If you believe things get easier the second time around, don’t ask Urban Meyer, whose first BCS National Championship Game experience was a pretty good one – a dominating 41-14 victory by his Florida Gators over the Ohio State Buckeyes following the 2006 season.
Tuesday following his team’s third post-Christmas break practice in preparation for the 2008 BCS National Championship Game Jan. 8 against Oklahoma in Miami’s Orange Bowl, Meyer gave an indication to the media why his team will have its hands full with Bob Stoops’ Sooners.
First, of course, is redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford, who beat out Texas’ Colt McCoy and prevented Florida’s Tim Tebow from becoming only the second player to win back-to-back Heisman Trophies. After watching film of Bradford and his offensive line, Meyer realizes his secondary will be severely tested.
“The best thing about Sam Bradford is he sets his feet and throws the football,” Meyer said. “He doesn’t panic, he doesn’t run out of the pocket, he doesn’t scramble – (those things) made Tim a better quarterback. When Tim first got here, if things looked ugly, he was out of there. If you watch film (of Bradford), he gets to his third checkdown and stays in the pocket. That is hard to teach.”
It helps Bradford, of course, to be working behind a veteran offensive line of senior left tackle Phil Loadholt (6-8, 337), senior left guard Duke Robinson (6-5, 335), senior center Jon Cooper (6-3, 290), senior right guard Brandon Walker (6-3, 284) and junior right tackle Trent Williams (6-5, 308).
“A lot of guys don’t have a chance to get to their third checkdown because their offensive line isn’t good enough,” Meyer continued. “It’s 2.5-3 seconds and the ball’s getting out. Against an average offensive line, you’re on the ground. With those four seniors and a junior, he gets to his third checkdown. That’s a helluva problem for a secondary. That’s unusual.”
Two seasons ago in the BCS National Championship Game at Glendale, Ariz., Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Troy Smith, never got a chance to set his feet because of the work of Florida’s defensive ends Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey, who would end up being first-round draft choices.
Prior to the game, Bryan Mattison, the son of then Gators defensive line coach Greg Mattison and a defensive end at Iowa, had indicated to Moss and Harvey that the Gators would have success against the Buckeyes. Meyer said that won’t be the case this time.
“These tackles (Loadholt and Williams) are a little better than what we faced with the other school (Ohio State),” Meyer said. “We had two first-rounders there and potentially (two more) down the road (in Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap) and they have to play well.”
Meyer said he is giving the team Wednesday off but quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Percy Harvin likely will be out on the practice field running routes. Harvin, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Florida State and missed the SEC Championship victory over Alabama, was pronounced probable for the Sooners.
“He had a good hour of running routes, he’s ahead of schedule,” Meyer said. “I’m not sure I’ve seen a guy do what he’s done as far as commitment. You know, he’s not missed a lot of games due to injury. He’s a thoroughbred who gets banged up a lot and that affects his production. I think Percy Harvin, when healthy, is the best player in college football. He is a reckless player. He and Tim (Tebow) are reckless players. They throw their bodies into situations other people wouldn’t.”
Meyer is not only happy with Harvin’s progress but he indicated that the Gators are in pretty good health with one practice to go before they board a charter to Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 2. Meyer indicated that Kestahn Moore had minor knee surgery but should be ready for the game. Guard Carl Johnson (knee) and wide receiver Louis Murphy (knee) both practiced as did running back Chris Rainey (groin). Guard Jim Tartt (shoulders) has been limited in practice, just as he has been all season.
Meyer, who announced that offensive line coach Steve Addazio would succeed Dan Mullen as offensive coordinator following the Jan. 8 game, said that he will hire a quarterback coach to replace Mullen, who earlier this month became Mississippi State’s new head coach. Mullen, however, has been in Gainesville helping the Gators prepare and will be in the booth to coordinate Florida’s game plan.
“Who’s going to call the plays?” Meyer said. “The University of Florida is calling plays. Dan is a great coach and we need Dan to win this game. Dan has been professional in handling this game. I’m conscious that he has a job to do (at Mississippi State) and it has not been an easy one. But it could not have worked out better.”
The Gators’ game-planning will remain a group effort among the offensive coaches and Meyer. Whoever Mullen’s successor will be as quarterback coach also won’t know until after the bowl game whether he will be working with Tebow, who could opt for the NFL Draft.
“I don’t know that,” Meyer said when asked if his quarterback had filled out the paperwork for the NFL Draft. “We spoke briefly about it and we’ll revisit it after the bowl game. I don’t want to speculate (whether Tebow will return or leave). That’s not fair to a guy who I have as much respect for as anyone I’ve ever had. There’s been no decision made. I love the fact his focus is what it is and that’s on winning this game.”