Florida Preview

If you need a big preview for Florida you don't watch a lot of College football.

(There's Just So Many Of Them)

THE PLAYERS

When discussing Florida you always have to start with Tim Tebow. While opinions vary as to what kind of pro prospect he'll be you have to respect anyone that won the Heisman trophy. Especially the first one to win it as a sophomore. And especially if his career rushing high came in the game he ran all over you the year before. I don't think he'll make a great pro qb but he's a great athlete, runs hard and completes the short passes with a lot of zip. Florida's stellar speed and athleticism at the wide out spots takes care of the rest. The offense relies on Tebow to get them the ball in space and they make plays. It inflates his passing statistics but it doesn't inflate how deadly the offense is. If the defense struggles to keep them close they will break containment for huge chunks of yardage.

On defense they have one of the best Linebackers in the country in Brandon Spikes. They also have two big players in the secondary in Major Wright and Joe Haden.

Florida's two biggest strengths this year are ball control and special teams. The defense has played exceptionally well and look improved over last year. Brandon James is probably the best return man in college football and could be as dangerous as Devin Hester. Big words but he backs it up. The get tons of yards in the return games to give them easy drives. James took two returns in for touchdowns against Tennessee alone which in a twenty point game that a huge factor. The Rebels can not turn the ball over or make special teams mistakes and expect to win. Ball security has never been more important.

THE HEEL

Florida doesn't have a ton of weaknesses. They rely on the quarterback to get tough runs to much and haven't managed to develop a consistent running game in Meyer's tenure. Granted he's won a national championship so its obviously not that big of a flaw. The defensive line is not a stellar unit as they've lost a lot of players to the professional ranks in the last two years. That said Jermaine Cunningham is a dangerous pass rusher.

The Rebels can run the ball on them and must to win the game. On the flip side they must control the line of scrimmage and limit how much Tebow runs against them. If they can do that and keep the receivers in front of them and away from huge gains they can hold the offense in check. If they keep them out of manage third down situations they have a chance. Maintain long drives on offense to keep the ball out of their hands. They rely on multiple offensive series so the Rebels have to keep the defense off the field.