Can Florida Repeat?
The Florida Gators are ready to defend last season's football title
After losing several top players to the NFL and graduation, does Urban Meyer and his returning team have what it takes to repeat as national champions?
The 2006 Florida Gators clawed and scraped their way to a 12-1 regular season record and a SEC championship. Led by an unyielding defense, an inconsistent offense and an unwavering head coach, they arrived in Arizona as heavy underdogs. After a near flawless performance against highly regarded Ohio State and Heisman winner Troy Smith, they left as national champions.
But all of this is old news. The next question is, can they somehow do it again?
The odds are stacked against them. Since 1980, the only teams to have won consecutive championships are Nebraska (1994, 1995) and USC (2003, 2004). Tennessee (1998) and LSU (2003), the last two SEC national champions in the BCS era, both followed their title years with three loss seasons. A decade ago, Florida’s own attempt at a repeat fell short as they watched an opposing team win the SEC for the first time in five years.
If history isn’t on Florida’s side, then a roster stacked with talent signed by Meyer during the past few recruiting seasons certainly will be.
Tim Tebow, the freshman sensation who spelled Chris Leak with dazzling power runs and the occasional touchdown pass, will take over at quarterback. A burgeoning talent, Tebow will have to master running an offense full-time and show he has the ability to lead the team with both his arm and legs. Although admired for his physical running style and hunger for contact, it’s imperative he avoid some of those bigger hits this season since depth at the position is inexperienced.
An offensive line that was much maligned at various points of last year only loses one starter, although it’s hard to determine whether that’s a good or bad sign for the future. Based on how well the unit performed against Ohio State, for now assume the former.
Kestahn Moore will replace the up and down DeShawn Wynn at running back, but true freshman Chris Rainey will be given a chance to make an impact once he arrives in August.
Despite losing starters Dallas Baker and Jemalle Cornelius, the receiver position is stocked with speed and explosiveness. Percy Harvin was one of the most dazzling freshmen of the 2006 season and should put up much bigger numbers with an increased offensive role and a clean bill of health.
Senior receiver Andre Caldwell, who elected not to turn pro, will provide a steady veteran target for Tebow to trust in. Youngsters Riley Cooper, Jarred Fayson and David Nelson will all fight for receptions as the third or fourth receiver. Florida won a hotly-contested recruiting war with Miami (FL) to sign the services of local product Deonte Thompson, who could make an immediate impact with his speed.
The defense is where many more question marks appear.
Defensive end Jarvis Moss, linebacker Brandon Siler and safety Reggie Nelson were all arguably the most important players at each level of the defense. All three decided to skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft. Nelson appears to be the biggest loss, as his game-saving interceptions and big plays would have covered up a lot of mistakes by two new starting corners and a retooled front seven.
Fortunately for defensive co-coordinator Charlie Strong, Derrick Harvey elected to return after an impressive finish to his redshirt sophomore year. The 6’4, 260 pound defensive end displayed a scary blend of speed and athleticism during the national championship game against Ohio State and should be the centerpiece of a rebuilding defense.
Meyer recently signed a pair of the nation’s top defensive lineman in Torrey Davis and Carlos Dunlap, but true freshmen have historically struggled breaking in at one of the most demanding positions in the SEC.
Markihe Anderson and Jacques Rickerson will likely be the new starting duo at cornerback. Rickerson, one of the highest rated cornerbacks of the 2006 high school class, should benefit from the redshirt he took last season.
The successor to all-everything Nelson at safety is unclear at this point. Senior Kyle Jackson was a starter at the start of 2005 and flashed plenty of talent. True freshmen Major Wright and Jerimy Finch, both highly recruited high school safeties, also might end up seeing the field.
The situation at linebacker is even more dire. The entire starting unit departs, with a mix of talented but inexperienced and unproven youngsters taking their place. Brandon Spikes appears to be the heir apparent at middle linebacker as he tries to replace the tenacious play and leadership of the departed Siler.
Lastly, the schedule. Only a few teams had a harder road to the Glendale last year than Florida and this year will be hardly any different. The Gators will welcome Tennessee, Auburn and Florida State to The Swamp and replace Alabama with a trip to Ole Miss.
Away games at LSU, Kentucky and South Carolina all loom large. LSU is one of the early favorites for the 2007 title and will be aiming for revenge after Florida spoiled their hopes in 2006.
Meyer remains a master motivator and has cemented his reputation as one of game’s premier coaches with a national title in only his second season at Florida. In a role reversal from last year, his multi-faceted offense will be counted on to carry a young defense through any rough spots or growing pains. However, a daunting list of opponents and the weight of being the hunted leaves little margin for error.
Common logic says the Gators will be one of the nation’s best teams, but not good enough to play for it all again in New Orleans. Another daunting schedule and severe personnel losses on the defensive side of the ball will be too much to overcome. Meyer probably welcomes these notions, building up the pessimism from outsiders before feeding it to his players. It’s nothing new to them.
Florida has shocked the entire nation before. How about an encore?
