DESTIN, Fla. - Florida football coach Urban Meyer might need a larger notepad this fall.
His pregame ritual as a head coach includes a listing of playmakers. He jots the names down just before he boards the team bus on game day.
"There was a time when the list stopped at two or three," Meyer said at the SEC meetings. "Now, it's going upwards to six, seven, eight nine."
The list begins with quarterback Tim Tebow, who helped the Gators win the national championship as a freshman and won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. Then comes wide receiver/running back Percy Harvin, who is recovering from heel surgery but is expected to be full speed by preseason practice. Meyer already is promoting Harvin as the Heisman successor to Tebow.
As if those two didn't pose enough problems for opposing defenses, Florida's spring game showcased Chris Rainey, another sprinter with Harvin-like acceleration and cutting ability, and Southern Cal transfer Emmanuel Moody, who rushed for 111 yards.
The Gators still have deluxe punt and kickoff returner Brandon James, and one of the best tight end tandems in the country in Cornelius Ingram and Aaron Hernandez.
Doodling has never been more fun for Meyer, who has a habit of drawing up plays in his spare time.
"To have a 10.4 100-meter guy that you're trying to get the football to, that's really enjoyable for me," Meyer said.
And he has more than one, which is just one of the reasons the Gators are a popular preseason pick to battle Georgia for the national title as well as for supremacy in the SEC East.
Rainey and Harvin both could line up as running backs alongside Tebow, or they could be on the field at the same time as slot receivers.
The Gators also have unusual versatility at tight end, where Ingram and Hernandez are big, athletic receivers. Ingram, a high school quarterback, could line up just about anywhere, but Meyer also intends to use him more as a traditional tight end - sometimes in a two-tight end set with Hernandez.
"CI (Ingram) will do a lot more this year," Meyer said. "But doing a lot more doesn't necessarily mean more catches."
Florida's assemblage of offensive talent is reminiscent of Steve Spurrier's national championship Gators in 1996 when he had Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel at quarterback; Fred Taylor at running back; and Reidel Anthony, Ike Hilliard and Jacquez Green at wide receiver.
Despite all that talent at skill positions, Meyer said, "The area I'm most impressed with is the offensive line."
Sure, he still has concerns about his lack of experience at defensive tackle. And a young secondary has to prove itself in a game. But Meyer isn't concealing his optimism.
"I think we could be real good," he said. "The areas of concern have improved."
His team's attitude also has improved.
"Our strength coach said the difference is night and day (between this off-season and last)," Meyer said. "They've got a little chip on their shoulder.
"It's real easy to coach a team that's angry. If a team is fat and happy, it's hard to motivate them."
Maybe that explains what happened to the Gators in their failed bowl venture against Michigan.
The Gators entered the Capital One Bowl on a four-game winning streak in which they had outscored their opposition 204-85. They were a solid favorite against the Wolverines, who pulled off a 41-35 upset.
That left the Gators with a 9-4 record, which qualifies as a successful season on a lot of college campuses, but not in Gainesville.
"Losing four games . . . That's embarrassing," freshman All-American guard Maurkice Pouncey told Gator Country magazine at the end of spring practice.
Then, his twin brother Mike, who helped shore up a struggling defensive front in the last month of the season, chimed in: "I don't ever want to go through that again.
Even in a four-loss season, Florida didn't exactly collapse. It just didn't win the close games, as it did in its 2006 national championship season. Its four losses were by a total of 25 points.
The disappointing season didn't damage Meyer's reputation for explosive offenses, either. Florida scored 42 or more points in eight of its 13 games and averaged 42.6 points per game for the season.
And its next offense should be even better.
So give the coach a bigger notepad and more time to doodle.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 93
txvolsfan writes:
Who Cares!!!
tigervol9802 writes:
"Losing four games . . . That's embarrassing," freshman All-American guard Maurkice Pouncey told Gator Country magazine at the end of spring practice.
---------------
Odd, I thought that losing four games was what was to be expected in this day of partiy in the SEC. Heck, I thought it was good enough to raise ticket prices and give the coach a raise! At least, that's what we're told in Knoxville.
Suddenly it's coming into clearer focus as to why we're coming up on ten years without a SEC title.......
mempuss writes:
Who cares about the Gators?
CoastGuardVol writes:
I watched "Under the Lights" on Fox Sports South tonight. It was a previoiusly aired show, but I just got to see it. I think that we look good especially with all of the changes on the offensive side of the ball. My bet is it is the VOLS that compete against Georgia for the east. Noone believed in us in 1998, and we shocked everybody. Go VOLS!!!
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
If we can win the first three games we will be in decent shape, a win against Georgia especially in Athens would really seal the deal for a decent Bowl Bid. Of course we need to win all the Conference games that we should win, especially Bama and Kentucky. Auburn is going to be a spoiler this year and are gonna figure into tie breakers and silly loses for a few teams.
Out OOC schedule isn't very strong this year, so putting a beat down on UCLA is almost a must.
Best plan for the season would probably be to just go Undefeated, but it is going to be hell to get to the SEC Championship without at least one defeat for any team in the SEC.
TommyJack writes:
The article stresses how the Gators will be improved and all I see above is ridicule?? I must be missing something regarding our history with them.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hard to concentrate on Fla with a trip West looming right after the doldrums.
LVEight Times is right about UCLA. Can't, just can't screw that up on Natl TV.
Hot summer awaits.
givehim6 writes:
John (Gators) Adams..
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Man! That 96 team was stacked huh? FLorida will be better but you can throw all that out the window. It's a rivalry game and anybody can rise up on that day.
If TN can put some points on the board early, Neyland will be a tough cookie to crack!!
FlushTheJohn writes:
John Adams is a Gay tor!
99gator writes:
one of the things in this article is key.
the BIG problem stopping this offense will be, not just how good they are in and of itself, but how versatile they are.
they can line up in several formations with the same personnel grouping. which is something that will drive d-coord's nuts.
they can go five wide, two wide two tight and one back, one back four wide, two backs one tight two wide, etc, etc, etc, with the same personnel group.
so does a defense go dime, nickel, normal, etc. the personnel that florida has in the game won't tip off anything.
tigervol9802 writes:
nicks -
We said that in 96 too. Next think I knew it was 35-0 Florida.......
Thing is - Meyer won't let up at all. If he can score 70 here, he would love it.
tigervol9802 writes:
99 -
With our lack of D-tackle depth and approximately 27 defensive backs, you'll probably get a heavy dose of the feared Mustang package (6 DB) all day anyway.
phooey, now that I think about it, maybe the Gators are the one team that can play into our strenghts this year.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
hmmm???? fla has 3 coaches in the same time we've had fulmer and they have 2 NC... 4 or 5 true sec titles( maybe more)............ and they are mad about a 4 loss season.... anyone see the difference in expectations??? tn want the same on guy walking the sideline(because he represents something good for tn) even if he loses and lucks into a couple CG's(but loses)and fla expects to really compete for NC and SEC... now who wants to keep fulmer beyone the next 2 years???? at most????
he better step it up and win a championship SOON!!!
Harrygh writes:
Adam’s reasoning seems to be valid. The gators scored a lot of points last year and lost
very little from the offensive. Why do so many responders to this article seem so
homophobic? What does that have to do with football or the upcoming season? Why not
have a rational discussion of their defensive shortcomings or the improvement of UT’s
offensive?
Alumni_06 writes:
Where did scoring all those points get Florida last year?
Pullingguard writes:
Why all the anger at Adams, he is only attempting to broaden the outlook of what is to be expected of Florida.. It should be appreciated, then if they beat or destroy the Vols you knew it would happen in advance. (But surely that will not happen, for Vols should be improved) Good article and all John wants is a better versed and understanding of the potential facing the Vols this season...
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Meyey said "fat and happy". This pretty much describes Foolmore post 1998.
99gator writes:
i'll pretend to be a negavol for a second.
yes, even though "florida scored all those points", tenn won the east division. where did that get tenn? it got them to atlanta. then what?
in addition, tenn also had less points scored than points allowed within the conference last season. that is usually bad news. i guarantee no winner of a division in the conference will ever have less points scored than points allowed in league games again.
the difference between tennessee now and in the 90's. in the 90's, a few breaks here in there led to a conference title or a national title. now, a truck load of fairy dust and favorable field goal scenarios still get four losses with a couple of them being blowouts.
and as a word of caution, because there is a healthy respect for florida on this board (and absolutely none for georgia).....enjoy the "we own georgia" vibe while it lasts. i am more confident in georgia beating tenn this season than i am florida beating tenn.
VolHooch42 writes:
Harry---
Tell you why! Simple as this....
Adams tells it like it is, & in some of these posters worlds, there is NO room for "rational".
IMO....07' was a "rebuilding" year for Florida, & like it or not, they are STILL the measuring stick in the east. I agree with DCFlorida...I think the score could be tight this year, but it will because of Eric Berry & the rest of our secondary that is obviously better.
One thing for sure...it's time for UT to win the SECC. We are overdue, & with the talent / facilities we have, I don't want to hear any more excuses from CPF & company. The thumpings we took from UF & UC, & Bama (friggin pathetic) are still fresh in my mind.
GO VOLS!
VolHooch42 writes:
One more thing....
I would hope to see more VOLS say...."I don't want to go through that again" re. those losses.
ncvol writes:
The reason we have so many team fans post on this site is because we continue to show articles concerning the different teams. This invites the war on words.
I think we can beat Florida, Georgia, Alabama and any team in the SEC. We are the Tennessee Volunteers and I for one will stand by them.
Phil Fulmer is one of the best and he has a winning record.
I hope we do win the SEC title this year and I know Phil wants the same.
nUTsack writes:
Our beloved VOLS must learn very fast this year. They have a lot to learn (offense)and it must happen quick. The defense will be the difference maker this year as we will rely on them to keep us in the game until the "O" finds itself.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Aaah, Fla hasn't faced the likes of our 2-9 "pecky bird" defense we'll throw at 'em this fall. They'll think they've stumbled into fire ants.
It'll be honed to perfection after crushing defeats of the Bruins and Blazers (?). Fla may not cross the 50.
5000 gallons of fresh available.
Already shipped 40,000 to the faithful. Glazed will be back in season in...
How long, Ashley?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Meant to mention good read at ajc.com. Go to sports and click on Bradley- column on predictions of SEC. Read responses from fans. Whew.
99gator writes:
dc
in a season where georgia has az state, auburn, florida, and lsu all away from home.....
they will absolutely, positively be ready to play at home, after a bye week against tennessee.
in my opinion, the target on the back thing is a bunch of garbage. give me the target every season. how's usc and ohio state doing in their conferences with a target on their back every season. florida state had a target on their back for over ten years and finished in the top 5 every year from 1987-2000. i bet they wish they had the target back. florida had the target on their back throughout the spurrier era. that was rough. having a target on your back is not a problem.
what is a problem is georgia's schedule. numerous ranked teams on the road is a problem. georgia can be every bit as good as a lot of pundits think and lose three games or so, which makes their home games that much more important....especially after a bye week.
Bigger_Al writes:
Adams thought about this article while walking the beach in jean shorts, brown socks, sandals, and an "I beat John Adams" t-shirt...
99gator writes:
dc
not disagreeing with any of that. and if that proves out to be true, it would be the fact that they aren't very good that would be the problem not "the target"
for argument's sake....georgia is a target of at least 4 teams yearly.....florida, tennessee, georgia tech, and auburn.
florida, auburn, and georgia tech hate georgia with a fire of 1,000 suns and can't stand losing to georgia.
tenn and georgia are not best friends either, especially now that, since 1992, the game is a big deal in terms of winning the division.
again, target is not the problem. problem is are they good enough to win with their schedule.
murrayvol writes:
99gator @12:01: "i guarantee no winner of a division in the conference will ever have less points scored than points allowed in league games again."
You (and others) may believe that with every fiber of your being but you can't guarantee it. Hell, Tennessee could do it again this year.
FlushTheJohn writes:
Yeah
pdhuff#552644 writes:
murrayvol 2:23 - you may be right,but lets all hope that's not in the charts.
I just hope Ga doesn't quit showing up against us looking like Ned in the 1st reader. How much heat have they saved Phil by being "duh" on game day vs the Vols?
Hope springs eternal....
invisiblekid writes:
They add a speedster and a transfer from USC on offense and we lose a top 10 draft pick to the NFL on defense. On paper it doesn't look real good for the Vols. I just hope the old addage about games not being played on paper holds true this year. Getting Morley back will help but it's up to the front seven to stop the Gator's offense. If the Vols defense doesn't come into this game with a major chip on their shoulders and a NASTY attitude, then Chavis should be fired on the spot. They don't have to be perfect but the deer in the headlights act they pulled last year is not acceptable.
To look at the other side of the equation though, I think the Vols offense will be much better as well. And despite all the complaints, they did put up 32 points a game with the chuck and duck and second half disappearances that helped make Cutcliffe famous. With Clawson coming in to break some of these 20 year old tendencies and a more agressive attitude, our offense could be pushing 40ppg as well.
invisiblekid writes:
99Gator, "again, target is not the problem. problem is are they good enough to win with their schedule." My answer to that question is no one, not USC, not Ohio ST, not LSU, NO ONE is good enough to get through that schedule unscathed. Maybe if they put those Cornhusker teams from the mid 90's back together, they could do it.
I have all the respect in the world for Richt and company, but it isn't a schedule,it's a gauntlet they have to make it through. Stafford is a good player but WR has been an ongoing question mark since his first start.
mdvol writes:
I-kid, I love your optimism but I'm going to bookmark your 40 ppg prediction! If we average 40, Fulmer will be holding a crystal football in January thanking the "loyal volunteers" in the stands again.
TommyJack writes:
volhooch42, 12:01 Why don't you find a new team to pull for, you loser/hater? You are a negative nellie and not a TRUE VOLS FAN. Why do you waste our time with the constant carping..does no good, harms recruiting. I, for one, will follow Coach Fulmer to the end of the earth. Where is your loyalty, you bama lovin, gator lovin, traitor. We don't need your opinion here, you loser. TRUE VOL FANS are with the team thru thick and thin. You make me sick.
99gator writes:
i've said it before and will say it again....
tenn will struggle more than people think offensively early in the season due to the new system. i think it takes time for any team to learn a new system.
in addition, while many here are willing to elect dave clawson president (considering the choices that may not be a bad idea) he is new to division I football. urban meyer got flack from coming from utah to florida, but there is no concern about a coach from richmond coming to the big time that is the SEC.
y'all can choose to heed this warning or dismiss it as gator kool-aid, but i think it's something y'all should keep in mind.
invisiblekid writes:
MDVol, what can I say man, the kool aid is good on a hot day spent outside wearing these orange-colored glasses. I will say that it wasn't a dead solid, "book it", prediction(notice the use of the word could). I also make that statement based on several assumptions: 1)Clawson is as good as advertised 2) A full year with G. Jones makes the WR's more of a threat along with some of the other young guys stepping up 3)Foster makes the most out of his senior year 4)Crompton steps in and meets expectations. You know what they say about assumptions though.
The other thing I'll comment on is your prediction that if we average 40, we will win a title. Given our defensive woes the past two years, I wouldn't count on anything. Sure, the secondary will be solid but who steps in for Mayo? Can our defensive line get better? There will be some addition by subtraction at the ends IMO but the ever popular subject of DT comes up yet again.
ONUV writes:
look at all these sheep attacking Adams.
our fan base is full of idiots. you've accepted that championships don't matter. just pretending to compete is good enough. vol walk, rocky top, checkerboards, running through the T, and our fans our content.
outermonvolia.com
invisiblekid writes:
99gator, can't speak for anyone else, but you don't need to warn me of anything. I am fairly cautious by nature. There is plenty of concern on my part about Clawson handling the pressure cooker of the SEC. I simply expect him to be successful early with his ability to adapt his offense to his players. The alternative is not something I want to think about at this point though.
Can't really count me as one of those who doubted Meyer when he showed up either as some of the old-timers going back to the pay site would attest. I never was one of those guys who blew off the spread option as never working in the SEC because it'll get the QB killed. At it's core, his offense is simply about getting the ball into his best player's hands which sounds a little familiar.
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks for the analysis mcBrim. Your very own Gators had a pedestrian defense last year and averaged 42 PPG. It's not worth looking up to include in a response to you, but I'd bet that FL was beaten in TOP and total plays more often than not as well. My point being, a team doesn't have to have a great defense to score on offense as you are saying, just ask Hawaii or Texas Tech.
Dawghater writes:
I hope everyone keeps building up the dawgs & gators...they can watch us go to Atlanta again.....Maybe we will "back in" again !!!!!!!!!
99gator writes:
invisible kid
pedestrian at times would be kind.
in honor of the city of miami, i think it was called the ole' defense.
DennisVols writes:
Meyers won a NC with a Zook squad and last year with his first recruiting class involved lost 4 games. UGA exposed UF's offense and a Mich. team whipped them in the bowl. Hit Tebow and hit him hard and UF offense just sputters.
This is superman Tebow's last year before he jumps ship in search of million$ so look for a little less running following the shoulder injury last year. UT's strong D-backs and more speed on our D-ends will shut this UF team down unlike last year. UT's more wide-open offense will not be easy to predict as it has been over the last decade. Crompton can stretch the field with his arm strength and by the end of the season we will be wondering why we had to wait so long to see this talented young man become our starter.
Go Vols!!!!!!!!!
cjraney writes:
pdhuff-Fire ants can be pretty persuasive.
TommyJack@4.48: You forgot poser.
mcbrim@5.53: You can't handle these corn squeezins. I'd say you're already hovering around 70I.Q. and this stuff will just send you right into a home for special people.
Don't care how many we score if Clawson will commit to the run and keep our defense fresh. This happens and we should have a chance to win any game on the schedule.
99gator writes:
another thing that i have said before that bears repeating.....as it will benefit both florida and tennessee.....
there should be defensive improvement throughout the league due to the fact that most offenses in the conference will be worse than in 2007.....florida and georgia are exceptions. i am not sold on tennessee until i see it. but, they are a possibility as well.
99gator writes:
sjt18
fastest lb corp florida faces.....tenn?
you know we play miami this year, right? perhaps, it may have slipped your mind that lsu is our yearly opponent from the sec west. in case you missed it, we play georgia, too. and just like miami, florida state (while the program is in the toilet) has defensive players and speed, particularly at lb. and if you have that kind of speed at lb, what the heck was that karl kid doing getting playing time in 2007?
i can make an argument for some other teams on the schedule, but stuck with the obvious choices.
Vol13 writes:
This thread is so comical I don't even know where to start.
The delusional Vol fans are embarassing those of us with a logical approach to the game of football. Please stop it. Only delusional Vol fans would try to get on here and claim that we'll beat a team who blasted us last year by 39 (and could have beaten us as badly as they had wanted to). I am sure the Florida fans and fellow SEC fans reading all of this are having a good laugh at our expense. Ever the optimists. Seldom backing it up.
Florida will donkey stomp us again this year. The margin of victory may not be 39 points. But if they show up to play it could be. UT has beaten the Gators 5 times since 1992. And it's not coincidental either. They are usually the better team, the more talented team, and the better prepared team. Sadly, less than 24 hours after the game we'll have delusional fans here and elsewhere saying that they really believe we'll beat Florida in 2009 when we play them in Gainesville and trying to justify it.
Tennessee will not win 8 games in 2008. New offense. New QB. OL that has to pass block for more than 1.0 second. Talk of playing 9-10 WR's in the rotation. Doing stupid stuff like starting Rogers over somebody like Gerald Jones because Rogers started last year and is older. So we have a talented secondary on paper. Big deal. Our DL is horrible with 5th year guys who couldn't beat out the terrible 5th year guys we had in 2007. Yet, suddenly our DL is much improved? LOL!!! Give me a break. To listen to some, we lose Mayo and now we're going to have the best LB corps in the SEC. ROTFL!!! Where do you people come up with this stuff? Morley as FS is a disaster waiting to happen. He'll get beat early and often back there by biting on fakes by the WR's and QB. Plus, you all are forgetting one thing - John Chavis is still coaching our defense.
Keep that Kool-Aid flowing boys.
GerryOP writes:
Sooooo, Vol13, how do you really think UT football will do in 2008?
TheVolMan writes:
Good article. We need to atone for a 39 (yes, 39) point whipping. The Vols can do it. The first step is to stop underestimating UM.
BTW, some Weenies are sticking to their JA boycott by posting here--LOL...
Vol13 writes:
Blow some more sunshine sjt. It's people like you who fail to see the gulf widening between teams like UT and UF.
Our only hope is to beat Georgia again. Right now that's all we have to hang our hat on. If we lose that, then I guess we can still be happy about warding off Vandy and Kentucky in the final seconds. Maybe we can fend off South Carolina for the 4th spot in the East while all of you try to explain how we're only 240 plays away from being the national champs!
I'm 100 times the Vol fan you are because I am willing to take off the blinders and see reality for what it is. If we have glaring holes, I am not going to turn a blind eye to them and just "hope with all my heart of hearts that the Vols will win because I love Tennessee." Being negative (i.e. realistic) does no more harm to what happens on the field then your blowing sunshine does to make the Vols win. So get over it.
Urban Meyer will beat Fulmer every time out. We've already faced the worst teams he'll have at UF. And lost every time.
We've also seen the best Fulmer teams and we have 2 SEC titles to show for it in 15 years time. But according to some - he's doing a dandy job and we should all be thankful to have him because he's from Tennessee and loves the Vols (sound familiar????). Meanwhile, other SEC teams are running off in the distance while we pat mediocrity on the back.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.