- Jun 12, 2014
- 1,111
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Founding Member
After years of mediocrity in the passing game, we will finally field a competent and surprisingly explosive offense this year. Yeah, you heard me correctly. I'm not predicting we'll have the best offense in the country or anything, but we are going to have a good, fast SEC caliber offense again after years of mind numbing ineptness. Here's my evidence:
1.) McElwain is already raving about the 3 newcomers at receiver (Swain, Hammond, and Massey). In my opinion, at least 1 of these Freshmen and Massey will be major offensive contributors next year.
2.) He has also mentioned that CJ Worton has been more consistent and has improved his practice habits significantly. The kid has a ton of ability if he hones in on the mental aspect of the game. It sounds like he has turned a corner.
3.) The new quarterbacks all have good, if not great height for the position. Del Rio will likely win the starting job and he knows the system after having a year to familiarize himself with it. He will do a good job running the offense and making the correct reads. Receivers will finally have a better chance at not being wildly overthrown every time we want to take a shot down the field.
4.) The most physically gifted receiver UF has recruited in years isn't even showing up on campus until the Summer. Tyrie Cleveland will be a Julio Jones/AJ Green/Alshon Jeffrey type receiver in the SEC. I would be shocked if he wasn't. Just look at his tape. He's the best prospect at receiver we've had since Percy and I think he is gonna be an absolute beast. If he can pick up the playbook well enough to start a few games into the season, it will bode well for our offense. He and Callaway (when he returns) should be a formidable duo.
5.) It's obviously only the Spring, but it was noted that our starters on the interior of the offensive line are creating much more of a push up front and blowing defenders off the ball so far. The tackles have underwhelmed so far, but that will change when Martez Ivey returns as he is an excellent run blocker. If we have improved offensive line play, a bruising back like Mark Thompson will wear down defenses and opposing teams will be forced to respect our running game again. When teams respect our running game, safeties will come down in run support and play action passes will be deadly. I am confident that our team will be better at capitalizing on these kind of pitch and catch situations than we have been in recent years.
6.) The players have had a year to get acclimated to Mac's system and we will start to see fewer mental mistakes manifest themselves in games. The kids that have been here for at least a year will stop thinking as much and just start reacting. As a result, the receivers will be a more confident group.
7.) Competition in practice amongst the receivers will improve the quality of play in game. Mac will not just play upperclassmen that have perpetually been underachievers over the course of their career just because of seniority. The best players will get playing time, Freshmen or otherwise.
I am very excited about the offensive side of the ball and I believe Gator Nation has plenty of reasons to be excited as well. Call me a pumper if you want, but I say that our offense makes a dramatic improvement this year.
1.) McElwain is already raving about the 3 newcomers at receiver (Swain, Hammond, and Massey). In my opinion, at least 1 of these Freshmen and Massey will be major offensive contributors next year.
2.) He has also mentioned that CJ Worton has been more consistent and has improved his practice habits significantly. The kid has a ton of ability if he hones in on the mental aspect of the game. It sounds like he has turned a corner.
3.) The new quarterbacks all have good, if not great height for the position. Del Rio will likely win the starting job and he knows the system after having a year to familiarize himself with it. He will do a good job running the offense and making the correct reads. Receivers will finally have a better chance at not being wildly overthrown every time we want to take a shot down the field.
4.) The most physically gifted receiver UF has recruited in years isn't even showing up on campus until the Summer. Tyrie Cleveland will be a Julio Jones/AJ Green/Alshon Jeffrey type receiver in the SEC. I would be shocked if he wasn't. Just look at his tape. He's the best prospect at receiver we've had since Percy and I think he is gonna be an absolute beast. If he can pick up the playbook well enough to start a few games into the season, it will bode well for our offense. He and Callaway (when he returns) should be a formidable duo.
5.) It's obviously only the Spring, but it was noted that our starters on the interior of the offensive line are creating much more of a push up front and blowing defenders off the ball so far. The tackles have underwhelmed so far, but that will change when Martez Ivey returns as he is an excellent run blocker. If we have improved offensive line play, a bruising back like Mark Thompson will wear down defenses and opposing teams will be forced to respect our running game again. When teams respect our running game, safeties will come down in run support and play action passes will be deadly. I am confident that our team will be better at capitalizing on these kind of pitch and catch situations than we have been in recent years.
6.) The players have had a year to get acclimated to Mac's system and we will start to see fewer mental mistakes manifest themselves in games. The kids that have been here for at least a year will stop thinking as much and just start reacting. As a result, the receivers will be a more confident group.
7.) Competition in practice amongst the receivers will improve the quality of play in game. Mac will not just play upperclassmen that have perpetually been underachievers over the course of their career just because of seniority. The best players will get playing time, Freshmen or otherwise.
I am very excited about the offensive side of the ball and I believe Gator Nation has plenty of reasons to be excited as well. Call me a pumper if you want, but I say that our offense makes a dramatic improvement this year.