Gators will lean on 'O' this season



TAMPA -- Inspiration has no timetable. That's why Urban Meyer keeps a pad of paper within arm's reach when he retires for the night.

Knowing that a flash of creativity can be the difference between winning and losing, the Florida football coach wants to be ready whenever an idea hits home.

"Not just during the offseason, but also those Tuesday and Sunday nights (during game weeks) when you are lying in bed and staring at the ceiling," Meyer said about reaching for a pen ... and a play.

Finding ways to score in the Southeastern Conference has become harder and Meyer knows that he might need to count on his offense this season to carry the team. It is why he leaves nothing to chance.

"I have a pad of paper right next to my bed. I know Danny (Gator offensive coordinator Dan Mullen) does too. I have texted him at two in the morning and he does the same thing."

A year ago, it was Florida's defense that was one of the best in the country and carried the Gators to a national title. This year, with nine new starters on defense, Florida will have to make the most out of their offensive weapons to outscore opponents.

"We are putting a lot of pressure on the offense, without a doubt," Meyer said Saturday at the Quorum Hotel during the annual Florida Sports Writers Association College Football days.

It is an offense that didn't exactly light it up in the SEC last season. During the regular season, Florida's highest output in the SEC came when the Gators beat Alabama 28-13, and one of those scores came on Reggie Nelson's interception return.

While the defense led Florida during the regular season, the offense, with everyone healthy at the end, finally lived up to its potential by scoring 38 against Arkansas in the SEC championship game and 41 in the rout of Ohio State to win the national championship.

Tim Tebow must take over for Chris Leak at quarterback, replacing a player who started for four seasons.

"Chris Leak was at a disadvantage," Meyer said. "When we struggled, it was when the personnel around him wasn't very good. Tim has great people all around."

With weapons at wide receiver and Tebow's ability to run, Meyer will have a chance to run his spread offense more like he did at Utah. It was there that Meyer earned a reputation for running defenses dizzy.

"Scoring a TD in this conference, in this day and age, is harder than ever so you need that bit of creativity to make a play," Meyer said.

Though Florida loses Dallas Baker, its top receiver, the Gators return three of their top five wideouts (Andre Caldwell, Percy Harvin and Cornelius Ingram).

"We are very pleased with the receiving crew," Meyer said. "We are still not exactly where we want to be numbers-wise, but we are close."

Florida also returns all but one starter, Steve Rissler, on the offensive line. And though no one stands out as the dominant running back, six of the top seven rushers from a year ago are back.

Meyer needs every ounce of offense because the Gators lose 10 of their top 12 tacklers on defense. The returning defensive players have just 36 career starts between them, and 11 of those were by Kyle Jackson in 2005.

"I love the personnel, they just have to get experience," Meyer said. "Training camp is going to be so critical ... just to see how they handle things when it gets hard."

The first week of practice, which starts Aug. 10, will also be crucial in determining who will back up Tebow.

"There will be a lot of pressure on Dan Mullen to determine who that No. 2 quarterback will be because you cannot get four ready," Meyer said. "You only have so many reps. The other guys will have to wait until spring practice."

Freshmen Cam Newton and John Brantley and junior college transfer Bryan Waggener will battle for the backup spot.

The only recruit who has not yet qualified is John Brown, a defensive tackle out of Lakeland.

Brown is taking a class and must get an "A" to enroll at Florida next month. Meyer said everything he has been hearing has been positive.

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