Gators face some quality QBs
As coaches like to remind us, defense wins championships.
Having a good quarterback is also a prerequisite.
Good teams have good quarterbacks. Bad teams usually don’t. When is the last time a college team won a national championship (or conference championship, for that matter) with poor quarterback play?
It just doesn’t happen.
As we’ve seen in the past, having a good defense and a good quarterback is the best way to go.
Good quarterbacks can cause good defenses problems.
This is something the Florida defense might find out about this season. The Gators will be facing a pretty impressive lineup of gunslingers in 2012.
Here’s a ranking of the quarterbacks Florida will play against this season:
1. Aaron Murray, Jr., Georgia: This guy doesn’t have NFL size, but he’s got the rest of the package. Big, accurate arm. Great at reading defenses and finding the open receiver. Leader on the field and off. He threw for 3,149 yards and 35 touchdowns last season and could put up even bigger numbers against one of the easier schedules in the SEC. Being from Tampa, he’s passionate about playing the Gators.
2. James Franklin, Jr., Missouri: This may be the most complete — and most dangerous — quarterback the Gators have to contend with this season. Some might say he’s the perfect spread quarterback. He’s big, fast, athletic, has a big-time arm and is an excellent runner. Last season, he passed for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 981 yards and 15 TDs. He’s a true dual threat quarterback, and he’s coming to The Swamp.
3. Tyler Bray, Jr., Tennessee:- As we saw last season, the key for Bray is to have a running game to complement his ability to throw the football. When the Vols’ running game stalled last season, he struggled with consistency. If UT can generate a productive running game, this guy has the arm to put up incredible numbers. It helps that star wide receiver Justin Hunter is back after having knee surgery last fall.
4. EJ Manuel, Sr., Florida State: He wasn’t asked to do much in last year’s victory over Florida, but he’s got the entire package. He’s a threat as a runner and elusive enough to buy more time in the pocket, and he’s got a strong, accurate arm. He’s also one of the most experienced QBs UF will face. The key for him: stay healthy.
5. Jordan Rodgers, Sr., Vanderbilt: In last year’s narrow win over the Commodores, the Gators went into the game worrying about Rodgers’ ability to run the ball, and he ended up lighting UF up with his passing ability. The bottom line is he can hurt you with his arm and his legs — and he gives Vandy hope of becoming bowl eligible for the second season in a row.
6. Connor Shaw, Jr., South Carolina: He doesn’t wow you with his size or physical skills, but the guy can play. Most important, he keeps Steve Spurrier happy with his ability to make good decisions in the offense and find the end zone. He was more of a runner than thrower last year, but he figures to be a more complete QB now that he’s got some experience. Spurrier loves the guy. He hasn’t felt this good about his starting quarterback in quite some time.
7. Zach Mettenberger, Jr., LSU: Les Miles has been heaping big-time praise on this former Georgia quarterback who won the starting role with an excellent spring. He’s big (6-5, 222 pounds), has an NFL arm and appears to have a tremendous upside. The only thing he seems to lack is playing experience in the SEC. That will come soon enough. He certainly has a ton of talent around him.
8. Matt Schilz Jr., Bowling Green: He may be one of the best passers you’ve never heard of. Schilz threw for 3,024 yards and 28 touchdowns last season and he has an excellent group of receivers to work with this season. He’ll be slinging it all over The Swamp in the Sept. 1 opener.
9. Blaine Gautier, Sr., Louisiana Lafayette: This big, athletic quarterback was the Sun Belt’s most efficient passer last season, throwing for 23 touchdowns with only six interceptions. He leads an offense that put up 32.3 points a game in 2011 and should have even more scoring power this fall. The Ragin’ Cajuns could make things interesting in a late-season game in The Swamp.
10. Max Smith, Soph., Kentucky: The way Smith came on late last season and in the spring, ‘Cat fans may have seen the last of Morgan Newton, last year’s struggling starter. Smith threw for 819 yards and four touchdowns in 2011, and he should give the Wildcats the passing game they were missing last season.
11. Marques Ivory, Sr., Jacksonville State: He’s an experienced quarterback with a pretty impressive arm. He threw for 2,248 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He’s got some good skill players around him, including running back Washaun Ealey, a transfer from Georgia.
12. Jameill Showers, Soph. or Johnny Manziel, Fr., Texas A&M: Based on Kevin Sumlin’s track record, his starting quarterback (whoever it turns out to be) is going to put up some big passing numbers in his wide-open and multiple offense. He likes both Showers and Manziel, so it’s just a matter of settling on a starter. The biggest issue appears to be a lack of experience for both.
Robbie Andreu has been The Sun’s college football beat writer since 1993. He covered every game of the Steve Spurrier coaching era. The only game he’s missed since he has been in Gainesville is the 2006 Florida State game in Tallahassee. He happily stayed home for that one because of the imminent birth of his second child. Before coming to The Sun in March of 1993, Andreu worked for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel for 10 years, covering a variety of sports, including the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Hurricanes, professional golf and baseball (playoffs and World Series). He also worked in Clearwater and Bradenton. He graduated from UF in 1977.
florida had trouble stopping a mediocre furman QB last year–they can’t overlook any qb, even the guy at lowly jacksonville state or la-lafayette.
by Zino
Tenn. and Vandy are the most dangerous dudes on that list.
by J
Nope, Connor Shaw with Spurrier will be best. Then Murray.
by Brr-bon Phil
I beg to difer with J.-as 44 INDIVIDUAL players had more rushing yds. last year than the entire Offensive unit at U.T., according to Lindys. And, UT lost 6 Asst. Coaches as well. But I think Conner Shaw is only QB that deserves a higher ranking, in my opinion. Maybe at #4 on your list, Robbie. Tyler Bray and Rodgers should be the most improved (besides U.F.’s QBs), but I gotta’ feeling U.S.C. is going to win the East. If Florida can’t (everyone is saying, ‘BE PATIENT’), then I see Gamecocks vs Bama in SEC Chapionship Game.
by gatorgi70x7
And…..I might say these teams are also going to face a very hostile and angry Gator team with a huge chip on their shoulders for the crap they have gone through the last few years!!!! Recall the teams that won 2 and almost 3 National Championships in the last 6 years???? I think the emphasis is upon who they have to deal with>….I think this is a nasty defense that is going to be putting alot of hurt on the Opposing QB’s……..That is the story !!!!!!
Go Gators…Bob in Jupiter
by bob
Can’t say I agree with the rankings, but good write-ups nonetheless. Shaw at 6 is odd, especially given what he did last year, and he’ll have Lattimore to take away some pressure this time around. That could be one of the best offenses in the league this year if they have a decent WR core.
by Huh?
QB’s tend to be ineffective when laying on the turf.
.
That is the key to the season.
by Lizardgrad89
T Martin won a championship and he STUNK…
by pete
I’m sure they got a taste of a young Gtaor defense last year, (which basically kept us close against some good teams). But this year with an experienced defense they’re going to be NASTY. Imagine if they would have held onto all those dropped pics last yr? I’m not even gonna mention the surprises our offense will have in store… No John Brantley enough said.
by Tallahassee Gator
[...] Florida will certainly face some quality QBs this season, starting with Aaron Murray. UF also will have to contend with the dual-threat James Franklin from Missouri, as well as Tyler Bray, EJ Manuel, Jordan Rodgers, Connor Shaw and Zach Mettenberger. Murray, Franklin and Bray will be more than a handful, with Mettenberger actually having the best potential out of all of the QBs on the list. [Gator Sports] [...]
by SEC Football Daily: June 28th | Saturday Down South
Well i’m not really concern about any of these qb’s…now if this was Tyler Wilson..then maybe yeah.
by GOTTAPROVEME
That Kid from Tampa that we lost to Georgia….Conner. I think we will hate him almost as bad as we did Buck BooHoo. He is going to give a lot of grief to many teams but thinks gator tail is the sweetest.
by Gatordean
Chris Leak was pretty mediocre and got him one! Thank God for Tebow to bail us out on 4th and 1 because he slid a yard short once a week!
by DBarber
Good teams have good quarterbacks. Bad teams usually don’t. When is the last time a college team won a national championship (or conference championship, for that matter) with poor quarterback play?
Conference Championship – LSU last year (but not the NT)
BCS Championship – LSU 2007 (decent, smart play, but nothing really great out of the QB)
by Rybal_LSU
Roll Tide! 101-29 last 3 years!
by Roll Tide
Roll Tide – Don’t act like we have got our share in the win column. Just remember, when you guys were down, you were down for a long time! We’re coming out of our short-lived slump and we’re not even on probation! Saban’s days are numbered and you guys will drop like a rock, again, while we are at the top. Our coach is young and will be around for a long time!
by GI-Gator
I really dislike the Tide, not as much as FSU but it’s getting there…
by Tallahassee Gator
Tallahassee Gator, that’s how we Noles feel about Clemson. We hate the Gators, but the Tigers are getting close.
by Jack
More like roll-over Tide!!! You guys think u r so much better than everybody, I agree, ur days r coming…..again! I can’t wait too!!!!
by Harold
Bama was down for a long time? Last time I checked, Bama has a National Title in EVERY decade except the 80s. And that was missed by only 1 year early or 2 years late. Hell, Florida didn’t even have one until Bama was “down”.
by Roll Tide