Top Gator Bruised

NEWS: FLORIDA QB TEBOW LIMITED IN PRACTICE

Florida coach Urban Meyer has talked the talk all season, now Meyer will need to walk the walk and limit the number of carries for star quarterback Tim Tebow.

Tebow sustained a bruised right (non-throwing) shoulder injury in the second-half of the Gators' 45-37 win at Kentucky on Saturday. Tebow played through the pain and sealed the victory for Florida with a late 2-yard touchdown run.

Meyer announced Tebow wouldn’t have any contact in practice this week.

Limiting Tebow would be an adjustment for the Gators considering the quarterback has accounted for 73 percent of their offense. Tebow is the leading rusher for Florida accounting for 578 yards and 10 touchdowns on 125 carriers, and leads the nation in passer rating (177.5).

Against Kentucky, Tebow carried the ball 20 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. However, only ten of those carries were designed runs according to Meyer.
(Compiled from Gator Sports and AP reports)

FPS ANALYSIS: I’m surprised that Tim Tebow has not broken down sooner. Coach Urban Meyer’s unique spread-option attack relies on a mobile quarterback. Tebow fits the bill and has carried the load so far this season. He is really a fullback, who happens to be able to pass. But carrying the ball 125 times in the SEC will take a tool on any player.

This could impact Florida’s game plan heading into their showdown with rival Georgia. A bruised non-throwing shoulder isn’t a big deal and I really don’t expect the injury to slow Tebow down. It certainly won’t impact his ridiculous looking and patented fake-run jump-flick foward pass in goal line situations.