7 Reasons to be positive about UF football in 2017

[InstiGATOR1]

I tend to be an optimist so this post is a reaction to the some of the negativity posts. So here are seven reasons to be positive about next season:

1. UF returns an excellent punter. Townsend led the country in punting average last season:

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/player-stat/punting-yards-per-punt

2. UF returns an excellent place kicker. Pineiro made all his extra points, 84% of his FG attempts, all 3 of his field goal attempt of 50+ yards. He also regularly forces a touchback on kickoffs.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4034949/eddy-pineiro

3. While UF only returns 3 defensive starters according to ESPN, UF returns 14 defensive players who have started at least one game:

http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/H...e-drop-Maybe-not-as-far-as-you-think-50384210

4. UF's 2017 schedule has a favorable schedule with 7 home games, 2 neutral site games and the road games are at UK, at UMo and at SoCar.

http://floridagators.com/schedule.aspx?path=football

5. UF's returns 9 starters on offense. Sure that is from a very poor offense, but the OL made some progress this year and perhaps can make even more progress next season. UF also returns two at least solid experienced RBs, a very good WR in his "contract" season with a good WR corp and some solid TEs.

http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/H...e-drop-Maybe-not-as-far-as-you-think-50384210

6. In the past the and experienced OL with an inexperienced even RFR QB has worked well for UF including Bell in 1984, Wuerffel in 1993 and Grossman:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kerwin-bell-2.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/danny-wuerffel-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-grossman-1.html

7. Even if none of these can create optimism for you, if the offense does not improve or if the season really turns bad as some expect, 2017 will put UF one year closer to a new head coach.

http://www.coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRanking.htm

 

[aka]

Something for everybody. I like it.

 

[T REX]

Nick Saban isn't the safest coach in CFB? LOL. ANd Mac has the 30th safest job? AT least that is higher ranked than his offense.

Funny stuff.

 

[MertzJay26]

 

[chferg]

I'm not sure if this is intended sarcasm....

For the love of god I hope so because if our most positive signs heading into 2017 are a punter and a kicker; god help us all.

 

[NVGator]

Jesus Christ, #1 is a punter returning and #2 is the field goal kicker returning? Damn, we have fallen far.

 

[NVGator]

I'm not sure if this is intended sarcasm....

For the love of god I hope so because if our most positive signs heading into 2017 are a punter and a kicker; god help us all.

We wrote the same thing at the same time.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

I'm not sure if this is intended sarcasm....

For the love of god I hope so because if our most positive signs heading into 2017 are a punter and a kicker; god help us all.

They were not listed in rank order.

 

[Gator Fever]

No true road games against a likely good team is big but can we take full advantage of that.

 

[Jbossgator8]

No, we don't want to feel good about anything. We need to be 3-9 the next couple of years and go for whatever HOT coach there is out there if there even is one

 

[MertzJay26]

No, we don't want to feel good about anything. We need to be 3-9 the next couple of years and go for whatever HOT coach there is out there if there even is one

 

[GatorStud]

 

[MJMGator]

I only count 6 reasons.

 

[jdh5484]

They were not listed in rank order.

Thanks for OP.

I tend to be an optimist so this post is a reaction to the some of the negativity posts. So here are seven reasons to be positive about next season:

1. UF returns an excellent punter. Townsend led the country in punting average last season:

https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/player-stat/punting-yards-per-punt

2. UF returns an excellent place kicker. Pineiro made all his extra points, 84% of his FG attempts, all 3 of his field goal attempt of 50+ yards. He also regularly forces a touchback on kickoffs.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4034949/eddy-pineiro

3. While UF only returns 3 defensive starters according to ESPN, UF returns 14 defensive players who have started at least one game:

http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/H...e-drop-Maybe-not-as-far-as-you-think-50384210

4. UF's 2017 schedule has a favorable schedule with 7 home games, 2 neutral site games and the road games are at UK, at UMo and at SoCar.

http://floridagators.com/schedule.aspx?path=football

5. UF's returns 9 starters on offense. Sure that is from a very poor offense, but the OL made some progress this year and perhaps can make even more progress next season. UF also returns two at least solid experienced RBs, a very good WR in his "contract" season with a good WR corp and some solid TEs.

http://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/H...e-drop-Maybe-not-as-far-as-you-think-50384210

6. In the past the and experienced OL with an inexperienced even RFR QB has worked well for UF including Bell in 1984, Wuerffel in 1993 and Grossman:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kerwin-bell-2.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/danny-wuerffel-1.html

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rex-grossman-1.html

7. Even if none of these can create optimism for you, if the offense does not improve or if the season really turns bad as some expect, 2017 will put UF one year closer to a new head coach.

http://www.coacheshotseat.com/CoachesHotSeatRanking.htm

Great positive post. Most negative nellies won't make it down to #7 before rioting though. LOL.

 

[jdh5484]

 

[TN G8tr]

I will give you that those are some positive things. I especially like the schedule and the way it sets up. What alot of this does is simple. Yes, these things set up well for Mac. The question is, will he make it happen? That's the missing piece in all of this scenario. We know the ability and the things are in place. We should be seeing a better product. He really has a 3 step process to make it happen:

Replace some of those Suck Azz coaches
Recruit your butt off
Relentlessly coach hard and quit being passive offensively

If I see this happen, I'll totally be behind it. I want more than anything for them to succeed but I am at the point they've got to earn it and so far....it's just seemed like it's a ho-hum type golly shucks attitude. For all the gee whiz bashing on Mac, he absolutely is smart enough to know what is going on and how to fix it. Like I've said before, can he and does he have the ability to do so. We're watching

 

[jdh5484]

I will give you that those are some positive things. I especially like the schedule and the way it sets up. What alot of this does is simple. Yes, these things set up well for Mac. The question is, will he make it happen? That's the missing piece in all of this scenario. We know the ability and the things are in place. We should be seeing a better product. He really has a 3 step process to make it happen:

Replace some of those Suck Azz coaches
Recruit your butt off
Relentlessly coach hard and quit being passive offensively

If I see this happen, I'll totally be behind it. I want more than anything for them to succeed but I am at the point they've got to earn it and so far....it's just seemed like it's a ho-hum type golly shucks attitude. For all the gee whiz bashing on Mac, he absolutely is smart enough to know what is going on and how to fix it. Like I've said before, can he and does he have the ability to do so. We're watching

I can't argue with any of your points. It's a little baffling that we aren't in better shape on the recruiting front. McChewin and his staff need to close very strong. The need for Quality depth is going to play a major role next year. Ground hog day will tell the tale for me.

 

[Lake Gator]

Thanx to OP for post. For those who scoff at highlighting the punter/kicker as reasons to be positive...just remember the good ol' days when extra points were a risky adventure. Lousy punter/kicker can cost several wins on even a well-stocked team otherwise.

 

[jdh5484]

Thanx to OP for post. For those who scoff at highlighting the punter/kicker as reasons to be positive...just remember the good ol' days when extra points were a risky adventure. Lousy punter/kicker can cost several wins on even a well-stocked team otherwise.

So you're saying Special Teams are important?

 

[Gator98MD]

we will either be improved or we wont. I am expecting honestly another middling year with a record of 8-5.