Bits & Pieces: Florida vs. Tennssee

[RocketCityGator]

I also wonder about the impact of Tyler Jordan's injury. Johnson doesn't appear to be able to handle right tackle and it seemed he missed some plays at right guard as well yesterday. Clearly, the Oline is an unstable group and losing a starter and having to shuffle guys can cause some ineffectiveness.

David Sharpe's been whiffing since he got hear.

 

[L-boy]

UT learning and stealing our signals/signs and our coaches' failure to notice and prevent that from happening, in the first place, by being proactive on that front and the lack of Cleveland's involvement really bothered me, as well as all of the above. That looked like a bunch of disorganized, dysfunctional and overly confident coaches, in my opinion. I have seldom seen such a failure by a group that should be at the top of their game, not only individually, but, collectively.

I refuse to use it as an excuse for the loss (the coaches own it 100%); yet, I am anxious to do some film study to see just how much UT relie d on their ability to pick off our communications, halfway thru the second quarter and on. What do you guys think? A friend, who was at the game, behind the UT bench, texted me and said that UT was intercepting our communications and even lip-reading to learn what our coaches were telling our players. There's a reason some of the most successful coaches go to great lengths to cover their mouths when they talk and change forms of communication for each game. If UT managed to use this as a means of defeating us, it really doesn'the reflect well on the coaching staff. I'mean going to compare some things to earlier games and last season, to see if I can establish any obvious habits/practices. Any advice from you resident experts would be appreciated. I have to have something to do, instead of lie here taking up space.

Don'the throw in the towel just yet guys. Hopefully, this will be a good thing - one that will serve us well as the year progresses. As noted above, to quit is to fail and I consider it sacrificing one's soul, for the sake of avoiding the pain and strange of overcoming an obstacle. I'd rather die fighting, than live without seeing my footprints behind me.

The stealing the signals is an interesting theory. Probably internet conspiracy but it would explain a lot. I can't recall a a game where things changed so dramatically.

As I e said elsewhere it sure seems like UT changes their defensive gamplan and jammed the line, blitzed etc and we were either unable or unwilling to adjust.

TN has been a second half team this year. That first half may have just been an aberration.

 

[NVGator]

The stealing the signals is an interesting theory. Probably internet conspiracy but it would explain a lot. I can't recall a a game where things changed so dramatically

Conspiracy theory, huh? What if I were to tell you the game was fixed? Would you believe that?

 

[T REX]

Gatornation...the land of excuses.

 

[gatormandan]

Gatornation...the land of excuses.

And whiners?

 

[Gator Fever]

This should have been Mac's reaction after that 2nd half meltdown.

 

[RocketCityGator]

This should have been Mac's reaction after that 2nd half meltdown.

YES!!!

 

[Homer J]

Against Vandy, we need to go up tempo / 2 minute drill.

 

[EyeDocGator]

The stealing the signals is an interesting theory. Probably internet conspiracy but it would explain a lot. I can't recall a a game where things changed so dramatically.

Conspiracy theory, huh? What if I were to tell you the game was fixed? Would you believe that?

No way. The game was hexed. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, please show yourselves.

 

[MJMGator]

I've been supportive of Mac & Co. until now. Yesterday was a game changer. Without delving deep into the details, the play calling went predictably plain vanilla after we went up 21-0, we missed big on assignments on defense, the tackling was shoddy, Callaway went brain dead on a pair of fair catches and, worse still, I sensed quit in some of the players toward the end.

There is never a valid reason for blowing a 21-point lead or squandering 38 straight points. Never.

None of this bodes well for a coaching staff that recruits like Central Florida. These next few weeks heading into the teeth of the schedule are going to lead to renewed hope or a sense that we're biding time til the shoe drops. If I were handicapping either likelihood, I'd probably lean toward the latter. I had hoped for better by this point.

This is about where I'm at, but I'm almost convinced it's a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately, with a new AD we're going to be waiting for several years before a change is made.

 

[CGgater]

This is about where I'm at, but I'm almost convinced it's a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately, with a new AD we're going to be waiting for several years before a change is made.

That's not completely true. I'd say any coach not producing is subject to the "I didn't hire him, so he's not my guy" clause.

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

I like Mac...However he isn't bringing in the top guys on the trail (especially on the offensive line) because we don't have the facilities or the asst coaches to recruit at an elite level. If he's going to be successful that can't be the case. Foley/Machen's decision not to "get into the arms race" early on has put our program into a bad place right now and who knows when the slide will end. We will continue to struggle bringing in the top guys until we fire Summers/Nord/hire some elite recruiters/ upgrade the facilities to be on par with everyone else at the top. According to most in the business we still won't be on par with the top tier of the country even after we do the stand alone facility. In other words...UF put themselves into the position we are now by being cheap bastards!

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I like Mac...However he isn't bringing in the top guys on the trail (especially on the offensive line) because we don't have the facilities or the asst coaches to recruit at an elite level. If he's going to be successful that can't be the case. Foley/Machen's decision not to "get into the arms race" early on has put our program into a bad place right now and who knows when the slide will end. We will continue to struggle bringing in the top guys until we fire Summers/Nord/hire some elite recruiters/ upgrade the facilities to be on par with everyone else at the top. According to most in the business we still won't be on par with the top tier of the country even after we do the stand alone facility. In other words...UF put themselves into the position we are now by being cheap bastards!

Mari, of course, I agree with this completely. However, just wondering, how much is your interpretation or assessment and how much is coming from your reliable friend of the players type source or sources? I've found you to be pretty reliable on that kind of stuff, just wondering what they are saying, if anything.

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

Mari, of course, I agree with this completely. However, just wondering, how much is your interpretation or assessment and how much is coming from your reliable friend of the players type source or sources? I've found you to be pretty reliable on that kind of stuff, just wondering what they are saying, if anything.

At the moment...things are not good Law! We're getting our asses handed to us on every turn and it isn't changing anytime soon. We are so far behind (in so many areas right now) it's unbelievable! We need to win BIG NOW (to gain traction) but we don't have the players on the offensive line to do so. We can't get the top tier guys cause our Athletic Department has failed to it's damn job (the last 8 yrs) by putting the things into place for us to reel them in.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

At the moment...things are not good Law! We're getting our asses handed to us on every turn and it isn't changing anytime soon. We are so far behind (in so many areas right now) it's unbelievable!

That's interesting but how do we fix it?

1) Fire Nord and Summers (because they're not getting it done on the recruiting trail?)
2) Build a better stand alone facility or build something else in addition?
3) Hire elite recruiters. Are we talking about the adding assistants that aren't coaches?

If we are behind in all these areas then I don't see how replacing the head coach changes those things so that talk is just fruitless. Sounds like unless we open the checkbook for assistants and facilities it doesn't matter who the HC is.

 

[t-gator]

That's interesting but how do we fix it?

1) Fire Nord and Summers (because they're not getting it done on the recruiting trail?)
2) Build a better stand alone facility or build something else in addition?
3) Hire elite recruiters. Are we talking about the adding assistants that aren't coaches?

If we are behind in all these areas then I don't see how replacing the head coach changes those things so that talk is just fruitless. Sounds like unless we open the checkbook for assistants and facilities it doesn't matter who the HC is.

You gotta hire a guy the athletic department can get behind.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

You gotta hire a guy the athletic department can get behind.

<sigh> That's not how it works t.

 

[Marianna-FL_Gator]

That's interesting but how do we fix it?

1) Fire Nord and Summers (because they're not getting it done on the recruiting trail?)
2) Build a better stand alone facility or build something else in addition?
3) Hire elite recruiters. Are we talking about the adding assistants that aren't coaches?

If we are behind in all these areas then I don't see how replacing the head coach changes those things so that talk is just fruitless. Sounds like unless we open the checkbook for assistants and facilities it doesn't matter who the HC is.

That's exactly what we have to do! The reason Mac hired Nord/Skip/Dixon & kept Summers was because of the budget constraints by our Athletic Department. Although..Skip/Dixon have been lights out (on the field/on the trail) they weren't exactly top tier hires. For some unexplainable reason we continue to handcuff the HC by not giving him the resources he needs to recruit/win in this age of CFB. It's frustrating as hell to see our half ass approach while other programs continue to upgrade!

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Ten wins and a trip to ATL. He peaked in year one. Kinda sad.

Yeah, sad but probably inevitable as I look at the depth chart and the likely recruiting class.

 

[BNAG8R]

I thought I read that the recent raises made our staff one of the higher paid - did I not hear that right?