Afraid, perhaps?

Writing off the Urban Meyer offense after three games?

At this point some are trying to justify their fears by piling on early.  Thing is, take a look at how these types of offenses evolve and strengthen over time.  It took Norm Chow nearly two seasons at talented USC to really have that thing in superpower mode.  Meyer's Utah teams needed a little over a season.  Jeff Tedford took about two seasons to really have his offense performing like the machine it is now.  Bobby Petrino needed about a year.

Basically, Florida's running a shell offense, and it was clear from the way they approached (and won) the game against Tennessee they're nursing the offense along, relying on the more traditional approach to win games (special teams, defense) until they can get up to speed.  Additionally, Chris Leak not a good fit for what they're doing, so its very likely that the Utah-type performances may not consistently arrive until someone like Josh Portis is lining up behind center.

I felt last night's win was good for the gators, and shows that they're a very dynamic club, capable of winning not just with the great offense, but other ways when the offense isn't all there.  When football teams can win in ways beyond their traditional route (say, Ohio State blowing a major opponent out instead of the traditional ball control, 24-21 type win), that's a great sign of their development.  Last night showed that, and its just another reason to respect and worry about Urban Meyer's Florida Gators.

Comments

[Stephen Kim]

I was expecting a bit more option from UF thus far. I think Leak is still a decent fit for the Utah offense, if he learns the nuances of it.

[Kevin @ Fanblogs.com]

The point of the my post - which missed you entirely - is that there is going to be a yen & yang of adjustments: Meyer is going to have to adjust his offense to the SEC and the defenses of the conference will have to adjust to the Meyer O.

While UF doesn't run every play that Meyer has ever conceived, last night certainly wasn't a dumbed down version of the offense Florida has been running. Everything UF used in the Wyoming & La Tech was there, and then some. So, I'm not sure I would call it a "shell".

As I pointed out, I didn't expect Meyer's offense to be ready for this game, nor do I expect it to be ready this season. While I don't get a lot of credit for holding that opinion, it's nice to see that we agree.

[CFR]

"The point of the my post - which missed you entirely - is that there is going to be a yen & yang of adjustments: Meyer is going to have to adjust his offense to the SEC and the defenses of the conference will have to adjust to the Meyer O"

But the underlying point is that you don't believe Meyer will in fact adjust, that the SEC is superior to the scheme Meyer is implementing.

I disagree.

"While UF doesn't run every play that Meyer has ever conceived, last night certainly wasn't a dumbed down version of the offense Florida has been running. Everything UF used in the Wyoming & La Tech was there, and then some. So, I'm not sure I would call it a "shell"

When your quarterback can't run the option, or generally make himself look like he can run---its a shell offense. Would you contend that the Meyer offense in Utah in game three was anywhere near as complete as it was in game 10, or 15? The pattern is pretty well understood with certain offenses that it takes them a good deal of time (around a season) to look like the ones the coach was hired to implement. In the meantime, its not like they're not running it, but its simply a shadow of that which will emerge over time.

"As I pointed out, I didn't expect Meyer's offense to be ready for this game, nor do I expect it to be ready this season. While I don't get a lot of credit for holding that opinion, it's nice to see that we agree"

You did say that, but the fact that you even made a post reflecting on the offense and its role in the SEC after just its third game says you're not really internalizing what you had just written. All you have to say is hey, I'm with the skeptics here, I'm really not sure this is gonna work out, hype and all, and hold to that. Otherwise it looks like one big hem/haw.

My post was mostly in reaction to this:

"Florida is still learning the spread offense, but --at the same time-- I think they are also learning that the offense cannot overcome SEC defenses in and of itself - it will require the Gators to execute, rather than execute themselves."

I simply disagree. In time, the offense will overcome SEC defenses. Within that, we have to give the Gators some time. Imagine if Norm Chow had met this hype at USC---we would have been waiting 15-18 games for anything even resembling a high-powered offense to have emerged. And that was at USC!

Appreciate the response, it just appears that you're approaching this as highly skeptical, but having a mind to see that the possibility is there. I've more or less called out the skeptic, and didn't acknowledge the open minded part.