2013 Miami Hurricanes 12 part Opponent series - Part 2 (Florida - Sept 7...

Sept 7^th – Florida

In Part 2 of the 12 part 2013 CANE opponent series, we’re going to talk the opponent in Armageddon, which is the Florida Gators. Game time is Noon on ESPN at Sun Life Stadium. Here’s what you need to know about the Gators. Their D was just outstanding all-around vs. both the pass and the run. Their Special Teams was amazingly good. While, they will have a new kicker coming in, their special teams are still going to be a threat.

Offensively: Inconsistency was the word of the day here. One week, they’re BCS contenders, and the next, they look like garbage. Their running game in 2012 was a force to be dealt with, however, their passing game left a little to be desired. Their O-Line had a very tough time protecting Jeff Driskel, who basically held the ball too long at times and either threw picks or took sacks. As a result, their receiving corps had a very hard time getting open down field and getting YACs (yards after the catch) and they don’t have a lot of depth here at that position. Its so bad up there, that they had to convert DB Loucheiz Purifoy to a WR. They’re hoping that he can be a dual threat on both sides of the ball. While, he’ll give them some energy, don’t expect him to be that game-changing threat Gordie Lockbaum was back in the day at Holy Cross.  On the O-Line, they lost Xavier Nixon  (UFA to Washington Redskins) and James Wilson (graduation) and that line was beat up in the Spring due to suspensions and injuries,  although those on the Gators staff believe that an influx of more versatile linemen might help them against the speed rush. In the running game, they lose Mike Gillislee to graduation (drafted 5^th round by the Dolphins), however, they return a force in Matt Jones, who they think will fill into Gillisee’s shoes quite nicely. However, at the end of the day, look for it to be status-quo in 2013 here.

Defensively: They lost a lot of good talent to the NFL, however, in Gainesville, they don’t rebuild, they reload. You have to remember, they lost to the League: DT Sharrif Floyd (Minnesota) LB Jon Bostic (Chicago) and S Matt Elam (Baltimore). Yet, their D should be outstanding again with that back seven and enough weapons to keep on humming. The best part about everything the defense was able to accomplish last season was that it all happened without one of the premier pass rushing prospects in college football. They get back Ronald Powell, who is the big-time pass rusher they sorely missed in 2012. He was just a man among boys out there last offseason before suffering a knee injury that cost him the entire year, but fortunately, it happened early enough to give him a full season to recover. You have a defense like that that ranked fifth in the nation getting back the one thing it was missing in 2012, which was a devastating speed rusher. If he’s the Powell before the knee injury, this team will be very dangerous.  The questions here are:

• Will their front 7 that is loaded with 5-star athletes’ move into bigger roles?
• Will Purifoy (also being on the other side of the ball at WR) & Marcus Roberson give them the best 1-2 CB combo in the conference??
• Will CB Vernon Hargreaves III, be an immediate impact player as a true freshman? Did they lose a few too many players to the league, to still be good, if not better?

Special Teams:  Caleb Sturgis is gone to graduation (5^th round pick by Miami Dolphins). It’ll be up either Senior PK Brad Phillips or Redshirt Freshman PK Austin Hardin to fill the shoes Sturgis leaves behind in Gainesville. How big were those shoes? He was 24-28 on field goals last season and the four that he missed, he had three of them blocked. This guy had the accuracy from 40+ yards, being 8-9 in that category, which included two of them from 50+ yards. (a 50-yarder against Georgia and a 51-yarder @A&M). They will be in close games this year again, and when you consider the O being inconsistent at times, and not taking any chances in the red zone, they are going to need a kicker that comes up big for them in key spots. They do get Kyle Christy back to handle the punting duties.  

In closing, let’s make no mistake; the Gators are going to be very good again this year. Looking at their schedule, they open with Toledo at home, before coming to town the following week in Armageddon at Noon. Then after a BYE week, they host Tennessee, then go to a Kentucky team that’s going to be very much improved. After that game, they host a dangerous Arkansas team before going to Baton Rouge to play LSU and Columbia, MO the following week to play Missouri. After a 2^nd BYE week, they have the cocktail party in Jacksonville vs a UGa team that some think could de-throne Bama as SEC champions. That will be the first ofa play-in series for the East. Then they close SEC play with two very tough games (Vanderbilt at Home, and a trip to South Carolina, the latter will likely decide the East and the trip to Atlanta that goes with it). After a game with Georgia Southern, who’s a very good FCS team, they close the regular season with FSU at home.

Looking at that schedule, my prediction for Florida this year is 10-2.

n Part 3 of the series, I’ll talk about Savannah State.