Coach:
Steve Spurrier
102-22-1, 11 years
122-35-2, overall 14 years |
1999 Record: 9-4
Sep 04 |
Western Michigan |
Won 55-26 |
Sep 11 |
Central Florida |
Won 58-27 |
Sep 18 |
Tennessee |
Won 23-21 |
Sep 25 |
@Kentucky |
Won 38-10 |
Oct 02 |
Alabama |
Lost 39-40
|
Oct 09 |
@Louisiana State |
Won 31-10 |
Oct 16 |
@Auburn |
Won 32-14 |
Oct 30 |
Georgia |
Won 30-14 |
Nov 06 |
Vanderbilt |
Won 13-6 |
Nov 13 |
@South Carolina |
Won 20-3 |
Nov 20 |
Florida State |
Lost 23-30
|
Dec 04 |
Alabama (SEC) |
Lost 7-34 |
CITRUS BOWL
|
Jan 01 |
Michigan State |
Lost 34-37
|
|
|
1999
Final Rankings
|
AP-12,
BCS-10, Coaches-14
|
2000 Outlook
|
The good news to most is that Spurrier
may not have to go with the alternating quarterback
scheme that plagued him the end of last season...but
who knows with Brock Berlin coming to town. Canadien
QB Jesse Palmer looks well prepared to comprehend Spurrier's
complex offensive shemes as everyone knows a key to
Florida's success starts at QB. The offense may find
a better usage of the fullback and running game with
some great ball carriers hoping to get the pigskin and
make the Gator passing game even more effective. What
may make or break the 2000 team will be the offensive
line as any injuries up front would be devastating.
Hopes are in Gainesville that some stellar players from
a consensus number one recruiting class fill some key
holes. It may not matter as the Gator defense may be
the best in the country. Depth and talent is everywhere.
So much that certain position changes may be in order
just to get certain players playing time. Alex Brown's
13 sacks from last season will force opponents to think
about avoiding 3rd an long situations. The road will
not be easy as the SEC will be it's toughest in recent
years, and that is saying something. Projected record:
11-2
Florida
2000 Schedule
|
FLORIDA
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB - 4 |
DL - 5 |
RB - 4.5 |
LB - 4.5 |
WR - 2.5 |
DB - 3.5 |
OL - 2 |
|
|
|
|
FLORIDA GATORS
2000 PRESEASON PREVIEW
|
|
|
2000
OFFENSE
|
Strengths: Could Coach
Spurrier consider scrapping the fun-n-gun offense and utilize
the runnng game more? Running back should be a strength with
number one team rusher Earnest Graham returning and an elusive
Bo Carroll getting reps. Although rarely used the Gators have
a powerful load of fullbacks in Rod Frazier and Rob Roberts.
Alternating quarterbacks may be in the past as Doug Johnson
moves on. Jesse Palmer should maintain the starting spot with
a major battle for backup spot coming in the spring. 1999 USA
Today Player of The Year QB Brock Berlin has already enrolled
for spring and the big question is does he redshirt. His counterpart
Rex Grossman has a little more experience but spring will tell
all. Whether at WR or TE, Kirk Wells will provide some much
needed playing time and the tackle slot could possess one of
the meanest in the SEC with Kenyatta Walker. Returning kicker
Jeff Chandler is one of the best. |
Weaknesses: Without a
doubt the offensive line will be the major concern heading into
2000. Replacing Carlisle, Kalich, Yarbrough, and Blackshear
will be a tough assignment. With the exception of Pearson and
Walker consider every position on the depth chart open. Who
will step up? Look for incoming freshman to give support with
Snell, Colon, and Ian Scott. Also key will be the health of
Ben Brown and senior center Zac Zedalis as they recover from
injuries. The loss of juniors Jackson and Taylor at wide receiver
to the NFL hurts as they were by far the leading receivers in
'99. There is some talent for coaches to work with but opinions
have alot of position changing occurring. Look for Willis and
Caldwell to stay put and lead the pack. The Gator offense finished
10th overall in the SEC in total offense. |
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
|
QB |
Jesse
Palmer |
6-2 |
227 |
Sr. |
|
Rex
Grossman |
6-1 |
207 |
Fr. |
TB |
Earnest
Graham |
5-10 |
218 |
So. |
|
Bo
Carroll |
5-9 |
165 |
Sr. |
FB |
Rod
Frazier |
5-11 |
255 |
Sr. |
|
Rob
Roberts |
6-2 |
250 |
Jr. |
WR |
Alex
Willis |
6-0 |
181 |
Sr. |
|
Taylor
Jacobs |
6-0 |
182 |
Fr. |
WR |
Reche
Caldwell |
6-0 |
193 |
So. |
|
Brian
Haugabrook |
6-1 |
205 |
Jr. |
T |
Mike
Pearson |
6-7 |
295 |
So. |
|
Shannon
Snell |
6-6 |
320 |
Fr. |
G |
Leon
Hires |
6-5 |
276 |
Sr. |
|
Erik
Strange |
6-4 |
291 |
Jr. |
C |
Zac
Zedalis |
6-3 |
285 |
Sr. |
|
David
Jorgensen |
6-4 |
281 |
So. |
G |
Tommy
Moody |
6-3 |
302 |
So. |
|
David
Kearley |
6-5 |
283 |
So. |
T |
Kenyatta
Walker |
6-5 |
301 |
Jr. |
|
Aaron
Deal |
6-6 |
311 |
Fr. |
TE |
Kirk
Wells |
6-4 |
216 |
So. |
|
Aaron
Walker |
6-6 |
240 |
So. |
K |
Jeff
Chandler |
6-2 |
206 |
Sr. |
|
|
|
|
|
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Darrell Jackson-WR, Travis Taylor-WR, Doug Johnson-QB,
Erron Kinney-TE, Cooper Carlisle-OL, Ryan Kalich-OL,
Corey Yarbrough-OL, Cheston Blackshear-OL
|
|
2000
DEFENSE
|
Strengths: As the offense
has holes to fill the Gator defense will be the best in the
SEC. All four returning starters are back on the DL. Defensive
end Alex Brown is one of the nations best. Looks like Derrick
Chambers may move to defensive tackle opening the door for LaFavor
and Bullard to get some action. As good as the DL looks for
next season the linebackers may even be better. Andra Davis
is the solid middle linebacker and a rotation of Carroll, Ellis,
and Hardmon along with Mike Nattiel, who came on strong during
the end of last season, will be superb. With all the depth at
LB the possibility of all JUCO transfer Kennard Ellis moving
to DE exists as he did not come to Florida to sit the bench.
Like the DL all four starting defensive backs return with good
depth behind them. The whole defense should make for some interesting
position battles. |
Weaknesses: If there is
a weakness, improved play from the defensive backfield would
be one. With alot of numbers to work with the coaches should
be able to piece together a better cover team and position changes
will fluxuate from now till fall. Florida finished 8th in total
defense in the conference in 1999 so overall there should be
some major improvement. Even with Alex Brown back the defense
could use some more pressure on passing situations to take some
of the opponents priority off of Brown as sack producer Eugene
McCaslin exits. |
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
|
DE |
Tron
LaFavor |
6-2 |
251 |
So. |
|
Bobby
McCray |
6-6 |
240 |
Fr. |
DT |
Gerard
Warren |
6-4 |
300 |
Jr. |
|
Arpedge
Rolle |
6-1 |
258 |
So. |
DT |
Buck
Gurley |
6-3 |
280 |
Sr. |
|
Derrick
Chambers |
6-4 |
270 |
Sr. |
DE |
Alex
Brown |
6-4 |
251 |
Jr. |
|
Thaddeus
Bullard |
6-4 |
250 |
Sr. |
WLB |
Mike
Nattiel |
5-11 |
219 |
So. |
|
Daryl
Owens |
5-10 |
225 |
Sr. |
MLB |
Andra
Davis |
6-1 |
244 |
Jr. |
|
Travis
Carroll |
6-4 |
243 |
Jr. |
SLB |
Marcus
Oquendo-Johnson |
6-4 |
210 |
So. |
|
Kennard
Ellis |
6-3 |
235 |
Jr. |
CB |
Bennie
Alexander |
5-10 |
175 |
Jr. |
|
Lito
Sheppard |
5-10 |
184 |
So. |
CB |
Robert
Cromartie |
5-8 |
180 |
Jr. |
|
Marquis
Westbrook |
5-9 |
173 |
So. |
SS |
Marquand
Manuel |
6-0 |
203 |
Jr. |
|
Todd
Johnson |
6-1 |
187 |
So. |
FS |
Daryl
Dixon |
5-10 |
189 |
So. |
|
Lester
Norwood |
6-2 |
190 |
Jr. |
P |
Alan
Rhine |
5-11 |
172 |
Sr. |
|
David
Wasielewski |
5-10 |
227 |
Jr. |
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Anthony Mitchell-DL, Keith Kelsey-LB, Eugene
McCaslin-LB
|
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