8timechamps
12/8/2008, 01:16 PM
Most of us have heard the hype about Tebow and the vaunted (SEC) defense. Here’s a breakdown of the Gators and who/what to watch. Enjoy
2008 Season
Hawaii (7-6) W (56-10)
Miami (Fla) (7-5) W (26-3)
Tennessee (5-7) W (30-6)
Mississippi (8-4) L (30-31)
Arkansas (5-7) W (38-7)
LSU (7-5) W (51-21)
Kentucky (6-6) W (63-5)
Georgia (9-3) W (49-10)
Vanderbilt (6-6) W (42-14)
S. Carolina (7-5) W (56-6)
Citadel (4-8) W (70-19)
Florida St. (8-4) W (45-15)
Alabama (12-1) W (31-20)
Scoring Numbers v. Oklahoma
Florida’s avg. per game: 45
Opponent’s avg. per game: 13
Oklahoma’s avg. per game: 54
Opponent’s avg. per game: 25
National Rankings
Rushing
Florida 11
Oklahoma 19
Passing
Florida 61
Oklahoma 3
Total Offense
Florida 18
Oklahoma 3
Scoring Offense
Florida 3
Oklahoma 1
Rushing Defense
Florida 16
Oklahoma 18
Passing Defense
Florida 19
Oklahoma 99
Total Defense
Florida 9
Oklahoma 65
Scoring Defense
Florida 5
Oklahoma 57
Sacks by
Florida (32) 33
Oklahoma (42) 3
Florida Overview
Offense
Quarterback
One of the storylines of this game is the inclusion of two Heisman trophy candidates (which will be determined by kickoff). If you’ve watched any college football highlights over the last two years, then you know about last year’s Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow. Tebow is a big quarterback (6’2” 240lbs). Lou Holtz joked that if Tebow elects to turn pro after this season, he would be one of the top 3 linebackers drafted. Tebow is not only big, he’s quick for his size. Tebow accounts for over 50% of Florida’s scoring (28 passing TDs, 12 rushing TDs).
Tebow is the quintessential dual-threat quarterback. He’s got a cannon, and is very accurate. He can (and will) tuck the ball and run. What makes Tebow different (and more dangerous) than a Colt McCoy type qb, is that Urban Meyer has created his offensive scheme around Tebow. Not only does he pull the ball down and run, he makes up a very large percentage of the Gators rushing attack.
The Sooners haven’t seen a quarterback with the size and ability of Tebow. He will test the Sooner defense like they haven’t been tested this season.
Running Backs
Florida is unlike most college football teams in the running game. Tebow accounts for 31% of Florida’s rushing attempts. Outside of Tebow, the Gators will use two running backs to attack on the ground. Freshman Chris Rainey is the “power” back for the Gators (it’s difficult to label Rainey a power back, as Tebow is the biggest back the Gators have, however, Rainey is the bigger of the two true running backs), at 5’9” 185lbs, Rainey is the Gator’s first choice on the ground. They will also use 5’8” 176lb freshman Jeffery Demps. Both backs share time, and both have the speed and ability to take it to the house and to make people miss in space. Both backs average about 50 yards per game.
Needless to say, the “running back” position at Florida isn’t the focus of their offense. With only 4 100 yard games between the two, they aren’t the first threat for the Gators, but they are both quick, skilled backs that can play a big roll in the Gator attack.
Receivers
One name: Percy Harvin. He doesn’t have the receiving numbers of Juaquin Iglesias or the touchdown numbers of Chris Brown, but he is just as dangerous. Percy Harvin is a rare player. Harvin plays the role of both receiver and running back for the Gators. He is second on the team in rushing attempts (Tebow is first), first in receiving and second in touchdowns. He will line up split wide, in the slot, in the gun and flanking the TE. Harvin has scored on handoffs, end-arounds, option pitches and plain old receptions. Next to Tebow, he is the Gators offense.
A concern Urban Meyer may have is how well Harvin will recover from the injury he suffered in the Florida State game (that kept him out of the SEC title game).
Next to Harvin, the Gators will look to senior Louis Murphy (a strong, tall receiver with good hands and good speed) and soph Aaron Hernadez (another tall, strong receiver). Florida doesn’t have as deadly a passing game as some may think. The receivers in this offense (outside of Harvin) are utilized as much for blocking as they are receiving.
Overall Offense
The Gators are the David Blaine of college football. They will score any way imaginable (and some you can’t imagine). Florida utilizes a reformed option attack that includes Tebow, Harvin and a third player (could be another receiver, a second running back or even a tight end). Florida is a run first, pass second type of team. The only way to shut down this offense is to make Tebow beat you through the air. While he has a strong arm and a few good receivers, like any other team, if you can make them one dimensional, they will struggle.
Defense
While the Gators do rank 9th in the country in total defense, they do have a weakness...well sort of. Florida doesn’t start a single senior of defense (and only a few juniors). The front four consist of three sophomores and a junior. The strength of the front four is their run stopping ability, the weakness is their pass rush (it’s hard to even call it a weakness). The heart of the d-line is their interior. Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders both weigh in over 300lbs. There’s a lot of beef to stop the run. However, the gains you get in size you make up for in (lack of) speed. Marsh has a respectful 3 sacks on the year, but Sanders has none.
The strength of the Gators defense is their ends. Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham are the pass rushers of the group. The two account for 15 sacks, 22 tfl and 4 forced fumbles on the season. Cunningham and Dunlap are arguably the best defensive players the Gators have.
Florida led the SEC with their pass defense. They rank second in the country in interceptions (with 24). The success of the Gator pass defense comes from their outstanding DE play. As always, pressure = poor throwing decisions.
It will be fun to watch the big, aggressive Florida defensive line try to work around our big, aggressive offensive line.
It sounds cliche, but Florida does have speed all over the field when on defense. There will be a lot of one-on-one match-ups to watch, and Bradford will have to be spot on to move the ball against the Gators.
Report Card
Quarterback: Oklahoma (Personally, I’d rather have Sam than Tebow, but I also realize the threat Tebow brings to the table)
Running back: Oklahoma (Knowing that Murray will be healthy for the game just reinforces the advantage OU has at this position)
Receivers: Oklahoma (Percy Harvin is probably better than any single Sooner receiver, but the Sooners receiving corps is better than that of the Gators. Throw Gresham in there, and it’s no contest).
O-Line: Oklahoma (At this point, there is little doubt that Oklahoma has the best O-Line in the land).
D-line: Florida (Even with the return of English, Florida has one of the best defensive lines in cfb this year).
Linebackers: Florida (Florida’s ball hawking tackle happy LBs add to their defensive strength. We still have a hole at MLB).
Secondary: Florida (Although our safeties have stepped up their play, Florida is just too good not to give them the advantage)
Special Teams: Florida (Am I the only one that looks away on kick-offs and field goal attempts?)
I think it’s pretty clear that it’s going to end up being the Oklahoma offense versus the Florida defense. And, I think it’s again going to come down to how our defense performs. Given how they have stepped up for some big games recently, I think that they will take the few weeks they have and strengthen the areas of need. In the end, I think we do just enough on defense to win the game.
Oklahoma: 38
Florida: 31
The End:cool:
2008 Season
Hawaii (7-6) W (56-10)
Miami (Fla) (7-5) W (26-3)
Tennessee (5-7) W (30-6)
Mississippi (8-4) L (30-31)
Arkansas (5-7) W (38-7)
LSU (7-5) W (51-21)
Kentucky (6-6) W (63-5)
Georgia (9-3) W (49-10)
Vanderbilt (6-6) W (42-14)
S. Carolina (7-5) W (56-6)
Citadel (4-8) W (70-19)
Florida St. (8-4) W (45-15)
Alabama (12-1) W (31-20)
Scoring Numbers v. Oklahoma
Florida’s avg. per game: 45
Opponent’s avg. per game: 13
Oklahoma’s avg. per game: 54
Opponent’s avg. per game: 25
National Rankings
Rushing
Florida 11
Oklahoma 19
Passing
Florida 61
Oklahoma 3
Total Offense
Florida 18
Oklahoma 3
Scoring Offense
Florida 3
Oklahoma 1
Rushing Defense
Florida 16
Oklahoma 18
Passing Defense
Florida 19
Oklahoma 99
Total Defense
Florida 9
Oklahoma 65
Scoring Defense
Florida 5
Oklahoma 57
Sacks by
Florida (32) 33
Oklahoma (42) 3
Florida Overview
Offense
Quarterback
One of the storylines of this game is the inclusion of two Heisman trophy candidates (which will be determined by kickoff). If you’ve watched any college football highlights over the last two years, then you know about last year’s Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow. Tebow is a big quarterback (6’2” 240lbs). Lou Holtz joked that if Tebow elects to turn pro after this season, he would be one of the top 3 linebackers drafted. Tebow is not only big, he’s quick for his size. Tebow accounts for over 50% of Florida’s scoring (28 passing TDs, 12 rushing TDs).
Tebow is the quintessential dual-threat quarterback. He’s got a cannon, and is very accurate. He can (and will) tuck the ball and run. What makes Tebow different (and more dangerous) than a Colt McCoy type qb, is that Urban Meyer has created his offensive scheme around Tebow. Not only does he pull the ball down and run, he makes up a very large percentage of the Gators rushing attack.
The Sooners haven’t seen a quarterback with the size and ability of Tebow. He will test the Sooner defense like they haven’t been tested this season.
Running Backs
Florida is unlike most college football teams in the running game. Tebow accounts for 31% of Florida’s rushing attempts. Outside of Tebow, the Gators will use two running backs to attack on the ground. Freshman Chris Rainey is the “power” back for the Gators (it’s difficult to label Rainey a power back, as Tebow is the biggest back the Gators have, however, Rainey is the bigger of the two true running backs), at 5’9” 185lbs, Rainey is the Gator’s first choice on the ground. They will also use 5’8” 176lb freshman Jeffery Demps. Both backs share time, and both have the speed and ability to take it to the house and to make people miss in space. Both backs average about 50 yards per game.
Needless to say, the “running back” position at Florida isn’t the focus of their offense. With only 4 100 yard games between the two, they aren’t the first threat for the Gators, but they are both quick, skilled backs that can play a big roll in the Gator attack.
Receivers
One name: Percy Harvin. He doesn’t have the receiving numbers of Juaquin Iglesias or the touchdown numbers of Chris Brown, but he is just as dangerous. Percy Harvin is a rare player. Harvin plays the role of both receiver and running back for the Gators. He is second on the team in rushing attempts (Tebow is first), first in receiving and second in touchdowns. He will line up split wide, in the slot, in the gun and flanking the TE. Harvin has scored on handoffs, end-arounds, option pitches and plain old receptions. Next to Tebow, he is the Gators offense.
A concern Urban Meyer may have is how well Harvin will recover from the injury he suffered in the Florida State game (that kept him out of the SEC title game).
Next to Harvin, the Gators will look to senior Louis Murphy (a strong, tall receiver with good hands and good speed) and soph Aaron Hernadez (another tall, strong receiver). Florida doesn’t have as deadly a passing game as some may think. The receivers in this offense (outside of Harvin) are utilized as much for blocking as they are receiving.
Overall Offense
The Gators are the David Blaine of college football. They will score any way imaginable (and some you can’t imagine). Florida utilizes a reformed option attack that includes Tebow, Harvin and a third player (could be another receiver, a second running back or even a tight end). Florida is a run first, pass second type of team. The only way to shut down this offense is to make Tebow beat you through the air. While he has a strong arm and a few good receivers, like any other team, if you can make them one dimensional, they will struggle.
Defense
While the Gators do rank 9th in the country in total defense, they do have a weakness...well sort of. Florida doesn’t start a single senior of defense (and only a few juniors). The front four consist of three sophomores and a junior. The strength of the front four is their run stopping ability, the weakness is their pass rush (it’s hard to even call it a weakness). The heart of the d-line is their interior. Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders both weigh in over 300lbs. There’s a lot of beef to stop the run. However, the gains you get in size you make up for in (lack of) speed. Marsh has a respectful 3 sacks on the year, but Sanders has none.
The strength of the Gators defense is their ends. Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham are the pass rushers of the group. The two account for 15 sacks, 22 tfl and 4 forced fumbles on the season. Cunningham and Dunlap are arguably the best defensive players the Gators have.
Florida led the SEC with their pass defense. They rank second in the country in interceptions (with 24). The success of the Gator pass defense comes from their outstanding DE play. As always, pressure = poor throwing decisions.
It will be fun to watch the big, aggressive Florida defensive line try to work around our big, aggressive offensive line.
It sounds cliche, but Florida does have speed all over the field when on defense. There will be a lot of one-on-one match-ups to watch, and Bradford will have to be spot on to move the ball against the Gators.
Report Card
Quarterback: Oklahoma (Personally, I’d rather have Sam than Tebow, but I also realize the threat Tebow brings to the table)
Running back: Oklahoma (Knowing that Murray will be healthy for the game just reinforces the advantage OU has at this position)
Receivers: Oklahoma (Percy Harvin is probably better than any single Sooner receiver, but the Sooners receiving corps is better than that of the Gators. Throw Gresham in there, and it’s no contest).
O-Line: Oklahoma (At this point, there is little doubt that Oklahoma has the best O-Line in the land).
D-line: Florida (Even with the return of English, Florida has one of the best defensive lines in cfb this year).
Linebackers: Florida (Florida’s ball hawking tackle happy LBs add to their defensive strength. We still have a hole at MLB).
Secondary: Florida (Although our safeties have stepped up their play, Florida is just too good not to give them the advantage)
Special Teams: Florida (Am I the only one that looks away on kick-offs and field goal attempts?)
I think it’s pretty clear that it’s going to end up being the Oklahoma offense versus the Florida defense. And, I think it’s again going to come down to how our defense performs. Given how they have stepped up for some big games recently, I think that they will take the few weeks they have and strengthen the areas of need. In the end, I think we do just enough on defense to win the game.
Oklahoma: 38
Florida: 31
The End:cool: