I think it's time to start up a pre-season thread to discuss the upcoming season. As most of you already know, I love d'em Gators!! I hope to get up to both of the games vs. UM and LSU this year in gainesville. GO GATORS!!!!
My analysis of UM at UF is this:
I think you guys will win, but it's not nearly as concrete as every Gator fan I've seen (or talked to) has said.
You guys have the experience - esp. at QB. Your D is a question mark, in my mind. Major Wright is a damn good cover safety - needs improvement in coverage. Unsure on the LB's and D - but to lose D. Harvey to the Jags is pretty big.
Your RB situation is strange. Harvin is very good at the position - but outside of him I don't think you have game breaker yet. WR - can't say I'm that familiar.
We have a new QB but our RB position is more settled (seemingly). We have a bruiser in Javarrious James and 2 outside guys in Craig Cooper and Shawnbrey McNeal.
Our WR position is young. I'd expect a lot of soph's and frosh to play. Our upperclass WR's aren't very good.
TE - a position we used to throw to quite a bit - is unsettled, but I think we'll find someone capable. We've had a TE drafted quite a bit in the '00's.
Our D has question marks, but should really benefit from a new DC (Bill Young - former DC at Kansas). I think Young will really change the tempo, use our players where their strengths lie, and just bring a different style than the past.
Meyer will have his work cut out for him. He'll have film on Young, but not with the speed Miami has.
We have taken some injuries on the DL this spring/summer. Looks like the super frosh DT Marcus Forston will be playing quite a bit. I'm hoping he turns out like Marvin Austin at UNC and not a complete dud (like some Miami guys the last few year). DEnd looks to have a bit more depth. We'll have frosh in the rotation though.
LB has the most returning guys - not sure that's a good thing. We'll bring in the true frosh quite a bit, IMO. Big time recruits Arthur Brown and Sean Spence at MLB and WLB, respectively.
We lost our best guy in the secondary in Kenny Phillips to the NYGiants. Big loss. We've got a lot of guys that have played safety, but I'm not sure who will play Free and Strong out of the bunch. The corners will be returning guys. I think we'll have super recruit Brandon Harris playing quite a bit as depth.
I think the key matchup is our offense against your defense. We know you guys will get your points. I think Young will adjust to the Gator scheme. Should eliminate a blow out. The key is then can we score points and play good ball control offense to limit the chances the new QB has to take.
Not sure who has the edge on special teams. We had a terrible return game last year and I have no idea who's doing punts and kick-offs this year. Our coverage sucked - I think it will only get better with some of these super frosh on special teams.
Anyway - this is your best chance to beat us since '85. Better take advantage of it. Doubt any Gator fans can live with 6 straight losses to The U. :bruce2: