GatorsNow is spanning the internet to see what the reactions were after the Charleston Southern game. The Gators were able to kick their 2009 season off and try and answer some of the questions facing the team.

A lot of them were answered in a short period of time. First the running game is legit, the Gators were able to rush for 369 yard with a lot of big plays from Rainey, Demps, and Moody. The Gators did show some of their quick strike offense after a 68 yard pass to Cooper then a quick snap for a 9 yard TD by Jeff Demps.

Cooper looked great hauling in 5 passes for 105 yards, and at one point catching 3 in a row. Deonte Thompson and Brandon James did drop what would have been 2 TD passes by Tebow. The Gators need the WR to step up and show they are SEC ready.

The Gators defense played a lot of base D and didn’t show a lot of blitzs. At times CSU was able to move the ball with quick passes, and hit a couple deep balls over Wondy Pierre-Louis who was filling in for Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins was sitting from his summer fight and run in with the law. Also Jermaine Cunningham did not play. Coach Meyer would only say, “He wasn’t ready to play.”

ESPN/AP reported:

Although Florida opened its most anticipated season in school history with a near-perfect performance, it came against an overmatched team from the Football Championship Subdivision.

“It’s hard to evaluate that game,” coach Urban Meyer said.

Florida, an overwhelming favorite to repeat as national champs, accomplished everything it wanted to in the opener, though. The Gators unveiled some new wrinkles, won the game in convincing fashion and avoided any major injuries.

Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel had these nuggets from the game:

On Riley Cooper, who had five catches for 105 yards, “Riley played like he practiced. He’s playing as good as he’s ever played. I know it’s been one game, but the way he practiced, I knew he was ready for a breakout game.”

John Brantley had a solid outing, going 8-of-12 for 67 yards with 2 TDs. He also ran six times for 44 yards. “It was fun watching him and being able to encourage him,” Tebow said.

LG Carl Johnson injured his knee, but Meyer said he was hoping it was just a bruise and listed the player as probable for next week.

Pat Dooley Grades the Gators:

OVERALL: A-

Not much opposition but the usual stars showed their stuff in the blowout victory for the Gators.

Read more for the full box score of the game.

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Janoris Jenkins Shined in 2009

39 tackles, three interceptions, and 12 pass deflections…these statistics don’t begin to tell the story of what Janoris brought to the Gators in the 2008 season. After giving up a ton of yards to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl, it was clear the Gators’ defense needed a couple of stoppers.

Charlie Strong loves to have an aggressive defense that he can use to bring pressure and shut-down corner backs that he can trust in man to man coverage. Joe Haden had shown that he could be a shut down corner, but who was going to be that other guy?

Wondy Pierre-Louis had the talent to be that guy, but his late start in football showed. After the first game of the season , however, a bold freshman was ready to be that guy, and he was letting his teammates know.

Safety Ahmad Black heard it as soon as he step on campus, “He told us he was going to be real good. We were like, ‘Whatever,’ and then he went out there and showed us.”

Jenkins was able to lock up man for man in major SEC contests with freshmen A.J. Green and Julio Jones, which allowed the Gators to use an extra man to keep pressure on Matthew Stafford and John Parker Wilson the whole game. In the second half of the conference championship game ,you could see the Julio Jones’ frustration at the tight coverage Janoris maintained (Bama fans– he did give up a big play early in the game).

“Not too many freshmen come in and play on the Florida defense,” Gators defensive leader Brandon Spikes stated. “But he’s done all the right things, made a lot of big plays, never let guys catch the ball on him. “

So I’d like to just take the time to say thanks Janoris Jenkins, you are a big reason the Gators were able to claim their third National Championship.