Fans aren’t the only ones stuck in Florida’s glory days.
It seems as if the coaches are too.
If you compare this season’s game film to one from any of the past three years, it would probably be hard to find much of a difference in the offense’s scheme.
Except there are a couple of minor things you may notice.
That 6-foot-3, 245-pound quarterback is no longer taking snaps. And the speedy guy who lined up as UF’s No. 1 wide receiver, backfield threat and Wildcat quarterback isn’t around either.
I think somebody should let coaches in on that little secret because it looks like they have yet to figure it out.
The Florida offense that put up an average of 40.67 points and 455.4 yards per game under Tim Tebow is gone, but the strategy that led to that production isn’t.
Only this year the personnel has changed and it’s leading to much different results.
The Gators are averaging 31 points and 323.7 yards per game with John Brantley running the show. But this isn’t Brantley’s fault.
Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio and coach Urban Meyer are forcing a totally different group of players who bring other skill sets to the table to run an offense that was made for Tebow and Percy Harvin.
Even last season you saw some hints of it.
They tried to plug Brandon James into the “Percy position” and that didn’t work. In 13 games he caught just 24 balls.
This season it’s all about Andre Debose becoming the next Harvin. And the minute Trey Burton scored six touchdowns against Kentucky, the Tebow comparisons began to roll in.
Just stop.
Harvin and Tebow are players that will never be replicated and the coaches need to see that.
Instead of limiting Brantley to just over six yards per pass attempt and forcing him to run option plays, let him throw it down field.
And please let Brantley, the starting quarterback, play when the offense crosses the 10-yard line.
Also, instead of waiting for Debose to become the next Percy, just throw him out there to make plays.
The players should not have to change their games to accommodate Meyer’s offense. It should be the other way around. Games aren’t won on the sidelines, they are won on the field.
It’s like asking a team that features LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to play a half-court game because that’s what coach Erik Spoelstra specializes in. No, they are going to run up and down the floor.
It’s time to realize the Tebow-Harvin days are over and for another era of UF football to emerge.
