You do realize Meyer has a pocket QB next year right? Last time that happened he went 8-4. And I'm a firm believer that Chris Leak was better than Brantley.
The entire reason the offense at Florida has been working is because of the threat of the QB draw and read-option with a 245lb QB.
I'm just glad I never have to watch that nasty looking jump pass ever again.
Last time they had a pocket QB they actually won the National Championship. Tebow did nothing as a QB and was just a short yardage back. Leak was the QB that year.
Sorry but no. You will more than likely lose some Jr's to go with 6 or 7 talented Sr's. I'd say that Haden, Wright, Hernandez, and Dunlap are pretty much gone. Hard to say where the Pouncey bros might grade out.
We saw the future of the UF running game early in the UT game when Meyer thought he could beat Monte without Tebow between the tackles.
IMO, the East looks like a 4 team race in 2010 as of now. All 4 have significant question marks that can only be filled by new comers.
Looking at our starters there are about 7 or so juniors that could leave early. We also have 3 seniors on offense and 3 senior starters on defense that will be gone.
Of the juniors I see Haden, Dunlap, and Hernandez as the only players that will head to the draft. Had we won the NC this year, then I could see a lot of juniors declaring early.
So we will return most of our defense and likely be pretty good on that side of the ball next year. The offense should return all 5 starters on the OL unless the Pounceys declare which I don't see happening. We lose a couple of WRs, but they were not great this year so replacing that production shouldn't be all that hard. Then you have Tebow who has been a big part of the offense in past years obviously, but the offense was not all that great this year and similar productivity next year is definitely possible.
Looking at other teams in the East next year, you have Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. You can immediately toss out Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Georgia is bringing back a lot of players, losing only 6 starters (according to the rivals depth chart which isn't great), but they do lose their starting QB, and I have not seen anything from them to show they have a QB that will be able to step in next year, but we will see.
South Carolina doesn't lose that many starters, but they lose their best defensive player in Eric Norwood, and it remains to be seen if the players that they do have are going to be able to compete at a high level.
Tennessee, again according to rivals which still lists Nu'Keese as a starter, loses 8 starters on offense, 4 from the OL and their starting QB and HB. The HB they have Bryce Brown, so I don't see that as a big drop off at all, but Hardesty had to be the best offensive player for Tennessee this year. On defense 4 starters our seniors, not counting Reveiz, and then the addition of Berry who I'd be surprised to see come back. I think the defense will still do well next year, but the amount of players they are losing on O has to be concerning. I think if they finish the same way they did this year at 7-5 then it will be as good as could be expected.
Of the top 4 in the east I think Tennessee could easily finish 4th and 2nd place in the east would be quite an accomplishment. I think the East will be down again next year and it shouldn't be incredibly hard for Florida to repeat.
The year after next, is when I see the East rising up with a lot of teams being competitive, but next year I see being similar to this year but not quite as big of a difference in teams.
As for Mack Brown, he is coming to Florida without Tebow so UF will be forced to give the ball to the RBs. I do not see him getting 20+ carries a game in his career, simply because Meyer likes to rotate RBs and get the ball in a lot of players hands. Also, if Debose is as good as people hyped him up to be he will definitely get a share of the carries. Florida has a lot of depth at RB next year, and I don't see Brown doing anything and likely redshirting. The year after next Moody will be gone and Demps and Rainey will be seniors, so by the time Mack is a redshirt sophmore he will be with Gillislee as the remaining RBs on the roster, along with whatever recruits they pick up in that time period.
