Various meanderings from Solari (Ray), ze owner of GatorCountry.com...
ESPN: LSU no match for Florida's speed
Posted 10-12-2008 at 04:24 AM by Solari
(Note: Sometimes we have way too much stuff for our front page on GatorCountry.com, so now and then I'll post some good stories here from ESPN since we're an affiliate of ESPN. Enjoy! Ray)
By ESPN.com's Chris Low
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The self-proclaimed fastest team in America also looked like one of the best teams in America on Saturday night in the Swamp.
All those people wanting to know what was missing from Florida's offense the last few weeks got a glimpse of it in the Gators' 51-21 thrashing of No. 3-ranked LSU. But, it was only a glimpse because Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are human blurs, and Percy Harvin's not too far behind ... if he's behind at all.
LSU is a fast team, one of the fastest teams in the country. But the Tigers were no match for the Gators.
"We know how much speed we've got, and we came out tonight and showed it," said Demps, who rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight week (129 yards on 10 carries) and all but finished the Tigers with a 42-yard touchdown sprint on an option pitch late in the third quarter.
It was the fourth touchdown run of 30 yards or longer by Demps this season, and Florida as a team only had two that long all of last season. Rainey also had 66 yards on 11 carries, including a long of 21 yards, before hurting his shoulder.
And Harvin opened the game with his 70-yard touchdown catch and run off a deflected pass.
"I get excited when they get the ball, because you know every second you give them is probably a touchdown," Florida offensive tackle Jason Watkins said. "Those guys are amazing."
Remember that the Florida running game that didn't exist, other than quarterback Tim Tebow, a few short weeks ago? Well, the Gators racked up 278 yards on the ground last week against Arkansas -- the most rushing yards against an SEC team under Urban Meyer -- and then come back against LSU's vaunted defense a week later and finish with 265 yards.
"I think it's the home run," Meyer said. "You can't have a lot of rushing yards unless you knock one out. We're having guys who can pull out of there. I'm looking at a 42-yard run and a 21-yard run and a 15-yard run. That's the difference. Our whole objective now with our offensive line is to get them to the second level, and with personnel like this, good things happen."
The Florida offensive linemen also widened their splits by about two feet to try and spread out the LSU defense a little more Saturday night. Obviously, it worked and is something Meyer said the Gators would continue to toy with the rest of the season.
"Demps and Rainey are kind of small," said Harvin, stating the obvious. "Linebackers sometimes can't see them, and they come shooting out of there. If you give those guys any steps, it's lights out."
The LSU defense, which is still grasping at vapor trails, can certainly attest.
By ESPN.com's Chris Low
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The self-proclaimed fastest team in America also looked like one of the best teams in America on Saturday night in the Swamp.
All those people wanting to know what was missing from Florida's offense the last few weeks got a glimpse of it in the Gators' 51-21 thrashing of No. 3-ranked LSU. But, it was only a glimpse because Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are human blurs, and Percy Harvin's not too far behind ... if he's behind at all.
LSU is a fast team, one of the fastest teams in the country. But the Tigers were no match for the Gators.
"We know how much speed we've got, and we came out tonight and showed it," said Demps, who rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight week (129 yards on 10 carries) and all but finished the Tigers with a 42-yard touchdown sprint on an option pitch late in the third quarter.
It was the fourth touchdown run of 30 yards or longer by Demps this season, and Florida as a team only had two that long all of last season. Rainey also had 66 yards on 11 carries, including a long of 21 yards, before hurting his shoulder.
And Harvin opened the game with his 70-yard touchdown catch and run off a deflected pass.
"I get excited when they get the ball, because you know every second you give them is probably a touchdown," Florida offensive tackle Jason Watkins said. "Those guys are amazing."
Remember that the Florida running game that didn't exist, other than quarterback Tim Tebow, a few short weeks ago? Well, the Gators racked up 278 yards on the ground last week against Arkansas -- the most rushing yards against an SEC team under Urban Meyer -- and then come back against LSU's vaunted defense a week later and finish with 265 yards.
"I think it's the home run," Meyer said. "You can't have a lot of rushing yards unless you knock one out. We're having guys who can pull out of there. I'm looking at a 42-yard run and a 21-yard run and a 15-yard run. That's the difference. Our whole objective now with our offensive line is to get them to the second level, and with personnel like this, good things happen."
The Florida offensive linemen also widened their splits by about two feet to try and spread out the LSU defense a little more Saturday night. Obviously, it worked and is something Meyer said the Gators would continue to toy with the rest of the season.
"Demps and Rainey are kind of small," said Harvin, stating the obvious. "Linebackers sometimes can't see them, and they come shooting out of there. If you give those guys any steps, it's lights out."
The LSU defense, which is still grasping at vapor trails, can certainly attest.
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