Gators view Oklahoma, Oregon teams to form no-huddle offense

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Desperate to find some offensive rhythm, Florida took a close look at two of college football's most recent juggernauts.

The Gators copied everything they could.

Florida re-examined the 2008 team at Oklahoma, the highest-scoring in NCAA history (716 points) and the first to score 60 or more in five consecutive games, and then broke down this year's squad at Oregon. The top-ranked Ducks are averaging 573 yards and 55 points.

The Sooners, with Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford at quarterback, ran an up-tempo scheme that gave defenses fits. Oregon plays even faster and has been equally tough to stop.

Florida took notice.

The Gators (5-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) spent two weeks installing no-huddle formations and incorporating a dual-quarterback twist for deception. The result was a season-high 77 plays, 450 total yards and a 34-31 victory in overtime last Saturday against rival Georgia.

Now, they plan to make it a full-time part of the offense.

"Last year, we dorked around a little bit with it," offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said. "We just decided we're going to go to it now."

Florida first started tinkering with the no-huddle in spring 2009, after coaches witnessed firsthand how difficult it was to prepare for. The Gators spent four weeks getting ready for the Sooners in the Bowl Championship Series national title game, learning how taxing up-tempo offense could be on conditioning, communicating, substituting and getting lined up properly.

Addazio figured he would try it with Tim Tebow & Co. The Gators called it the "banzai" package, but used it sparingly last season. Given Tebow's leadership skills, coach Urban Meyer felt it was better to have him directing everything from a huddle.

What about now?

"I could kick myself for not going to it full time, but obviously it worked out the other way," Meyer said.

The Gators needed something - anything - to spark their lackluster offense. Quarterback John Brantley cle

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