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Florida simply too speedy for Oklahoma

Sooners won't be able to keep up with blazing Gators

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OPINION

By Howard Schnellenberger

updated 10:29 p.m. ET Jan. 6, 2009

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Miami's upset victory over Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl — a national title-deciding game that was the first to highlight speed vs. strength in college football. Howard Schnellenberger was the architect of that Miami team, and as the current coach at Florida Atlantic, he has seen the Gators refine his speed concept throughout their lineup. His analysis of the Gators' speed:

Florida runs the spread offense, but I call it the national offense. Everyone is doing it, but they're doing it to perfection.

Look at the offense: It's four wide receivers and one running back that can run and block in pass protection. Of course, when you have a guy like Tim Tebow at quarterback, that's what makes it so potent.

Tebow is the three-pronged sword. He can throw it, he can run it if a play breaks down, and he can run for short yardage. He gets the ball accurately to all those speedy guys. As a defense, you not only have to cover those fast guys, you have to tackle them once they make the catch.

What Florida tries to do is get those fast guys the ball with minimal risk — and let them do the rest. Quick throws also minimize the risk of sacks. Then you've got Tebow, who is so dangerous as a runner.

This goes back to the '30s, '40s and '50s with the single-wing offense. The difference is that back then, they crowded everyone close together at the line of scrimmage, and you power blocked and double-teamed to create holes. Now you've got five guys across the field from sideline to sideline. As a defense, you want to have a safety back there, so that leaves you with four guys on the line and one on the quarterback. Everyone has to win individual battles.
It's an offense born and bred in speed, and right now they do it better than anyone. It's a combination of speed, highly efficient play at quarterback and repetition. Anything they do is exceptional.

They run the triple option out of the shotgun, and again, it's taking advantage of their speed. To defend that, you have to have one man per one assignment, which makes it difficult to have pursuit to the ball. If you play it right, it's a 2-yard gain. If you don't, it's a 25-yard gain. And if you have speed like Florida, it's coming out the other end.

Those yards are gimme yards — once your guy gets behind the last man on defense, wherever he is on the field. And if you have speed like Florida, no one is catching up to you.

— As told to Matt Hayes