1. AJ Jones is one of the more underrated LBs in the SEC. I didn't realize it, but AJ was really stuffing the stat sheet last year before he got hurt.

2009 (9 games) - 37 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 INT, 2 PBU, 1 QBH

According to a recent article, he's up to 230 pounds and hasn't really lost any of his outstanding speed after working hard in the summer. He's become a vocal leader on a unit looking for new leadership, and I think he's going to have a big year for Florida if he stays healthy.


2. Will Hill and Ahmad Black had an underwhelming year in 2009. I wonder if the defensive coaches look back at 2009 and wonder why the hell they ever changed things up and had these two guys platoon instead of just keeping Ahmad Black on the field full time:

Will Hill 2009 (14 games) - 42 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 3 QBH
Ahmad Black (14 games) - 70 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 QBH

A lot of people are counting on UF having a solid secondary, but in order for that dream to come true, the safety rotation is going to have to be a lot more dynamic than they were last year. Also, any injuries to these two would be fairly catastrophic, if you consider that the two back ups are currently true freshmen.


3. If Lawrence Marsh can just stay healthy, I think he might be the all-around most disruptive interior linemen on the team. He had a great year in 2008 starting in 13 games as just a sophomore:

2008 (13 games): 28 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 QBH

Coaches were expecting him to build on that solid year in 2009, but injury just kept him off the field and no other DT could match his 2008 production in 2009. He only played in 9 games, and never started. If UF is really going to be intimidating in the middle, then Lawrence Marsh needs to play and play well.


4. Janoris Jenkins' sophomore year was a step down from his freshman year. His production in pass defense dropped off, he got beat deep in some key situations, and he never seemed to recover after getting in trouble early in the year.

2008: (14 games) - 39 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INT, 11 PBU, 1 FF
2009: (13 games) - 38 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INT, 6 PBU, 1 FF

If UFs defense wants to be elite, then they will need at least 1 lock down corner. Someone they can trust on an island. If Jenkins can return to his 2008 form, then they have their man, but if he is inconsistent like 2009, then UF might be in trouble.


5. Justin Trattou has played all over the defensive line since he came to UF. With the seeming lack of a premier pass rusher at defensive end, it falls to Trattou in 2010 to create some havoc at the position. Some people are worried about this, but just look all the way back to his freshman year in 2007 when he played almost entirely at defensive end:

2007 (12 games): 21 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 PBU, 1 INT, 2 QBH

That's pretty disruptive for a true freshman that played with a weak rotation at DT. With his move to DE being more permanent in 2010, I really expect that his production is going to just explode this season. My guess is 10+ TFL and 7+ sacks.


6. The perception outside of Gainesville is that UF does not have an every down back. I believe that perception will change this year because of Jeff Demps. He's as big as he's ever been (5'8, 190) and he'll finally get more than 100 carries in a season this year.

I think the rest of the SEC is going to be shocked by his emergence as one of the premier backs in the league in this offense. He's proven time and again that he can break the big play, but most importantly, (and I think the least known) is that he proved he can carry a team for tough yards in a defensive slug fest.

He had 16 carries for 86 yards, mostly on inside runs, in a hard fought 13-3 win against LSU in 2009, proving that he can provide the tough yards against some of the best in the SEC.

I think he'll be UFs first 1000 yard back in a while if he can stay healthy.


7. Deonte Thompson absolutely must step up and finally be "the man" in 2010. In 2009, Riley Cooper picked up the slack, and was the deep threat that the team needed Thompson to be. Well, Cooper is gone, and while Carl Moore might end up being Brantley's most important target in 2010, Thompson MUST stretch defenses vertically, otherwise UF will be regularly looking at defenses stuffing the box with 8+ defenders without much fear. One could argue that outside of Brantley, Thompson might be the most critical piece to the offensive puzzle for UF in 2010.


8. Carl Moore absolutely must stay healthy in 2010. I know I said before that DT might be UF's most critical offensive player because of his ability to stretch the defense, but there is at least a chance that someone like Frankie Hammond Jr. or Andre Debose could shift over and play the position. But outside of a raw talent like Stephen Alli, there just isn't anyone on the team that has the physical tools of Carl Moore.

He has legit 4.5 speed, he's 6'4, 217 pounds, and just a tough match up for most corners. IMO, he'll be the Dallas Baker of 2010, providing Brantley with a big, consistent target on intermediate routes and fade routes in the endzone. I would not be surprised AT ALL if he leads the team in TD receptions in 2010, especially if Thompson takes care of business on his side of the field. BUT HE MUST STAY HEALTHY.


9. The Florida offense CAN'T turn the ball over. One of Tebow's greatest attributes was his ability to protect the football. UF has only had 44 turnovers lost since 2007 when Tebow started, which is easily the lowest total in the SEC during that stretch. That's 44 turnovers in 41 games. (Alabama is #2 with 51). Florida lost 37 in 2005 and 2006 with a more traditional QB.

The offense will change slightly with Brantley at the helm, and with more passing comes more risk. John Brantley's #1 responsibility has to be to protect the football. Chris Leak threw 13 INTs in 2006, a fairly high number considering that UF ran more that it passed, and Leak was consistently bailed out by an extremely tough and opportunistic 2006 defensive unit.

Brantley probably won't have the same luck with the 2010 gator defense, and so he must prioritize ball security when leading the offense. So far in his career, he's shown that he can protect the football, and he must continue to do so if UF is going to be a great team in 2010.


10. If Durkin takes care of business, UF will have one of the best special teams units in the country in 2010.

Chaz Henry is one of the best punters in the country, and was #2 in net punting average in 2009, nailing 15 of his 34 punts inside opponents 20, and between him and the PR defense, UF only gave up 21 yards on 5 returns.

Caleb Sturgis made 22-30 kicks in his first year as a starter, and made the longest FG in the SEC last year at 56 yards. He'll probably be one of the finalists for best kicker in 2010 if he can just solidify his kick offs.

Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps were both extremely effective at KR and PR duties in their limited time in that position in 2009, and probably represent two of the most dangerous return men in the country. I wouldn't be surprised if both of them are in the top 15 in both KR and PR yardage in 2010.