with Chris Leake—a quarterback tailor made not to fit Meyer’s system.

Meyer's found a way to make the system work, and won a national championship. And it was Chris Leake, the perceived weak link, that became the strength of the offense when it counted.

Remember that Meyer inherited Leake, without any first-hand exposure to SEC talent.

Meyer now antes up with five years of successful real world experience. Surely Canes and Seminoles fans can’t believe Meyer never considered how to fit John Brantley into the offense.

The Gators Have No Running Game Without Tim Tebow

During the round table discussion I heard that the  Gator backfield consisted of track athletes, not real football players. I’ve also been told they can’t run between the tackles.

To me, that sounds like opposing teams hoping for the best. In reality the bubble will be burst.

Fact of the matter, the Gators have plenty of football talent in the backfield. Yes, Tebow took most of the carries, just like Ingram took most of the carries for Alabama. Does that mean the rest of the Tide’s backfield is inept?

Why run Jeffery Demps between the tackles when Tim Tebow exists? This season, the Gator offense will most likely run from a converse perspective.

Why run QB John Brantley between the tackles when you have Emmanuel Moody and Mike Gillislee?

In terms of production, take a look at the stats. In 2009, Demps carried the ball 99 times and scored seven touchdowns. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram carried the ball 271 times for 17 touchdowns.

Also look at the average yards per carry. Demps averaged 7.5 yards per carry, Ingram 5.1yards per attempt.

Not a big difference in production, just in opportunities.

Gator running backs are revved up about 2010. They know more carries will be made available with the absence of Tebow. With more runs, will come the end of the myth the Gators possess no running game.

John Brantley Will Never Keep the Ball in the Option

True, finding someone as tough as Tim Tebow will not be an easy task—though early word is Trey Burton has plenty of heart.

In fact, some may have considered Tebow’s toughness as stupidity on some fronts. Why take all those extra hits, and risk injury?

I’m not crazy enough to believe Brantley will lead the team in rushing in his tenure as a starter. I do know Brantley will keep the ball on some option plays. I also know, Brantley will not be looking for contact or a few extra yards at the end of runs.

That doesn’t mean Brantley isn’t tough, it just means he knows why Meyer recruited him.

Brantley will be smart. He knows his strengths, and so do other teams. Brantley will run when he has to, and look to either slide or step out of bounds. It will not bring the same thrills we saw with Tebow, but it will keep the defenses honest enough to respect the threat. 

Florida’s Option Will Suffer Due to a Decreased Running Threat From the QB

First let me concede that Brantley reduces the threat of the QB keeping the ball on the triple-option.

The threat will be moved, and just as deadly with Chris Rainey in the slot position. If Rainey can step up to the challenge, the Gators will have an offense similar to the one we saw in the Percy Harvin days.

With Moody and Gillislee in the back field along side Demps, Rainey in the slot opens the opportunities for the misdirection Meyer loves. It also provides two viable options when running between the tackles becomes necessary.

Tebow only comes along once every 20 years. When you have a player like that you use him. When you don’t, you use someone else. Meyer and Steve Adazio know football well enough to do the what’s needed.

Tim Tebow Brought the Winning Culture to the Florida Football Program

No, Tebow didn’t bring the winning culture to Gainesville, Urban Meyer did. That’s why athletic director Jeremy Foley worked his butt off to keep Meyer as head coach.

During his tenure, Meyer constantly talks about leadership, teamwork and commitment to excellence. He not only talks about it, be brings it to life.

It starts on the practice field, with players earning their playing time. Competition exists for every position on the field. The best players will have to prove they are the best to get playing time. It’s not about reputation with Meyer, you have to produce results.

When not on the field, Meyer continually brings in speakers such as Bobby Knight and Bill Belichick to talk about the commitment to winning. When the Gators basketball team won their first national championship, head basketball coach Billy Donovan spoke with the team about what winning it “all” meant to the university.

Tebow’s vocal leadership might have seemed the driving factor behind the team’s success. Remember that Tebow’s attitude and actions, partly reflected what Meyer taught his team when nobody else was around to listen.

To fans at other schools, belief in this year’s Gator program takes the look and feel of “homerism” and addiction to winning. In reality, it reflects a belief in Meyer, and the character he brought to Florida Football.