Please, it's not like Florida's been playing against offensive powerhouses this far into the season. This will be the first true test of the 2009 Gators D.
Do you really think Florida has opened half its playbook yet? Not from what Ive heard. Nor do I think LSU has either. I do not underestimate the Tigers ability to win, Iam surprised you underestimate Florida's ability to rise to the given challenge. That one loss last year was due to greed going for a fourth down when a field goal could have sealed it. A coaching error. I dont doubt LSU has a great D, but to think because we havent been tested, or havent revealed all our cards when it hasnt been necessary, that its an indication of an unproven or inept offense. This will be a test for Florida and I hope we pass, but this will also be much more intense than anything LSU has experienced in a long time as well.
With a young QB or a limited Tebow, the play-book for the UF offense will be simplified, not opened up. I don't think too many of us doubt UF's ability to rise to the occasion. Especially with Tebow out. They could play really hard because of it. Deep down, the UF team has a huge chip on their shoulder to prove that they can do it with Tebow. With their enormous talent (and the egos that go with talent), the UF players are itching to prove themselves without Tebow. I hope that is true. That way if we can get up a couple of scores and put some doubt in their mind that "maybe we suck without Tebow". Then we have them mentally beat.
See the thing is that unlike basically any other defense I can think of- you can use the 2008 stats if you want- the 2009 Defense is just a more experienced version of the 2008 Defense- its the same 11 starters and the same 11 backups.
Bama and the other west teams are "must" wins because Bama would likely finish with one loss (to LSU) so we'll need the tiebreaker if we happen to lose an SEC game somewhere else, like this Saturday (which won't happen). Losing to UF Saturday doesn't mean much because, as others have said, we get them again in the SECCG. All the pressure is on the gaters.
Where did I say that Florida's defense was inept? I'm simply pointing out facts, unless you think that Charleston Southern, Troy, Tennessee and Kentucky are offensive powerhouses (they're not). I happen to think Florida's D is quite good, but they haven't yet faced an offense with talent capable of posing multiple unfavorable matchups for them. By definition, that is unproven. Most of our players on D this year endured the humiliation in the Swamp last year, so yes, they have experienced a more "intense" challenge than what they'll face in Tiger Stadium on Saturday. I can't say the same for Brantley, unfortunately. Let's see how he performs when he has to run the Gator offense all by his lonesome in the most hostile environment he will ever face in his college career.
Which would be a valid point if Florida played the same teams with the same players/personnel with the same offensive/defensive schemes with the same home/away schedule that they did in 2008. If they think that's the case with LSU in 2009, they will be sorely mistaken.
That is a possibility but highly unlikely. If you've read the quotes by the UF PLayers and coaches they all praise The Tigers and their coaches as well as the advantage of the night game at home so I doubt they will curl up in the fetal position and doubt themselves if the score goes back and forth. They and I know this will be a grind and anybody's game. At this stage of their careers losing a star qb will not make them doubt themselves but make adjustments and that is what a good senior captain and coaching staff will reinforce.
honestly I don't think LSU's offense is even close to the best offense this Defense has gone up against.
These are good points and exactly what came to mind while reading the last few comments on this thread. You could call the Gators' D untested if you want, but you couldn't be farther from the truth...not with the whole team coming back. They've been through the mud a bit. Those same players held the highest-scoring offense of all time in check just this year. My only real hope is that the Tigers O-Line comes to play so we can try to gut out some tough yards on the ground and wear them down. Getting cute will get us beat.
