volswitten1
GO VOLS!!!
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By: RANDY MOORE
Many observers believe Florida is an offensive juggernaut in 2007 because it hammered Western Kentucky 49-3 and Troy 59-31 in its first two games.
Sorry, but I'm not ready to board that bandwagon. History tells me not to.
Florida looked like an offensive juggernaut when it opened the 2005 season by trouncing Wyoming 32-14 and Louisiana Tech 41-3. The Gators looked like mere mortals in Game 3, however, managing just one touchdown in a 16-7 defeat of Tennessee.
Florida looked like an offensive juggernaut when it opened the 2006 season by blasting Southern Miss 34-7 and Central Florida 42-0. The Gators looked like mere mortals in Game 3, however, needing two late TDs to nip Tennessee 21-20.
It's true that Florida coach Urban Meyer has a perfect 2-0 record against Tennessee. But his spread-option offense has been noticeably imperfect against the Vols, averaging a modest 18.5 points in those two meetings.
Oh, wait ... I forgot: The 2007 Gators have Tim Tebow, who was America's top-rated quarterback prospect as a high school senior in 2005. He's almost as heralded as predecessor Chris Leak, who was America's top-rated quarterback prospect as a high school senior in 2002.
Leak managed 16 points against the Vols as a junior and 21 more as a senior, so it makes perfect sense that a SOPHOMORE like Tebow will torch the Vols for 45 or so Saturday afternoon in Gainesville. Right?
Of course not. History tells us that Florida piles up points against cupcakes in early September, then struggles to score when it faces Tennessee.
Here's some more background:
The 2003 Gators were averaging 55.3 points through their first three games, then lost 24-10 at home to Tennessee in Game 4. The 2004 Gators scored 49 points in their opener, then lost 30-28 to Tennessee in Game 2.
Do you notice a pattern?
OK, here's the deal: Florida beat Tennessee in 2005 because of a murderous defense that limited the Vols to 7 points. Florida beat Tennessee in 2006 because of a murderous defense that limited the Vols to minus-11 rushing yards. Guess what? Ten of 11 starters from that murderous defense are gone this year.
And you can forget about home-field advantage. Tennessee plays Florida better at The Swamp (2-1 in the last three meetings) than it does at Neyland Stadium (1-2 in the last three meetings).
So, let's recap:
A. Florida's offense scores a lot of points but, historically, does not score very many against Tennessee.
B. Florida's defense has 10 new starters.
C. Tennessee plays better in Gainesville than it does in Knoxville.
Many observers believe Florida is an offensive juggernaut in 2007 because it hammered Western Kentucky 49-3 and Troy 59-31 in its first two games.
Sorry, but I'm not ready to board that bandwagon. History tells me not to.
Florida looked like an offensive juggernaut when it opened the 2005 season by trouncing Wyoming 32-14 and Louisiana Tech 41-3. The Gators looked like mere mortals in Game 3, however, managing just one touchdown in a 16-7 defeat of Tennessee.
Florida looked like an offensive juggernaut when it opened the 2006 season by blasting Southern Miss 34-7 and Central Florida 42-0. The Gators looked like mere mortals in Game 3, however, needing two late TDs to nip Tennessee 21-20.
It's true that Florida coach Urban Meyer has a perfect 2-0 record against Tennessee. But his spread-option offense has been noticeably imperfect against the Vols, averaging a modest 18.5 points in those two meetings.
Oh, wait ... I forgot: The 2007 Gators have Tim Tebow, who was America's top-rated quarterback prospect as a high school senior in 2005. He's almost as heralded as predecessor Chris Leak, who was America's top-rated quarterback prospect as a high school senior in 2002.
Leak managed 16 points against the Vols as a junior and 21 more as a senior, so it makes perfect sense that a SOPHOMORE like Tebow will torch the Vols for 45 or so Saturday afternoon in Gainesville. Right?
Of course not. History tells us that Florida piles up points against cupcakes in early September, then struggles to score when it faces Tennessee.
Here's some more background:
The 2003 Gators were averaging 55.3 points through their first three games, then lost 24-10 at home to Tennessee in Game 4. The 2004 Gators scored 49 points in their opener, then lost 30-28 to Tennessee in Game 2.
Do you notice a pattern?
OK, here's the deal: Florida beat Tennessee in 2005 because of a murderous defense that limited the Vols to 7 points. Florida beat Tennessee in 2006 because of a murderous defense that limited the Vols to minus-11 rushing yards. Guess what? Ten of 11 starters from that murderous defense are gone this year.
And you can forget about home-field advantage. Tennessee plays Florida better at The Swamp (2-1 in the last three meetings) than it does at Neyland Stadium (1-2 in the last three meetings).
So, let's recap:
A. Florida's offense scores a lot of points but, historically, does not score very many against Tennessee.
B. Florida's defense has 10 new starters.
C. Tennessee plays better in Gainesville than it does in Knoxville.
