So, you may ask, why are you,

JimmyV, optimistic that 2018 will be any better than 2017? Good question. Here

are my top 5 reasons:

1. S&C. To quote a Gator who played here

last year and was a 1st round draft pick, "We looked like the Pillsbury

dough boys". To quote a current Gator who saw a vast difference when

lining up against SEC teams “We could tell that

people were stronger than us, and I don’t want to say that it was intimidating,

but it just made me ask why”

Not sure

how the Gator S&C program got so out of whack, but it really was. Coach

Savage has seen huge gains across the board, and we should be a much more competitive

team physically this year.

2. Head Coach. Coach Mullen has a proven

track record, has been part of National Champion programs, and knows how to

build a winning program. He has also been seasoned at MSU, succeeding there is

very difficult. I had my doubts, and he was not my first choice, but after seeing

him in action I like this guy a lot and think he has what it takes to get us

back where we belong.

3. Offensive weapons. Let’s name the weapons

we have added to our offensive arsenal:

WR –

Grimes and Jefferson (providing they are cleared), Copeland, Toney with a year

training at the position, Rick Wells. Plus hopefully better health. This is not

a brand new group, but it is a hugely improved group talent and experience wise

RB –

Scarlett, Perine, Pierce, Clement, Lemons. If Davis is cleared to play, and it looks like he

will be, this is the best group on paper since the mid 90’s. I expect Scarlett

to be a 1000+ yd beast, the guy has truly bought in, he knows this is the

contract year for him.

OL –

Experience, much better conditioning, better coaching, hopefully better health.

I think this is the most maligned unit on the team outside of QB, but they have

a chance to live up to the preseason hype from last year. Everything is there

for them to be quite good.

TE –

Lucas Krull and Kyle Pitts. Two huge offensive weapons. I think Krull will make

the most impact of any new player, he is more mature and has physical skills of

a truly freak nature. I think he, by himself, could change the way defences have

to play us. Best TE potential since Ben Troupe. And Pitts is a deep threat down

the middle from day 1. Add in a senior Lewis and Stephens and a now healthy Gamble

who was a preseason star last year, this looks to become a major unit on our offense.

QB – I know

everyone points at the fact Franks had a bad year and went into a shell and say

to replace him. I get it. But the funny thing is, given the right teacher and

circumstance, kids really do get better. Just ask the Mizzou QB. I think he has

a shot at a real good year, Mullen has made lesser physical specimens into NFL

draft picks. Franks is a truly gifted specimen if Coach Mullen can just get his

neurons aligned in the proper way to make quick decisions on the field,

properly. And his track record is good.

Also

Trask and Jones look to be providing stiff competition. That is great news.

4. Special Teams – Mullen understands. He is

devoting practice time to get better here. And we have some real good return

men talent wise. No idea who will return kicks/punts. But I love Lemons on KO

return, and someone like Jaylin Jackson is made to return punts in a major way.

I expect to see us blocking kicks again this year.

5. Defense – I like coach Grantham. He has

been successful in the SEC and has the respect of his peers. I think he gets us

back to physical Gator D. He has a good staff, I think they will do us proud.

You may disagree with any or all

of the above, feel free to chime in. I do know this. If we line up with Grimes,

Jefferson, Cleveland at WR, Krull at TE, and Scarlett at RB, I am not sure who to

defend. And I cannot say I felt that way the past several years, I always knew

who the D had to take away. That is a bunch of huge, fast guys at WR/TE and a rugged

RB.

I see us scoring upper 30’s this

year, not sure if we are truly back but we certainly look to be knocking on the

door quite loudly.