New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has made an annual pilgrimage to Gainesville since Urban Meyer arrived at Florida. During Belichick’s visit in March, he and Meyer discussed a few post-championship pitfalls. Meyer said he worried about the young players who enjoyed last season’s success without making the same investment as the since-departed veterans who actually led the team to the title. “A lot of these younger guys,” Belichick told Meyer, “woke up on third base and didn’t hit the triple.”

Belichick’s words stuck with Meyer as the Gators prepared for spring practice.

“That’s a great way of looking at it,” Meyer says. “All of a sudden they’re holding these crystal balls up, getting measured for rings and they’re going to go shake the President of the United States’ hand without going through three years of what some people consider torture. We call it player development.”

So Meyer and his team enjoyed their White House visit. They flashed their rings for a few days. Then they went to work. Those young Gators will have to grow up quickly if they hope to come close to duplicating the success of last season. Florida must replace virtually all of its defense and a four-year starter at quarterback. The Gators face a rough schedule that features home games against Tennessee, Auburn and Florida State, the annual tussle with Georgia and the ultimate test of manhood, a visit to Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 6.

Despite those challenges, Florida has an excellent chance to win a second consecutive SEC Eastern Division title. Those younger players may not have hit the triple, but at least they went through batting practice.

But, Meyer says, those who don’t attempt to improve — even on a championship season — are doomed to regress.

“There’s no sustaining. If you’re sustaining, you’re losing. You’re going backward,” Meyer says. “We’re building. We’re growing. We’re moving. We’re not sitting back trying to figure out how to enjoy this. We’re trying to figure out how to build upon it.”

Quarterbacks
There is no quarterback controversy at Florida. From the moment he committed in December 2005, Tim Tebow was ordained to replace Chris Leak. Still, that succession brings its own set of issues. Last year, Tebow was universally beloved as Leak’s hard-charging backup. This season, Tebow will shoulder all the pressure and endure all the criticism that comes with starting at Florida. But like Leak last year, Tebow won’t have the position all to himself. Florida coaches had such success last year using the option-ready Tebow to spell dropback passer Leak that they intend to do it again this season. Tebow will assume a more conventional passing role, and 6'5", 242-pound freshman Cameron Newton likely will take over Tebow’s old job of mauling opposing defenders on critical short-yardage plays. As the starter, Tebow can’t risk injury by crashing through the defensive line every other play. “I’d like two quarterbacks,” Meyer says. “(Offensive coordinator) Dan (Mullen) and I have talked about it. In this conference with the style of offense we play and the styles of defense, the quarterback will get hit.” Waiting in the wings will be incoming freshman John Brantley, one of the best pure passers in the class of 2007. He’ll probably redshirt unless an injury forces him to play.

Running Backs
A spring-practice knee injury to sophomore Mon Williams essentially ended the competition for the starting tailback job. Junior Kestahn Moore will enter preseason practice as the starter, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Moore will lead the Gators in rushing this season. In two seasons under the current staff, no Florida back has rushed for more than 699 yards. It isn’t likely a Gator will crack the 1,000-yard mark this season, either. Tebow and Newton should get plenty of carries, as should receivers Andre Caldwell, Percy Harvin and Jarred Fayson. Sophomores Harvin and Fayson will even line up at tailback on occasion. That won’t leave many carries or yards for Moore and backups Chevon Walker and Brandon James, though incoming freshman Chris Rainey may earn some carries with his speed.

Receivers
Florida’s receiving corps got a boost in January when Caldwell decided to return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL Draft. Caldwell is 44 catches from breaking the school’s receptions record, and the fifth-year senior should provide a steadying influence for the Gators’ young, talented receivers. “A lot of receivers were coming out (into the draft). I felt I had a better chance of going higher next year,” Caldwell says. “I also want to defend this national championship and leave here with a degree.” Caldwell should help the development of Harvin, Florida’s most dynamic player. Last season, Harvin gained an average of 11.4 yards every time he touched the football. After giving Harvin only 75 touches last season, coaches would like to get him the ball even more. Tebow’s other targets include junior Cornelius Ingram, a receiver/tight end hybrid who could be a matchup nightmare for defenders, and junior Louis Murphy, a technically sound receiver who seems to have inherited Dallas Baker’s ability to get open by running near-perfect routes.

2007 Schedule
S. 1	Western Kentucky	W
S. 8	Troy	W
S. 15	Tennessee	W
S. 22	at Ole Miss	W
S. 29	Auburn	W
O. 6	at LSU	*
O. 20	at Kentucky	W
O. 27	#Georgia	*
N. 3	Vanderbilt	W
N. 10	at South Carolina	W
N. 17	Florida Atlantic	W
N. 24	Florida State	W
	#Jacksonville, FL
Games in bold represent swing games. W or L indicates a projected win or loss.

Offensive Linemen
The biggest question mark entering 2006 is the most stable unit entering 2007. The Gators are at least two deep at every position, and senior Drew Miller’s move from guard to center should provide stability at a critical position. Miller has played every position on the line, which should help him make the proper calls. Tackles Carlton Medder and Phil Trautwein proved last season that they can compete in the SEC, and left guard Jim Tartt seems to have overcome a series of shoulder injuries. The Gators have at least four players capable of winning the right guard job.

Defensive Linemen
Ends Jarvis Moss and Ray McDonald and tackles Joe Cohen and Steven Harris have moved on, leaving gaping holes in Florida’s front. Junior end Derrick Harvey — who had three sacks and one fumble recovery in a 41–14 win over Ohio State in the title game — was nearly unblockable by the end of 2006, so he should anchor one side. The other three positions and their backups are up for debate. Redshirt freshman Lawrence Marsh can play tackle or end and should fill the role vacated by McDonald. Speedy end Jermaine Cunningham could replace Moss. Senior tackle Clint McMillan could provide leadership for a very young group.

Linebackers
Florida must replace all three starting linebackers, but the Gators may not see much of a dropoff. Brandon Spikes will replace Brandon Siler in the middle, and Spikes should replace Siler as seamlessly as Siler replaced Channing Crowder two years ago. With sophomore Dustin Doe and redshirt freshman A.J. Jones — or sophomore Ryan Stamper — on the outside, Florida will be young and thin. But if those players stay healthy and develop, they could grow into some of the nation’s best.

Defensive Backs
Florida’s greatest concern is in the secondary. One of the departures, free safety Reggie Nelson, essentially is irreplaceable. Nelson’s playmaking ability allowed Florida coaches to gamble because he could erase mistakes made in front of him. No one on Florida’s roster has demonstrated that ability yet. Senior strong safety Tony Joiner will lead this group, but who will start alongside Joiner remains in question. Sophomore Markihe Anderson and freshman Joe Haden have the best chance to start at cornerback, while senior Kyle Jackson will try to fend off a group of youngsters for the right to succeed Nelson.

Specialists
James, a sophomore tailback, could be one of the top kick returners in the nation. He averaged 11 yards per punt return and 18.2 yards per kickoff return as a freshman. Senior Joey Ijjas and junior Jonathan Phillips will compete for the field goal job vacated by Chris Hetland, and Ijjas wowed the spring game crowd of 47,500 by booting a 60-yarder. The Gators hope incoming freshman Chas Henry will win the punting job, because the graduation of Eric Wilbur left Florida without a reliable punter on its roster.

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