Phil Sandlin / AP

Florida coach Urban Meyer gives instructions to quarterback Tim Tebow during Saturday's victory over LSU.

Much of the option was abandoned. The five-receiver sets — particularly with that position depleted by injury — was placed on the back burner. Florida went to a more conventional offense. The fullback returned. And in the next game, against Georgia, the Gators drove for touchdowns in their first two possessions.

Meyer’s square-peg, round-hole philosophy was tweaked — and the Gators enjoyed success. The Gators learned about their toughness. The coach learned something about himself, too.

Since that late-night meeting, the Gators have won 10 of 11 games. What Meyer’s offense did at Utah hasn’t been replicated at Florida. Maybe that will never happen.

But Florida’s offense is plenty good right now. It has played better to the strengths of Leak. Its game-breaking receivers are one year older. It has a semblance of a running game.
And somehow, the Gators have incorporated their quarterback of the future, Tebow, into the present.

“It creates a lot of problems,” Gators linebacker Brandon Siler said of Florida’s two-quarterback system. “It’s like game-planning for two whole different teams. You have two totally different styles that complement one another.”

Leak’s precision passing. Tebow’s relentless running — along with a surprise pass or two.

“It [Tebow’s running style] doesn’t scare me, but it concerns me,” Meyer said. “Not because of Tim, but because we have two scholarship quarterbacks. The one thing about Tim is he’ll usually win that battle.”

It’s a shot-to-the-jaw approach that works well, particularly after defenses have been softened up by Leak’s passing.

“The guys understand and anticipate better,” Leak said. “Guys are not thinking, but just reacting. And if you do that, you play faster, which gives you an advantage of executing the offense the way you want to.”

The Gators are capable of playing for a national championship — a far cry from last season, when it looked like Meyer’s offensive philosophies were overmatched in the rugged SEC. By no means are the Gators a finished product. But they are much closer to realizing their potential, nearly one year after looking like a lost cause. For that, you can credit Leak and the leadership of other seniors. You can look to Tebow and the other young contributors.

First, though, look to Meyer. So far, he has figured out this thing. It’s a rough road. So far, the Gators have proven to be tougher. What a difference.

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