Breaking down the SEC East
Has Florida found a running back to take pressure off Tim Tebow? Who takes over at quarterback for South Carolina? How does Kentucky replace Andre' Woodson? Take a look at what questions were answered this spring and what problems linger heading into the fall.
Florida Gators
2008 Schedule
Aug. 30 Hawaii
Sept. 06 Miami (Fla.)
Sept. 20 @ Tennessee
Sept. 27 Mississippi
Oct. 04 @ Arkansas
Oct. 11 LSU
Oct. 25 Kentucky
Nov. 01 @ Georgia
Nov. 08 @ Vanderbilt
Nov. 15 South Carolina
Nov. 22 Citadel
Nov. 29 @ Florida State
2007 overall record:
9-4
2007 conference record:
5-3
Returning starters
Offense: 7, defense: 8, kicker/punter: 1
Top returners
QB Tim Tebow, WR Percy Harvin, TE Cornelius Ingram, OG Jim Tartt, OT Phil Trautwein, DE Jermaine Cunningham, LB Brandon Spikes
Key losses
WR Andre Caldwell, OT Carlton Medder, C Drew Miller, DE Derrick Harvey, NT Clint McMillan, SS Tony Joiner, PK Joey Ijjas
2007 statistical leaders (* returners)
Rushing: Tim Tebow* (895 yds)
Passing: Tim Tebow* (3,286 yds)
Receiving: Percy Harvin* (858 yds)
Tackles: Brandon Spikes* (131)
Sacks: Derrick Harvey (8.5)
Interceptions: Tony Joiner/Wondy Pierre-Louis* (2)
Spring answers
1. Rainey emerges: Is it possible to have too many playmakers? Florida coach Urban Meyer sure doesn't think so, and the Gators found another one this spring in running back Chris Rainey. Meyer said Rainey's going to be starting somewhere. It's just a matter of where. He scored on a nifty 65-yard touchdown catch in the Gators' spring game.
2. Sack patrol: With Derrick Harvey leaving early for the NFL, one of the priorities this spring was finding a pass-rusher. Sophomore Carlos Dunlap, with four sacks in the spring game, showed that he's ready to step up and become a dominant finisher off the edge. He has all the tools to be a great one, and when he becomes a little more consistent playing the run, look out.
3. Growing pains: The Gators were painfully young in the secondary last season, and it showed in their inability to defend the pass (last in the SEC in pass defense). But after playing as true freshmen, cornerback Joe Haden and safety Major Wright came back this spring and played more instinctively. Junior cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis is also back, giving Florida three returning starters in the secondary who played a lot of football last season.
Fall questions
1. Protecting Tebow: It will be interesting to see if the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner can manage to take fewer hits in 2008. Part of what makes him so great is his fearlessness to take off and run. But the Gators need more production from their running backs, if for nothing else, to keep Tebow from being hit so much. Who knows what would have happened had he not been limited by a shoulder injury against Georgia last season?
2. Manning the interior: There isn't much depth at defensive tackle. It's to the point that Meyer has said more than once that the countdown has begun for true freshman Omar Hunter's arrival on campus. The Gators are probably going to have to play several younger players at tackle, while hoping that a few of the holdovers elevate their play considerably in the fall.
3. Tebow's understudy: Meyer said he wants to play two quarterbacks, which would further help to keep Tebow fresh. There wasn't much separation between Cameron Newton and John Brantley in the spring. They get a chance to prove themselves all over again in the fall.
