These are the kind of games I love. Ones where you know on paper we are supposed lose, but it is also a close enough match-up that it could be anyone's game. I have read a lot of the experts opinions this week, some are good, some are laughable, I mean do they even watch the teams they are writing/talking about?
As far as the paper match-up goes, Bama is a more experienced team with more depth, that is true. While I believe Florida's athletes are just as good as Bama's (we all recruited the same guys), we are in the first year of a new system, while they are in the fifth or sixth year of using the same terminology, plays, etc. There is an advantage to that, no doubt. I have watched two of Bama's games this year, Penn St. and Arky, and they are not the invincible team the national media wants us to believe. Arkansas was in the game with them in the first half until they started making mistakes. A fluke interception that is bounced high in the air and returned for six, a punt return for TD with terrible coverage and tackling are what put this game out of reach. Up to that point, this was a 10-7 ball game, it got out of hand when Arky went down 24-7 (Bama scored 14 unanswered points) and Bama was able to tee off on every play as Arky went one dimensional trying to pass to the comeback. Before the int and punt return, this was a good defensive struggle, Bama was going to win, but it could've been much closer. As for Bama, their biggest weakness is their O-line and D- line. They had a first and goal at the half yard line and had to settle for a field goal after Arky made a gallant 'goal line stance'. Arky was putting pressure on McCollum rushing only four. Arky's demise was the inability to tackle and slow linebackers. Bama likes to run, duh, but they also like to throw a lot of screens and quick slants and let their big backs an WRs get YAC. Fortunately, our linebackers have the speed to get to these guys, we have been suspect at times in tackling, but if we wrap up can largely stymie what Bama wants to do. If we are getting pressure with our front four and force Bama to a passing game, I like our chances. On defense, Bama's vaunted D-line isn't what it used to be. They were not able to get pressure with their base rush consistently. Typically when they got pressure it was sending five or more guys, I like that! Their linebackers are phenomenal, and will be key in this game. They are big and fast, I think Jenkins is our biggest LB, and all of theirs are bigger than him. Our LBs tend to be a little undersized, and that is a concern as Richardson doesn't go down easy, so good fundamentals in tackling will be important. You can't just fly up and pop these guys, they absorb huge hits and spin off for a big gain, we have to tackle. Bama's DBs are likewise very good and from what we have seen should be up to the challenge covering our WRs. Our DBs while good, are young and inexperienced. Bama's WRs don't really concern me, but this will be a big test for us. For us, we have been all Demps and Rainey so far. I expect Bama to give us a lot of looks to try and bottle these two up. They will try to stay sound between the tackles and play tight to keep us from getting to the edge. If they are successful doing that, our TEs will be key for us, and fortunately, this is the first game we will have all three healthy and available. All of this is a long way of saying, I really like our chances. This will probably be like watching an NFL game, as I expect both coaches to play the field position game and hope for the other side to make mistakes. Last year, we got blown out, but also had like a hundred turnovers. If we can avoid turnovers, play sound football and limit penalties (not likely against Bama, as the refs all think they invented football), we win. I see a relatively low scoring affair, where Caleb Sturgis is the hero, Florida 22 - Bama 20 on a late FG. Or, it could be different... Ken Kirkley MNGator -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
