Question: Will ANY team in the SEC East challenge Florida in the next five years? - Page 3

PDX Gator · October 28th, 2009, 01:09 PM

	Quote:	Tradition4ever
	If UT, USC, or UGA want to challenge the Gators, next year will be a prime year to do so. The Gators not only lose the modern day Messiah at QB, they also will probably lose key OL personnel, WR personnel, the Hernandez TE, and a slew of defensive personnel. It truly will be a rebuilding effort for the Gators.

Actually, this gator thinks that 2011 is where the big rebuilding effort will come.

Next year UF does lose Tebow, MLB Spikes, DE Cunningham and could lose up to 5 early entry juniors including at CB, DE, OG, C and TE...

but UF is still a pretty young, deep team and even assuming EVERY Junuior that could leave does leave, still returns:

..all of its DTs...

...3 good LBs with lots of starting experience...

...all of its safeties and an ALL SEC CB in Janoris Jenkins..

4 returning starting OL....

..all of its TBs...

UF will need to replace its DEs, a C and WRs, and of course the QB,that is about it...

As a whole, UF will return 8 starters on D and 5 on O, IMO if the QB plays well, UF should win the East again, UT loses a good bit more than UF...

GulfCoastTider · October 28th, 2009, 01:14 PM

	Quote:	PDX Gator
	Actually, this gator thinks that 2011 is where the big rebuilding effort will come. Next year UF does lose Tebow, MLB Spikes, DE Cunningham and could lose up to 5 early entry juniors including at CB, DE, OG, C and TE... but UF is still a pretty young, deep team and even assuming EVERY Junuior that could leave does leave, still returns: ..all of its DTs... ...3 good LBs with lots of starting experience... ...all of its safeties and an ALL SEC CB in Janoris Jenkins.. 4 returning starting OL.... ..all of its TBs... UF will need to replace its DEs, a C and WRs, and of course the QB,that is about it... As a whole, UF will return 8 starters on D and 5 on O, IMO if the QB plays well, UF should win the East again, UT loses a good bit more than UF...

Yeah, UT could very well stink up the place next year. They are recruiting well, but they are at least two years from the kind of depth and experience they'll need to make a run (assuming their coach gets potty trained and grows out of his temper, that is).

Tell me, PDX. There is a lot of speculation here (and on other forums) regarding how a post-Tebow Florida fares next season. The camps are divided about evenly three ways:

1. Huge drop-off; major rebuilding.
2. Not much of a drop-off, still win the East.
3. Measurable drop-off, but still contends for the East (how I see it).

Your thoughts, please.

Alasippi · October 28th, 2009, 02:02 PM

Even though Florida runs the same spread offense Meyer has always run they have built their their offensive game plans around Tebows abilities. Therefore, it doesn't matter who replaces him, they're basically starting from scratch on offense because they don't have another Tebow waiting in the wings. Nowhere close.

Defensively, they'll be very good. They have athletes.

But without Tebow, I can't see them being dominant in any way form or fashion.

I think it'll go back to how it was for years when UT would win it, then Georgia, then Florida, then UT, and possibly South Carolina. In other words
it'll start being one of the most competitive divisions in college football again.

sip

MegaVars · October 28th, 2009, 02:08 PM

I don`t think UT can do it next year. They lose 8 starters on their offense including Crompton & Hardesty. I know Crompton had a terrible first half, but if he was the best they had then next year at QB could be an adventure. Their center is the only returning starter on the O-line. On defense they lose both DT and all of their LB`s and I assume Berry will turn pro. Next year could be a very ugly season for them.

bamagradinATL · October 28th, 2009, 02:15 PM

	Quote:	92tide
	ever since Herschel left, UGA has had the next "big thing" waiting in the wings. ill believe it when i see it. i don't think they are gravitating towards being soft, they are soft and alot of it started two years ago when richt started relying on gimmicks to try and win games.

I have been in Atlanta 10 years and I have heard the same thing every year, but nothing materializes on the field.

Bamabuzzard · October 28th, 2009, 02:20 PM

I think you'll see more of the offense Meyer ran while at Utah. Alex Smith was more in the mold of Brantley than Tebow and Meyer's offense still was potent.

	Quote:	Alasippi
	Even though Florida runs the same spread offense Meyer has always run they have built their their offensive game plans around Tebows abilities. Therefore, it doesn't matter who replaces him, they're basically starting from scratch on offense because they don't have another Tebow waiting in the wings. Nowhere close. Defensively, they'll be very good. They have athletes. But without Tebow, I can't see them being dominant in any way form or fashion. I think it'll go back to how it was for years when UT would win it, then Georgia, then Florida, then UT, and possibly South Carolina. In other words it'll start being one of the most competitive divisions in college football again. sip

MegaVars · October 28th, 2009, 02:20 PM

	Quote:	bamagradinATL
	I have been in Atlanta 10 years and I have heard the same thing every year, but nothing materializes on the field.

They need to put cardboard down on Sanford stadium `cause the Bulldogs always look good on paper.

twofbyc · October 28th, 2009, 02:30 PM

I don't think the lizards are as good on D next year, and that's by a good bit; I do not think they have the #1 or 2 d in the country next year.
Offense, they have a freshman who was hurt before the season who is supposed to be Harvin 2.0. If they have any others to go with him, they should be able to put up points.

red55 · October 28th, 2009, 02:40 PM

Georgia and Tennessee will continue to challenge Florida. Both are recruiting well, and Georgia at least has a proven winner at head coach. Florida is not anointed to win forever and Tebow's departure will cause a huge drop-off next year.

Tradition4ever · October 28th, 2009, 02:44 PM

	Quote:	PDX Gator
	Actually, this gator thinks that 2011 is where the big rebuilding effort will come. Next year UF does lose Tebow, MLB Spikes, DE Cunningham and could lose up to 5 early entry juniors including at CB, DE, OG, C and TE... but UF is still a pretty young, deep team and even assuming EVERY Junuior that could leave does leave, still returns: ..all of its DTs... ...3 good LBs with lots of starting experience... ...all of its safeties and an ALL SEC CB in Janoris Jenkins.. 4 returning starting OL.... ..all of its TBs... UF will need to replace its DEs, a C and WRs, and of course the QB,that is about it... As a whole, UF will return 8 starters on D and 5 on O, IMO if the QB plays well, UF should win the East again, UT loses a good bit more than UF...

Sounds as if there is enough talent that could potentially return next season to once again be a top notch D. But, what do you think are the chances that you guys can retain the services of Charlie Strong? I mean, surely he's got to be on some school's radar as a potential HC, or at least on some NFL team's radar as a D Coordinator. If not, then I would have to believe he's the new Norm Chow of the interview room....

Tradition4ever · October 28th, 2009, 02:46 PM

	Quote:	Bamabuzzard
	I think you'll see more of the offense Meyer ran while at Utah. Alex Smith was more in the mold of Brantley than Tebow and Meyer's offense still was potent.

I don't know that much about Brantley, but I've read that he is much more of a pocket passer type of QB. Alex Smith wasn't Tebow as far as being a brute runner type, but Smith was pretty mobile. Is Brantley considered very mobile as well? At least as mobile as Smith?

And as far as the poster's who said that Meyer won the NC in 2006 with Chris Leak, thus proving that he can do it without Tebow, well, you may be right, but consider this: the SEC coaches didn't have a lot of experience in defending this Meyer Spread in 2006. Now, they do. Eventually, these defensive coaches catch up to these hot offenses, and I think that's what has happened to UF this year, to a certain extent. What still makes them special, and separates them in close games at crucial times, is Tebow. I'm not saying that UF is going to be pedestrian on offense next season, but there has been this weird sense of invincibility in the air around the Gators, and I think that radiates from the belief that when it comes down to that crucial moment, on that play when the Gators absolutely need that first down, or need to drive the field to score 6, that Tebow is going to come through and deliver. We'll see how the Gators respond when Tebow is no longer there to deliver them.

PDX Gator · October 28th, 2009, 02:55 PM

	Quote:	Tradition4ever
	Sounds as if there is enough talent that could potentially return next season to once again be a top notch D. But, what do you think are the chances that you guys can retain the services of Charlie Strong? I mean, surely he's got to be on some school's radar as a potential HC, or at least on some NFL team's radar as a D Coordinator. If not, then I would have to believe he's the new Norm Chow of the interview room....

Good point, UF could lose its DC based on all the media storm about why Charlie Strong hasn't been hired...

..to be honest, and I do not know him personally at all, C Strong strikes me as a little too gruff and not enough of an outgoing personality to be a great head coach...

..but if its his dream to head coach, I hope he gets his shot...

92tide · October 28th, 2009, 03:05 PM

	Quote:	bamagradinATL
	I have been in Atlanta 10 years and I have heard the same thing every year, but nothing materializes on the field.

i cannot stand UGA, and it is because i have had to put up with this stuff for over 15 years. they're primarily whimpering about SEC ref conspiracies now.

i hope florida makes the cocktail party look like a rockettes show in a donkey barn ......

an arse kicking extravaganza