FLORIDA GATORS O:6 D:6
Even though the Ron Zook era saw the Gators win 25 games in three years, the three straight bowl losses didn’t cut it in Gainesville and “Urban Legend” took center stage last season. The Gators went on to go 9-3 overall, won the Outback Bowl vs. Iowa, and finished #12 in the AP Poll. Unfortunately, the loss to former FL HC Steve Spurrier knocked them out of the SEC East race, so expect this year’s rematch in “The Swamp” to be the purest form of pandemonium. Offensively, the Gators look solid at the skilled positions, but they’re going to need to break in an entirely new O-Line. Still, that might not be a bad omen considering their rushing numbers decreased and they allowed a whopping 35 sacks last season. The defense looks as if it can be something real special this season. The D-Line is stacked with experienced returnees, and the LB corps is one of the best the Gators have marched on the field in years. Both LB’s Brandon Siler and Earl Everett will need to be the units’ safety valves until the secondary comes together as a unit. Special teams looks great in the kicking department with both K Hetland and P Wilbur back.
Every team that HC Urban Meyer has coached in his young career has done better in the second season. Look for that trend to hold true once again in ’06 even though they have a hellacious SEC road schedule with trips to Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida State. There’s no doubt the offense will dramatically improve its numbers with a year’s worth of Meyer’s schemes under their belts, and a huge ’06 season is there for the Gators if they live up to their potential, stay relatively injury free, and protect its home turf once again.
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