The Florida Gators start practice this morning in what just might be the most anticipated August since Urban Meyer took over in 2005. There are so many question marks for the Gators, but there is no denying that Meyer has stocked the roster with talent. The Gators are two and three-deep --- or more --- at every single position and there are players who could be starting at other schools in the Southeastern Conference who will have to patiently wait their turn to get on the field at Florida.
Most of the attention will center on Johnny Brantley, who is in the unenviable position of having to step in and replace a legend. How will Brantley fill Tim Tebow's enormous shoes?
The answer is simple. He won't.
Instead of trying to fill Tebow's shoes, Brantley needs to carve out his own niche. If he concentrates on being the first Johnny Brantley rather than the next Tim Tebow, he will do just fine. He's got the arm, the smarts and the command of the offense, plus he's got a stockpile of offensive weapons second to none in the SEC. There isn't a team other than Florida in the SEC capable of going five wide with sprinters who have all turned in a 10.5 or faster in the 100 meters. And, Brantley has four very capable tailbacks who can run the football so he doesn't have to take on that role of the battering ram on third and short.
With Florida's offensive weapons at the skill positions, something tells us that the Gators probably aren't going to have many third and shorts this year.
It's been a good summer for Brantley. He's worked all the receivers hard during the dog days when the sun scorches the practice field and everyone willing to brave the heat but in particular, he's on the same page with Deonte Thompson, Carl Moore, Chris Rainey and Omarius Hines. Watch for those four to emerge during August as go-to guys in the passing game.
Rainey can catch the ball and he can give that Percy dimension by sliding back into the backfield and taking handoffs or pitchouts on the option. He's going to be dynamic.
Thompson is the consummate deep threat while Moore and Hines have the size and brute strength to wear our folks in the middle of the field.
Watch what's going on with the offensive line, too. Matt Patchan's leg has healed and he's really huge, which means there is a solid three-man rotation at tackle. If Mo Hurt, James Wilson or Jon Halapio have a great August to solidify the right guard position, then the Gators will have the best line in the SEC and maybe one that's as good as there is anywhere in the country.
Anytime the line is mentioned, it's a requirement to mention Mike Pouncey. He's in the best shape of his life, and ready to be the best center in the country. And, Carl Johnson is also in great shape. At 6-6, 355, he's going to crush people at left guard.
Over on defense, the two names to track are William Green and Ronald Powell. Green has bulked up and will play in the 255-260 range. With that explosive first step, now that he's got the size and strength, he will terrorize quarterbacks. Powell has a chance to be special from day one. He can be that hybrid defensive end linebacker. I've compared him to Lawrence Taylor at the same age. I saw Taylor in high school and as a freshman at North Carolina, and I see the same qualities and strengths in Powell.
There's plenty of leadership on the defensive side, too, with Brandon Hicks, Ahmad Black and Justin Trattou. It only seems like they've been here forever. They've earned their stripes and they are solid on the field and unchallenged in the locker room.
We'll have media availability twice today: returning veterans at 11 a.m. and Urban Meyer at 6:30. I'll be posting here with quotes and other goodies from day one.
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