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The Way To Meyer's Heart? Block A Kick

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By ANDY STAPLES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Some of the University of Florida's most dynamic athletes lined up single file along one hashmark one day during the first week of preseason practice. Veterans joined raw freshmen, and each player waited his turn to audition for one of the Gators' most coveted jobs.

One after another, they crouched in a 3-point stance, fired off and dived at the foot of the punter. When a ball smacked into a palm, UF coach Urban Meyer smiled. When the ball sailed past a player's fingers, he growled.

'Punt block period at our practice,' Meyer explained, 'that's an intense sucker.'

It's intense because Meyer knows a blocked kick can fundamentally alter momentum. Today, when No. 5 Florida and No. 22 Tennessee meet at 3:30 p.m. at Florida Field with explosive offenses and questionable defenses, one block could make all the difference.

'On the scale of momentum changers,' Meyer said, 'that's either No. 1 or No. 2.'

Meyer should know. He only has a national title ring because defensive end Jarvis Moss swatted a Ryan Succop field goal try as time expired to give UF a 17-16 win against South Carolina last season.

As evidenced by Moss' two blocks last season, Meyer doesn't believe in using only speedsters off the edge. Sometimes, a genetic anomaly up the middle is best.

This year's anomaly is freshman defensive end Carlos Dunlap, a 6-foot-7 1/2 , 278-pounder with a 35-inch vertical leap. As a high school senior, he saw a life-sized poster of San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan, with his arms spread. Dunlap measured himself against the poster and found he had an almost identical wingspan as Duncan.

Last week, Meyer asked linebackers Jamaal Deveaux and Roderick Blackett to smash into the three 'personal protectors' - Dunlap calls them 'the three bears' - Troy stationed in front of punter Adrian Vera in order to open a path for Dunlap. Once, Blackett drove his man into the ball's flight path for a block. On another punt, Deveaux and Blackett cleared the way for Dunlap to leap and clip the ball with a few fingers.

The ball tumbled out of bounds after 15 yards, giving UF's offense another short field. Dunlap celebrated his first block, knowing he'd earned Meyer's favor for at least a little while.

'Special teams is the way to Coach's heart,' Dunlap said. 'If you're good on special teams, Urban Meyer will love you for days.'

NO. 22 TENNESSEE (1-1, 0-0 SEC) AT NO. 5 FLORIDA (2-0, 0-0)
KICKOFF: 3:30 p.m., Gainesville

TV/RADIO: WTSP, Channel 10/WDAE, 620 AM; Sirius Ch. 125

THE LINE: Florida by 8

KEEP ON EYE ON
Tennessee - Volunteers QB Erik Ainge has thrown 46 career TD passes. The only two Tennessee QBs with more career TD passes are Peyton Manning (89) and Casey Clausen (75). Also, Tennessee K Daniel Lincoln, an Ocala native, will be playing 30 minutes from home.

Florida - Gators QB Tim Tebow is making his first start against an SEC opponent. Tebow is second in the nation in passing efficiency (228.2) behind Oklahoma's Sam Bradford (237.7).

KEY STAT
Tennessee - In David Cutcliffe's two stints as Tennessee's offensive coordinator (1993-98 and 2006-present), the Vols are 53-3 when they score at least 30 points. One of those losses came two weeks ago at California.

Florida - UF co-defensive coordinators Charlie Strong and Greg Mattison have been on staffs that held Tennessee to fewer than 67 rushing yards on three occasions since 2004. Mattison was on the Notre Dame staff that held the Vols to 58 yards in 2004. In 2005, Strong and Mattison's Florida defense held Tennessee to 66 rushing yards. Last year, Florida's defense held Tennessee to minus-11 rushing yards.

INJURY UPDATE
Tennessee - CB Antonio Gaines (knee) is out.

Florida - WR Andre Caldwell (knee), OT Phil Trautwein (foot) and CB Markus Manson (ankle) are out. CB Markihe Anderson (knee) and RB Brandon James (ankle) are probable.

AT STAKE
Tennessee - After suffering a 45-31 loss at California in Week 1, the Vols need a win to have any hope of staying in the national title picture. A loss wouldn't eliminate either team from the race for the SEC Eastern Division title, but it would apply serious pressure for the remainder of the season.

Florida - A win would boost the confidence of Florida's young team. A loss could crush it. With the East race likely to turn into a slugfest, any division win is precious.

KEY MATCHUPS
When Tennessee has the ball - RB Arian Foster is averaging 107 rushing yards a game. Ainge has attempted 39 more passes than Tebow but has only thrown for 11 more yards. Florida continues to experiment with freshman DTs Torrey Davis and Lawrence Marsh, but seniors Clint McMillan and Javier Estopinan remain the starters. If Florida doesn't get a push up the middle, DEs Derrick Harvey and Jermaine Cunningham could have trouble pressuring Ainge.

When Florida has the ball - With Antonio Gaines out, Tennessee freshman Eric Berry will make his first start at cornerback. Expect the Gators to pick on him early. Andre Caldwell's absence could mean more playing time for WR Riley Cooper. As for Florida's more creative uses for Caldwell (end-arounds and direct snaps), expect those plays to go to Percy Harvin and Jarred Fayson.

PREDICTION
Neither defense is particularly experienced, and neither has looked dominant this season. Unless something has changed this week, this one could easily turn into a shootout. The team that can force turnovers or otherwise dramatically shift momentum - by blocking kicks or returning kicks - will win the game.

Score: Florida 45, Tennessee 42

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.

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