1 » Former Florida Gators cornerback Joe Haden has been announced as one of 12 players selected to be featured on ESPN‘s three-time Emmy Award-winning program Sport Science. All 12 special segments will air throughout the network’s coverage of the 2010 NFL Draft from April 22-24. Other big names who will be featured include Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

2 » Palm Beach Autographs will host another University of Florida-themed signing session this weekend in Jacksonville, FL. Featured at the event will be Haden; center Maurkice Pouncey; wide receivers Riley Cooper, David Nelson and Brandon James; linebackers Brandon Spikes, Dustin Doe and Ryan Stamper; and cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis. Autograph prices range from $10-$50, or you can buy a combo package for $145. For more information, check out their Web site.

Two more BITS on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ interest in Tim Tebow, a new NCAA eye black rule and an honor for A.J. Jones…after the break!

3 » Jacksonville Jaguars fans are still pushing their organization to draft former Gators quarterback Tim Tebow next weekend. Even so, team general manger Gene Smith admires Tebow but will not draft him higher than his perceived value. “He’s the right type of person, a leader,” Smith told The Florida Times-Union. “I don’t know that there’s a more competitive football player in the country. I have great respect for our fans on how they feel about Tim. […] If you believe in [picking] best available player and stack your draft board with a value line in place, and if you stay with your board and he’s the guy on top of the board [when it’s time to pick], it’s no different than for any other player. He’s a guy we think a lot of. […] You grade every player for who they are. […] I’d treat Tim Tebow like any other player in the draft.”

4 » Something that endeared Tebow to some of his fans, his religious-themed eye black messages, will not be something redshirt junior John Brantley or any other player will be allowed to replicate in 2010. The NCAA has banned both eye black messages and wedge blocking in 2010 while instituting a penalty for taunting that could remove points from the violating player’s team in 2011.

Extra Bit » Florida redshirt senior linebacker A.J. Jones has been named to the 2010 Lott Trophy watch list. He is one of 42 student-athletes to earn the preseason honor and hopes to follow Texas Christian’s Jerry Hughes, who won the award in 2009.

Photo Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

ESPN’s Todd McShay came away impressed with Tim Tebow:

Tim Tebow Version 2.0:

Florida Gators who participated:
» Quarterback Tim Tebow
- Crowd cheered all of his throws, gave him a lot of support. His dropping back improved considerably, as did his throwing motion (though it still has a little hitch according to some). Holding the ball higher. Got it out quick. Hit most passes, a few overthrows. Very accurate and hit receivers in stride. Tossed to Cooper, Hernandez and Nelson.
» Cornerback Joe Haden
– 4.39, 4.44 40-yard dashes (unconfirmed) [also hearing times from 4.42-4.46]
» Wide receiver Riley Cooper
» Defensive end Carlos Dunlap
- 22 reps of 225 lbs.
- 4.58 40-yard dash
- Improved his bench press, broad jump and position drills.
» Linebacker Brandon Spikes
- 5.0, 5.05 40-yard dashes (unconfirmed) [also heard 4.85]
» Center Maurkice Pouncey
- 25 reps of 225 lbs.
» Tight end Aaron Hernandez
– 4.61 40-yard dash (unconfirmed) [also heard 4.56]
- 30 reps of 225 lbs.
» Safety Major Wright
» Linebacker Ryan Stamper
» Linebacker Dustin Doe
» Cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis
– 4.47 40-yard dash (unconfirmed)
» Wide receiver David Nelson
- [Heard both 4.4 and 4.54 40-yard dashes (unconfirmed)]
» Cornerback Markihe Anderson
» Wide receiver Brandon James (did not work out)

* Scouts may, individually, take 0.05 seconds off each 40-time due to the rain.

Others who participated:
» Former Gators linebacker Earl Everett looking for a job.
» Former Gators punter Eric Wilbur was kicking, hoping to impress.
» Former Gators H-back Eric Rutledge also worked out for scouts.

Current Florida Gators in attendance:
» Head coach Urban Meyer
» Quarterback John Brantley
» Safety Ahmad Black

Former Florida Gators in attendance:
» Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin
» Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson
» San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Ian Scott
» Former quarterback Doug Johnson
» Louisville Cardinals head coach Charlie Strong
» Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison

NFL personnel in attendance:
* All 32 NFL teams were represented by 75-100 NFL personnel members.
» Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren
» Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert
» Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini
» Pittsburgh Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert
» Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin
» Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney
» Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox
» New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese
» New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin
» Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik
» Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheim Morris
» Green Bay Packers general Ted Thompson
» Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan
» Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Gene Smith
» Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Andy Heck

Videos of Tim Tebow and thoughts from an NFL president after the break!

Tebow videos courtesy of Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel:

Browns president Mike Holmgren was asked by Adelson about his perception of Tebow. Portions of his statement can be found below. For the entire conversation in long form, you can read her Orlando Sentinel post.

Holmgren on Tebow:
“Clearly, he’s a special young man. I got a chance to visit with him for the first time and I thought he worked very, very hard. You can tell he’s trying to make adjustments to his motion. That seems to be what people are fired up about, and he’s working very hard to do that. It showed today. I thought he had a pretty good workout. It appears to be that he’s made some adjustments in a very short period of time, and he’s got good guys working with him. I would say this, though. If you look hard enough at anybody […] we can be really pick[y] about stuff. You’ve got to be careful about losing sight of the big picture and what kind of a player he is, what kind of a winner he is and what kind of a person he is. There’s a lot of good about this young man. We’ll see how it goes.”

On Tebow able to read the field: “Oh sure. He has to. He’s a bright guy, a willing guy, he’s very coachable. He’s exactly what you want. But there’s a learning curve. He’s been in a system offense his career here and done very, very well. It’s a very successful offensive philosophy. When you come into the NFL, you see people are trying to do it a little bit at times, but really you’re asking the quarterback to do different things.”

On Tebow’s new mechanics: “I wouldn’t call it dramatic. There are subtle differences, and those of us that know the position a little bit and watch the position and have coached the position – you saw it. You saw he’s worked hard on changing some of his technique, and I root for him. He’s a wonderful young man. I pull for guys like that, and he’s going to make some team very happy.”

He was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation, a fine of $311 (which he paid) and eight hours of mandatory community service work. Doe has failed to complete this day’s worth of community service over an almost five-month period.

His traffic violations and resulting punishment led head coach Urban Meyer to suspend Doe for the team’s season opener against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. However, he was able to participate in all 13 of the Gators’ remaining games, recording 42 tackles (36 solo), one sack and one interception return for a touchdown. Doe has since graduated from the University of Florida.

QUARTERBACKS: A+
When the best player in school history plays the best game of his career in the final game of his career, it is tough not to give him an “A+” grade. And that is exactly what senior quarterback Tim Tebow has earned – not just for his outstanding performance Friday evening but for his career in the Orange and Blue. Pick your poison: was it the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award he was given before the game, the Sugar Bowl record 12 consecutive completions, the career-long 80-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Riley Cooper, the Sugar Bowl and BCS bowl game record 533 yards of total offense, the Sugar Bowl/BCS record 482 passing yards, the 31 completions which set a new Sugar Bowl record, the Sugar Bowl high four touchdowns or the 88.6 completion percentage that set a BCS record? The answer, of course, is “all of the above.”

RUNNING BACKS: A-
Tebow was once again the leading ball carrier for the Gators with 14 touches for 51 yards and a touchdown, but both redshirt junior Emmanuel Moody and redshirt sophomore Chris Rainey came up big throughout the game. Moody rushed eight times for only 14 yards but scored two touchdowns on the ground (he also had four receptions for 19 yards) while Rainey caught four passes for 71 yards and ran four times for 27 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Mike Gillislee cleaned up at the end of the fourth quarter and took a ball 52 yards for a final line of five carries for 78 yards. Sophomore Jeff Demps, the true starter, left the game after he dislocated his elbow on his third rush of the game. Though the attempts and yards were not there, three rushing touchdowns brought this unit up a half-grade.

Read the rest of Florida’s grades from the Sugar Bowl after the jump…

WIDE RECEIVERS: A+
Cooper’s 80-yard touchdown was just the highlight of his seven receptions for 181 yards performance. Redshirt sophomore Deonte Thompson added five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown while both of senior David Nelson catches were for first downs (37 yards). This was, overall, the best that Florida’s receiving unit has played all season.

TIGHT ENDS: A+
Junior Aaron Hernandez is an NFL tight end in the making and the way he played on Friday proved just that. Sure, Hernandez caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, but it was what he did after the catch that was truly special. Spinning, juking, stiff-arming and simply dragging Bearcats defenders all over the field, Hernandez proved that he is a playmaker and not only a reliable pass catcher.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B+
Cincinnati’s defense achieved nine tackles for loss against the Gators, including two sacks of Tebow (one of which was self-inflicted). Many of those TFL came against Moody, who was consistently being stopped behind the line of scrimmage. Though the offensive line played well, most of Tebow’s impressive throws came quickly after the snap as the receivers were able to get open off of the line. In other words, he didn’t utilize much protection; though when he did need it, it was not always there.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A+
Looking for redemption after a DUI arrest caused him to be suspended from the 2009 SEC Championship, junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap was after Bearcats QB Tony Pike all night, sacking him twice. Fellow junior DE Justin Trattou added a sack of his own, and the unit as a whole was pressuring Pike throughout the game. Kudos are deserved for a big bounce back performance not only for Dunlap but for the whole unit after getting worked by the Alabama Crimson Tide last month.

LINEBACKERS: A-
Senior Brandon Spikes led the team with six tackles, as did junior Brandon Hicks. However, Hicks also drew four early penalties (two personal fouls) that extended Cincinnati drives. Senior Dustin Doe and redshirt senior Ryan Stamper played their hearts out as well, but the defensive line played so well that they did not have many opportunities to make impact plays. Costly penalties from Hicks held the overall unit back a bit, but the veteran group deserves a lot of credit for how they played all game.

SECONDARY: A
If you did not know it before the game, you know realize that junior cornerback Joe Haden is the absolute best at his position in the country. With perhaps the best pass break-up of his season (maybe even his career), Haden also led the team with six tackles and shut down yet another star wide receiver in Mardy Gilyard. Gilyard’s 41 yards came mostly on slant passes taking him away from Haden. Junior safeties Major Wright and Ahmad Black both attacked the ball and hit hard, and sophomore CB Janoris Jenkins played very well even with a hip injury coming into the game. Three late receiving touchdowns by the Bearcats, some against the second string, unfortunately brought this unit down from the perfection they were in the process of achieving.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Senior kick returner Brandon James was out for the game, but Florida returned the ball perfectly well in his stead. Coverage-wise, Gilyard set a Sugar Bowl record for kickoff return yardage, mostly because he had so many chances. Sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis missed an early field goal, but he made his first one, and junior punter Chas Henry‘s sole punt was solid.

COACHING: A
It is tough to blame head coach Urban Meyer for making the announcements he did the weekend before the game. The school may have been worried that the news would going to get out from a second-hand source and distract the team, or it may have been something weighing on him that he had to get off of his chest. Couple Meyer’s decision with late rumors of CB coach Vance Bedford departing with Louisville Cardinals head coach Charlie Strong and for once the distractions were provided by the coaching staff rather than the players. Even so, Meyer, Strong, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio and their assistants did a superb job in preparing the Gators for this game. Though Strong took another job, he kept his word and came back to coach a defense was on-point and ready to play with passion. Addazio and QB coach Scot Loeffler opened up the passing game for Tebow, spreading the ball around the field and keeping Cincinnati guessing. The players were the ones who had to execute the plays, but you have to give it up for the game planning by the coaching staff over the last month.

OVERALL: A+
Starting out the 2009 season with the singular goal to go undefeated in the regular season, win the SEC Championship and play for the BCS National Championship in Pasadena, CA, Florida – simply put – fell short. A loss to the Crimson Tide left the Gators shaky and unsure of themselves. However, unlike Alabama last year, Florida did not carry their baggage into the Sugar Bowl. Instead, the Gators took out their frustration on the Bearcats to the tune of an early 23-0 lead and eventual 51-24 victory. Florida’s performance, top-to-bottom, was one of the best they have put together in recent memory against any opponent. The game had even greater significance as it was the final appearance for the winningest senior class in SEC history (48-7) and could possibly have been Meyer’s last as a head coach. It was truly a dominating overall performance by the Gators in every sense of the word.

Location: Louisiana Superdome – New Orleans, LA [Capacity: 72,968]
Time: 8:30 p.m. (EST)
Weather Forecast: N/A

TV: FOX / FOXHD
Sirius: 120; XM: 140

Odds: Florida -13, O/U 57
Head-to-Head Stats: Gainesville Sun

KEEP AN EYE ON…
- Florida’s 2009 senior class…the winningest group in Southeastern Conference history with a 47-7 overall record. The seniors will be playing in their third BCS game and fourth January bowl in four years.
- Seniors quarterback Tim Tebow and linebacker Brandon Spikes…two of the best players in school history who do not wish for their last memories in the Orange and Blue to be back-to-back losses.
- Junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap…who is returning from suspension for a DUI and, according to coaches, is raring to make up for his mistake to his teammates, coaches and Gator Nation. It is undecided if Dunlap will start.
- Junior cornerback Joe Haden and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard…who will face-off in what could potentially be the match-up of the game between one of the best CBs and one of the best WRs in the nation. Haden has already been a menace to Alabama Crimson Tide WR Julio Jones and Georgia Bulldogs WR A.J. Green this season.
- Head coach Urban Meyer…who is 3-0 in BCS bowls and a combined 5-1 in his career in bowl games. Meyer and his wife Shelley both attended the University of Cincinnati. As a player for the Bearcats, Meyer faced the Gators in the teams’ only previous meeting, a 48-17 Florida victory on Oct. 20, 1984.
- Experienced players…the Gators feature 19 starters and 44 players who saw action in the 2009 BCS National Championship.

STREAKS:
- The Gators are appearing in a bowl game for the 19th straight season, the second-longest active streak in the nation. Friday’s game is Florida’s sixth appearance in a BCS bowl game and eighth appearance in the Sugar Bowl.
- Though the Gators are 5-1 against teams from the state of Ohio (1-1 in bowl games), they are only 7-3-2 all-time against the Big East.
- Florida has allowed 15 touchdowns this season, tied for fewest in the nation; the 11.5 points per game it allows ranks No. 3 in the country.
- The Gators are the only team in the country that has posted over 2,800 rushing and passing yards and are only one of four teams in the nation to score at least 25 rushing and passing touchdowns.
- Florida’s defense has recorded interceptions in 11 of 13 games and 23 of 25 games.
- The Gators have not lost back-to-back games since Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 2007.

Read OGGOA’s Florida Gators vs. Cincinnati Bearcats preview after the jump!

2010 SUGAR BOWL Preview
No. 5 Florida Gators vs. No. 3 Cincinnati Bearcats

Though the 2010 Sugar Bowl will feature two of the top teams in the nation in the No. 5 Florida Gators (12-1) and No. 3 Cincinnati Bearcats (12-0), the stories leading up to the big game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA, have been less about the game itself and more about the head coaches who will and won’t be on the sidelines.

First, Cincinnati lost head coach Brian Kelly to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish; replacing him on Friday is interim coach Jeff Quinn, who was named the new Buffalo Bulls head coach just days after being tabbed as the Bearcats’ temporary coach for the bowl game. Florida fans thought they might have an upper hand here, but defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was hired away by the Louisville Cardinals almost simultaneous with Kelly’s departure. Then an unexpected blow came for the Gators when head coach Urban Meyer resigned last Saturday, only to change his mind a day later. Meyer, who is a Cincinnati alum and former player, is 56-10 at Florida and said the Gators are “full speed ahead. We’re going to do everything possible to win this game.”

While uncertainty may surround those calling the shots on the sidelines, things on the field are pretty cut and dry for each team. Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow hopes to close out one of the single greatest careers in college football history with a bang. Fellow seniors linebacker Brandon Spikes, LB Ryan Stamper, wide receiver Riley Cooper, LB Dustin Doe, WR David Nelson, cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis and a host of others are also playing their last collegiate game in Orange and Blue. With so many talented players on staff, the Gators could also lose a bevy of juniors to the 2010 NFL Draft including CB Joe Haden, defensive end Carlos Dunlap, center Maurkice Pouncey, guard Mike Pouncey and safeties Major Wright and Ahmad Black.

The Bearcats come into the game on the shoulders of two seniors of their own – QB Tony Pike and WR Mardy Gilyard. One of the best and most productive quarterback-receiver duos in the country, Pike and Gilyard present the best aerial attack the esteemed Florida defense has seen all season. The head-to-head match-up between Gilyard and Haden should prove to be the most interesting and dynamic of the game. Defensively, the Gators simply outmatch Cincinnati. Florida’s defense has only allowed 150 points in 13 games (mostly against Southeastern Conference offenses) while Cincinnati has let up 249 points in their 12 contests.

The Gators come into the game with the stronger pedigree, but they have a heavy heart after missing out on a 2010 BCS National Championship appearance while simultaneously ending a school-record 22-game winning streak by falling to the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2009 SEC Championship. Florida is also dealing with some injuries. Senior kick returner Brandon James (foot) and redshirt junior LB A.J. Jones (knee) were ruled out weeks ago and redshirt junior DT Terron Sanders (hip) is a surprising inactive after Strong said the entire team (aside from Jones) was healthy and ready to go just last week.

OGGOA will be with you before, during (via twitter) and after the game with full coverage of the 2010 Sugar Bowl. A post-game story will be up shortly after the game.

Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – Gainesville, FL [Capacity: 88,548]
Time: 3:30 p.m. (EST)
Weather Forecast: 60°F – Partly Sunny

TV: CBS / CBSHD
Online: CBSSports.com.
Sirius: 218; XM: 201

Odds: Florida -24.5, O/U 56
Head-to-Head Stats: Gainesville Sun

KEEP AN EYE ON…
- Florida’s 2009 senior class…who set the Southeastern Conference record for winningest class with their 46th win last Saturday and will be honored on Senior Day. 25 seniors will be playing their last game in The Swamp, and the University of Florida has set aside 10 minutes prior to the game to recognize each player.
- Senior quarterback Tim Tebow…who has already broken the SEC rushing touchdown record (Herschel Walker, Georgia) and touchdowns-scored record (Kevin Faulk, LSU) with 54, set the SEC career record for rushing yards by a QB with 2,743 and has a 169.3 career rating good for No. 1 in conference history.
- Senior defensive end Jermaine Cunningham…who leads the team with seven sacks.
- Senior linebacker Ryan Stamper…who is tops on the Gators with 64 tackles.
- Senior kick returner Brandon James…who set the SEC record for kickoff return yards last week with 2,538 yards on 105 returns. He has also set the SEC all-time kick return mark (combined) with 3,930 yards and all-time punt return mark with 1,339 yards.

STREAKS:
- The Gators are in the middle of the longest winning streak in school history with 21 consecutive victories. They also hold the longest active winning streak in the NCAA and the best in the nation in the last 15 years. 20 of Florida’s 21 wins have been by a double digit margin. The team is also 11-0 for the second time in school history.
- The Gators lead the SEC in rushing offense (229.9) and third-down efficiency (.475). They also come in No. 2 in total offense (442.8) and scoring offense (36.5). Florida’s offense is one of two teams nationally that has posted at least 2,500 rushing yards and 2,300 passing yards (TCU).
- On defense, the Gators have only surrendered ten touchdowns all season (fewest of any team in the nation). The unit has also only allowed 13 field goals for a total of 108 points (9.8 points per game) – this also leads the nation.
- Florida has held three straight opponents and seven this season under 100 yards rushing.
- The Gators lead the all-time series against the Seminoles 32-19-2 with a 19-8-1 record in Gainesville, FL. UF has also won the last five consecutive meetings between the schools with a 90-27 combined margin of victory over that time span.

SENIORS:
The Gators 2009 senior class is the winningest class in SEC history with a 46-6 record in their time in the Orange and Blue. However, that is not the only accomplishment the class has made in the last four years. The senior class has:

Three All-Americans – Five All-SEC Members – 12 SEC Academic Honor Roll Members – Two SEC Championships – Three SEC Eastern Division titles – Two National Championships – 27-5 SEC record – 25-2 record at The Swamp – 14-3 (.823) vs. ranked teams, the top winning pct. for a UF senior class – 11-1 vs. rivals (Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and Miami) – National Defensive POY – Heisman Trophy Winner

* Markihe Anderson – #14 – CB – Fort Myers, Fla.
* Jim Barrie – #68 – OL – Tampa, Fla.
* Andrew Blaylock – #14 – QB – Durham, N.C.
* Rick Burgess – #48 – FB – Jupiter, Fla.
* Christopher Coleman – #84 – TE – Lake City, Fla.
* Riley Cooper – #11 – WR – Clearwater, Fla.
* Dustin Doe – #32 – LB – Jasper, Fla.
* Jermaine Cunningham – #49 – DE – Stone Mountain, Ga.
* Troy Epps – #98 – DT – Union, S.C.
* John Fairbanks – #59 – LS – Celebration, Fla.
* Michael Guilford – #46 – QB – Quincy, Fla.
* Corey Hobbs – #79 – OL – Oviedo, Fla.
* Cade Holliday – #22 – WR – Gainesville, Fla.
* Brandon James – #25 – ATH – St. Augustine, Fla.
* Dorian Munroe – #20 – S – Miami, Fla.
* David Nelson – #83 – WR – Wichita Falls, Texas
* Jonathan Phillips – #38 – K – Wellington, Fla.
* Wondy Pierre-Louis – #4 – CB – Naples, Fla.
* Chris Pintado – #30 – LB – Miami, Fla.
* Christopher Scott – #29 – RB – Englewood, Fla.
* Joey Sorrentino – #39 – WR – Ocala, Fla.
* Brandon Spikes – #51 – LB – Shelby, N.C.
* Ryan Stamper – #41 – LB – Jacksonville, Fla.
* Tim Tebow – #15 – QB – Jacksonville, Fla.
* Mike Williamson – #53 – LS – Winter Park, Fla.

Read OGGOA’s Florida Gators vs. FSU Seminoles preview after the jump…

QUARTERBACKS: A+
While his 17-of-25 completion numbers do leave something to be desired, it is tough to dock any points from senior Tim Tebow for his performance on Saturday. Piling up 102 yards on the ground including a career-long 55-yard touchdown run as well as 215 yards and two more touchdowns through the air, Tebow was his old self. Then again, he was playing against FIU. More impressive on Saturday was redshirt sophomore back-up John Brantley, who went 9-for-13 for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Tebow and Brantley combined to spread the ball around to nine receivers, seven of whom had more than one catch on the day.

RUNNING BACKS: B
Redshirt junior transfer Emmanuel Moody sat out the game, though his classmate Christopher Scott got to see action late in the game. Sophomore Jeff Demps and redshirt sophmore Chris Rainey started. Even so, there were only 22 carries dished out between the three, with Demps getting nine for 46 yards (5.1 average), Rainey taking four for 30 yards and a touchdown (7.5 average) and Scott running nine for 26 yards (2.9 average). Rainey, however, added 61 yards and a touchdown in the receiving game. Nothing too impressive or surprising overall against a porous FIU defense.

Read the rest of Florida’s grades from the FIU game after the jump…

WIDE RECEIVERS: A-
Probably the best day for the Florida pass catchers this season, nine Gators caught balls from Tebow and Brantley, eight of whom are listed as receivers. Redshirt sophomore Deonte Thompson led the way with both five receptions and 66 yards, while redshirt freshman Omarius Hines proved he can hold his own with four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Others contributors included seniors Riley Cooper (48 yards, TD) and David Nelson (45 yards), redshirt freshman Frankie Hammond, Jr. (38 yards, TD) and redshirt junior Justin Williams (16 yards, TD).

TIGHT ENDS: F
“F” is for failure, and junior tight end Aaron Hernandez failed in head coach Urban Meyer‘s eyes. Hernandez did something get a cage in Meyer’s doghouse, and I believe he did not even step foot on the field until the second quarter. There is no other grade to give someone who barely played and had no impact on the game whatsoever.

OFFENSIVE LINE: A-
Neither Tebow nor Brantley was a victim of a sack, freshman left tackle Xavier Nixon looked solid and the line as a whole played quite well. Redshirt junior left guard Carl Johnson (ankle) and junior center Maurkice Pouncey (leg) were both dinged up in the game but are expected to be ready for the Florida State Seminoles.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A-
Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jaye Howard led the way for the Florida defense with seven tackles while the entire line held FIU’s rushing game to 53 total yards on 30 attempts. Howard shared a sack with redshirt junior DT Lawrence Marsh as the line paved the way for three total sacks on Golden Panthers’ QB Paul McCall who finished 9-of-21 on the day.

LINEBACKERS: A
Another dominating performance for the linebackers began with a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior Brandon Spikes on the first series of the game. Spikes added five tackles, while fellow seniors Dustin Doe (five tackles, sack) and Ryan Stamper (three tackles, sack) both had good games as well. Redshirt junior A.J. Jones went down with an MCL injury, but junior Brandon Hicks filled in admirably and will for the foreseeable future.

SECONDARY: A-
You may not have seen the secondary much on Saturday, but they were there doing their job by limiting McCall to an under-50 percent completion percentage. To be fair and balanced, though, FIU receivers did beat coverage a few times. On these instances, McCall was either pressured to throw the ball away or simply overthrew the route. Good performance by this unit, but nothing too spectacular one way or another.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D
Junior punter Chas Henry did not step on the field Saturday. Normally, his presence alone would have been enough to save this unit from OGGOA grading hell – not this time. Sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis missed a 53-yard field goal (his only attempt) and redshirt senior Jonathan Phillips had an extra point blocked (also his only attempt). That marks four consecutive missed field goals for Sturgis, three of which were from beyond 50 yards. While you cannot expect a kicker to nail every 50+ yarder, Sturgis had Gators fans expecting as much from his prior performances. He now has fans expecting the worst and must have a Chris Hetland-like renewal to get back in Meyer’s good graces. Senior kick returner Brandon James continued to be lackluster in his duties, earning a total of 25 yards on four punts and 53 yards on two kickoffs… vs. FIU.

COACHING: A
The team was prepared, the ball was spread around, the reserves got plenty of time on the field and injured players were rested. There is not much more you can ask for from the coaches. One has to assume plenty of time was spent game planning for FSU this week, meaning the staff used their time wisely.

OVERALL: B+
The Gators won the game, covered the spread and scored 62 points while only allowing three. Nevertheless, the performance was not perfect and left much to be desired on a few fronts. When evaluating a team of Florida’s caliber against a lesser opponent, you have to grade on a scale. The Gators did exactly what they needed to do – win and move on to the Seminoles.

Running onto Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for the second-to-last time in their Florida careers, the group ended the game as the winningest all-time Southeastern Conference senior class with a record of 46-5. Tebow would take seven caries for 102 total yards on the ground while accounting for 215 more with two touchdowns through the air on 17-for-25 passing. It was the fifth time in his career that Tebow rushed for more than 100 yards. Redshirt sophomore QB John Brantley took over for Tebow early in the third quarter, compiling 146 yards passing and three touchdowns as well as 23 yards on three carries.

Redshirt sophomore running back Chris Rainey had a monster game of his own, carrying four times for 30 yards and a touchdown while also reeling in three receptions for 61 yards and a score. Both of Rainey’s touchdowns came in the second quarter, putting the Gators up 28-0 with 9:41 left in the first half. Fellow redshirt sophomore wide receiver Deonte Thompson led the Gators in both receptions (5 – career high) and receiving yards (66). Nine Florida players had receptions on Saturday, seven with more than one including seniors Riley Cooper (48 yards, touchdown), redshirt David Nelson (45 yards) and Brandon James (15 yards) as well as redshirt freshmen Omarius Hines (50 yards, touchdown) and Frankie Hammond, Jr. (38 yards, touchdown).

Defensively for the Gators, redshirt sophomore Jaye Howard recorded a team-high seven tackles, senior linebackers Ryan Stamper and Dustin Doe each recorded a sack and redshirt junior defensive tackle Lawrence Marsh split another with Howard. Spikes’ interception at 13:10 in the first quarter was the sole turnover of the game for either team. Florida’s defense held FIU to only 189 total offensive yards (most of which came against the second and third units), while only allowing the Golden Panthers to convert 4-of-15 third-down attempts.

Sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis continued to struggle, missing his fourth consecutive field goal attempt – this time a 53-yarder. Sturgis, however, made all eight of his extra points while redshirt senior Jonathan Phillips had his sole attempt blocked in the fourth quarter. James was silent in the return game, bringing back two kickoffs for 53 yards and four punts for 25 yards. Coverage teams allowed FIU an average of 24.9 yards per return on seven chances.

Florida finishes its 2009 regular season against the in-state rival Florida State Seminoles on Nov. 28 at 3:30 p.m. The Gators will wear special Nike Pro Combat jerseys for the game, which will feature an appearance from ESPN College GameDay and is also the last in The Swamp for the 2009 senior class.

Game Notes:
- Junior tight end Aaron Hernandez missed the first quarter on a coach’s decision. Head coach Urban Meyer would not elaborate.
- Redshirt junior linebacker A.J. Jones injured his MCL during the game. He is out for FSU, after that to be determined.
- Redshirt junior left guard Carl Johnson (ankle) and junior center Maurkice Pouncey (bone bruise) were both injured in the game but will most likely be able to play next week.

QUARTERBACK: C+
After two consecutive weeks of below-average play, Tim Tebow came back big against the Georgia Bulldogs last week in Jacksonville, FL. Back in The Swamp, Tebow still contributed to the victory but struggled mightily in the process. His numbers of 15-for-20 for 208 yards and a touchdown are misleading, considering 64 yards came on a meaningless late catch-and-run by tight end Aaron Hernandez, and his sole score through the air was on a tipped pass that wound up in the hands of wide receiver David Nelson. Sacked four times mostly because of his inability to get rid of the ball when under pressure, Tebow also struggled on the ground averaging 1.7 yards per carry on 16 attempts (27 yards). In mop-up duty, back-up John Brantley went 3-for-3 for 19 yards. For his two touchdowns (he also punched one in on the ground), Tebow gets a plus, but his performance was extremely average.

RUNNING BACKS: B+
Last week, I mentioned that “it is tough to expect this unit to make an impact when the three main players combined for 16 total attempts.” This week, Jeff Demps, Emmanuel Moody and Chris Rainey combined for 19 carries, though their averages were much better. Gaining 8.1, 4.3 and 3.0 yards per carry, respectively, the trio combined for 103 yards on the ground. In other words, they did the best they could with the limited attempts provided to them. For avoiding mistakes and contributing when given the opportunity, these guys played just fine.

Read the rest of Florida’s grades from the Vanderbilt game after the jump…

WIDE RECEIVERS: C-
Riley Cooper dominated last week’s game, grabbing four balls for 78 yards and two touchdowns. This time around, Cooper was silent. So were the rest of the receivers. Brandon James was the best of the bunch with four receptions for 44 yards, and Nelson was in the right place at the right time for his touchdown. Some reports state Deonte Thompson was wide open all night long, including multiple times in the end zone with no defenders around him. If Tebow is having problems getting the ball to wide open receivers, you cannot blame them for not catching what isn’t being thrown.

TIGHT ENDS: A
His big play may have come late, but Hernandez continues to prove most weeks why he is the most consistent player on the Gators offense. Hauling in seven balls for a career-high 120 yards, Hernandez grabbed a short pass in the fourth quarter and turned it upfield for a 64-yard gain before running out of gas. Seemingly strong of mind and body, he must continue his outstanding play in order for the offense to move, especially if the receivers aren’t getting looks.

OFFENSIVE LINE: C-
Tebow has suffered a career-high in sacks and Florida is only nine games into the season. He has himself to blame on some occasions, holding on to the ball too long. But plenty of other times he is being forced out of the pocket and given no time to get rid of the ball because defensive lines are getting through this unit. There were some injuries and inconsistencies throughout the game, but when push comes to shove this unit is not getting it done the way it did last season. No more making excuses for the offensive line; just play better and protect your Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B+
Expecting defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham to terrorize the Commodores’ offense was completely fair. The entire front seven not coming up with a single quarterback sack is surprising, though the interior of the line is still a work in progress health-wise. In the end, the entire defense only allowed Vanderbilt to put up 199 yards on the day, 77 in the second half. Not an A performance this week, but nevertheless a strong one.

LINEBACKERS: A
Even without starting middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, this unit continued to play well. Ryan Stamper, playing in Spikes’ stead, grabbed his second career interception (and did so in back-to-back games). Dustin Doe chimed in with 11 tackles on the evening. Solid both against the run and passing game, you have to give this group credit for continuing to play so effectively without their leader.

SECONDARY: A
Vanderbilt quarterback Mackenzie Adams threw for 100 yards…in the game…on 13-of-29 passing. There may not have been any A.J. Green-like receiving threats on the field this week, but the entire defense held the Commodores without a touchdown. Week-in and week-out there does not seem to be a weak spot on this side of the ball. The “weakest” link last week (and it is ridiculous to call any part of the defense “weak” at this point), the secondary was one of the strongest on Saturday.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Did I mention yet that kicker Caleb Sturgis is going to play in the NFL? I didn’t? Sturgis is going to play in the NFL. And that’s saying a lot for a sophomore kicker. Listen, he made two makeable kicks (27, 45) – but he nailed them. And though he may experience a hiccup here and there, his booming leg has saved Florida on more than one occasion and given them much needed points throughout the evening. Punter Chas Henry was outstanding as usual, punting four times for a total of 211 yards with a long of 58. Vanderbilt returner Alex Washington was the first player to gain any yards against the punt coverage unit all season, though 13 is really miniscule when you think about it. I remain unhappy with the contributions of James in the return game, and his lack of explosion consistently holds this unit back from the allusive plus.

COACHING: B-
Were expectations too high? Did the Commodores play better than the Gators may have expected? Maybe. 27 points is a solid output for an offense, but against (by far) the worst team in the Southeastern Conference? There were plenty of distractions surrounding the team this week, from Spikes’ eye gouge to head coach Urban Meyer‘s comments and subsequent $30,000 fine. None of those should have had any impact and probably didn’t, but something has to change in regard to the stale offensive play calling. It is predictable, uninventive and lacking explosion – three things I never thought I would say about one of Meyer’s offenses. Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio may be one-and-done, though you have to admire the consistency that defensive coordinator Charlie Strong‘s unit plays with. 9-0 is 9-0, but South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier always has his sights set on Florida and Meyer better be ready for what I expect to be a tough defensive battle next week.

OVERALL: B
After literally exploding last week against the Bulldogs, the Gators came back down to Earth against a seemingly weaker team. Less points, fewer turnovers and, suffice to say, the most boring game played all season. “Boring” should have no impact on anything, especially when it results in a 27-3 victory. So let me throw that out. In his post-game press conference, Meyer rejected the notion that the team was “ho-hum” on Saturday. Well, it kind of was. Maybe it was coming off of a huge win against a bitter rival, or the fact that the team knew for sure they would beat Vanderbilt no matter what happened. If either is the case, that is a bad mentality to have going into next week. I have no doubt Meyer and Strong will get this team up for a trip to Columbia, SC, but I also cannot say the team played their “A” game this week.

2 » Winning streaks, touchdown records and overall solid play have been the toast of the Gators this season. But one of the most overlooked accomplishments has been that of punter Chas Henry and the special teams unit. Having previously not allowed a single punt return yard all season, Henry and the special teams finally let up, allowing Commodores returner Alex Washington to gain six yards on Henry’s 58-yard punt in the first quarter. Six yards? We’ll let that go. Just don’t let it happen again.

FOUR more BITS including Urban Meyer on the offense, tight end Aaron Hernandez’s dominance and the Gators’ ravenous defense AFTER THE JUMP…

3 » In his post-game press conference, head coach Urban Meyer admitted he was concerned with the offense and “one-dimensional performance” from quarterback Tim Tebow. Saying the Gators lacked “home-run shots,” Meyer continued, “I have to get some production out of the offense.” As Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel points out, Florida failed to capitalize on Vanderbilt’s biggest weakness – covering the option. Even though the Commodores gave up 404 yards off option plays to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets just last week, the Gators only ran one option play (25-yard touchdown by running back Jeff Demps) in the entire first half. “We knew if we got executed, it’d be a walk in because no one’s left,” Meyer said. So why wasn’t it run more often?

4 » One of the brightest spots this season, tight end Aaron Hernandez had another dominant performance on Saturday. Sure, 64 of his career-high 120 total yards came on a single catch-and-run late in the fourth quarter, but plays like that show what Hernandez can do when given the ball in space and provided with a play-making opportunity. His seven catches tied a season-high, and Hernandez seems to be in a two-man rotation with wide receiver Riley Cooper as Tebow’s favorite target. “Obviously, Aaron Hernandez had a heck of a day,” Meyer said. Obviously, Hernandez has had a heck of a season. Hopefully for the Gators, he will continue to.

5 » Lackluster, anemic, boring, lame, predictable, mundane, routine, irksome, dull and flat are just a few words that have been used to describe the Gators offense at one point or another this season. Call it what you will, some will even resort to the absurd “complacency,”, the fact of the matter is that Florida is 9-0 and does not need to worry about games that have been played. Instead, they need to concentrate on the remainder of the schedule. Maybe the only important adjective used to describe the Gators right now is “undefeated.”

6 » An offensive performance leaving much to be desired seems to be a common story throughout the season for the Gators. Another common story? The absolute domination of Florida’s defense. Having only given up six defensive touchdowns through nine wins, the unit allowed Vanderbilt to put together a mere 199 yards of offense and just a single field goal on the day. While the Commodores may be the worst team in the SEC, they are still a conference team and have enough talented players that holding them to so few points marks another impressive performance by the defense.