Florida Strategy and Personnel
2008 OUTLOOK: A quick look at Florida's coaching changes tells you what areas were targeted for improvement by head coach Urban Meyer. If new assistants Dan McCarney (defensive line), Vance Bedford (cornerbacks) and Kenny Carter (running backs) make even modest improvements, the Gators could challenge Georgia for SEC East supremacy and a BCS berth. The schedule is no cakewalk, but after navigating the nation's toughest schedule in 2006 and third toughest in 2007, at least the 2008 slate sets up favorably with three weeks between games against Tennessee (Sept. 20), LSU (Oct. 11) and Georgia (Nov. 1).
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: On Aug. 30, Hawaii becomes the first opponent to find out what happens when you add even more wrinkles to a dynamic spread offense that already features a record-setting Heisman Trophy winner and NFL-caliber talent at every skill position. Meyer promises to return to a two-quarterback system, with Cam Newton relieving Tim Tebow. Florida experimented with the no-huddle and adding a fullback this spring and added two-tight end formations to make full use of senior Cornelius Ingram and sophomore Aaron Hernandez. Tebow and WR Percy Harvin (if healthy) will still get plenty of carries, but the tailback talent is there to give Meyer his first 1,000-yard rusher in Gainesville.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: With eight returning starters, the experience level is off the charts compared to last season. Nine of the top 12 tacklers are back and the defensive players have combined for 103 starts; entering 2007, only two of the top 12 tacklers were back and the Gators had just 36 combined career starts. Junior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes was already in midseason form this spring and could be an All-American this fall. The secondary almost has to be better after allowing an SEC-worst 258.5 passing yards per game last season. Sophomore Joe Haden leads a deep unit of seven cornerbacks who could all contribute. Sophomore safety Major Wright proved last year he can deliver the big hits, but he worked on technique this spring to reduce his missed tackles.
SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: The Gators have attempted just one field goal of 50 yards or longer in the past two seasons, and the longest make in that span is 43 yards. That will change with the arrival of freshman Caleb Sturgis, whose leg power was ranked No. 1 among prep recruits by Rivals.com. Sturgis boomed 60-yarders this spring. Return specialist Brandon James is one of the best in the business. He was second in the nation in punt returns (18.1-yard average) and second in the SEC in kickoff returns (28.0) last season. Sophomore punter Chas Henry improved his consistency this spring and launched the longest punt (64 yards) in Florida spring game history.
ROSTER REPORT:
--True freshman and early enrollee Matt Patchan (6-6, 238) moved from offensive guard to the defensive line, where he showed enough strength and versatility to play both tackle and end. The five-star recruit impressed defensive line coach Dan McCarney with his energetic, aggressive style.
"There is no question he'll play,"
McCarney said. "There might be a possibility he'll be starting in that first game."
His spring wasn't all positives, though.
Patchan was shot in the shoulder at a park near Tampa. Details of the shooting weren't immediately known. He's expected to make a complete recovery.
--Jamar Hornsby stands accused of using a credit card belonging to Ashley Slonina, who is deceased.
Hornsby, 21, was arrested on a warrant in Gainesville. Slonina died in a motorcycle accident in 2007 as a passenger of Michael Guilford, a redshirt freshman on the Gators' football roster, who also died in the accident.
--Injuries were in full bloom this spring. Players sidelined for all or part of the training camp included: WR Percy Harvin (heel), WR Louis Murphy (staph infection, headaches), WR Carl Moore (ankle), OL Phil Trautwein (ankle), OL Jim Tartt (shoulder), DT Javier Estopinan (knee), QB John Brantley (shoulder, hand) and LB Ryan Stamper (shoulder).
