The anemic passing game is my big concern too. How far can we really go as a one-dimensional team? Don't we have anybody we can count on to catch the ball?
On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Woody <[email protected]> wrote: > Florida is an enigma, like 2006 > October, 15, 2012 > Oct 15 > 12:05 > PM ET > By Edward Aschoff <http://search.espn.go.com/edward-aschoff/> | ESPN.com > > Halfway through the 2012 season, the comparisons are already coming: Is > this Florida team destined to repeat what it accomplished in 2006? > > It sounds crazy, it really does, but the similarities are there. The > offense isn’t exactly pretty, but the defense is stellar. Both running > games have bulls in the backfield (2006 had a young Tim Tebow and power > back DeShawn Wynn). Urban Meyer used more of a pounding spread, while Will > Muschamp (also in his second year, like Meyer) has his team grinding along > and outplaying everyone in the second half. > > [+] Enlarge > [image: Chris > Leak]<http://espn.go.com/photo/2012/1015/ncf_g_leak_bl_400.jpg>Bob > Leverone/Sporting News via Getty ImagesChris Leak was a legitimate threat > throwing the ball for the 2006 Florida team, something that lacks in this > season's version. > The 2006 team didn't really feel like a true national championship > contender halfway through the season because it never blew anyone away with > the offense dragging along. > > But somehow, the wins kept piling up, as toughness, not flash, got it done > ... just like this year's team. > > But can these Gators make a run to the national championship, or even the > SEC championship? Can a team that has averaged 69 passing yards in its past > two games really make it through the rest of its SEC schedule and beyond? > > So far a mediocre passing game has been enough with that tremendous > defense and rugged running game. But for this team to get on the 2006 > team’s level, some things have to change, especially with No. 7 South > Carolina venturing into the Swamp on Saturday. > > For starters, the Gators have to be a threat to throw. In 2006, Chris > Leak, who eventually became Florida’s all-time leading passer, was very > much a passing threat. He didn’t throw for a lot of yards, averaging just > 210 yards a game, but defenses had to account for a balanced Gators > offensive attack. > > This year’s team doesn’t really have that in Jeff > Driskel<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/511889/jeff-driskel>. > He’s a tremendous athlete and can throw a good ball, but he’s averaging > just 139 yards a game and has four touchdown passes. > > Now, Driskel doesn’t have the receiving threats Leak had. Frankie Hammond > Jr.<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/381280/frankie-hammond>, > Quinton > Dunbar<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/503960/quinton-dunbar>, > Jordan > Reed<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/480262/jordan-reed>and > Andre > Debose<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/480211/andre-debose>just > don’t generate the same excitement as Percy Harvin, Andre Caldwell, > Dallas Baker and Cornelius Ingram. > > More from GatorNation > > [image: GatorNation] Everything Florida, from recruiting to news to game > coverage, is available at ESPN.com's > *GatorNation<http://espn.go.com/ncaa/florida/index> > .* > *More:* > • ESPN.com Recruiting > coverage<http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/> > • ESPN.com's SEC blog <http://espn.go.com/blog/sec> > Sure, the Gators haven’t exactly needed to throw the ball with their > running game and defense, but when Driskel *has* to pass against good > defenses, will he be able to? It’s still a mystery, and that has to be > concerning. > > When you compare the defenses, the pass rushes are very different. The > 2006 team had Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey, who combined for 18.5 sacks. > That team had 34 sacks. This one has just 12. Quick passing teams hurt > Florida’s pass rush to start the year, but it has to be more consistent in > SEC play. > > This year’s team does win the kicking battle with All-American hopeful Caleb > Sturgis<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/378619/caleb-sturgis>, > and you could argue that the running game is stronger with Mike > Gillislee<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/480255/mike-gillislee>. > > > Even with Tebow and Harvin helping out Wynn, those Gators averaged 160 > rushing yards a game. Having more of a passing game cut into the rushing > numbers, but Wynn wasn’t Gillislee, who leads all SEC running backs with > 615 rushing yards and is one of only two backs to average 100 or more yards > a game (102.5). Wynn finished the 2006 season with just 699 yards. > > [+] Enlarge > [image: Mike > Gillislee]<http://espn.go.com/photo/2012/1006/rn_u_mikegillislee1_ms_400.jpg>Kim > Klement/US PresswireMike Gillislee is averaging 5.1 yards per carry this > season. > Add Driskel, Omarius > Hines<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/381297/omarius-hines>, > Solomon > Patton<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/501539/solomon-patton>and > Trey > Burton<http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/503955/trey-burton>, > and these Gators are second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 233.3 yards > per game and 236 in conference play. > > When it comes to points, both teams are pretty even. The 2006 team > averaged 29 points and gave up 9.5 through the first six games (all wins as > well), while this year’s team is scoring 27.8 and allowing 12.3. This > year’s team is also averaging around 20 yards fewer (378.3) and giving up > 40 more yards (297.2). > > So the similarities are obvious, but this team doesn’t have the experience > the 2006 team had, and you have to wonder if that will eventually catch up > to it. > > I have to admit I was very surprised to see Florida at No. 2 in the first > BCS standings. Don’t get me wrong, the Gators have been impressive with > those back-to-back SEC road wins, the second-half pushes, the win over LSU, > and that defense and running game. > > But No. 2? > > In the right light, is this Florida team really a 2 or is it more like a > 4, or even a 5? We’ll find out with South Carolina and Georgia next. > > Florida might be a tough team to truly figure out, but the 6-0 start is a > pleasant surprise. A team that was expected to be nothing more than a > distant third in the East could be playing in Atlanta in early December. > > That’s something the 2006 team would be very proud of. > > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions > 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions > 2008 National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), > Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- Helen Huntley (727) 823-3801 www.helenhuntley.com -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
