Adams: Gators only short on soft spots

HOOVER, Ala. - Florida coach Urban Meyer was asked Thursday if quarterback Tim Tebow had any annoying habits.

Sure, it was a silly question. But as any experienced journalist can attest, silly questions sometimes produce insightful responses.

Unfortunately, for the pen-pushing participants at SEC football media days, this wasn't one of those times.

Instead, Meyer simply went blank. He then assured the questioner, who obviously was pursuing a Tebow-isn't-perfect story, that his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback did indeed have annoying habits. Meyer just couldn't think of any in his limited time on the dais.

College football's general populace is also struggling to find anything wrong with the Gators. They're virtually a unanimous pick to repeat as national champions.

That pick is reinforced with almost every preseason ranking, poll and survey.

n Florida's defensive line, secondary and linebacking corps all have been ranked No. 1 in the country by at least one preseason publication.

n One preseason publication ranked Florida first in the conference at quarterback, receiver, defensive line, secondary and linebacker.

n Seventeen Florida players have made first-, second-, or third-team All-SEC in the various preseason polls.

n The Birmingham News polled its readers to rank the SEC coaches. Alabama's Nick Saban finished second to Meyer.

I don't have a poll to back me up, but I'm convinced that Florida's defense is so talented and deep, the large majority of its second-team players could start for at least a third of the SEC teams. And that might be a conservative estimate.

But for all of Florida's strengths, it's not without questions on offense (and I'm not referring to Tebow's annoying habits).

Never mind how good tight end Aaron Hernandez might be. Having lost both Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, Florida has yet to establish a go-to wide receiver.

"We didn't answer that in the spring," Meyer said. "I didn't walk out of there in the spring saying, 'You're the guy.' "

He's not lacking in candidates. Deonte Thompson, Carl Moore, David Nelson and Frankie Hammond all arrived at Florida with great expectations. And incoming freshman Andre Debose, who excelled as a runner and receiver in high school, has been compared to Harvin.

The loss of Harvin is compounded by his dual role. He was Florida's best runner as well as its best receiver.

Without him, the Gators again will feature a corps of running backs, including speedsters Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey, plus former Southern California starter Emmanuel Moody.

Although Florida led the SEC in rushing last season - thanks, in part, to Tebow's contributions - running back by committee isn't part of Meyer's grand plan.

"We're looking for that all-day, every-day tailback," he said. "We've not had that quality that we expect at Florida."

At times, Moody looks like the solution. He's quick, strong enough to break tackles and has exceptional balance. But he has been susceptible to minor injuries, which have contributed to his being no more than a part-time player at Florida.

The Gators have won two national championships under Meyer without that every-day tailback. They're so strong in so many other areas, they could win a third even if no running back or receiver emerges from the pack.

The schedule is more favorable than last season's or in Florida's 2006 championship run. And there's no hint of complacency, based on the team's reportedly gung-ho commitment to another intense off-season conditioning program.

Meyer, who had an unbeaten team at Utah in addition to his two national champions at Florida, summed up this team's potential in one sentence.

"I've never been more anxious to coach a football team," he said.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.