Urban Meyer vs. Dan Mullen: Why Mullen Is Set Up for An Epic Fail At Florida
With news of Florida coach Urban Meyer's departure on Wednesday, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen could be departing the Bulldogs in favor of the Gators.
With a less-talented Florida team than in years past, this could set up a bad situation for Mullen, who will have to step into the legendary shoes of Meyer and be expected to win, and win now.
Despite a solid job with the Bulldogs in 2010, Mullen would certainly have a lot on his hands in leading the esteemed Florida program in 2011.
Here are 10 reasons why Mullen is set up for an epic fail at Florida.
10. He Doesn't Have Tim Tebow Or Alex Smith
1 of 10
Dan Mullen was an offensive coordinator for Urban Meyer at the University of Florida and a quarterbacks coach for him with the Utah Utes before he took the head coaching job at Mississippi State two years back.
He had the luxury of having Tim Tebow and Alex Smith under his wings during his time with Florida and Utah, and won't have this luxury in the 2011 season, instead having John Brantley, who struggled this year (more on him later).
9. The Gators Are Less Talented
2 of 10
The Florida Gators are indeed less talented collectively this year as they have been in years past.
Going 7-5 despite the tutelage of Urban Meyer attests to this.
Sure, a lot can happen in one year's time, but as of this writing the Gators have had an off year in an otherwise storied and highly successful history.
Mullen probably won't have the luxury of having a game-changer on his team.
With only two years of head coaching experience, this certainly doesn't help him.
8. The Expectations Will Be Sky-High
3 of 10
Taking over for a legendary coach of a storied SEC team?
That's a tough position to be in.
I do like Mullen as a coach, but fans and media alike are going to want instant results and he will (although unfairly) undoubtedly be compared to Urban Meyer.
Despite a less-talented team under his wing, fans will want nothing less than a spot in the BCS rankings and an SEC championship.
That's a tall order.
He'll have to gain the respect of Alabama coach Nick Saban too, by the looks of this picture. Saban appears to be ignoring him.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. The Spread Offense Isn't Working in Florida Right Now
4 of 10
With John Brantley at the helm, the Florida Gators have surely seen a drop-off in signal-callers since Tim Tebow left for the Denver Broncos.
For one, he's not a great passer, which hurts given you need a great passer when multiple receivers are lined up.
Also, if Mullen continues using the spread option, Brantley can't run either, which makes it tough to, well, option him past the line of scrimmage.
Brantley had 51 rushes for, get this, NEGATIVE 107 yards this season. His long was 12 yards.
6. John Brantley Is Not a Top-Notch QB
5 of 10
We knew there was going to be a drop-off at the quarterback position before the season started with Tebow leaving.
Florida certainly didn't think it would be this much of a drop-off.
Brantley had nine touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games in 2010.
Compare that to 2009, when Tebow had 21 touchdowns to five interceptions, not to mention his running ability.
It's hard to win in a competitive SEC division when your quarterback isn't all that great (hence the 7-5 record).
5. Mullen Will Be Facing a Team That Knows Him
6 of 10
Some people believe that facing a team that you were once a part of isn't a big deal.
I, for one, am not one of those people.
I think we can point to some wins by former Patriots offensive assistant Eric Mangini to point that out.
An organization that you have been a part of undeniably knows your tendencies, not to mention your play-calling and favorite plays.
Facing Mississippi State in the SEC, Mullen could have his hands full.
If he loses to the Bulldogs in 2011, I can't wait to hear Florida fans say he has too much of a "warm heart" for Mississippi State or something of that nonsense.
This is another situation that could hurt his perception in Florida.
4. Mullen Doesn't Have The Record Of Meyer
7 of 10
Although he has been around for a little while under Urban Meyer, the fact is Mullen only has two years of head coaching experience, joining the Bulldogs in 2009.
Despite a solid year with Mississippi State in 2010, Mullen still needs to prove himself to be regarded as a top head coach.
This could be his chance, but if he fails in his first year (the year he will undoubtedly be at the most risk for failure), heads could turn. But not in a good way, kind of like in "The Exorcist," all the way around with a demon face and uncontrollable rage.
People will surely question Mullen if he flops in 2011 for the Gators.
3. The Gators Will Lose Some Stars in the 2011 NFL Draft
8 of 10
Despite a disappointing 2010 season, there have been two players in particular who have stood out for the Gators: cornerback Janoris Jenkins and running back Jeffrey Demps.
Jenkins is considered a top-five cornerback coming into the 2011 NFL Draft.
He will surely be selected and it will hurt Florida's defense (unless, of course, the program finds a suitable replacement).
Demps is still undecided whether he will opt for the draft.
But if he does, it will hurt the Gators' run game, too.
2. Mullen Is Not The Esteemed Recruiter That Meyer Is
9 of 10
Urban Meyer, in addition to head coaching prowess, is also regarded as one of the top recruiters in college football (see: Tim Tebow).
His name alone holds a lot of weight for prospective, well, prospects, and his reputation is undeniable.
Mullen doesn't have the same name or the same reputation as Meyer (although he is still a respected coach).
In an offseason that will indeed be critical for the Gators, this hurts the team's chances of landing a big name.
It also hurts Mullen's chances of being highly successful in 2011.
1. Seniors Are Graduating, the Gators Have Two Freshmen on Their QB Depth Chart
10 of 10
Seniors always graduate, sure, but it will be especially painful when the Gators are trying to get back on top next season.
Not to mention, if Brantley doesn't work out, the Gators have two freshmen backing him up at the moment in Trey Burton and Jordan Reed.
Although some are already giving the starting job to Burton, you can't predict how an underclassmen will respond come gametime.
I do like Burton's skill set (he's a dual threat too), and he is considered a good prospect, but, again, it's hard to know how he will respond if Brantley is yanked.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
