Five questions facing UF
BY MIKE PHILLIPS
mphillips@MiamiHerald.com
Top five questions for the Gators heading into fall practice. Practice begins Monday.
1. Is there any doubt who will be the Gators' starting quarterback?
Read coach Urban Meyer's lips: It's Chris Leak. The last thing Meyer wants is a quarterback controversy, and as long as Leak wins every game, he might not have one. But the minute the Gators lose (or Tim Tebow has a big night in a relief role), it's going to be a topic that won't go away. Tebow is a much better fit for the spread-option offense, but by the end of last season, Meyer had scaled down his spread offense to take advantage of Leak's skills as a drop-back passer. If Meyer can find a way to protect Leak and give him a chance to do what he does best -- sit back and pick teams apart -- then Leak could throw for more than 3,000 yards, which he did before Meyer became the Gators' coach.
2. Did Leak really say he wants to throw 50 touchdowns?
Yes, the All-Bland Leak said that, and Meyer said, ''It's Florida nonsense.'' It's not nonsense, it's just Leak telling people he wants a chance to throw more TDs after suffering in the spread option offense a year ago. Consider 40 to 45 TDs as a possibility. If he does that and the Gators are in a BCS bowl, he will win the Heisman -- and that's the real message. Leak wants a chance at the Heisman.
3. What about the Gators' young secondary?
UF is young, but cornerback Reggie Nelson could be one of the top defensive backs in the SEC. The Gators got rid of cornerback Avery Atkins after an off-the-field incident, but they expect to add Ryan Smith, a starter at Utah who is coming over on the new graduate-transfer rule. Kyle Jackson looked great at safety as a freshman, then lost his job a year ago. He might start again, giving UF some added experience.
4. Can the Gators win the Southeastern Conference title?
There's no reason for them not to at least get to the SEC title game for the first time since Steve Spurrier left. The front four is the best it has been in years, and Brandon Siler and Earl Everett are two of the best linebackers in the league. The Gators are the overwhelming favorites to win the SEC East, and with a little luck they might even go unbeaten.
5. Can Florida go unbeaten with that schedule?
The Gators face one of the toughest (if not the most difficult) stretches in college football when they meet Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia. But the only road game in that stretch is at Auburn. The Gators have to be better prepared to play on the road -- all three losses were in SEC road games a year ago. Meyer should have his team ready for Auburn. If UF survives that run unbeaten at 8-0, it should be ranked No. 1 in the nation. Then we're talking Fiesta Bowl.