Gators, Present and Future

Tebow vs. the Russian Army?

Tebow.

Tebow vs. a nuclear blast?

Tebow.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Tim Tebow. Nice kid, works hard, studies hard, respects the game and the people around him but to listen to Gator fans, he can walk on water. In their only loss of the season, Florida had their share of mistakes to go around, but it seems that Chris Leak is taking all of the heat. It goes with the position I suppose, but Leak is a solid guy and a solid player. He’s blamed for three turnovers at the end of the Auburn game, where only one, the bad pass, should be counted against him. But either way, Leak has done a magnificent job of not complaining, of putting up with Urban Meyer’s tepid support and even fans booing when he comes in the game in relief of Tebow’s stints. Sure, Tebow can run the ball and might in the future become a complete quarterback, but right now, Chris Leak gives Florida the best chance to win, week in and week out.

Admittedly, Tebow is a strong runner. When he takes the ball and heads toward the line of scrimmage, it gives the Gators an advantage of an extra man blocking and a very strong and determined guy running the football. I’m pretty convinced Chris Leak could do much of the same given the same blocking and the same opportunity (except for perhaps the real tough short yardage gains.) But something different happens to the offensive line when 15 is in the game. The block a little harder and longer. Perfect in certain situations, not perfect when trying to mix things up through out an entire game.

So lay off Chris Leak. They’ve done him a disservice in Gainesville by not publicly saying he’s the man from the moment a new coaching staff stepped on campus. Meyer and company have done a lot of good things for the Florida program, but their treatment of Leak hasn’t been one of them. Tebow might be the future and part of the present, but the BMOC should be Chris Leak. Leak vs. anybody in the SEC? I’ll take Leak.