How healthy are the Gators?

by mlmintampa on Sep 27, 2010 9:09 AM EDT in Florida Football

The anticipation for Alabama week is likely to be tempered by the way Jeff Demps limped off the field Saturday or by how many Gators offensive linemen needed to be helped to the sideline.

We know that Demps has at least a sprained foot and got x-rays during the Kentucky game. UF is notoriously secretive with player injuries, so Demps will be somewhere between 100 percent and 0 percent for the Bama game. Although, Demps thinks he will be ready. (HT: Timmy) If Florida loses Demps, it puts a great burden on John Brantley to move the chains. Emmanuel Moody and Mike Gillislee will be asked to make additional carries, as will Trey Burton, but Brantley will also be losing a trusted receiver.

The offensive line should be a greater concern. Guard James Wilson should return to provide some depth, but Urban Meyer said that each of the linemen had knee or ankle injuries on Saturday. Mike Pouncey, Carl Johnson and Xavier Nixon all had to leave for at least one play. They were able to continue, but that was against Kentucky, who is not exactly the quality of Alabama.

On defense, Brandon Antwine, Dominique Easley and Lawrence Marsh were all held out against Kentucky. Should they be healthy enough, they will provide defensive line depth, especially if UF runs a 5-2 to stop the Bama running game. Towards the end of the Kentucky game, we saw how the Gators started to struggle on the line. With the adrenaline pumping for a primetime game, players will need to be changed often to keep them fresh. I think we will continue to see Sharrif Floyd and Ronald Powell get time, as happened against Kentucky.

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I'm beginning to wonder if this is the key to the game

without Demps AND a healthy offensive line Florida is in serious trouble.

It's hard to say what's been most impressive. The seamless jump from AA? The ability to hit for average? The ability to hit for power? The 18 walks in 111 trips to the plate? The flair for the dramatic? When you're trying to isolate the most impressive aspect of Jason Heyward's game, there's a lot to choose from, and it's only been a month and a half.

by Richie Grogan on Sep 27, 2010 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

I think the more accurate statement would be

WITH Demps and a healthy OL, Florida might still be in serious trouble. Without Demps and a healthy OL, the Gators are royally screwed and primed for a beatdown. Regardless of Demps’ health, I’d like to see a lot more of Gilislee this week.

by skigator93 on Sep 27, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

The OL is scary. The DL I think will be fine if the Gators run a 5-2 defensive front.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Sep 27, 2010 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

For whatever its worth

we’ve never lost a game where Jeff Demps has at least 2 carries (this might have changed if our OC hadn’t totally given up on our normal gameplan vs. Bama in Atlanta but he did so will never know).

by Socraticsilence on Sep 27, 2010 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

Given the low number of games both Alabama and Florida have lost lately...

statistics like will only take you so far.

For example, Alabama has never lost a game that Greg McElroy has started..

"So I want everybody to think here for a second, how much does this game mean to you? 'Cause if it means something to you, you can't stand still. You understand? You play fast! You play strong! You go out there and dominate the man you're playing against, and you make his ass quit! That's our trademark! That's our M.O.... as a team! That's what people know us as!" - Coach Nick Saban before the 2008 LSU game.

by 12NationalChampionships on Sep 28, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm cautiously optimistic

about the O-Line. Of the linemen who got dinged against Kentucky, I saw everyone return except for Carl Johnson, and he very well could have been back and I just didn’t notice.

Demps is another story. He did not seem to have it in top gear even prior to the play where he limped off. Granted, Demps in 4th gear is still faster than your average SEC defender, but a foot injury to a guy who relies on speed has to be at least mildly concerning.

But contrary to the old “run and stop the run” adage, I think the key for Florida on offense is to give Brantley time to complete passes against the Tide’s weakest link — the secondary. On the other side of the ball, I think it’s about preventing big gains through the air. I harbor no illusions that we are going to shut down Ingram and Richardson. They’re going to break some tackles and run over some guys. But if we can play single coverage on Jones and Maize and not give up big pass plays, we will have more flexibility to focus on the run and mix up our defenses.

by MattyIceUF on Sep 27, 2010 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

But if we can play single coverage on Jones and Maize and not give up big pass plays, we will have more flexibility to focus on the run and mix up our defenses.

Bingo.

The Once and Future King

by FlaGators on Sep 29, 2010 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions