|
CB
Janoris Jenkins |
2011
SCHEDULE
|
9-3-11 |
FLORIDA
ATLANTIC |
9-10-11 |
UAB |
9-17-11 |
TENNESSEE |
9-24-11 |
at
Kentucky |
10-1-11 |
ALABAMA |
10-8-11 |
at
Louisiana State |
10-15-11 |
at
Auburn |
10-29-11 |
Georgia
@Jacksonville, FL |
11-5-11 |
VANDERBILT |
11-12-11 |
at
South Carolina |
11-19-11 |
FURMAN |
11-26-11 |
FLORIDA
STATE |
|
Coach:
Will Muschamp
1st
year |
2010
Statistics |
2010
RESULTS: 8-5 |
MIAMI
OH |
WON
34-12 |
SOUTH
FLORIDA |
WON
38-14 |
at
Tennessee |
WON
31-17 |
KENTUCKY |
WON
48-14 |
at
Alabama |
LOST
6-31 |
LSU |
LOST
29-33 |
MISSISSIPPI
ST |
LOST
7-10 |
vs.
Georgia |
WON
34-31 (OT) |
at
Vanderbilt |
WON
55-14 |
SOUTH
CAROLINA |
LOST
14-36 |
APPALACHIAN
ST |
WON
48-10 |
at
Florida State |
LOST
7-31 |
OUTBACK
BOWL |
Penn
State |
WON
37-24 |
|
|
COACHES
Head
Coach: Will Muschamp
Previous: Texas Def. Coordinator
Off.
Coordinator: Charlie
Weis
Previous: NFL Chiefs Off. Coor.
Def.
Coordinator: Dan Quinn
Previous: NFL Seahawks DL Coach
Receivers:
Aubrey Hill
Previous: Miami FL WR Coach
Tight
Ends: Derek Lewis
Previous: Minnesota TE Coach
Secondary:
Travaris Robinson
Previous: Texas Tech DB Coach
Offensive
Line: Frank Verducci
Previous: Notre Dame OL Coach
Running
Backs: Brian White
Previous: Florida TE Coach
Defensive
Line: Bryant Young
Previous: San Jose St DL Coach |
|
2010 Final Rankings
AP-31, Coaches-32, BCS-NR
|
OUTLOOK |
It
was the best of times,
it was the worst of times...the
last six years for the
Gator football program
under the direction of
head coach Urban Meyer
have been mostly the first.
Last season however saw
his youngsters finish
an uncharacteristic 8-5
campaign that left many
wondering just where the
direction of this team
was headed. Coaches could
not decide between one
of three quarterbacks
and the passing game was
a struggle with every
snap. This was the 10th
best offense in the SEC.
The times they are a changin'...and
how. Urban Meyer resigned
and an entirely new coaching
staff has been hired.
In fact, only one of the
former assistants (TE
Coach Brian White) was
retained.
So
what exactly changes in
The Swamp on Saturdays
from an X's and O's standpoint?
Offensive Coordinator
Charlie Weis has installed
a true pro-style offense.
Senior John Brantley will
line up under center while
seniors Chris Rainey and
Jeff Demps take the majority
of the handoffs from deep
in the backfield giving
the running backs more
time to read the gaps
and plan cutback lanes.
There will be plenty of
play action, a concentration
on throwing the ball deep
(of which the Gators have
to prove a receiver in
this lineup is capable
of holding up their end
of the equation) and much
more use out of tight
end Jordan Reed, one of
last year's rotating quarterbacks.
Rainey and Reed might
be Florida's two best
offensive weapons.
All
the players working in
defensive coordinator
Dan Quinn's defense say
he and Will Muschamp,
who was previously the
defensive coordinator
at Texas, have been swapping
back and forth between
the 3-4 and 4-3 schemes
early and often. The versatility
of the Gators' personnel
makes it easy for the
defense to have its two
faces. Essentially, the
switch between a three-man
front and a four-man front
can be as simple as Buck
linebacker/defensive end
Ronald Powell walking
up to the line and putting
his hand down. Fortunately
for this Gator team, the
defensive line is utterly
stacked with future NFL
Pro Bowl talent, yes a
reach of a prediction
but nonetheless quite
logical given the accolades
of these sophomore studs
up front. Easley, Floyd
and Powell...for those
that have not heard these
names yet, you soon will.
Folks
around Gainesville might
still be a little leery
considering the stinker
quarterback John Brantley
laid in the spring game.
It's hard to imagine one
of the freshmen behind
him being ready to lead
this team through an SEC
title race. For those
following recruiting,
clamoring how much top-tier
talent resides on this
roster is just stating
the obvious. Florida will
be better than last year
talent wise but it's also
still exceedingly young.
All-American cornerback
Janoris Jenkins represents
the only senior currently
in the starting lineup
on the defensive side.
The
schedule doesn't set up
well with that October
1 stretch that includes
Alabama, LSU, Auburn and
Georgia four times in
a row with only the Alabama
game being played at The
Swamp. The non-conference
schedule outside of normal
rival Florida State is
full of patsies. But that's
the Gator calling card
when addressing the difficulty
of the SEC grind stone
and who can blame them?
Considering that Florida
failed to finish in the
Top 25 a year ago makes
it impossible to hand
them their usual Top 5
or even Top 10 ranking
to start. We really cannot
measure how this completely
new coaching staff ranks
until October ends. The
SEC is still somewhat
down by it's own standard.
Ergo, the Gators have
a good chance to get back
to Atlanta for the SEC
Championship Game. Chomp!
|
Projected
2011 record: 9-3
|
|
|
KR/WR
Andre Dubose |
FLORIDA
2010 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
44 |
6 |
Passing: |
88 |
10 |
Total
Off: |
82 |
10 |
Sacks
Allow: |
58 |
5 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
31 |
5 |
Passing: |
12 |
2 |
Total
Def: |
9 |
2 |
Sacks: |
86 |
11 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
John Brantley, 200-329-10,
2061 yds., 9 TD
Rushing: Jeff Demps,
92 att., 551 yds., 3 TD
Receiving: Deonte
Thompson, 38 rec., 570
yds., 1 TD
Scoring: Trey Burton,
12 TD, 72 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: Caleb
Sturgis, 2-4 FG, 19-21
PAT, 25 pts.
Tackles: Jelani
Jenkins, 76 tot., 41 solo
Sacks: Jaye Howard,
3 sacks
Interceptions:
Janoris Jenkins, 3 for
68 yds., 1 TD; Jon Bostic,
3 for 9 yds.; Jeremy Brown,
3 for 56 yds., 1 TD
Kickoff Returns:
Andre Debose, 21 ret.,
28.0 avg., 2 TD
Punt Returns: Janoris
Jenkins, 18 ret., 8.3
avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
|
FLORIDA
2011
College Football Preview
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 8 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 4 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Emmanuel Moody-RB, Carl
Moore-WR, Marcus Gilbert-OT,
Carl Johnson-OG, Mike Pouncey-C,
Maurice Hurt-OG, Chas Henry-K/P |
DEFENSE:
Justin
Trattou-DE, Lawrence Marsh-DT,
Terron Sanders-DT, Duke
Lemmens-DE, A.J. Jones-SLB,
Brandon Hicks-WLB, Ahmad
Black-SS, Will Hill-FS (NFL),
Janoris Jenkins-CB |
|
|
2011
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter John Brantley's
horrible performance in the
spring game did nothing but
fuel a potential quarterback
controversy. Coach Muschamp
has stated clearly however that
Brantley remains the man to
beat based on a good command
of the offense, leadership and
experience no other quarterback
on the roster possesses. A controversy
means someone behind him is
pushing for the job but that's
not the way this battle has
played out. No one seems to
be experienced enough to push
him. For certain, the experiment
last year with rotating athletes
behind center is over. Trey
Burton has moved to running
back and Jordan Reed has moved
to tight end...and fans probably
could not be happier after the
failure this routine produced.
Heralded high school star Jeff
Driskel who was tabbed the Gatorade
Florida Player of The Year as
well as being ranked the No.
1 quarterback nationally by
both Scout.com and Rivals.com,
enrolled early this spring and
at worst was hoping to back
up Brantley by summer. That
didn't happen. He may be the
future, but he won't even beat
out redshirt freshman Tyler
Murphy for back up duties. Murphy
actually had the best numbers
in the spring game and looked
descent moving the pocket and
finding receivers down field.
Barring injury Brantley will
start the opener. Whether he
can hold on to the job by season's
end is another story.
RUNNING
BACK
Look for a big dose of Chris
Rainey out of the backfield
in 2011. Being the only scholarship
athlete playing this position
through out the spring due to
a massive array of injuries
gave Rainey a chance to prove
he could handle the star role
and the fifth-year senior did
not disappoint. Head coach Will
Muschamp could not say enough
about Rainey's phenomenal spring
and most feel he is the best
player on the field. The new
pro-style offense allows Rainey
to receive the ball deeper in
the backfield, giving him more
time to read his holes and find
the cutback lanes. His best
outing thus far was as a redshirt
freshman where he rushed for
652 yards. He should top those
numbers. The team's leading
rusher last fall is also back
in speedster Jeff Demps, who
was last year's starter before
an injury in Week 3 derailed
what looked to be a promising
junior season as the primary
ball carrier. Demps did not
participate physically in the
spring, as he was busy helping
the Gators win a national championship
in track. Demps has more speed
but may not be quite as good
between the tackles. Both will
get a fair share of carries.
Mike Gillislee will continue
to provide a good short-yardage
option. When offensive coordinator
Charlie Weis decides to shift
to a two-back set, last year's
quarterback/athlete extraordinaire
Trey Burton will get his shot.
The 2010 Freshman All-American
who led the Gators in scoring
last fall will still be a part
of this offense, just not from
behind center. He gets listed
as a FB in this system, but
really is more of a second running
back.
RECEIVER
The new coaching staff will
be implementing new schematics
in an effort to overcome the
shortcomings in this passing
attack. Consistency and dropped
balls routinely handcuffed this
offense throwing the pigskin.
The new pro-style offense will
call on bigger receivers. Five
of the seniors in this unit
are all 5'11 or shorter. In
Meyer's spread offense these
smaller types were often utilized.
That won't be the case with
Weis, at least on the outside,
so look for a few of the younger
guys to take advantage of this
situation. A great segue to
the fact every team generally
has a surprise of the spring.
Possibly the biggest in Gainesville
was the meteoric rise up the
depth chart for receiver Quinton
Dunbar. The true sophomore out
of Booker T. Washington HS in
Miami made big plays galore
all spring utilizing his physical
ability to get open deep and
stretch the field. He is now
the team's most explosive pass
catching threat. Last year's
top pass catcher Deonte Thompson
has built a reputation for someone
who can stretch the field after
two years of starting in this
lineup. However, his propensity
for dropping too many passes
may force the senior into a
third or fourth receiver role.
The options in front of him
seem to be reserved for Frankie
Hammond and Omarius Hines...a
huge step backward for the veteran.
But Weis' new pro-style offense
will incorporate many of opportunities
for the three and four receiver
sets. While Dunbar has been
making a splash as big playmaker,
Hammond is proving to be the
most consistent. Both possess
great speed. Kick return king
Andre Debose has talent to be
a factor if he can stay healthy
and absorb the playbook.
TIGHT
END
Jordan Reed will no longer be
handling the football from behind
center. Instead, he has now
moved to his more natural position
at tight end where coaches have
given high praise for his ability
as a downfield playmaker creating
match up problems for defenders.
Reed will be a big part of this
offense come fall. However,
his blocking ability may not
be exactly what this offense
needs in "grind-it-out"
situations. Coaches may decide
to use a few linemen at tight
end in those situations. Gerald
Christian has worked at this
spot too but spends most of
his time on the defensive side
at linebacker. Christian is
likely to be a two-way performer
on occasions and has earned
a hard-hitting, face mask breaking
reputation. A.C. Leonard is
yet another option. Another
freshman early enrollee, the
6'4 Jacksonville prep star looks
physically strong enough to
earn a few minutes on the field
when it counts.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
Gone are four veteran players
from this unit, so naturally
there is to be some concern.
Unfortunately, a few key players
wound up sitting out the spring
with injuries so this offense
was left to perform with a patchwork
offensive line. The questions
only got bigger; this is a dangerously
thin group as only six scholarship
players suited up for the spring
game. Right guard Jon Halapio
has been the best player thus
far which carried over from
the close of last season. Some
of his teammates have described
him as a "beast" and
it's clear he has taken the
leadership role. The center
is one area of great concern.
Replacing Mike Pouncey has become
a priority. The younger Harrison
has shifted over from guard
and has taken the edge in front
of Robey. Both have found issues
getting pushed back at the point
of attack but Harrison offers
a newly found bright spot. This
is a guy that literally demonstrated
what a strong spring camp could
achieve. Chaz Green is pushing
for time as a starter at tackle,
but the Gators need to find
someone consistently healthy
to take over the other spot.
Patchan, Nixon and Wilson are
the veterans. Predicting the
staring offensive line is a
difficult task at this point
with so many people missing
so much practice time. Patchan
could likely earn one of these
spots at tackle if he can stay
healthy, though this has seldom
been the case. Nixon was a part-time
starter a year ago but has dropped
about 30 pounds this off-season.
He'll need to gain that weight
back before summer ends. Halapio
and Harrison have the most secure
staring jobs. The rest could
be anyone's guess.
|
|
RB
Chris Rainey
|
|
|
FLORIDA
2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
John
Brantley-Sr (6-3,
220) |
Tyler
Murphy-RFr (6-2, 192)
Jeff Driskel-Fr (6-4,
238) |
FB |
Trey
Burton-So (6-2, 222) |
Gerald
Christian-So (6-3,
232) (FB/TE) |
RB |
Chris
Rainey-Sr (5-9, 175) |
Jeff
Demps-Sr (5-8, 191)
Mike Gillislee-Jr
(5-11, 198) |
WR |
Deonte
Thompson-Sr (6-0,
200) |
Solomon
Patton-So (5-9, 175)
Robert Clark-So (5-9,
175) |
WR |
Frankie
Hammond-Jr (6-1, 176) |
Omarius
Hines-Jr (6-2, 211)
Andre
Debose-So (5-11, 180) |
WR |
Quinton
Dunbar-So (6-1, 170) |
Stephen
Alli-So (6-5, 220) |
TE |
Jordan
Reed-So (6-3, 237) |
A.C.
Leonard-Fr (6-4, 245) |
OT |
Chaz
Green-RFr (6-5, 289) |
Kyle
Koehne-So (6-5, 300) |
OG |
James
Wilson-Sr (6-4, 324) |
Ian
Silberman-So (6-5,
285) |
C |
Jonotthan
Harrison-So (6-3,
300) |
Sam
Robey-Jr (6-2, 302) |
OG |
Jon
Halapio-So (6-3, 303) |
David
Young-Jr (6-4, 304) |
OT |
Xavier
Nixon-Jr (6-6, 290) |
Matt
Patchan-Jr (6-6, 292) |
K |
Caleb
Sturgis-Sr (5-11,
191) |
Brad
Phillips-So (5-10,
178) |
|
|
|
2011
DEFENSE |
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Watch out for the "Five
Star Baby Bunch". The emergence
of sophomores Easley, Floyd
and Powell was one of the most
noteworthy story lines this
spring. They have yet to start
a regular season game as a group
but they are definitely starting
to validate their star power
coming out of high school. Their
diminished roles last season
while being relegated to the
bench has sprung a new, much
needed attitude for this entire
defense. How are these for accolades?
In 2009, Rivals.com and Scout.com
ranked Ronald Powell as the
No. 1 prep defensive end in
the country. The California
native has been clocked with
4.5 forty speed and checks in
at 6'4, 250 pounds. Dominique
Easley was ranked as the No.
2 prep defensive tackle out
of Staten Island, NY and Shariff
Floyd was ranked as the No.
1 prep defensive tackle out
of Philadelphia. Who said Florida
makes it's living off of high
school players from the Sunshine
State? All these youngsters
are former five-star recruits
and all of them are just sophomores.
Powell is lining up at the newly
formed "Buck" position,
a blend between end and outside
linebacker. His power on the
edge is going to provide nightmares
for opposing blockers. Easley's
burst off the line has been
the talk of the guys in the
trenches while Floyd's power,
work ethic and attitude have
been tops. And don't count out
returning sack leader Jaye Howard
and part-time starter Omar Hunter
as veteran leaders. They still
need to find a new starter at
strong side defensive end. For
now Hoover, AL senior William
Green holds down the first slot
on the depth chart. He has played
in every single game since arriving
on campus four years ago but
has very few starts. Coaches
were hoping to find a disruptive
presence from the line of scrimmage
for this new look defense. If
the spring resume was any indication,
this "Baby Bunch"
will lead the Gator turnaround.
LINEBACKER
Over the past few seasons there
has been much talk about how
fast and athletic these linebackers
were as a group. Those attributes
may have been somewhat over
inflated given the good-but-not-superior
results on the field. The new
defensive schemes will require
this year's group to make plays
from sideline to sideline and
from north to south. The people
in place personify this type
of athlete. Jelani Jenkins,
the nation's top rated prep
outside linebacker out of Olney,
MD is playing on the weakside,
putting him in a more natural
position to take advantage of
his speed. He and middle linebacker
Jon Bostic are the two best
players on this unit. Coaches
have been quite pleased with
both of their contributions
this spring. Much like on the
defensive line, someone will
have to step up and take command
on the strong side. This is
still an issue of concern. A
bit of a surprise was the move
of tight end Gerald Christian
here. He was even projected
as the starter entering spring
practice before having even
played a snap. The outlook of
him playing both ways is doable,
but the Gators need him to perform
at his best on this side of
the ball. This is a relatively
inexperienced bunch that is
void of a leader. There are
no seniors in this group. Suffice
to say, the front seven on defense
are extremely talented but extremely
young.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
All-American performer Janoris
Jenkins’ decision to return
for his senior year will pay
huge dividends for this backfield
that finished 12th nationally
in pass defense but lost a couple
of star players to the NFL Draft.
Opposite Jenkins, there's still
a spot up for grabs. Moses Jenkins
and Jeremy Brown both have experience
starting from a year ago, but
neither did enough on the field
to warrant a lock on the second
cornerback position. It was
a relatively quiet spring for
the secondary. Coaches and players
have not commented much about
the group, which was playing
without senior cornerback Janoris
Jenkins as he recovers from
shoulder surgery. Much is expected
of strong safety Matt Elam;
the top rated prep safety in
the country according to Scout.com.
He is quickly emerging as a
leader and has begun delivering
some ferocious tackling. By
most accounts, he may be the
most reliable performer. Josh
Evans has taken over at free
safety while Watkins has made
a surprising move here from
corner. Coach Muschamp has stated
that he is looking for more
consistency from his secondary.
With so many athletes and a
stern reputation for being one
of the better SEC defensive
backfields year in and year
out, this should be one of the
lesser concerns in 2011. UPDATE
April 27: Cornerback
Janoris Jenkins has been dismissed
from the team after his second
drug-related arrest in three
months. Sophomore Cody Riggs
emerged as the best of three
cornerbacks in his class last
year and is now pushed into
the starting lineup. The Gators
received a blessing by having
true freshman De'Ante Saunders
enroll early to compete this
spring. Coaches has raved about
his quick progress. They better
hope this translates to Saturdays
in the fall.
|
|
LB
Jelani Jenkins
|
|
|
FLORIDA
2011 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
William
Green-Sr (6-4, 245) |
Chris
Martin-RFr (6-4, 240) |
DT |
Sharrif
Floyd-So (6-3, 303) |
Jaye
Howard-Sr (6-3, 302) |
NT |
Dominique
Easley-So (6-2, 278) |
Omar
Hunter-Jr (6-1, 305) |
BUCK |
Ronald
Powell-So (6-4, 250) |
Lynden
Trail-RFr (6-7, 217) |
SLB |
Lerentee
McCray-Jr (6-2, 241) |
Gerald
Christian-So (6-3,
232) |
MLB |
Jon
Bostic-Jr (6-1, 238) |
Michael
Taylor-RFr (6-0, 217) |
WLB |
Jelani
Jenkins-So (6-1, 223) |
Dee
Finley-Jr (6-2, 219) |
CB |
Jeremy
Brown-Jr (5-10, 184) |
Moses
Jenkins-Sr (6-3, 182) |
CB |
Cody
Riggs-So (5-9, 166) |
De'Ante
Saunders-Fr (5-8,
173) |
SS |
Matt
Elam-So (5-10, 199) |
Joshua
Shaw-So (6-3, 186) |
FS |
Josh
Evans-Jr (6-1, 195) |
Jaylen
Watkins-So (5-11,
183) |
P |
Kyle
Christy-Fr (6-3, 189) |
David
Lerner-Jr (6-0, 199) |
|
|
|
|
2011
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Caleb Sturgis is still recovering
from multiple back injuries but still
felt good enough to maintain his hold
as the starting kicker for 2011 and
knock a few through the uprights in
the spring game. Sturgis was named
a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award
in 2009 and handled all kickoff duties
in 2008-2009. He was the primary kicker
last fall before the back injury in
the fifth game left him sidelined
for the entire year. He has the leg
and booted a career-long 56 yard field
goal against Georgia, the longest
in the SEC that 2009 season. More
important will be the progression
of punter Kyle Christy, who is replacing
Ray Guy Award-winner Chas Henry. The
nation's No. 2 ranked prep punter
by Scout.com, Christy is another early
enrollee from this year's recruiting
class. The return game is sound. With
so much speed and talent at the skill
positions, how could it not be? Andre
Debose gives UF another freak of nature
returning kicks, taking over from
where the legendary Brandon James
left off. Debose was a Freshman All-American
last year taking two kicks back for
six points. The punt return units
were not so successful. Janoris Jenkins
handled most of the punts with Chris
Rainey getting a few opportunities.
Neither was able to do much, which
is surprising given the fact these
may be the two best playmakers on
the entire team. Look for this punt
return competition to continue through
the end of August.
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