Ocala.com Bloggers
- Broken News
- Bill Thompson
- Digital Editor
- Eric Barnes
- Frame 37
- Ocala.com Multimedia
- Marion Politics
- Newsroom
- Observations
- Naseem S. Miller
- OcalaDay
- Joe Byrnes
- Read My E-Mail
- Allen Parson
- Running Wide Open
- Joe Vanhoose
- Speaking of Business...
- Dr. Philip R. Geist
- The Bowling Blog
- Debbie Whitten
- The Green Zone
- Dave Rhea
- The Sports Blog
- Gregory Broome
- What is that?
- Newsroom
 |
Search Blogs
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Blog Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brantley's work cut out for him in Gainesville
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location: Blogs The Sports Blog |
 |
| Posted by: Gregory Broome |
7/19/2007 4:52 PM |
This Gainesville Sun story picked up by the Star-Banner on Tuesday breaks down the incoming Gator freshman class. John Brantley, the state-champion Trinity Catholic quarterback, gets nothing more than a brief mention. As exciting as it is for Brantley to fulfill his childhood dream of playing QB for the Gators, the story illustrates just how difficult it will be for Brantley to make his way in Gainesville. It seems ridiculous to think that a kid with Brantley's talent and accomplishments could start his college career in such an unassuming fashion, but that's the road Brantley chose when he signed with the local favorite, despite the fact that they're more loaded at QB than just about anyone else in the nation and figure to continue to be for the near future.
As the article states, Brantley likely won't see a lot of time as a freshman. That's to be expected. The larger question is if Brantley will ever start for the Gators.
Meyer has always favored the 2-QB system, and that works in Brantley's favor, at least mathematically. Competing for two available jobs is better than competing for one. That advantage is a minimal one, though, because the system also leads Meyer to over-recruit the position. Meyer doesn't bring in replacements for graduating players or depth - he brings in tough, elite competition, every single year.
Take a look. The following scenario has Brantley struggling to see the field throughout his time in Gainesville -
2007 - Freshman year
Sophomore Tim Tebow is not just the unquestioned starter but a potential Heisman contender. Newton, by all accounts a more versatile and mobile QB than Brantley, holds the backup spot after seeing a lot of snaps in the spring. Junior college transfer Bryan Waggener settles into third on the depth chart.
2008 - Sophomore year
The Tebow era rolls on. Newton still gets his snaps, Waggener is back for his senior year, and Brantley now contends with the arrival of Terrelle Pryor, a 6-6, 220-pound freshman phenom from Pennsylvania. Two years in, he's still fighting for third on the depth chart.
2009 - Junior year
Tebow could have headed to the pros, but he decided to stick around for a shot at another championship and the Heisman. Pryor is the clear heir apparent, playing a role similar to the one Tebow filled in Chris Leak's senior year. Newton and some new arrivals further muddy the depth chart.
2010 - Senior year
Pryor is a Heisman contender as a junior, and Newton's experience again earns him the role of second quarterback in Meyer's system. Meyer has since added more 4- and 5-star recruits at QB, and any available reps go to the younger guys.
Of course, there's also a more optimistic view. Brantley could easily pick up Meyer's offense quicker than Newton, especially having learned under former pro Kerwin Bell, or put a year between himself and Tebow with a redshirt season. Pryor can choose his spot in college, and he could easily end up at Alabama, Penn State or Notre Dame. Tebow could do so well that he leaves for the pros early, creating a void that Brantley steps up to fill.
The point is, Brantley could have avoided all of this by sticking with Texas or choosing South Carolina or Oklahoma, programs that would have gladly placed him under center rather quickly and painlessly. That would have had Brantley leading a bowl-contending team by 2008.
Success, however, is not about choosing the path of least resistance, and Brantley deserves credit for accepting the challenge of cracking the Gator rotation.
And it will be a challenge.
But the sentimental reasons for Brantley's decision cannot be overlooked. When he flipped his commit from Texas to UF, Brantley said this to the Star-Banner:
"My heart has always been at Florida because I've been a Gator fan my entire life. When I committed to Texas I was, I guess you could say, in the moment, and I didn't really care how far it was from home. Now that it's getting close to time [to go to Texas], that distance factor is really setting in."
I can't criticize a guy for following his heart. But doing what feels right doesn't guarantee a positive outcome. Hopefully, Brantley's decision to follow his heart won't lead to his heart being broken.
|
|
| Permalink |
Trackback |
|
|
|
|