Do the results on offense for our first game really matter?

[jmskjrgator]

Remember when the HBC was hired. All he did was talk about all of the good players everywhere. I was thinking don't talk like that before the season starts. We now know he was seeing great talent everywhere. This year Coach Mac has been doing the same thing. I think he is seeing it and we are about to enjoy seeing it on Saturdays.

 

[BMF]

Yes, it matters. Imagine where our offense would be ranked if the stats against the cream puffs didn't count (and I'm sure everyone thought 3-9 FAU was going to be a cream puff too).

 

[TN G8tr]

Sure it matters. But what it means in my mind is to play and execute well, no mistakes, and no injuries. Half a hundred would be nice but do it in a good workman like performance and for the love of god no stupid penalties.

 

[ATXGator]

As has been stated the only way we learn anything is if our offense is bad. If we do what we are supposed to do then it really doesn't tell us anything.

If our offense comes out and blows the doors off Kentucky then I will start to feel very confident about our season.

 

[78]

Yep. Crapping the bed vs a cupcake is a sign of impending doom. Blowing out a cupcake doesn't mean squat.

That certainly covers the range of possibility.

 

[GatorRaz]

I am more interested in the result of the KY game. Even though they are bottom tier they will be more of a true test for the remaining SEC games. If we struggle against a Stoops D then we may be in for some nail biters. However, if we score 40 we can breathe just a little easier. KY has been a lot closer the past 2 years than I would have liked!
Go Gators

 

[TheDouglas78]

We really won't know anything until Kentucky..... UMass is basically a preseason game.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

I think more than blowing out Kentucky I'm interested in seeing if our offense can move the sticks throughout the entire game. The last 2 years seemed that right when we should have been taking complete control of the game we would hit a period of several 3 and outs or pick up maybe one or 2 1st downs then stall. It was the same against UT, Vandy and Mizzou. Actually our offense has looked that way even against lesser teams over the last few years. We won't have an elite defense this year or next imo so it is critical that our offense takes up some of the slack. In a nutshell we've got to consistently move the sticks.
I think having a functional kicker will also build some confidence as the coaches can go underneath or checkdown to a RB or even a delayed handoff on 3rd and long when we're on the opponents side of the field instead of calling a slow developing long pass play which mostly resulted in sacks over the last couple of years...

 

[Slevin]

It's been often where we hear terrible teams show up to our stadium more confident then they have ever been in their putrid history's to beat a team of our stature. That **** has to stop. I really think we need to pound our first three opponents and get that level of aura back.

Overall, getting first downs and consistently moving the ball like a lot of you have said is up there for me too. We haven't had an even flow to a game for years it seems.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

you should start a poll on this...

 

[NavetG8r]

The days of hiking the ball over the quarterbacks head on opening day when we play Diddly Squat U. are over. Thank God.

I had almost forgotten the days of Bouncy Poucy. Thanks for reminding me...
:wobble:

 

[playzwtrux]

to give you a one word answer....

No, it doesn't really matter. Unless, of course, we crap the bed and can't move the ball. The Minutemen (can't we just call them the av's for short) should not even be in the game midway thru the 1st. if they stick around and we have to win it in the 4th, there are some serious issues and we should start looking for new coaches now, before Presbyterian beats us later this year.

 

[Homer J]

Sure it matters. But what it means in my mind is to play and execute well, no mistakes, and no injuries. Half a hundred would be nice but do it in a good workman like performance and for the love of god no stupid penalties.

This!

I look at each play / pass and think, would the pass be intercepted by UGA or LSU? You can play garbage teams and overmatch them but what I want to see is, do our WRs get open and where is the ball placed. Are the RBs hitting the hole and seeing the field. Is the line protecting and opening holes.

Our D should not allow a TD in the first 3 games. We have a 3 game warmup to get all of the inexperienced players ready for Knoxville. We should be ready!

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Our D should not allow a TD in the first 3 games.

:smh:. You guys are all buying into this "Great Defense" BS...

The depth chart includes freshmen and a converted safety/qb at LB and walkons at DT/NT.

We will have many, many problems on defense this year and more to come the next.

It's no harder to predict than last year's OL sucking.

 

[Gator Fever]

:smh:. You guys are all buying into this "Great Defense" BS...

The depth chart includes freshmen and a converted safety/qb at LB and walkons at DT/NT.

We will have many, many problems on defense this year and more to come the next.

It's no harder to predict than last year's OL sucking.

In your opinion it will be a lot worse than last season? Most people seem to think it will still be top 10 level this year. I agree 2017 could have some big issues.

 

[T REX]

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/2016-most-returning-starters-by-sec-team/

Interesting read. There are some great articles that correlate returning starters to wins and losses. There are always exceptions but there is a direct relationship.

 

[Concrete Helmet]

In your opinion it will be a lot worse than last season? Most people seem to think it will still be top 10 level this year. I agree 2017 could have some big issues.

I'm not gonna say we'll be average on defense but it wouldn't shock me. We lost a 3 year All SEC starter at CB, a 3 year starter at safety, a 4 year starter at LB and a badass of a Defensive lineman, one of the best 5 in CFB last year imo, in Bullard....and then there's the Collins factor.....

 

[Slevin]

:smh:. You guys are all buying into this "Great Defense" BS...

The depth chart includes freshmen and a converted safety/qb at LB and walkons at DT/NT.

We will have many, many problems on defense this year and more to come the next.

It's no harder to predict than last year's OL sucking.

Eh. I think the line will be very good, line backer depth is fine to me, safeties and dbs are good. Scoreless is a huge exaggeration but keeping opposing offenses in check like normal seems like it should be an easy goal to accomplish

 

[Gatorbait_007]

We averaged 13 PPG the last 6 games of the season. Barely squeaking out wins against Vandy and Fau. I think it can help build the confidence of Del Rio. But we wont show our whole offense against UMass our starters may not play the whole game either. Kentucky is more of a look of how we will play but we wont really know until Tennessee. I put a little into it but not a lot.

 

[LagoonGator68]

Mac is not a hold it back kinda guy....