Gator Country

Urban Meyer liked a lot of things about Florida's 62-3 season-opening victory over Charleston Southern./Gator Country file photo by Tim Casey

If Saturday’s unveiling of their new hurry-up offense is, as Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer says, was “just a tip of the iceberg,” defensive coordinators of the 2009 opposition could be facing headaches of a titanic proportion.

The spread and now this? With all the plays and talent available to Meyer, it’s no wonder most observers believe that Florida is the “King of the World” right now in college football.

If Saturday’s 62-3 victory over out-manned Charleston Southern, completed with 624 yards in total offense (255 passing, 369 rushing) and zero turnovers, is any indication, there may not be enough hours in a day to prepare.

“So much of what we do offensively is a result of what our defensive coaches and other defensive coaches feel is hard to defend,” Meyer said late Sunday morning during the first of his weekly press conferences. “That’s why it’s an advantage of having an offensive guy as a head coach who can just sit in the defensive meetings, more so for listening instead of speaking. I want to hear what gives them a hard time to defend.”

Like most ideas in college football, the Gators took a page from an opponent – in this case it was Oklahoma’s hurry-up offense that gave Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong and his staff fits while preparing for their eventual 24-14 victory in last season’s BCS National Championship Game.

“That preparation was very difficult because of the great players and great tempo with which Oklahoma played,” Meyer continued. “In our case, every bit of the offense – the empty, the options and the shove passes – make it so difficult to defend. You just saw a tip of the iceberg of what’s available to us.”

And with speedy playmakers like Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Aaron Hernandez and Brandon James, Urban and offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Steve Addazio have plenty of options in their playbook.

And with wide receivers like Riley Cooper, David Nelson and Deonte Thompson taking pride in making blocks downfield, it’s no wonder the Gators averaged 11.2 yards per carry against the Buccaneers, a statistic of which the Troy Trojans (0-1) are keenly aware.

After center Maurkice Pouncey and guards Mike Pouncey, James Wilson and Carl Johnson sprung runners Demps, Riley and Emmanuel Moody through the first line of Charleston Southern’s defense, Cooper, Nelson, Thompson and their receiving mates made key blocks downfield. It was Nelson and Thompson who prevented anyone from catch Rainey on his career-long 76-yard touchdown run. It was Nelson and Cooper who cleared the way for Demps’ 23-yard touchdown run.

Particularly impressive was Cooper, the 6-5 wide receiver from Clearwater who signed a professional baseball contract with the Texas Rangers only after they allowed him one more autumn in “The Swamp” as he and the Gators seek their third national title in four seasons. In addition to his blocking efforts and his play on Florida’s special teams (he and Nelson escorted Brandon James into the end zone to complete his 85-yard kickoff return), Cooper also made five catches for 105 yards, one a 68-yard reception from his roommate Tim Tebow on Florida’s first touchdown drive.

Meyer doesn’t want to think where the Gators’ receiving corps would be if Cooper had not returned for his final season. As valuable as he is as a receiver, Cooper may be more valuable as a downfield blocker.

“He might be one of the best we’ve ever had,” Meyer said. “Coach G (Billy Gonzales, the team’s receivers coach) takes great pride in blocking and so does the whole receivers group. In 2006, one of the best examples was the national championship game against Ohio State. That game came down to edge blocking and that was a big reason why we won. Our guys block every day before they catch passes. Riley is so competitive and so tough, he takes it to the nexl level.”

Though disappointed that a wide-open Thompson dropped what would have been a 67-yard touchdown reception from Tebow on Florida’s second drive of the night, Meyer was happy that he didn’t let it affect his other duties.

“Deonte is a much better player than that who is ready to make plays at the ‘X’ position,” Meyer said. “And it was nice to see Frankie (Hammond Jr.) and Omarius (Hines) step up and contribute.”

Hines was a late-week addition to Florida’s game plan after he beat everyone during Thursday’s weekly races of special teams coverage players.

“I won’t say who he beat but he won,” Meyer said. “That’s how guys get noticed – Nelson and (Dorian) Munroe. He (Hines) runs, he’s fast plus he’s a good guy. He’ll play more if he stays healthy.”

The more the merrier. Meyer isn’t afraid to admit that the Gators have more than 11 starters on both offense and defense. Will Hill has now earned playing time at either safety spot with last year’s starters Major Wright (who had an interception) and Ahmad Black. On the offensive line, the Gators have six starters for their five spots with the two Pounceys, Wilson, Johnson and sophomore left tackle Matt Patchan.

INJURY UPDATES: Meyer said that Johnson, a redshirt junior who left the game limping in the second quarter, is probable for Saturday’s game with Troy (which kicks off at 12:21 p.m.) after suffering a bone bruise in his right ankle. He did not address the injury to freshman linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who was helped off the field. There could be more news on his condition following Sunday evening’s practice (the Gators will have Labor Day off).

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