The Keys To Success

[Neo]

http://www.sectalk.com/boards/images/logos/Florida.gifFive keys to season.


By: Edgar Thompson
www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs


Everyone has their list in mind from Urban Meyer to me and you.

What five things do the Gators need to do for this season to be a success?

Here’s my list. What’s yours?

Better red-zone defense. Opponents cashed in 80.5 percent of the time inside Florida’s 20-yard line - to rank ninth in the SEC. Of the 28 scores (in 35 trips inside the 20), 24 were touchdowns, most in the league besides Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

Protect the QB. Last season, Chris Leak was sacked 32 times, suffered a shoulder injury at Alabama and managed only one TD pass in four games against Top 25 SEC teams. If the Gators’ revamped line, with four new starters, doesn’t markedly improve, Leak’s career could end on the sidelines.

Pressure QBs with the front four. Florida had 33 sacks in 2005, but only 19 1/2 from the line. With DEs Jarvis Moss and Ray McDonald, the Gators hope to blitz less and make a consistent push up front to ease the burden on a secondary with three new starters, including both cornerbacks.

Get a leg up on Steve Spurrier. Spurrier-led South Carolina upset the more-talented Gators in Columbia last November and cost them the SEC East title. Urban Meyer can’t afford to loss to the Ol’ Ball Coach Nov. 11 in The Swamp. The Gamecocks program should only improve in the coming seasons, so Florida needs to show Spurrier and potential SC recruits that last season was a fluke.

Don’t look ahead. The schedule features eight bowls teams from 2005, including visits to Tennessee, Auburn and Florida State, and home games against Alabama, LSU and Spurrier. The Cocktail Party against Georgia rounds out one of the nation’s toughest lineups. Meyer and his staff must make sure their players don’t let human nature creep in and look ahead.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/ufblog/entries/2006/08/28/five_keys_to_season.html

[shanksta13]

Excellent post Neo. I think question numvers 1 and 3 should be answered by a Defensive line that should be nothing less than stellar. Our defensive line returns Jarvis Moss, who is probably one of the preseason favorites for DPOY. We also have a pretty good secondary, although thin at the CB spot. Our linebacking corp should also be solid behind the leadership of Brandon Siler, but we can't afford to lose anymore players there.

I think what all of this tells you is that Florida's defense will keep the team in games if the offense isn't rolling on all cylinders. I think the line alone should be enough to confound opposing quarterbacks, which should allow us to drop back against the pass against teams that will likely go to the air (namely USC). This should also help us to shore up our goalline defense and limit opponents to just 3 pts. many times when they enter the red zone.

I think the biggest problem for this team will be the one brought up in question number 2. This is the concern over our battered and inexperienced Offensive Line. If they can hold then the offense should pick up where it left off in 2005. If not, then our running backs will get pounded in the backfield and Leak could well end up with a headset on rather than a helmet.

In response to the question of whether or not we will be able to handle Spurrier this year, I must say I am about 50/50. Parts of me want to think that we will be 100% ready for this game and will defensively hound the Cocks into plenty of offensive mistakes and turnovers. The other side of me knows exactly what Steve Spurrier is capable of and is a little bit worried with all of the good signs the Gamecocks are getting right now. Either way, it should be a helluva homecoming for Spurrier in The Swamp. Our schedule is undoubtedly one of the toughest in the country, but I don't think that Urban Meyer will have any trouble keeping this bunch focused.

[GeauxTo]

Urban Meyer can’t afford to lose to the Ol’ Ball Coach Nov. 11 in The Swamp.



Man, that says it all. If Darth Visor beats DisturbinUrban again, and in Gainesville, you can kiss the golden boy "in bed with the spread" goodbye!

[SHOCKTOP]

That would make Urban cry, wouldn't it? Not good for his reputation at all.
Bad thing is, Spurrier has nothing to lose since the Gators will be favored,
so he can pull out all the stops.