Captain's Cogitations - Colorado State

Captain Sasquatch

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Look at that, we got back on track (sort of). Nice win yesterday, albeit a much different type of win. We haven’t seen special teams drive a big win like that in years, maybe even since Urban left. The punt block/return team wins MVP of the game for me. It’s amazing what a little attention to detail and effort from the coaching staff can do to a special teams unit. In three years of Mac, with a few exceptions, we could barely get a yard on a punt return and never dreamed of blocking one. This year, it’s the strongest unit on the team, already with two blocked punts (not including the punter fumbling yesterday) and a return for a TD after three games.

Defensively, I thought it was a very solid performance and a nice bounce back after their dreadful showing against Kentucky. There were still some open field tackling issues, but nothing like last week. They also had a few times when receivers got free a bit, but when you’re playing an offense like CSU’s, that’s going to happen by design. The best sign to me was the increased intensity and effort from the defensive line. Jabari Zuniga played like a man possessed with 2.5 sacks, the defense had 5 sacks overall, and we were harassing that QB to death the whole game. Part of me wonders if the reason we got such good pressure is because we knew we could pin our ears back and go after him since he wasn’t a threat to run like UK’s QB was. It’ll be interesting to see how we handle the next dual threat QB, but the pass rush yesterday was a pleasant surprise. CJ Henderson also continues to be our best overall player on defense.

Offensively, it was obviously not a great performance overall, but it was tough to really get a gauge on what they were doing because they shockingly only ran 44 plays the whole game. After scoring on a blocked punt, punt return, and several long plays, there just weren’t any sustained drives. I think Mullen is falling into the same trap Mac fell into last year by trying to play every running back equal time. At some point, you just gotta pick a horse and go with it. Scarlett still looks hesitant to hit holes when they appear, but his TD run was beautiful (with a great block by the WR on the play, can’t remember who it was). Perine remains a solid force who rarely ever loses yards, he’s always falling forward. Davis doesn’t seem 100% healthy to me, but they should honestly just use him as a pass catcher for now. Pierce is the wildcard. To steal the term once used to describe Adam Lane, he’s a bowling ball of steak knives. He’s relentless. Granted, all of his carries have come in garbage time against bad teams, but I like what I’ve seen from him so far and hope he’s patient. His time will come and I have a good feeling it’ll be glorious when it does.

Franks once again showed small flashes of brilliance mixed in with some head scratchers. The pick he threw was a touchdown had he thrown it a half second sooner and not underthrown it. But then he threw some absolute missiles on seam routes that were on the money, including the TD to Swain. His last TD to Jefferson was a pretty ball, albeit slightly underthrown. His decision making still needs to improve, and my hope is that with more time in Mullen’s system, these reads will become second nature to him so he stops thinking with the ball in his hand so damn much. We also need to stop running him so much. I get that he has the ability to pick up some yards, so occasionally letting him run a draw in a passing situation or running one of those power sweeps around the end will do the job, but he doesn’t need to be getting the amount of carries he’s getting.

All in all, it was a good team win yesterday. Each unit had their own great moments that contributed to the overall effort, which is what you like to see moving into the teeth of the schedule. I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect out of Tennessee this year, but one thing’s for certain, and that’s that we have the talent and coaching advantage in this game. I’m hoping to see our pass rush get to Guantanamo Bay (or whatever his name is) early and often. Make him uncomfortable from the get go.

It’s Tennessee week! Let’s do this!

:chomp:
 

Marine1

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Look at that, we got back on track (sort of). Nice win yesterday, albeit a much different type of win. We haven’t seen special teams drive a big win like that in years, maybe even since Urban left. The punt block/return team wins MVP of the game for me. It’s amazing what a little attention to detail and effort from the coaching staff can do to a special teams unit. In three years of Mac, with a few exceptions, we could barely get a yard on a punt return and never dreamed of blocking one. This year, it’s the strongest unit on the team, already with two blocked punts (not including the punter fumbling yesterday) and a return for a TD after three games.

Defensively, I thought it was a very solid performance and a nice bounce back after their dreadful showing against Kentucky. There were still some open field tackling issues, but nothing like last week. They also had a few times when receivers got free a bit, but when you’re playing an offense like CSU’s, that’s going to happen by design. The best sign to me was the increased intensity and effort from the defensive line. Jabari Zuniga played like a man possessed with 2.5 sacks, the defense had 5 sacks overall, and we were harassing that QB to death the whole game. Part of me wonders if the reason we got such good pressure is because we knew we could pin our ears back and go after him since he wasn’t a threat to run like UK’s QB was. It’ll be interesting to see how we handle the next dual threat QB, but the pass rush yesterday was a pleasant surprise. CJ Henderson also continues to be our best overall player on defense.

Offensively, it was obviously not a great performance overall, but it was tough to really get a gauge on what they were doing because they shockingly only ran 44 plays the whole game. After scoring on a blocked punt, punt return, and several long plays, there just weren’t any sustained drives. I think Mullen is falling into the same trap Mac fell into last year by trying to play every running back equal time. At some point, you just gotta pick a horse and go with it. Scarlett still looks hesitant to hit holes when they appear, but his TD run was beautiful (with a great block by the WR on the play, can’t remember who it was). Perine remains a solid force who rarely ever loses yards, he’s always falling forward. Davis doesn’t seem 100% healthy to me, but they should honestly just use him as a pass catcher for now. Pierce is the wildcard. To steal the term once used to describe Adam Lane, he’s a bowling ball of steak knives. He’s relentless. Granted, all of his carries have come in garbage time against bad teams, but I like what I’ve seen from him so far and hope he’s patient. His time will come and I have a good feeling it’ll be glorious when it does.

Franks once again showed small flashes of brilliance mixed in with some head scratchers. The pick he threw was a touchdown had he thrown it a half second sooner and not underthrown it. But then he threw some absolute missiles on seam routes that were on the money, including the TD to Swain. His last TD to Jefferson was a pretty ball, albeit slightly underthrown. His decision making still needs to improve, and my hope is that with more time in Mullen’s system, these reads will become second nature to him so he stops thinking with the ball in his hand so damn much. We also need to stop running him so much. I get that he has the ability to pick up some yards, so occasionally letting him run a draw in a passing situation or running one of those power sweeps around the end will do the job, but he doesn’t need to be getting the amount of carries he’s getting.

All in all, it was a good team win yesterday. Each unit had their own great moments that contributed to the overall effort, which is what you like to see moving into the teeth of the schedule. I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect out of Tennessee this year, but one thing’s for certain, and that’s that we have the talent and coaching advantage in this game. I’m hoping to see our pass rush get to Guantanamo Bay (or whatever his name is) early and often. Make him uncomfortable from the get go.

It’s Tennessee week! Let’s do this!

:chomp:
Good take. Fair analysis without personally attacking a single Gator.
 

BNAG8R

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Pretty much the exact same game I saw from section 7. Good write-up.
 

GatorInKnox

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Would also like to point out that after 3 games, Franks has already matched his TD total from last year. He’s got a long ways to go but at least there has been progress.
 

SCColaGator

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Would also like to point out that after 3 games, Franks has already matched his TD total from last year. He’s got a long ways to go but at least there has been progress.
I hate to say this but Franks has been significantly improved from last year. You can see the thing holding him back is his own self doubt. Someone needs to put him in turlington plaza and tell him to ask out every single girl that passes by. Needs to learn how to cope with failure and have the confidence to move forward unfazed.
 
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TN G8tr

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Nothing to argue with on that Sas. You and Cover should pick up the mic and start an online game calling for GCMB. Franks seems better but Mullen to have done what he has so far has been good, maybe great will come later in the year. But Franks has already surpassed many stats from last year. I think Mullen has had his hands full fixing Franks. All else pretty spot on and fair analysis. It's what I saw. But Pierce needs the rock more. I think this guy can ball. And with the OL we have. He's the back it needs.
 

gator1946

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Some good some bad. The play that stood out most to me was the blocked punt. Not the block itself, but the fact that two guys were able to get to the ball and control it before the went out of bounds. How many times are you going to see that?
 

gatorev12

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This reminded me of the Hawaii game from 08: where special teams got us an early, dominant lead and it was fairly vanilla the rest of the way.

The strength of this team is definitely the RBs and WRs and I thought there was decent balance in spreading the ball around. Still think that Toney should be given more touches, but perhaps they're saving him for the meat of the schedule and not giving too much film on him.
 

leogator

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There were only 44 plays total on offense. Hard to give everybody touches. I am happy that we did not throw it 38 times like we did against Kentucky and we let our backs shoulder most of the load. I want to see Pierce with the 1s against a legitimate defense. I do think that him and Perine should split the carries. Davis was been injured again so maybe hold him out as long as we can to let him heal. Let Scarlett be the third back in. I do agree that Franks needs to run less.

I wish we had gone to a bowl game, any bowl game last year because it would have given us extra practices. This team could have used them.
 
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Gator98MD

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Good write up, couldn’t agree more about designed qb runs. They need to be few and far between
 

Gator by the Sea

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Only disappointing aspect of this game was the crowd. While the west stands were packed, the east stands and both end zones were less than half full. I know it was hot, but the student section was pathetic. Otherwise, it was another fun day in the Swamp. And thanks to everyone for a great GCMB tailgate beforehand.

Go Gators!
 

GatorJ

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The whole season will be up and down. That’s just a fact. We’re going to lose several games. Probably most of them close. It will probably be blown out once. Will probably win a game we’re not expecting to win.

My favorite part of the game was watching the players get ecstatic and hug each other and going absolutely crazy after a big play or TD.
 

Gator by the Sea

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The whole season will be up and down. That’s just a fact. We’re going to lose several games. Probably most of them close. It will probably be blown out once. Will probably win a game we’re not expecting to win.

My favorite part of the game was watching the players get ecstatic and hug each other and going absolutely crazy after a big play or TD.

Yes, besides Idaho (which we will surely win) and Georgia (which we most likely lose), I suspect all of our remaining games will be like the Kentucky game: low scoring and close. We’ll win some and we’ll lose some.
 

Billgator

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Some good some bad. The play that stood out most to me was the blocked punt. Not the block itself, but the fact that two guys were able to get to the ball and control it before the went out of bounds. How many times are you going to see that?

If they hadn't gained control and the ball rolled out of the end zone, would it have been ruled a safety?
 
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Swamp Donkey

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Yes, besides Idaho (which we will surely win) and Georgia (which we most likely lose), I suspect all of our remaining games will be like the Kentucky game: low scoring and close. We’ll win some and we’ll lose some.
Mizzu will score
 

Gator Fever

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The whole season will be up and down. That’s just a fact. We’re going to lose several games. Probably most of them close. It will probably be blown out once. Will probably win a game we’re not expecting to win.

Hard to say. The only two I think will blow us out for sure at this point would probably be MSU since its a road game and Georgia probably.
 

Swamp Donkey

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. We also need to stop running him so much.
Well, it is the Mullinz offense. He is going to call read option, QB powers, QB sweeps and he instructs his QBs to make certain audibles when the numbers in the box get low.

It just is what it is.
 

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