JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At Florida’s final Gator Bowl press conference on Saturday, a reporter asked what – if any – impact Ohio State’s hiring of former Gators coach Urban Meyer had on the game.
“Who?” quipped Muschamp prior to saying he doesn’t believe that has any impact on Monday’s game between the Gators and Buckeyes.
The Meyer angle has been fun for the media and a vibrant talking point for fans, but at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon at EverBank Field, the Gator Bowl will be all about two tradition-rich programs trying to cap their seasons with a winning record.
No one knows for sure if Meyer will be watching, but what we do know is this game is one of the more interesting bowl games of the season considering the storylines.
We’ll certainly be watching from the EverBank Field press box. Here are 10 things to keep an eye on in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl:
ONE MORE SHOT
If Gators quarterback John Brantley has a good game, Florida’s chances of winning the game skyrocket compared to if Brantley struggles.
His final game at The Swamp didn’t go as planned. Brantley was knocked out of the Gators’ 21-7 loss to Florida State on Nov. 26 with a concussion.
However, he is healthy and hopes to cap his UF career with a memorable win and perhaps his signature moment in a Gators uniform.
The X FACTOR
Buckeyes freshman quarterback Braxton Miller could be the most dangerous player on the field Monday considering how much he will be handling the ball.
Miller is a dual-threat quarterback who showed significant improvement as the season progressed. He is coming off a 100-yard rushing, 235-yard passing performance in the regular-season finale against Michigan.
The Gators’ defense must limit Miller’s impact in the rushing game and force him into some long third-down passing situations to help neutralize his impact.
FLORIDA’S O-LINE
The Gators’ makeshift line is short on bodies in Muschamp’s first season and that will continue.
Starting tackle Matt Patchan will miss the game due to an upper-back muscle injury that requires yet more patchwork. Left guard Dan Wenger, hobbled by a sore ankle for the second half of the season, is expected to play. Tackle Chaz Green returned against Florida State after missing four games.
Thankfully for the Gators, starting right guard Jon Halapio has been the unit’s rock and most consistent performer much of the season.
POSEY POSES THREAT
Ohio State receiver Devier Posey missed all but two games this season due to a suspension.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound senior is back on the field and will offer some challenges for Florida’s secondary, especially without injured cornerback Marcus Roberson (neck).
That means corners Cody Riggs, Jaylen Watkins, Moses Jenkins and Loucheiz Purifoy will be primarily responsible for defending the talented Posey, who has seven catches for 124 yards and one touchdown in his brief time in the lineup.
OPEN PLAYBOOKS
Neither of these teams set scoreboards on fire, so points could be at a premium.
However, with both programs in transition, there could be some offensive trickery considering the circumstances.
Interim Gators offensive coordinator Brian White replaces Charlie Weis. White served as Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator for seven years and defeated the Buckeyes in four of six meetings. As for Ohio State, longtime offensive coordinator Jim Bollman is calling his final game and has the talented Miller to use at his disposal.
SURPRISE STAR
It’s been more than a month since either team has played, and in that month, they held 15 practices without the normal distractions of school and other non-football requirements.
That often results in a surprise bowl-game performance from a player who didn’t do much in the regular season. The Gators could use one of those performances.
Maybe defensive end William Green comes through with a couple of sacks. What about Purifoy picking off his first career pass. White would like nothing more than a huge game from receiver Quinton Dunbar or Deonte Thompson.
STREAK TALK
These programs met for the 2006 national title five years ago, with Florida hammering the Buckeyes 41-14 to win the second national title in school history.
Instead of a national title being on the line in the second all-time meeting between the schools, winning seasons are. Florida has 23 consecutive winning seasons; Ohio State has 22.
One of those will end Monday and you can be sure there will be a lot of discussion on ESPN2’s telecast about where the programs are compared to where they were, and more importantly, where they are headed.
FLORIDA’S D vs. OHIO STATE’S O
The Gators ranked ninth nationally in total defense, a fact that is often overshadowed due to the team’s record and the lack of turnovers.
Ohio State’s offense finished 107th nationally but did receive a late-season boost as Miller progressed.
If the Gators can play close defensively to how well they played against FSU – the Seminoles managed just 95 yards of total offense – you’ve got to like Florida’s chances.
It will be interesting to see if young players such as linebacker Jelani Jenkins, Sharrif Floyd, Ronald Powell and Matt Elam continue to show signs of improvement as they did late in the season.
FAST AND FURIOUS
Brantley isn’t the only high-profile offensive player making his final appearance for the Gators. Senior running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey have played integral roles since their freshman seasons in 2008.
The duo has combined for more than 4,500 career rushing yards and can change the complexion of a game each time they touch the ball because of their sprinter-like speed.
Rainey has been the more consistent one this season, but Demps returned a kickoff for a touchdown earlier this season in Jacksonville against Georgia. Look for White to continue to try and get the ball in their hands as much as possible like Weis did.
TOUGHNESS BATTLE
Muschamp called the Gators soft after their loss to FSU. In the month since, the Gators turned up the intensity during bowl practices.
Ohio State is traditionally one of the toughest teams in the country and features three offensive linemen expected to get drafted by the NFL.
Can the Gators match up physically? That could be their biggest test Monday. If they do, that can only be a positive heading into the offseason.
