We should be in the hunt for a playoff spot next year, with our main rivals losing a lot of their QB talent (Georgia, Bama, LSU), and our own team retaining a lot of key players.
Offensively:
Bringing back maybe all 3 QBs, but I imagine at least 2 of them. RB position should be solid with Pierce and Davis handling the bulk of the duties. WR group takes a big hit in terms of depth, but in terms of quality, will return Toney/Grimes/Copeland/Pitts (and probably some others I'm forgetting). The key will be the line, and with only Buchanan to replace, and another year of experience for everyone else, we can hope that it will go from a weakness to, maybe not a strength, but....at least not as big a weakness.
Defensively:
Losing a lot. Greenard and Zuniga will hurt, but is anyone else a real difference maker?? At linebacker, Reese is a hitter in the run game, but for some reason, he keeps getting put out there in passing situations, for which he is very ill suited. I find the main backers to be relatively nonathletic as is (Miller and Reese in particular--hopefully Hopper gets more time next year, and the addition of Wingo should be good). The secondary is a disaster right now, with Henderson, Wilson, and Dean being absolutely atrocious against decent competition (but all world in terms of trash talking when down 2 scores). Elam looks like he could be good, and who knows what we have in the others (Hill and Kimbrough). So while we do lose players, they are, for the most part, replaceable.
Reasons for Optimism:
In year 3 of the Mullen program, and with the reasons listed above, being in title contention should be expected.
Reasons for Pessimism:
Mullen ain't Meyer, that's for sure. That's very apparent in a few places (way he treats rivalry games, special teams, etc), but no where more so than in the recruiting results. We are typically not in contention for top players. We need much more at DT, OL, LB, S, and CB. If that doesn't change in the near future, can't expect to consistently be in the upper echelon of teams, which is the minimum of what you should expect for UF.
Offensively:
Bringing back maybe all 3 QBs, but I imagine at least 2 of them. RB position should be solid with Pierce and Davis handling the bulk of the duties. WR group takes a big hit in terms of depth, but in terms of quality, will return Toney/Grimes/Copeland/Pitts (and probably some others I'm forgetting). The key will be the line, and with only Buchanan to replace, and another year of experience for everyone else, we can hope that it will go from a weakness to, maybe not a strength, but....at least not as big a weakness.
Defensively:
Losing a lot. Greenard and Zuniga will hurt, but is anyone else a real difference maker?? At linebacker, Reese is a hitter in the run game, but for some reason, he keeps getting put out there in passing situations, for which he is very ill suited. I find the main backers to be relatively nonathletic as is (Miller and Reese in particular--hopefully Hopper gets more time next year, and the addition of Wingo should be good). The secondary is a disaster right now, with Henderson, Wilson, and Dean being absolutely atrocious against decent competition (but all world in terms of trash talking when down 2 scores). Elam looks like he could be good, and who knows what we have in the others (Hill and Kimbrough). So while we do lose players, they are, for the most part, replaceable.
Reasons for Optimism:
In year 3 of the Mullen program, and with the reasons listed above, being in title contention should be expected.
Reasons for Pessimism:
Mullen ain't Meyer, that's for sure. That's very apparent in a few places (way he treats rivalry games, special teams, etc), but no where more so than in the recruiting results. We are typically not in contention for top players. We need much more at DT, OL, LB, S, and CB. If that doesn't change in the near future, can't expect to consistently be in the upper echelon of teams, which is the minimum of what you should expect for UF.
