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2011 Florida Gators Preview

The Florida Gators are a much different team than they have been in the past and when the 2011 season kicks off they will have to start the year without Urban Meyer. Meyer left the Gators and they now have a new coach.

Even though Muschamp had a long background of assistant coaching at powerhouse programs, and is an energetic recruiter with experience all over the SEC and Big XII, his hiring at Florida was met with a lukewarm response by some Florida fans. Sure, he held positions of power at some of the most prestigious schools in the nation, but the transition from being a hotshot assistant coach to a successful head coach isn’t an easy one, much less in the SEC. After John Brantley and the offense spent the year finding ways to look utterly befuddled, the Gators have brought in the Portly purveyor of the passing game Charlie Weis, as well as former Seahawks defensive line coach Dan Quinn for defensive coordinator.

This Gator squad will be led by a nasty front seven. Even though they lost seven defensive starters, the defensive line and linebacking corps is stocked. They will be led by juniors Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic. Jenkins is a brainy and brawny linebacker, who plans to go to med school after his career. These two, along with tackles Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley, and Ronald Powell, who will play the hybrid Buck position when Quinn lines them up in the 3-4. A lot is riding on the front seven; because the secondary is without question their weakest unit on this side of the ball.

On the offensive side of the ball, the transition from the spread offense to Coach Frontbutt’s pro-style system may account for a few hiccups along the season. To the delight of the rest of the SEC, John Brantley is back at the helm, and even though he only threw for 2,061 yards and 9 touchdowns to go along with ten interceptions, many believe the scheme change will benefit him the most. Mighty mites Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps return, as well as junior Mike Gillislee, but the Gators also lose three offensive linemen. Stud junior tackle Xavier Nixon returns, but aside from that, the line is a patchwork group made up of a redshirt freshman, two sophomores, and a junior. If the line won’t open holes for Rainey and Demps, Gator fans will have to pray that Brantley can find a way to get the ball off to one of his receivers.

Fortunately for Weis and the Gators, they won’t face a decent defense until about a month into the season.  Florida’s schedule could be worse. They were spared matchups against former Gator offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and Mississippi State, as well as the Arkansas Razorbacks. However, the middle of their slate could prove to be deadly.
The Gators have a tough season ahead of them and if they want to prove they are headed in the right direction they will have to win early and often!