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2010 Football Preview!
The 2009 football season is over,
Gator underclassmen have declared for the NFL draft,
a fresh group of new players have recently signed,
and Tebow's commercial was not controversial at all.
Other
than one defensive coaching vacancy and a head coach
that is on a leave of absence, things have settled
down both on and off the gridiron for the Gators
and the rest of the college football world.
Is it ever too early to start daydreaming
about next year? That's a rhetorical question, because
the obvious answer is 'No'. So what will the 2010
season bring?
In this article, I will analyze and
predict the two-deep depth chart, look at some newly
signed freshman who could have an immediate impact
for the Gators, and look ahead to next year's schedule
to see where pitfalls may lie.
The 2010 Depth
Chart
Offense - Starters
Offense - Backups
WR - Deonte Thompson, JR Chris Dunkley, FR
FL - Chris Rainey, JR Andre Debose, RFR
LT - Xavier Nixon, SO Matt Patchan, JR
LG - Carl Johnson, SR Jon Halapio, SO
C - Mike Pouncey, SR Sam Robey, SO
RG - Maurice Hurt, SR James Wilson, JR
RT - Marcus Gilbert, SR Nick Alajajian, SO
TE - Jordan Reed, RFR Gerald Christian, FR
WR - Omarius Hines, SO Carl Moore, SR
QB - John Brantley, JR Trey Burton, FR
RB - Jeff Demps, JR Emannuel Moody, SR
K - Caleb Sturgis, JR KR/PR - Chris Rainey, JR
Jeff Demps, JR
P - Chas Henry, SR KR/PR - Omarius Hines, SO Soloman
Patton, FR
Defense - Starters
Defense - Backups
CB - Janoris Jenkins, JR Adrian Bushell, SO
SS - Ahmad Black, SR Matt Elam, FR
WLB - Brandon Hicks, SR Jelani Jenkins, SO
WDE - William Green, JR Ronald Powell, FR
DT - Omar Hunter, SO Terron Sanders, SR
MLB - Jon Bostic, SO Brendan Beal, SO
DT - Lawrence Marsh, SR Jaye Howard, JR
DE - Justin Trattou, SR Duke Lemmons, JR
SLB - A.J. Jones, SR Dee Finley, SO
FR FS - Will Hill, JR Jonathan Dowling, FR
CB - Jeremy Brown, SO Josh Shaw, FR
Keep in mind a lot can change during
spring practice, but this just an educated guess.
Players can still emerge between now and September.
Trey Burton will likely be a very green backup behind
John Brantley, but at least he will have the benefit
of a month of spring practice since he is already
enrolled.
I have to think Jordan Reed was moved
from QB to TE because Desmond Parks didn't impress
the coaches last season, so I wouldn't be surprised
to see if he has slipped to the #3 TE behind Reed
and already enrolled and highly touted freshman Gerald
Christian. I have Carl Moore and FR Chris Dunkley
as the second-string receivers, but RFR Stephen Alli
has great size and speed and I will be very interested
to see during spring practice if he has the other
skills required for him to be a productive or even
standout receiver.
Jeremy Brown is currently penciled
in as the corner opposite of Janoris Jenkins, but
really it could be Josh Shaw or Adrian Bushell at
that spot depending on who makes the most progress
before fall. The Gators are stacked at DT, and don't
be surprised to see FR Sharrif Floyd, SO Gary Brown,
or FR Dominique Easley also seeing time in what should
be a rotation that is always fresh. SR Lorenzo Edwards
didn't even make the chart at LB, but he is another
who could see playing time if players ahead of him
don't make the progress I expect.
2010 Impact Freshman
Although I don't currently project
any true freshman to be starters at this point, there
will be many who are talented and physically mature
enough to earn playing time next fall. Josh Shaw
is already enrolled and could get enough experience
in spring to make an impact as a nickel back, or
even snare the open corner position. Ronald Powell,
and Sharrif Floyd seem too talented not to crack
the defensive line rotation, and besides being used
situationally in the secondary, Matt Elam could see
a lot of action on special teams.
Without a starting TE returning,
Gerald Christian could easily find himself in the
mix for the starting position, or at least significant
playing time. Christian has the size and hands to
be a dangerous target for Brantley.
The 2010 Schedule
Date/ Opponent/ Notes
9/4 Miami (OH)
Miami of Ohio had one victory last year
9/11 South Florida They
beat FSU last year in Tally,
but they lost a lot of talent
and have a new head coach, Skip
Holtz
9/18 @ Tennessee New
coach and new QB. Should be
the same result for UF
9/25
Kentucky 3rd
straight
game against
a team with
a new HC
10/2
@ Alabama A
likely loss,
but should
be a good
measuring
stick as
to how good
this Gator
squad actually
is
10/9
LSU Another
tough test,
this one
at home
10/16
Mississippi
State Gave
the Gators
problems
last year,
but they
lost their
top RB from
last season
and don't
have too
much offense
otherwise
10/30
Georgia (Jax) Bye
week before
the WLOCP
this year
will hopefully
have the
Gators healthy
and ready
11/6
@ Vanderbilt Vandy
won't be
much improved
this season
11/13
South Carolina Possibly
the OBC's
last visit
to the Swamp?
They might
have their
best team
under Spurrier
this season
11/20
Appalachian
State A
very good
FCS team,
they made
the semi-finals
of the FCS
tournament
last season,
and beat
Michigan
3 years ago
11/27
@ Florida
State FSU
could be
a dangerous
team by this
point in
the season
if they have
the offense
clicking
12/4
SEC (Atl) Predicting
the Gators
get here,
probably
a rematch
with Bama
The non-conference schedule is no
cake walk, with South Florida, Florida State, and
Appalachian State all being quality teams. Winning
the SEC East is a very realistic goal, however. South
Carolina and Georgia will have something to say about
that, but most of UF's trouble should come from the
SEC West next season.
A regular season record of 9-3 would
be the worst I would expect, and probably 10-2 would
be the best case, realistically. If they can get
into the SEC Championship game, winning the title
is definitely possible if it's a rematch situation
with Alabama or LSU. Auburn will contend in the West
next year as well.
Interesting storylines
There will be several interesting
subplots heading into next season. How will the defensive
philosophy be different with a new coordinator? Can
John Brantley handle the increased pressure of being
the new UF QB with very high fan expectations? How
will the offense be different without the running
of Tebow? Will Urban Meyer be back from his leave
of absence, and will he still be just as effective
at coaching?
Meyer says he wants to be back in
mid-March for the start of spring practice. This
could be contingent on any health problems that he
might need corrected, and how long a recovery would
take. Either way, I believe him when he steadfastly
states that he will be coaching next fall. His effectiveness
with any change in style may not be evident until
after the season ends. This coming season, the pressure
of repeating is not on the Gators, and that should
help everyone's nerves.
Against most opponents, Brantley
should be fine and should rack up the big passing
numbers we expect him to. It will be against the
better teams, such as Alabama, or in a hostile environment,
such as Tennessee, that we will see if he has the
composure necessary to lead the Gators in big games.
The offense should look much different
next year. The QB won't be regularly running the
ball more than 10 times per game, and running back
production should be better. The 2009 Cincinnati
defense was horrible, but I am still excited about
how much better the WRs seemed to play under new
coach Zach Azzanni. Steve Addazio will also be forced
to be more creative in his play calling without Tebow
to use as a crutch. The arm of Brantley and the improved
personnel at WR should allow the Gators to stretch
the field vertically much more than they did last
year. With four of five O-lineman back, this offense
has a chance to be very special.
The defensive system probably won't
change much. Chuck Heater is still going to be co-DC,
and we will still see them utilize a base 4-3 and
will probably still see a good deal of the 3-3-5
with the secondary personnel that Florida has. |
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