Why it’s the Florida Gators!

Noted where Phil Steele wrote that he picked the Gators over Georgia last year to win the SEC and the National Championship.  This season he wrote - Florida did not disappoint me getting Urban Meyer his 2nd National Title in 3 years.  This year’s squad has 18 returning starters and is the best that Meyer has put on the field.  Despite the fact that their SEC Schedule is tougher with just 3 SEC games in The Swamp, all 9 sets of my power ratings call for an unbeaten season and the Gators may have the best offense, defense and ST (special teams) in the country.

WOW!

I’ve wanted to go up and down the positions in the SEC but for some reason there simply isn’t any sense in it for this man.  Compared to Florida this year the rest of the SEC sucks.  Like in Steele’s magazine his 4th team 2009 SEC QB is Jordan Jefferson for LSU.  Jefferson had two starts last season, he threw 73 passes and completed just under 50% with 4 TDs and 1 INT.  Ryan Mallett of Arkansas is third, yet Casey Dick was the Hogs starter last year. Jevan Snead is the second best returning QB in the SEC he had 26 TD passes with 13 INTs. In comparison Tim Tebow had 30 TD passes with just 4 INTs.

The only spots where Steele doesn’t have any Gators in his preseason four deep chart is at RB, OT and DT.  Florida’s DTs played very well last season the Gators look to be solid on the offensive front this fall. Florida’s RB by committee gained 3006 yards on the ground last season by three RBs, Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow.

Steele Stuff
(#1 - 1st team… #4 - 4th team)

#1 QB Tim Tebow
#2 WR Deonte Thompson
#4 WR Riley Cooper
#2 TE Aaron Hernandez
#1 OG Maurkice Pouncey
#2 OG Mike Pouncey

#1 DE Carlos Dunlap
#3 DE Jermaine Cunningham
#1 LB Brandon Spikes
#1 CB Joe Haden
#3 CB Janoris Jenkins
#1 S Ahmad Black
#4 S Major Wright

#2 P Chas Henry
#1 KR Brandon James
#2 PR Brandon James

Top returning
QB - Tim Tebow - Passing efficiency 172.4
Punter - Chas Henry 44 for 1908 for a 43.4 avg
Field Goal PCT - Jonathan Phillips 12 of 13 for 92.3%
SACKS - Carlos Dunlap 9.5 for 65 yards (Jermaine Cunningham 7th with 6)
Passes Defended - Joe Haden 12 pass breakups, 3 INT, total of 15
(Janoris Jenkins 11-3 for 14 he’s the third best returning, Haden was tied with Trevard Lindley of Ky)

Team vs SEC Competition
#1 Offense - Florida 44.9 pts per game, 429.4 ypg vs SEC
#1 Defense - Florida 12.5 pts per game allowed, 296 ypg vs SEC

You know there is going to be a surprise team or teams in the SEC and country. I’d pick South Carolina if they had some stinking offensive linemen. LSU is the only one I think will have a good year in the SEC unless the West just beats up each other. Just don’t think the West is that good this season.

Pick Texas to win the Big 12. Wonder how much defense they’ll play out there this year.

If USC wants to be in it they’ll have to win them all, same can be said for Ohio State. Would be funny to see if the BCS would take an undefeated Ohio State team over any one-loss SEC team! (snicker snicker)

How many days till September 5th? Think it’s 65, that’s nine weeks and two days till the Gator preseason begins. Add fourteen more till Tennessee when we get to rub Lanie-poo’s nose in it and show dad that we don’t give a dam how you do it in the NFL!