Welcome to the first incarnation of the alligatorSports mailbag. It’s a working model, but we hope to answer any and all questions you have on Gators sports. And we’ll make it fun.
Send questions to us on Twitter: @alligatorSports or at sports@alligator.org.
Let’s get to it.
@Will_Muschamp: What type of defense will we be running?
Well, coach, I thought you’d be able to tell us that. Since, you know, you’re the head coach of the football team and all. But that’s just silly. (Editors’ note: @Will_Muschamp is not the official Twitter of Will Muschamp.)
Seriously though, the Gators have the personnel up front to employ both the 3-4 and the 4-3 successfully. But our gut feeling is Muschamp and Quinn will run the 4-3 as the base defense, with an emphasis on a two-gap, run-stopping system. The strength of the defense is Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley, Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard. The big guys inside are capable of holding the point of attack, allowing Powell and the linebackers to make plays in space. Outside of Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic, there isn’t enough talent at linebacker to run the 3-4 predominantly. But it will be an effective scheme in certain situations.
@PhilipGaryTalks: If Brantley struggles should Gators get Jeff in game? I’ve seen this with Chris Leak...ended with a championship.
For those who don’t know, Jeff is freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel, who came to Florida in January as the top-rated passer in the class of 2011. When the two-quarterback system worked in 2006, it was because it helped the offense for a change-of-pace quarterback to come in. That’s doubtful if Florida really is running a pro-style system. Let’s put it this way: We think if John Brantley does get pulled for Driskel, it’s because the Gators’ season hopes are dashed and the coaches are looking to 2012.
@PhilipGaryTalks: Will the Gator defense be better than last year? Highly recruited youth with one year under their belt...
Well, Philip, first of all we want to say we appreciate the energy you bring to asking questions. We can tell it’s very important to you, and you have fun doing it. But to answer your question, improving on last year’s ninth-ranked defense will be quite the challenge. The key stat to watch is turnovers. Florida was just +2 in turnover margin last season and Muschamp has made it clear that forcing giveaways is a major emphasis this season. Hunter said Thursday the defense wants three per game.
@fcardillo: How does Jeff Demps like his steak?
When he’s not making a quick stop at Steak ‘n Shake (everything Jeff Demps does, he does fast), he takes some extra time to make sure his meal is well done. After listening to Muschamp shout “Blood! Blood! Blood!” at the defense all week in practice, Demps is just trying to get away. Since he presumably turned down a lucrative track contract to stay at UF, we can assume he’s passing up the filet mignon. He’s most likely going for a nice flank, since there’s always a chance Muschamp splits him out wide. Demps was in Eugene, Ore., when he ran his famous 9.96 100-meter dash, so we’ll splash a little duck sauce on there and call it a day.
@ejdelaino: How much has student interest in football fallen since the end of the Tebow era? Since a down year last year?
We think interest has not only waned since Tebow’s departure, but that it’s part of an ongoing issue that goes as far back as the end of the Steve Spurrier era. Of course there was fan energy around the Tebow-led teams, but that can be credited to a bandwagon effect as much as anything. Any college town in America would have supported an offense led by No. 15 and Percy Harvin. But for people who grew up around The Swamp in the 1990s, the electricity and interest among the student body is not even comparable today. The home-field advantage Ben Hill Griffin Stadium provides is dwindling. Mediocre teams don’t help, but it’s tough to tell if even another national title contender could get the student section back to what it once was.
@AlligatorArmy: Which Gator is most likely to avert a hostage crisis?
After a very serious and lengthy deliberation among the entire alligatorSports staff, we have come to a conclusion on what may be the most important question ever asked in the history of questions.
Quinton Dunbar.
You may be asking yourself why, but the answer is simple.
He makes us happy when he talks. Isn’t that enough? Don’t you think those poor souls stuck in the American Embassy in Iran for more than a year wouldn’t have enjoyed his infectious smile and carefree demeanor?
We certainly do.
@djmia00 what’s the outlook for UF XC teams? Solid performance from women’s team last year-will it continue? Will Men’s team rebound?
The women’s team will surely contend for a third straight SEC title with senior Genevieve LaCaze coming off a record setting track season and Cory McGee looking to make a big jump in her sophomore year. Both runners seemed to have really grown up this summer and have the talent to keep UF competitive nationally. However, the men’s team is a different story. Coach Todd Morgan lost one of the best distance prospects to come through UF in the last 10 years when junior Dumisane Hlaselo was kicked off the team for allegedly raping a woman. A top-five finish in conference is possible but there wasn’t another runner on the team near Hlaselo’s caliber last year.
