That's how center Mike Degory and Urban Meyer describe the Gators offense. But it's good enough to salvage the coach's debut.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
Published September 4, 2005
COLLEGE COVERAGE:
UF-Wyoming: [an error occurred while processing this directive] USF-Penn. State: [an error occurred while processing this directive]
GAINESVILLE - The biggest change is the standard.
Urban Meyer's much-anticipated debut as Florida coach had all the fanfare of a big-time rock concert: Former players returned to form a tunnel for the current ones, and it drew the largest crowd to ever see a game in Florida.
But for a good portion of the game, the Gators looked very much like the squad Ron Zook oversaw last season. Overthrown passes, botched running plays, sacks and fumbles.
The difference: Meyer acknowledged it. And he expects it to be much better.
The players do, too.
So a 32-14 victory over Wyoming was cause for celebration. But no one was overjoyed.
"We can get a lot better," said junior receiver Chad Jackson, who scored four touchdowns. "We're trying to work out the kinks and trying to get the newness out of our systems."
And even though it wasn't nearly as solid an offensive output as Meyer eventually expects, he wasn't complaining.
"One thing I promised these guys is that at the University of Florida, we will never be disappointed with a win," Meyer said. "Especially against Wyoming. They are a top-25 team, and they have a good chance to win the Mountain West Conference. I'm not apologizing." That said, this is clearly a work in progress, although there was some improvement as the game went on.
It took the No.10 Gators nearly 12 minutes to pick up a first down, and Wyoming allowed 5 yards on six carries in the first quarter. Meyer said some of the blame went to an offensive line that didn't block well.
"We can perform better," center Mike Degory said. "Some of the stuff is controllable. It's good to get the shakiness out of the way, but we've got a long way to go. We've got a new offense, and we just don't have a total feel for it yet."
Florida opened the game with a 40-yard pass that was dropped. The first two possessions went three-and-out. And the snap was fumbled three times (all recovered by Florida).
"In case you're wondering what the offense should look like, that wasn't it," Meyer said. "We have got a lot of work to do (today). Chris Leak and this offense has a long way to go."
But when things went well, they went very well.
Jackson caught three touchdowns, including a spectacular grab off the fingertips in the corner of the end zone. He also ran 5 yards for a score in the fourth. Junior receiver Andre Caldwell had a career-high 63-yard reception that set up a field goal.
Leak was 26-of-34 for 320 yards.
"Being able to anticipate plays is the main thing, and the guys are really starting to get it," Leak said. "It's coming along."
He also completed a school-record 17 consecutive passes, but Meyer warned not to read too much into that. "I keep hearing Chris completed 17 consecutive passes," he said. "I must have been watching something else when that happened."
Jackson gave the Gators' their first score with a 26-yard catch with 21 seconds left in the first quarter. He later scored from 7 and 26 yards. "I call him Superman," safety Kyle Jackson said. "Sometimes, I don't know how he makes those plays. "That's why they call him Big-Play Jackson."
As promised, the Gators defense, the much-maligned unit from last season, showed much more blitzing and aggressive play. It held Wyoming to 222 yards (72 rushing).
"I thought the defense did well for us," Meyer said. "That's our most improved position. I'm really excited about this defense. They got the season off to a great start." Wyoming entered having seen Meyer's spread offense when it played his Utah team last season. But even coach Joe Glenn said this was different.
"They don't look like the team we worked against back in Wyoming," he said.
For one, the Gators didn't have the running game Meyer hoped for. If that doesn't change, he said, the Gators are in big trouble.
"We had no balance in this game," he said. "There was no inside running game. We scored on passing, and that tells me we don't have balance right now.
"If we're going to win games, we have to be balanced with a running and a passing game. I would rather pass for 250 and run for 250 than have no balance."
