What's your verdict on how good Urban Meyer is?

[HammerJammer]

After UF hired him I was pretty worried because of his track record. After his first year I was considerably less worried until the end of recruiting season, at which point again I was worried. At Florida his offenses have been pretty average and this year it's been his defense that's carried the team.

In his 2nd year he has Florida in the national championship game. Is it a fluke or is Meyer the real deal? At the moment, I'm leaning toward real deal. I think he's not a guru coach, but, coach who excells in motivation and commitment to all around excellence.

On the radio I heard a teaser that said in rivalry and bowl games in the past 4 years CUM is 12-0. That's dang impressive.

What's your take?

 

[bayoutider]

I hope the Dolphins hire him to replace Saban.

 

[GrayTide]

I have thought all along that Meyer was the real deal and putting him at UF with arguably the most talent of any team in the country and it does not bode well for other SEC teams. IMO he has all the ingredients you look for in a HC, good motivator, excellent recruiter, good X and O's, ability to adjust his schemes depending on the talent he has, and surrounds himself with good assistants. Add to that he is in the Florida recruiting hotbed, UGA and UT will be chasing him in the East. This is not to say he can't be beaten, see AU this year but year in and year out UF will be at or near the top.

 

[moorav]

I say going through the SEC with one loss is a fluke. One game can be a fluke but winning the SEC with 1 loss season

I don't think you can really judge a coach until he is using most of his recruits.

I know this Ohio State will have their hands full with Florida

It's too early to know how good Urban will be but he's doing a pretty good job right now

 

[alextupelo]

a majority of his players right now were recruited by Zook so he has Zook to thank for the players he has. Of course that takes nothing away from what meyer has done i would be willing to go out on a limb and say that his thumbing in tuscaloosa was what jump started his turn around of the program...good coaches can get teams to win close games...we all know how that is for me thats the measure of a good coach, not can you blow out bad teams but can you keep your guys from falling asleep and getting them through those close games....meyer has been able to do that...UT, LSU, that Auburn game was a fluke anyways.

 

[FatherTide]

IMHO, Urban is on top of his profession at this point. During the recruiting season he dominated used every possible advantage to bring in all the talent in the world. Used 27 freshman this season on the field (some where game breakers) and has adapted his style/philosophy to the talent left to him by the Zooker. Lobbied for the NC game and won embarassed L. CARR in that battle with the ESPN public and has even found a way to endear himself to the Ohio St. fanbase with his hometown cliche' pitch with the media. Rumor has it he has already picked out Chris Fowler's wardrobe for the next season's Gameday shows! The man is a legend!!!!!!!! :biggrin2:

 

[PalmBayBama]

He is not the offensive genius that he was made out to be but he can recruit and he can motivate. That combination is about 75% of what you need out of a coach. Throw in good in-game adjustments and I'd say he's the real deal.

 

[BamaSkins]

...in his second year he has Florida in the NC game...pretty dang good I'd say!

 

[bmcklv]

I hope the Dolphins hire him to replace Saban.

I like this idea, except it may open the door for a UF/SoS reunion.

 

[TerryP]

I think it's important to understand that this type of offense (spread/option attack) which relies on a lot of misdirection is going to be successful for a decade or more. With so much speed in the college ranks, it'll have its nitch.

A bigger question is whether or not his persona will blend well with Foley when a decision has to be made. It's perfect for their fan base, no doubt.

 

[Bama323]

Very good coach. He puts emphasis on Defense and Special teams, as well as offense.

 

[tidefan39817]

He is not the offensive genius that he was made out to be but he can recruit and he can motivate. That combination is about 75% of what you need out of a coach. Throw in good in-game adjustments and I'd say he's the real deal.

Plus he believes that a team is made from Feb. to August. Not August to December. The mans off season workouts are nothing short of brutal. He said before the season started that "You have to be TOUGH to win in the SEC, we (notice W-E) were not tought last year"

That says alot of the man.

 

[TraditionAL]

Urban Meyer invented "verdicts"!

 

[ddsmit]

The game against Ohio State should tell the tale. IMHO the SEC was down in strength this year.

Their first SEC win over Tennessee was one I thought Florida would have an easier time with than they did, Kentucky was about what I thought and then they made us pay for last year the next week. I thought LSU would win the next one but now I'm not so sure how good LSU is. The following week they got beat by an average Auburn team.

After a bye week they beat an average to poor Georgia team and squeaked by Vanderbilt and South Carolina (you know SOS wanted that one bad). Their instate rivalry game with Florida State was closer than I thought it would be since FSU is really on a decline.

This next game will tell a lot about Urban Meyer. I personally would like to see the SEC bring home another NC.

 

[rpeastep]

I haven't been sold on him yet. Florida was one of, if not the, most penalized team in the SEC-that's coaching. They were extremely lucky to have won several of their games, many they didn't look very prepared for-that's coaching. He had a great weapon in Tebow and almost ignored him in a close win over GA. The biggest advantage FL had over most of it's opponents was their talent and depth, not coaching.

 

[BaldBama]

I did not like him when he came to the SEC. I did not want any "outsiders" coming here and being successful. However, after watching him in a few interviews, he won me over, but only as much as a non Tider could win me over. I liked the way he carried himself. He never seemed to be overly confident and was complimentary of the teams he beat, including ours. Maybe I missed something. As far as whether he is as good a coach as his record, that still remains to be seen. This year the Gator’s may be a fluke, but a 13-0 fluke isn’t bad. We will find out when they square off with Ohio State, and I don’t care what anybody says, I cannot pull for the Big 10 to beat any SEC team.

 

[paul02085]

He invented good.

 

[bayoutider]

This year the Gator’s may be a fluke, but a 13-0 fluke isn’t bad.

13-0? There is that 27-17 loss to Auburn that blemishes their otherwise perfect record. 12-1 or 11-2 is possible for the gators.

 

[pcolatide]

I did not like him when he came to the SEC. I did not want any "outsiders" coming here and being successful. However, after watching him in a few interviews, he won me over, but only as much as a non Tider could win me over. I liked the way he carried himself. He never seemed to be overly confident and was complimentary of the teams he beat, including ours. Maybe I missed something. As far as whether he is as good a coach as his record, that still remains to be seen. This year the Gator’s may be a fluke, but a 13-0 fluke isn’t bad. We will find out when they square off with Ohio State, and I don’t care what anybody says, I cannot pull for the Big 10 to beat any SEC team.

How about that outsider Nick Saban? Would you want him to be successful at Bama?

 

[GrandBayTider]

I've made several jokes about him, but the bottom line is he is pretty darn good! He has made adjustments on offense to take advantage of the talent he has on hand. I'll be pulling for them to beat osu and think they can pull it out. It gets old listening to some of the gator fans but it looks like they might be chomping for awhile.