2002 SEC Football Preview- Florida
Florida Helmet

Posted Aug 21, 2002


VandyMania.com previews the 2002 Florida Gators football team and makes a prediction on how they'll fair.

COACHING

Head Coach: Ron Zook (Career Rec: 0-0 )
Offensive Coordinator: Ed Zaunbrecher
Defensive Coordinator: John Thompson

2001 Record: 10-2 overall (6-2 SEC)

2001 SEC/NCAA STATS RANKINGS

Total Offense: 1st / 2nd (527.5)
Rushing Offense: 11th / 85th (122.4)
Passing Offense: 1st / 1st (405.2)
Scoring Offense: 1st / 2nd (43.8)
Total Defense:1st / 9th (290.2)
Rushing Defense: 2nd / 12th (100.1)
Pass Efficiency Defense: 1st / 13th (101.1)
Scoring Defense: 1st / 5th (14.1)

2002 SCHEDULE

Aug. 31 UAB
Sept. 7 MIAMI (FLA.)

Florida quarterback Rex Grossman led the nation in both passing efficiency (176.3) and total offense (354.9). Grossman completed 34 touchdown passes and had just 12 interceptions. (AP Photo/Steve Mitchel)


Sept. 14 OHIO UNIVERSITY
Sept. 21 at Tennessee
Sept. 28 KENTUCKY
Oct. 5 at Ole Miss
Oct. 12 LSU
Oct. 19 AUBURN
Nov. 2 vs. Georgia
Nov. 9 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 16 SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 30 at Florida State

STARTERS RETURNING

Offense (5):

LG Shannon Snell (6-5, 307, Jr.)
RT Max Starks (6-8, 345, Jr.)
TE Aaron Walker (6-6, 257, Sr.)
*QB Rex Grossman (6-1, 223, Jr.)
*RB Earnest Graham (5-10, 215, Sr.)

Defense (5):

NT Ian Scott (6-3, 300, Jr.)
DT Tron LaFavor (6-2, 280, Sr.)
WLB Mike Nattiel (6-0, 224, Sr.)
SLB Byron Hardemon (6-1, 227, Sr.)
FS Todd Johnson (6-1, 198, Sr.)

* All-Star Candidates

Florida Roster

TEAM STRENGTHS

Quarterback, defensive line, linebacker, defensive secondary

TEAM QUESTION MARKS

Offensive line

KEY GAME

September 21, at Tennessee. If the Gators can get by the Vols they will be in a position to challenge Georgia for the SEC East Title.

HEAD COACHES COMMENTS

"If you followed Ed (Zaunbrecher) at all, what he did when he would run the offense at Marshall was to put pressure on the defense. Those of you who know my personality, we want to be a football team that's attacking in all three phases."

"The one thing at University of Florida, every three or four years you get a receiver depth problem. We're probably in that now. But it gives young guys an opportunity to step up, and that's what they came to Florida for. The offensive line is same thing, gonna be young there. Everybody has certain parts of the football team where they have concerns about experience, It's something you can't buy.

VandyMania Projection

Florida said good bye to coaching genius Steve Spurrier and hello to Ron Zooke from LSU. The Gators also welcome coveted defensive coordinator John Thompson from Arkansas. Look for the Gators to go through some growing pains with the new staff and finish with 7-9 wins. A second or third place finish in the SEC East is likely.


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 -by VandyMania.com  Aug 21, 2002
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 -by FightinGators.com  Aug 20, 2002

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