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Chris Leak Bob Rosato/SI

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Urban Meyer (2nd season, 9-3) 2005 record: 9-3 (Beat Iowa in Outback Bowl) SEC finish: 5-3 (t-2nd East) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 56th (146.8 ypg) Passing: 51st (226.7 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 10th (94.9 ypg) Passing: 38th (204.9 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Southern Miss Sept. 9 UCF Sept. 16 at Tennessee Sept. 23 Kentucky Sept. 30 Alabama Oct. 7 LSU Oct. 14 at Auburn Oct. 28 #Georgia Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt Nov. 11 South Carolina Nov. 18 Western Carolina Nov. 25 at Florida State #Jacksonville FL Depth Chart: Offense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 81 Dallas Baker Sr. 7 Cornelius Ingram So. WR 5 Andre Caldwell Sr. 6 Jemalle Cornelius Sr. LT 75 Phil Trautwein Jr. 77 Jason Watkins So. LG 63 Jim Tartt So. 78 Simon Codrington Fr. C 79 Steve Rissler Sr. 69 Eddie Haupt Fr. RG 70 Ronnie Wilson Fr. 74 Maurice Hurt Fr. RT 67 Drew Miller Jr. 73 Carlton Medder Jr. TE 84 Tate Casey Jr. - Trent Pupello Fr. QB 12 Chris Leak Sr. 15 Tim Tebow Fr. FB 42 Billy Latsko Sr. 29 Eric Rutledge Jr. TB 33 Kestahn Moore So. 21 DeShawn Wynn Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 95 Ray McDonald Sr. 91 Derrick Harvey So. DT 44 Marcus Thomas Sr. 99 Lutrell Alford Jr. DT 20 Joe Cohen Sr. 98 Clint McMillan Jr. DE 94 Jarvis Moss Jr. 52 Darryl Gresham Fr. SLB 13 Brian Crum Sr. 55 Jon Demps So. MLB 40 Brandon Siler Jr. 41 Ryan Stamper Fr. WLB 30 Earl Everett Sr. 35 Eric Sledge Fr. CB 18 Tremaine McCollum Sr. 23 Jacques Rickerson Fr. CB 22 Reggie Lewis Sr. 36 Nick Brooks Sr. SS 1 Reggie Nelson Jr. 24 John Curtis So. FS 3 Kyle Jackson Jr. 19 Tony Joiner Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 39 Chris Hetland Sr. P 10 Eric Wilbur Sr. KR 2 Markus Manson So. PR 17 Nyan Boateng So.

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Brandon Siler, smiling and joking moments before, suddenly turned serious. Minutes after Florida's Outback Bowl win over Iowa, the linebacker predicted that the Gators belonged on the short list of '06 national title contenders. Someone informed Siler that players everywhere say the same thing every year. Siler snapped back.

"You say they say that every year," Siler said. "Well, I'm saying it this year."

Siler wouldn't have made such a bold prediction last year. He didn't think Florida had the intangibles and wasn't sure if it had the talent. This season, he's convinced the Gators have both. "I don't think the expectations are too high," Siler said. "That's why I came here. This is the University of Florida. We're supposed to win."

Second-year coach Urban Meyer seemed just as excited as spring practice drew to a close. "I'm jacked," Meyer said. "I spoke somewhere and they said, 'Coach, what's your goal?' I said our goal was to become a great team. It's well-documented we're not, but we're not panicking because there are not many great teams. There are a bunch of teams that win, but a great team is unselfish and truly committed to one another.

"It's one heartbeat. We're not there, but we're as close as we've been since I spoke to these guys in December a year ago."

OFFENSE

Quarterback Chris Leak's production dipped last season as he struggled to adjust to Meyer's offense and Florida coaches struggled to adapt to Leak's skill set. All parties seem more comfortable entering this season, especially Leak, who had to adjust to a new offense each of his first three seasons.

"That allows him from day one to know what's going on," offensive coordinator Dan Mullen says. "When you know exactly what you're doing as a quarterback, it allows you to attack the defense - because you're paying attention to that - and be a great leader and not worry about everyone else."

Behind Leak is true freshman Tim Tebow, who will have to play early so he can be ready if needed. Florida had to replace four starters on its line, but the coaches seem confident that the unit will develop.

Leak and Tebow will have better targets this season. Receiver Andre Caldwell appears just as fast as he did before he broke his right leg last September, and he also has assumed a leadership role along with senior Dallas Baker.

Florida's most pleasant offensive surprise of the spring was sophomore Cornelius Ingram, a converted quarterback originally slated to move to tight end. When coaches realized they had a 6'4", 235-pound receiver with speed and hands that seemed covered in glue, they left him at receiver.

The Gators enter preseason practice without an established running back, but Meyer hopes sophomores Kestahn Moore and Markus Manson can bring some consistent production to the position.

DEFENSE

With Reggie Nelson at strong safety, Brandon Siler and Earl Everett at linebacker and a dominant line, Florida should have one of the nation's stingiest defenses. The Gators return six starters from a unit that allowed 18.8 points per game last season.

Siler, a junior, is the team's unquestioned leader, and Everett can play from sideline to sideline. Defensive end Jarvis Moss, who led the Gators in sacks despite playing only on obvious passing downs last season, could develop into Florida's most dangerous defensive weapon. Moss, who has bulked up to 252 pounds, can rush the passer, defend the run and drop into coverage.

The Gators finished spring with no clear starter at strong-side linebacker and little confidence in the backups. Safety Tony Joiner may help solve that problem. The Gators might use him as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back. They'll also have to deal with the loss of projected starting cornerback Avery Atkins, who was released from the team in late June.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker Chris Hetland finally earned a scholarship last season by connecting on 13-of-16 field goal attempts - including 5-of-6 from beyond 40 yards. Hetland's leg seems even stronger this season; he made a 52-yarder in the spring game.

Punter Eric Wilbur's average has gone down in each of his three seasons, but he has improved his aim. Last year, he pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 22 times in 59 punts.

FINAL ANALYSIS

At Bowling Green and Utah, Meyer's offenses averaged a jump of 13.6 points between his first and second seasons. He hopes that trend continues.

Florida's fiercest rival may be its schedule. The Gators face Alabama, LSU and Auburn in consecutive weeks, and even their early-season "creampuffs" (Southern Mississippi and UCF) made bowl games last season.

If the Gators can come together and survive their schedule, they have a great chance to return to the SEC title game for the first time since 2000.

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