2010 - Gator Offense Look'n Good, REAL GOOD

As you can see above the 2010 Florida Gators have the weapons on offense and play makers on defense. Great film giving you a long look on John Brantley, the fastest player in the country in Jeff Demps and the amazing Chris Rainey who's moving to the position God made him for, the slot.

Florida's not a lot of smoke and mirrors as the successful inside out option with Tim Tebow may lead you to believe. To be successful on offense you need to be able to do several things, the first thing Urban Meyer's Gators will do is run the football. To be successful at running the ball or throwing it begins up front where the Gators have the horses.

Boy do they have the HORSES...

Florida looks to be as deep on the offensive line with talent and experience as they've ever been. True senior Mike Pouncey takes over where his brother left off, he'll be the 2010 center he has 31 starts under his Gator belt. Carl Johnson is next he has 22 starts at both guard and tackle, he's a fifth year senior. The Gators have another fifth year road grader in Marcus Gilbert he has 17 starts most of them at tackle. Last years true freshman sensation Xavier Nixon earned five starts at season's end. Nixon came on so hard later in the season they just couldn't keep him out.

Battling for the other spot are two guys who've been around. Fifth year Maurice Hurt has played in 29 games and registered six starts while James Wilson a fourth year junior has played in 24 games and logged four starts. Both of these guards have had injury issues that have kept them from getting more playing time than they already have.

Behind these six are a bunch of strong players like third year back up center Sam Robey, Nick Alajajian a guard/tackle combo coming off his redshirt season. Matt Patchan played four games till he suffered a season ending knee injury in 2009, it looked like he was headed toward starting at the tackle position. Jonotthan Harrison is a redshirt freshman who's coming on at OG while true freshman Ian Silberman has draw raves from the coaches over the spring. Silberman looks to be a big time player in the mold of Nixon for the Gators.



OC - Mike Pouncey - Senior - 6-4, 310 - fourth year
........CAREER: Has seen action in 39 games at Florida, including 31 starts as a Gator. HONORS: A 2009 Outland Trophy Watch List candidate…A 2009 AP Second-Team All-American…2009: Played in and started all 14 games for Florida his junior season as a Gator, including the 2009 SEC Championship versus Alabama and the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl win versus Cincinnati…His final start of the season against the Bearcats was his 28th consecutive start…


OG - Carl Johnson - Senior - 6-5, 360 - fifth year
........CAREER: Has played in 39 career games, earning starts in 22 contests…Enrolled at UF in January of 2006...2009: Played in and started all 14 of Florida’s games his redshirt junior season in 2009, including the 2009 SEC Championship and the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory versus Cincinnati...PREP: Rated as the No. 6 offensive lineman in the country according to Scout.com…Listed as the No. 3 national offensive guard prospect according to Rivals.com…

OT - Marcus Gilbert - Senior - 6-5, 322 - fifth year
........CAREER: Has played in 42 games and made 17 career starts during his tenure as a Gator...2009: Played in and started in all 14 of Florida’s games his redshirt junior season, including the 2009 SEC Championship Game and the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl Game…Named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his efforts against Kentucky Sept. 26...Turned in one of UF’s highest grades of the 2009 campaign when he earned Champions’ Club honors with a 99 percent in the win over Georgia…Checked in at 95 percent in UF’s win over Arkansas on Homecoming…Graded out at 85 percent in the victory over Kentucky, for which he earned league honors…

OT - Zavier Nixon - Sophmore - 6-5, 300 - second year
........CAREER: Has seen action in 10 games as a Gator, with five career starts. HONORS: A 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team selection by the league’s head coaches…Sporting News 2009 SEC All-Freshman team honoree…A CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-America Team Honorable Mention for his contributions his first season as a Gator...2009: Played in 10 games his freshman season, starting the last five contests, including South Carolina, FIU, FSU, Alabama in the 2009 SEC Championship Game and Cincinnati in the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl…Secured his first career start as a Gator at left tackle in the 24-14 win over South Carolina on the road and played the entire game…

at guard
OG - Maurice Hurt - Senior - 6-3, 320 - fifth year
........CAREER Has started six games during his Florida career and played in 29 overall…Enrolled at UF in January of 2006.2009: Played in 13 games his redshirt junior season at UF, and started five contests, including Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia and Vanderbilt…Contributed to Florida’s 51-24 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory in New Orleans, La., as the Gators finished the 2009 season 13-1

OG - James Wilson - Junior - 6-4, 315 - fourth year
........CAREER: Redshirt junior offensive lineman who has played in 24 games at Florida, including four starts, after redshirting his first year on campus...PREP: Rated the No. 1 offensive guard and No. 2 overall prospect by Rivals.com…Rated second among offensive guards according to Scout.com…Rated 44th on the ESPN150 list…The Scout.com five-star offensive guard chose Florida over Southern California and Notre Dame…

Gators Have the Most Talent in the Land

ESPN has had their top 150 list five years now. Urban Meyer has been at Florida five years now (ok he's had six recruiting classes but who can hold the first one against any coach). Meyer's ESPN numbers are sick.

The graph are the totals for each season of how many players the schools below signed out of ESPN's top 150 list at season's end. To the far right are the five year totals...

Team	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	Total
Florida	17	8	11	14	14	64
USC	11	9	10	10	13	53
Texas	15	9	8	12	8	52
Georgia	6	8	8	6	12	40
Notre Dame	2	7	10	10	10	39
LSU	7	10	4	7	6	34
Alabama	9	9	7	3	2	30
Oklahoma	7	6	8	1	6	28
FSU	8	5	5	2	7	27

Some interesting stuff above. Alabama only has 30 but 25 of them have been recruited in the past three years. Florida's had 36 in their last three years alone, more than LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and FSU in their past five years!

Note that Florida, Texas and USC had 169 out of a total of 750 in ESPN's top 150 list over the past five years. That's 22.5% of the total to 3 schools out of something like 119 schools. That's almost exactly ONE top 150 kid per school (116) per year left.

You can only wonder what the heck is going on at Notre Dame, and perhaps LSU doesn't have as much talent as we all think them to have. Of course many of the top Tigers have stuck and with a large amount of big time recruits you'll see plenty of normal attrition.

Don't know what happened to Oklahoma in 2007, they signed 21, they finished 11-3 and beat Texas that year but they really got creamed by West Virginia 48-28 in the bowl.

It's amazing how much talent Notre Dame has recruited and how little they've done with it. It's time for them to get into a conference, it time for them to get that bulls eye of having their own TV network off their back. You either question the coaching or the assessment of the talent they recruited. Perhaps some of both.

Of course this is all highly unscientific. In the past this man and many others have proved the five-star guys produce. Sure some don't make it, but most do. Recruiting matters.

It's a surprise that Georgia has out recruited LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma yet what happens at Athens? Several years I've looked at players at Georgia and envied many wishing they would have come to Florida.

Some teams that have problem areas can create their own down cycle simply by having to play kids too early in their careers because of no depth, they get injured thus perpetuating the weakness such things can go on for years. Another prime example of the importance of consistent recruiting.

Biggest Losers on Earth

Just read a long story by Chip Brown on Orangebloods.com titled "How the Big 12 came back to life"...

Brown gives a day by day blow by blow and hour by hour detail of how he took over his kids playroom to form a command post, how he only slept two hours one night and finally the winners of the Big 12.

Link to his Stink'n Think'n

It is his thinking and the thinking of the Big 12 that this man is going to attack in this column. At the end of it Brown explains who the winners were in this conference two-step.

Brown wrote...

THE DESPERATE FIVE - The decision by Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor to pool their share of the Nebraska/Colorado penalty money ($35 million to $40 million) and give it to OU, Texas A&M and Texas costs these five in the short-term. But it worked. They helped save the conference, and now they are going to earn between $14 million and $17 million each going forward.

Why should the poor of the conference give to the rich? How can Texas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M be claimed winners while allowing "The Desperate Five" to bribe their way back.

What in the hell is wrong out there. Saddam Husein killed people, he killed a hell of a lot of people, one thing he did was take people who really didn't want to be part of it, who didn't have it in their heart and force them to kill someone, or several people. He handed them the gun.

I don't know a lot about the Big 12 or old Southwest conference. I do know what led to Nebraska leaving was the unfair cut of the conference pie that Texas and Oklahoma took.

Don't think any other conference in America does this. Some like to think of Texas A&M as the hero, the team that stood on it's own and helped save the Big 12.

But like Saddam Texas just made A&M complicit. There is no Robin Hood when they rob from the poor and give to themselves.

What the Big 12 is an example of is greed run rampant, there is no Robin Hood, just 'the hood'. Now ABC, ESPN and Fox are all complicit.

Not to mention the desperate five had to sell out seven million a piece to save themselves. If there is another conference in America that doesn't split the conference revenue evenly this man hasn't heard of it.

Why doesn't the NCAA step in and legislate that each conference will split conference revenue equally, sure if they allow a team like Texas to have their own TV network then let them have that.

How someone can claim winners in this blatant display of greed is beyond me.

Shame on you Texas! Because you are the Bully of the league...
Shame on you Oklahoma! You are along for the ride...
Shame on you Texas A&M! You sold out and joined the Texas greed...
Shame on you the Desperate Five! You cheapened yourself even more...
Shame on you ABC, ESPN and Fox! You bankrolled this pathetic conference...

And most of all, Shame on you NCAA for allowing something like this to happen.

Random Stuff

New Louisville Head Coach Charlie Strong above...

1 - Human Target - Jamel Turner a DE commitment to Ohio State has been shot twice in the last two months, the second shooting he was hit three times and just came off of critical condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, OH. It is unknown if the 4-star recruit will be enrolled in Ohio State this fall, he enrolled in Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia but left there early. His girl friend was shot and killed during this last attack.

2 - They're saying the current near super conference push will hasten a playoff system someday? I want some of what those people are sniff'n. On second thought maybe not.

They stumble upon a string theory that the colleges will not be able to resist the huge amount of money that a play off system will create, that right now the BCS is set and they're happy with that guaranteed revenue. But one day it will happen but not soon, but it will happen because of this.

My Lord! How definitive.

What Einstein thought this up, this man has been saying for years that big time college football is based on four words - all about the money. They will go for the playoff when someone presents them with an offer they can't refuse.

3 - Old Movies like Die Hard have to be watched on TV channels without censors. The cursing on Die Hard movies is harmless in this man's opinion. Much of this man's life was spent on construction a politically incorrect atmosphere. Although some of the language change to accommodate the censors can be humorous, it takes away so much from the movies this man asks himself why stations like Turner air those movies in the first place.

4 - Demar Dorsey the Florida commit, who changed late in the process and signed with Michigan will now go to Louisville. Dorsey a five star type safety has real sick stats like running a 4.31 in the 40 then clocking a 4.25 on the next try, he has a 39.5 vertical. He's had some arrests and for some reason wasn't accepted into Michigan which reopened his recruiting. Charlie Strong was able to land the talent, now if the new head coach can manage this kid he'll have a great addition for the Cardinals.

5 - Utah gets it's shot joining the Pac 10, now if they can go undefeated they'll most likely go to the big dance. That's a fine program the 12-Pac is a step up. Citi won't be the Rose Bowl sponsor anymore. The BCS sponsorships are being asked to be season long advertising investors, Citi says that's more ad inventory than they wanted. Citi has been a sponsor for 21 years.

6 - Still waiting to see how or why Fox increased it's payout to the Big 12 from 19-million a year to 130 to 140-million. Can't wait to see a report on this contract when it comes through, am sure it has to mean a lot more games. Many say they have a better TV contract now than the SEC, maybe Mike Slive needs to try to pull the same trick?

The Tiger

Count me in as a Tiger Woods fan. I find myself rooting for him and am disappointed when he falls short.

Some say he hasn't got it. I say hockey puck.

Yes, hockey puck. Don't ask me what it means, it's an old college saying I remember that pretty much states I disagree.

Simply put how many golfers were in position to win going into the final day of the Masters and US Open this year? Tiger was.

You can't be chop liver and be up there on the leader board on the final day. And this from a golfer who took what, six months off.

Has Tiger lost that edge? Who can answer that.

Is his twelve-step program moving along smoothly? Being a professional in this area this man can tell you that any major changes to life styles in the first year of a recovery program has nothing but ups and downs. Mental consistency is dam near completely lost.

This is one for the ages, a superior athlete in his sport still in his prime, still able to add to his title totals, a good looking fit 30-something billionaire who probably isn't getting any sex. What do you relate money, success and youth to in this country is what the Tiger has sworn off.

Could that be the issue here? Has Tiger lost his edge because he's been pushed over the edge? This man thinks so, but it is only a temporary thing.

How can one of the best in the world come off the practice tee and a couple of holes later pull a snaphook off the tee in the fourth round? Such a mental collapse is the norm, how can he lose his swing on such an important day?

Any major life style change be it the alcoholic, the drug addict or sex addict will undergo a process where their world is upside down. In time things return to normal but that doesn't happen in six weeks nor six months.

You are looking at a year at least. For Tiger to do what he did, be in the position on the leader board that final day in the biggest golf tournaments is incredible.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell ended the tournament at even par. He seems a very likable guy, his dad was there for a nice father's day touch to the story.

McDowell was a smooth swinging guy who hit fairways and greens, not over powering the shot, no drives that wow'd you other than they always found the fairway.

Had to wonder why guys like Woods and Phil Mickelson attack the ball the way they do. Seems like they have so much power they could settle back a bit and hit the ball like a layup shot, grab an extra club for an easier swing and more accuracy.

In the end the rock hard lumpy greens like Pebble Beach was for this US Open really doesn't bring out the best in the competition, it more or less brings out the most lucky yet consistent guy of the week.

McDowell deserved it he had to be the course leader tee to fairway, fairway to green, and his putting was stellar.

As for poor old Tiger he's going to be back, he's far too good not to be. His will to win is just overpowering. This is the time that the man just can't win, but that time will not last for long.

Why the Gators are Loaded

Reviewing All-SEC teams in various magazines - Athlon's, Lindy's, Sporting News and Steele's magazine (which picks 4 All-SEC teams), confirms that the Gators are the best team in the SEC and the country. Here are the Gators listed by these magazines as potential All-SEC:

OC - Mike Pouncey
OG - Carl Johnson
OT - Xavier Nixon
OT - Marcus Gilbert
QB - John Brantley
RB - Jeff Demps
WR - Deonte Thompson
Slot - Chris Rainey (as a KR exclusively)


What's more telling are the Gators that aren't listed on the preseason All-SEC lists.

OL - James Wilson - tremendous talent and is ready to emerge as a star if he stays healthy.
OL - Maurice Hurt - started five games in 2009, fifth year senior with loads of experience.
OL - Mat Patchan
TE - Jordan Reed - QB moved to TE was the talk of the spring.
TE - Gerald Christian - very physical one of the top TE recruits in nation
WR - Carl Moore - a 5 star coming out of JC, had a great Spring.
WR - Andre Debose is getting healthy he's a slot guy. Was recruited to take Percry Harvin's position

Kicker - Sturgis
Punter - Henry

Next are the defensive players mentioned by the magazines as a preseason All-SEC selection...

NG - Omar Hunter
DE - Justin Trattou
LB - Brandon Hicks
LB - AJ Jones
CB - Janoris Jenkins
S - Will Hill
S - Ahmad Black.

Not making the list

DT - Jay Howard a fan and coach favorite expected to become an All-SEC type player
DT - Lawrence Marsh - started on 08 National Championship Team
DT - Terron Sanders - started on 08 National Championship Team
DE - William Green - extremely quick DE who's now up to 250 he could have a breakout year
DE - Ronald Powell - Ranked the top prospect in the country at any position
LB - Jelani Jenkins.- Had strong spring,
LB - Jonathan Bostic - in the rotation.
S - Matt Elam - Will be a super star, Urban Meyer says, "He WILL play!"

Florida needs to find another corner, Adrian Bushell was going to be that guy but couldn't toe the line in Meyer's program. They have a lot of talent like Jeremy Brown if he can get healthy they have some young guys like Joshua Shaw and Jaylen Watkins. Black could play corner and they could start Elam at his safety position if push came to shove.

Depth wise the Gators are in great shape perhaps the strongest position is at running back. Mike Gillislee, Emmanuel Moody with incoming Mac Brown and Travon Van the Gators are as good as they've been in a long time.

Florida can't lose Brantley. Backup true freshman Trey Burton came a long way in the spring but he can't be expected to be anywhere near Brantley's level. Brantley is going into his fourth year in the program waiting patiently behind Tim Tebow. Many feel, including this man, that Brantley is the best pure passer to step on the field for Florida.

Burton is an excellent runner and made a lot of nice throws in the spring game.

Florida has two fine kickers, with Chris Rainey returning kicks and punts they shouldn't miss a beat with departure of Brandon James. If Rainey can stay healthy he should have a huge year at slot a position he should have been at from the day he stepped on campus.

I'm a long time Gator fan and blogger. To the left is one of my favorite all time Gator program covers.`

It was for the Cincinnati game on October 20, 1984, the Gators won that day 48-17. What was remarkable about the game is Urban Meyer was a backup cornerback for the Bearcats the only regular season meeting between the two until the 12-1 Gators played the undefeated Cats 12-0 in the January 1, 2010 Sugar Bowl just six and a half months ago.

This cover is historic with center #50 Phil Bromley, quarterback #12 Kerwin Bell, fullback #22 John L. Williams and tailback #27 Neal Anderson.

Bromley was a two-time All-SEC selection at center in 1983 and 1984. Bell had his story book career at Florida as the most celebrated walkon in school history. He went on to a long NFL career although he had his most success in the CFL. Williams and Anderson had highly successful careers in the NFL, in Seattle and Chicago respectively.

Love Gator History. Have over 115 Gator programs from 1958 to 1989 in great condition, will sell them all for $1,150 plus shipping. Complete seasons sets from 1969 to 1989...