"2011 Florida football preview: Week 5 - Alabama at Florida" Fla. edition

[Chechem]

Florida’s defense may not know which quarterback Alabama will line up under center until the two teams play on Oct. 1.

Then again, it may not matter a whole lot.

Whether Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban starts A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims at quarterback to replace the departed Greg McElroy could be inconsequential. Tailback Trent Richardson no longer has Mark Ingram in front of him on the depth chart, and Richardson should emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate as the Crimson Tide’s featured tailback.

A junior, Richardson is a 5-foot-11, 224-pound bruiser at running back. He can bully defenses running between the tackles, but he has the speed to take the ball to the end zone when he gets in the open field. He carried the ball 112 times for 700 yards in 2010, a gaudy average of 6.2 yards per attempt. But his ascension to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart was impeded by Ingram, a Heisman winner in 2009.

Richardson, a Pensacola native who ran for 63 yards on 10 rushes against UF in a 31-6 whipping of the Gators in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last year, will be the Tide’s workhorse as long as his body holds up. Richardson also brings value as a kick returner — he was second in the Southeastern Conference with 145 all-purpose yards a game last year — although it might be surprising if he assumes those duties again given his responsibilities as the team’s starting tailback.

Richardson’s presence will be a boon for McCarron and Sims. McCarron, a sophomore, completed 30 of 48 passes for 389 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in spot duty in 2010. Sims is a redshirt freshman who has never stepped on the field for Alabama on a Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: The reasons for optimism are few for Florida. The Gators will struggle to contain Richardson, and the UF offense has most of the same personnel returning from last year when it generated just 281 yards against the Crimson Tide. Alabama 37, Florida 20.

Click here for link

This is a Panama City, FL newspaper article written before the season.  I'd take a 17-point win.  You?

[2Stater]

Florida’s defense may not know which quarterback Alabama will line up under center until the two teams play on Oct. 1.

Then again, it may not matter a whole lot.

Whether Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban starts A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims at quarterback to replace the departed Greg McElroy could be inconsequential. Tailback Trent Richardson no longer has Mark Ingram in front of him on the depth chart, and Richardson should emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate as the Crimson Tide’s featured tailback.

A junior, Richardson is a 5-foot-11, 224-pound bruiser at running back. He can bully defenses running between the tackles, but he has the speed to take the ball to the end zone when he gets in the open field. He carried the ball 112 times for 700 yards in 2010, a gaudy average of 6.2 yards per attempt. But his ascension to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart was impeded by Ingram, a Heisman winner in 2009.

Richardson, a Pensacola native who ran for 63 yards on 10 rushes against UF in a 31-6 whipping of the Gators in Tuscaloosa, Ala., last year, will be the Tide’s workhorse as long as his body holds up. Richardson also brings value as a kick returner — he was second in the Southeastern Conference with 145 all-purpose yards a game last year — although it might be surprising if he assumes those duties again given his responsibilities as the team’s starting tailback.

Richardson’s presence will be a boon for McCarron and Sims. McCarron, a sophomore, completed 30 of 48 passes for 389 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in spot duty in 2010. Sims is a redshirt freshman who has never stepped on the field for Alabama on a Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: The reasons for optimism are few for Florida. The Gators will struggle to contain Richardson, and the UF offense has most of the same personnel returning from last year when it generated just 281 yards against the Crimson Tide. Alabama 37, Florida 20.

Click here for link

This is a Panama City, FL newspaper article written before the season.  I'd take a 17-point win.  You?

I would, but this article was published in July before the writer knew how good Florida was going to be. I wonder if he would pick that score now?

[Catch Prothro]

This is a Panama City, FL newspaper article written before the season.  I'd take a 17-point win.  You?

Florida is looking much better than anticipated this year.  The combo of Weiss and Muschamp could prove deadly.  This being the player's first year in the system, and the coaches' first year at Florida, I don't think they have spent the Summer months game planning for Bama this year (unlike the Hogs), whereas Saban likely has been keeping an eye on Florida, LSU, and anyone else who might get between him and that trophy.

Location:  Advantage Gators
Defense:  Advantage Bama
Offense:  Tie
Special Teams, Kicking:  Advantage Florida
Special Teams, Returns, execution:  Advantage Bama (recall Bama has been practicing that fake FG for two years)
Coaching: Advantage Bama (this year)

Prediction:  The Gators have progressed considerably more than expected under the tutelege of Will Muschamp and Charlie Weiss.  Unfortunately, however, this will not be enough to overcome an experienced defense with several years in the Nick Saban system.  So, while Florida can be expected to compete for the SEC East Title, they will be on the outside looking in when it comes to any championship aspirations.  Alabama will show them what a real contender looks like.  

Bama by 10.

(And yes, I'd take a 17 point win in a heartbeat.)

[SUPERCOACH]

Good post CP.  I put it on the front page.  +15

[Chechem]

Good post CP.  I put it on the front page.  +15

  

I'll give you an e-cred to get you to 99.  Somebody add another to get him to 100.  His post was worthy.

[BAMADCHAMPSHIPS]

 

[SUPERCOACH]

Good post CP.  I put it on the front page.  +15

  

I'll give you an e-cred to get you to 99.  Somebody add another to get him to 100.  His post was worthy.

By the way, the time limit is only 15 minutes now instead of an hour, just for future reference.

[Catch Prothro]

Good post CP.  I put it on the front page.  +15

Thank You. 

Hey, I'm at 100 ecreds now.  What can I get other than porn?   

[Chechem]

Good post CP.  I put it on the front page.  +15

Thank You. 

Hey, I'm at 100 ecreds now.  What can I get other than porn?   

You can adopt one of Smitty's puppies.  Dress is optional.

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