Maybe I'm reaching for hope among the coaching staff, but I was wondering why Perine and Thompson virtually disappeared for the second half. Thompson made a good kick out block on Toney's TD, but neither had fumbled, or played noticeably poorly up to that point. Yes, they weren't game changers, but I didn't see reason for them to become invisible. Unless....unless, in the effort to ensure Davis got a few touches they found him to be producing better, and the coaches 'went with the hot hand' in this case? I don't know, and like I said, maybe I'm reaching for some sign of intelligence among the staff...some sense of adjustment in choosing to go with Davis for the second half.
The kid is good, especially as a true freshman. So I don't have an issue with it compared to the run game Perine and Thompson put out to that point. Just help me here - are the coaches dumb lucking into Davis all the time? Was there an injury to Perine and/or Thompson, or significant issues with them that I missed which would cause them to be sidelined? Maybe Coach Sider is the one managing the RBs and who plays more and he's actively managing the 'hot hand'?
Confusing, I agree. Not like the committee approach we've seen. I ve no problem as long as the kid totes it like he did. I will say Thompson has had some good carries and has made some blocks on run plays, which is better than previous. Good decision based on the results.
Second game in a row where he comes away with about six touches and all the talking heads are saying it should be sixteen. Again, I'm looking for a hint of in-game management and asking why he also disappeared for the second half. It just doesn't make sense, unless KY started keying on him, which is possible but I really doubt it.
I believe he needs to touch it more. Get the ball in your playmaker's hands. Create mismatches with your play designs based on your scouting reports. I still don't know where he was late in the game. If he wasn't injured, I'd think he would have been involved.
Always. Kid has ALWAYS given all he has, done anything asked of him. May not have NFL talent, but has an ALL GATOR heart. I'm happy to have him on the team to set that example for the younger guys.
One of my favorites. Agreed, he is a positive role model for the youngsters.
I put Franks in the same basket with Perine/Thompson - adequate, but not stellar. Not the game changer. Like everyone else, I cringed when LDR went out there, and promptly threw the INT. However, my takeaways on the QB situation is that Franks is still developing, but his mindset remains solid. It isn't getting to him, that I can see, when he's replaced. He's still out there cheering everyone on and talking them up when they are within earshot. I like the kid, a lot. LDR...I'm still not sold on, but he did throw a decent deep ball for Cleveland in double coverage...it could have been better thrown, and perhaps NOT to double coverage, but he showed the noodle arm can create a deeper threat when needed, so I like that.
I get what you're saying. If we go with LDR as the starter or if we do the rotating thing, whichever, I hope that it works and that we can win. Biggest thing I want to see is us to get better all around in consistency of execution, technique, and fundamentals from a standpoint of the players. From the coaches, I'd love to see us find a better offensive identity, become more fundamentally sound (I know, I'm repeating myself) if we insist on being so vanilla on defense, and on special teams...there's no way to go but up, is there? ;)
Going forward, I think the staff are still wanting to lean on Franks to develop him as THE GUY. I believe LDR remains QB2 for the season while Malik just wasted a transfer. Next game against Vandy, and games that follow, I don't know if the staff start FF and relieve him with LDR when the change up is needed, or if they start LDR and get FF his playing experience in Q3 and Q4. I don't know what they'll do (who does with these guys?).
Whatever they decide, I hope it works. Just don't want to see Franks' development slowed or stopped, for him especially (and the team as well), but also for the possible implications on recruiting.
I'll come back to the same question that is nagging me throughout this post - is our staff showing signs of intelligence or not? We were 2nd or 3rd and long several times and I called the run play.....and then it wasn't called. We broke predictability a bit, but were rewarded with poor execution like the kids weren't sure we meant to NOT call another run. I'm fuzzy on this one - never been a coach, nor played organized football. But from an idiot's perspective it seemed we tried to break pattern a bit, which I'll take as a positive....but we still aren't executing well. Like you say, poor design, or are the kids not able to run the play effectively? I don't know, but would appreciate insight from those more knowing on this type of stuff.
Maybe breaking previous convention is a good sign? Inconsistent/poor execution, as you mention, will destroy even the best of plans. I just can't for the life of me understand how we can remain so inconsistent three games in, despite winning the last two. Repeating myself again, but my senses tell me that unless this improves more dramatically, we'll wreck soon and it might not have to be against one of the better teams on the schedule, few as they might be. We have some talented players, several of whom can be grossly unsound at any time. Don't know whether the staff is scared of the depth or what, but again, the corrections don't seem to come real fast. One thing that absolutely must be corrected is the poor tackling. Never seen so many misses at this level of football and this is not what is expected from a Gator defense for those of us who've watched this side of the ball for a long time.
BTW seeing the flaws, discussing them and sharing opinions, and wanting them to be corrected along with expecting the coaches to up their game as well isn't wanting us to lose anymore than believing that our current play, which has resulted in a blowout and two come from behind victories, all against arguably marginal teams isn't sustainable as is.
