Gators SEC Championship Trip to Atlanta, Depends on Jeff Demps Not John Brantley

Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer and starting quarterback John Brantley both made revealing comments during their post-game statements on Saturday.

Meyer described the team as being “blue collar”. A reference to the team's ability to play power football against the University of South Florida Bulls during the late third and entire fourth quarters.

Brantley referred to the Gators tally of more running plays than passing plays as “a good thing”.

After the season began with a less than stellar performance against the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio suffered a great deal of criticism. Most fans felt he took too conservative an approach to the game.

Fans in particular wanted to see more down field passes.

With Saturday’s 38-14 win over the Bulls-- Addazio once again stuck to the game plan. Take chances now and again, but rely on the play makers in the back field to do the heavy lifting for the offense.

Fans seem somewhat less annoyed by the conservative play this week than last. That’s “a good thing”, because the Gators may stick to pounding the ball, especially if Brantley can build leads with early quick strikes.

This formula works. Just ask Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban.

Spurrier makes the most convincing case for the present Gator approach. Long-time Gator fans know the “The Old Ball Coach” loves to pitch and catch. Spurrier never saw a pass he didn’t like.

His offenses became prolific, able to score large numbers of touchdowns in one or two plays from anywhere on the field. The system became known as the Fun ‘n Gun.

Not so much the case this season. After struggling to fit South Carolina starting quarterback Stephen Garcia into his system for two unsuccessful seasons, Spurrier has taken a different approach to begin the 2010 season. The running game now holds sway with the Gamecocks.

In the first two weeks of the season, South Carolina has rushed for 413 yards as compared to 390 yards passing-- coming on eighty-seven rushing attempts, compared to forty-seven passing attempts.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. During his peak as head coach of the Florida Gators, Spurrier relied heavily on the running game, enlisting names such as Ernest Graham, Fred Taylor, and Eric Rhett.

South Carolina went 7-5 last season. In all the losses except one against Georgia, the Gamecocks rushed for less than 100 yards.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and Steve Saban never made any pretense about their game plan.

Last season, the Tide rode the back of Mark Ingram all the way to a national championship.

This season Trent Richardson has taken over the reigns during Ingrams’ post-op rehab from knee surgery.

No one expects Alabama’s Greg McElroy to win games for the Tide. He only has to make plays when he has to, and not make mistakes. Let the defense handle everything else in between.

General consensus tells us that John Brantley may have a little more skill than McElroy as a quarterback. But that doesn’t mean Brantley has to sling the ball on every play.

By limiting Brantley’s throws, Addazio also limits possible mistakes. Though we believe he can play the position, Brantley still has to prove he can handle being the starter every week in the SEC.

Addazio would be smart to let Brantley see and learn more, before putting the pressure of the offense on the first-year starter’s shoulders.

As an example, look at the struggles of Garcia-- who Spurrier forced into the role of play maker. Then take McElroy, who Saban only asked to do certain things in specific situations.

Meyers pension for speed, produces an offense with quick strike ability. In his first six years as head coach, Meyer depended on the quarterback to be the play maker-- yes, even when Chris Leak ran the offense.

As Gator fans, we may have to wait for John Brantley to grow in his role as play maker.

Until then, learn from Spurrier’s mistakes and Saban’s success.