2013-14 Preview (SEC) Florida
There was a lot of criticism of the Florida Gators last year for struggling against some weaker teams on their but they finished 11-2 including a win against Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel. The success was primarily thanks to a top 5 defense as the Gators haven’t really been able to get their offense on track since QB Tim Tebow graduated.
Florida Gators (Team Link)
Coach: Will Muschamp
2012 Record: 11-2
Odds of winning BCS Championship: +3200
This year they are hoping to have cracked their quarterback problem but that remains to be seen. It is vitally important that they do because the defense may not be as strong as it was last season with many players departed.
There is no shortage highly touted recruits on the roster on both sides of the ball but they will need to start earning their accolades this season if Florida is going to remain among that elite tier in the SEC.
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For a period the Gators were easily the top team in the state of Florida but this season they just might be #3 .
It is exciting that games against Florida State and Miami will tell us the answer before the season comes to a close.
Florida may have won 11 games last season but this was a very bad offensive team. The running game was solid with now departed back Mike Gillislee but the passing game led by Jeff Driskel was the worst in the SEC averaging less than 150 yards through the air. This year Driskel is a junior and he should be better but he is running out of time to live up to expectations, at least as a passer.
As a runner he has been OK and he might have to do more of that this season.
That is because he doesn’t have a lot of help on offense this season. The line is breaking in three new starters, there will be two new starters at receiver and a new feature back in sophomore Matt Jones, who looks good. Again, all of the players seeing action were top recruits but this is the SEC where pretty much everyone is.
The hope is that Jones can replicate the kind of production they received from Gillislee last season and that Driskel can demonstrate the kind of real improvement that elevates the entire offense. I am not totally buying it though.
Last year’s defense was fantastic, its just too bad that a lot of those guys are now going to be playing on Sundays. As a result only 3 starters return however, I am way more confident that coordinator D.J. Durkin can turn these guys into another elite unit than with what I am seeing with the offense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Not a single linebacker returns but you know Florida will have enough fast athletic guys to get buy at that position. Also, even though only 3 starters return they still have 3 defensive players on the preseason all conference teams so they are elite level players with DT Dominique Easley maybe the best in the country at his position.
2013-14 Record Projection: 7-5
I think I may have a minority opinion on the Gators posting them at just 7 wins this season. Before I get hate mail from Gators fans I think I should explain a little further.
It starts with me being very bullish on Miami this season who the Gators play on the road; next they get Florida State at home to close the season but I think FSU is better than UF this year so there are a couple of losses.
I am also of the majority opinion thatthe Gators are behind Georgia and South Carolina this season – with neither game is at the Swamp.
That is 4 losses which means they will have go 7-1 against everybody else with the loss likely being at LSU, who is pretty good even though nobody is talking about them. Does that still sounds crazy for a team looking to piece together an offense and trying to replace a number of stud players from one of the best defenses in the nation?
I think the only way I am truly off base is if Driskel turns in a Heisman worthy season and I just don’t see that happening.
Gators 2013 Schedule:
AUG 31 – Toledo
SEP 7 – @Miami
SEP 21 – Tennessee
SEP 28 – @Kentucky
OCT 5 – Arkansas
OCT 12 – @LSU
OCT 19 – @Missouri
NOV 2 – Georgia (Jacksonville)
NOV 9 – Vanderbilt
NOV 16 – @South Carolina
NOV 23 – Georgia Southern
NOV 30 – Florida State
