So where are the deficiencies in the 2018 football team?

[78]

Eight wins is plausible, but 10? Football is the kind of game where a handful of plays can separate two wins from as many defeats.

I'll be plenty surprised if we win 10, though. The roster isn't just depleted, it's depleted at key positions.

 

[oxrageous]

We suck, but so does everyone on the schedule outside of UGA. Even LSU is projected to have fewer wins than UF.

If we have even half competent QB play we could win 9+ games.

 

[Theologator]

I keep saying 10 wins should be the minimum acceptable performance for the 2018 season given the schedule etc. Lots of other people around here scoff at that saying not with this roster. So my question is QB ASIDE where are the weaknesses on this roster. (QB has been discussed ad infinitum so I want to hear about the rest of the roster.)

My general impression is:

1. UF has really good RBs with and if Davis gets healthy would be among the best around.

2. UF has good WRs with Cleveland and Toney if he can stay healthy proven at UF, Jefferson proven in the SEC and Hammonds and Massey with some experience at UF. Grimes is an unknown who came out with a bunch of stars but did little in his year at Ohio St.

3. UF has an experienced talented OL with McCoy, Ivey, Taylor, Heggie, F.Johnson and Jordan and the potential for more depth from transfers, RFROSH etc.

4. UF has some experienced TEs in Lewis and Stephens.

5. UF has good experienced young CBs in Wilson and Henderson. UF has Gardner-Johnson and J. Taylor for the S spots. Some other young guys played so UF has some depth.

6. UF has good LB where UF returns Reese, Joseph and Moon plus some backup guys with experience. LB depth hurt last year, but should be better this year.

7. At is solid at DL where UF returns Jefferson at one DE and has Clark, Slaton, Dunlap and Zuniga for the other two positions.

Sure these defensive players are playing a "different" defense, but that is alignment and defense is as much read and react. Sure like everyone else in the country UF could use more depth particularly quality depth. And of course UF must establish a new punter and place kicker this fall.

Still what is wrong with this roster. I know many times during the Spurrier years, UF had a roster that looked much like this or had clear holes and I fully expected UF to wiin 10+ games and UF always did.

So again I DO NOT want to hear about the position that is NOT to be mentioned on this thread. Other than that position what do you feel are the weaknesses of this roster that makes my analysis, that if UF hired the right coach he should win 10 games this year, wrong?

Diving in having looked only at your post. I appreciate your outlook and respect your opinion.

I have more concern than you voiced re:

1. OL - It May we’ll be that experience, S&C and refreshed coaching add up to a much improved unit. I need to see it. The format of the O&B game muddied the waters a bit, and spring is always hopeful. I hope it comes together but new scheme and missed checks/calls could add up to more struggles. Physically they should be fine but mentally and cohesion are big questions for me.

2. TE - Again, I need to see it. I expect more playmaking from the younger guys. Lewis & Stephens appear to be stiffs.

3. LB - There is potential in this group and they will benefit from solid play in front and behind them. But there have been too many missed gaps and tackles to trust their past.

Otherwise I do feel very good about RB, WR, DL, CB & pretty good about S.

I also expect special teams to be much better overall on coverage and returns, though the specialists won’t be as good.

Intangibles: There’s a spring (pun intended) in their step.

But I also don’t know how my questions for UF compare to questions in play for LSU, UGA, etc.

If they can get through the first 5 games 4-1 or 5-0 then 10 wins is possible. Otherwise we’re looking at 8 plus the Taxslayer Bowl or whatever. Then again, if Butters could win 10...

 

[leogator]

My 2c on the deficiencies: QB, OL, LB. We're good everywhere else. I think the emphasis on S&C and fundamentals will bear fruit. I expect we will lean on our running game. We might just surprise some people.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

Diving in having looked only at your post. I appreciate your outlook and respect your opinion.

1. I have more concern than you voiced re:

2. But I also don’t know how my questions for UF compare to questions in play for LSU, UGA, etc.

I added the numbers to your post to key my response to them.

1. I have more concerns than I voiced. Since the UAA took much of the fun out of UF football, I don't follow the roster like I once did. Still when I looked at it today, I realized that one can make an optimistic case. And really the reason for this thread is that people keep saying UF's roster is lacking with no specifics. I wanted to try to get this more fleshed out here.

2. I think the most important thing for big fans like people who come to message boards is this information imbalance. When we are pessimistic in off seasons, we focus in on where our team is thin or inexperienced and do not know the same level of detail about opponents. When we are optimistic in off seasons, we focus on who we have and do not know the same level of detail about opponents. It leads to fans being either too pessimistic or too optimistic.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

We suck, but so does everyone on the schedule outside of UGA. Even LSU is projected to have fewer wins than UF.

If we have even half competent QB play we could win 9+ games.

Yeah, schedule is a lot of my view.

BTW, I bet LSU's number goes up with the QB transfer.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Our roster sucks. It’s gotten progressively worse the last 8 years. How fckin hard is that to understand? Your idiotic statement of “if we don’t win 10 games then we hired the wrong guy” is just that...idiotic.

I fear that we hired the wrong guy, but I agree with you that failing to win 10 lgames won't prove that. There is, however, no reason to be obnoxious or abusive about it. Instigator opened an interesting thread and politely gave his opinion. Show him same courtesy.

 

[MADGator]

So this anecdote ties into your question to a marginal degree, but I think it's pretty funny; was it Dick Vitale who used to make up teams, like the All Windex Team, and the All Getting Off The Bus Team? Well in the All Getting Off The Bus category, I'm leaving the softball game yesterday with my folks, we hear some guy behind us asking someone if he plays on the football team, I look behind me and see Tez and Fred, and Fred is directly behind my dad. My dad stops, turns around, and is looking squarely at Fred's sternum. He kind of flinches and slowly he lifts his head to a crazy angle until he's looking into Fred's eyes, and says, "Whoa!" I almost pissed myself I was laughing so hard. Damn those are some large men. All Getting Off The Bus Team.

My dad asks them if Savage is as much of a badass as you hear and they said with conviction, Yes, he is! Said they were supposed to start work outs with him today and they were not looking forward to it. Hopefully this will help the guys hang in there late in the games. Maybe this will help them, and the rest of the team, become a little more productive?

 

[LagoonGator68]

So Reese is not an SEC talent? The same with Joseph and Moon?

I do agree with you about the depth issue, but that is often true in college football.

Reese runs a 7.0 forty....

 

[Theologator]

I added the numbers to your post to key my response to them.

1. I have more concerns than I voiced. Since the UAA took much of the fun out of UF football, I don't follow the roster like I once did. Still when I looked at it today, I realized that one can make an optimistic case. And really the reason for this thread is that people keep saying UF's roster is lacking with no specifics. I wanted to try to get this more fleshed out here.

2. I think the number the most important thing for big fans like people who come to message boards is this information imbalance. When we are pessimistic in off seasons, we focus in on where our team is thin or inexperienced and do not know the same level of detail about opponents. When we are optimistic in off seasons, we focus on who we have and do not know the same level of detail about opponents. It leads to fans being either too pessimistic or too optimistic.

One piece I left out. Depth. Even last year, had Toney and Davis stayed healthy, things would not have been as horrible. Had the safeties stayed healthy, things would not have been so horrible. Those injuries piled on top of suspensions. So you’re missing Scarlett and Callaway as well. Lack of depth puts key players more at risk because they have to play more snaps and are targets because no one else draws attention.

I see good depth at WR (if the x-fers qualify) & RB. Not sure where else.

Misfortune happens everywhere but I think it becomes more of an issue for coaches like Muschamp & Mac because the depth in key places is so poor. Never worried about it in Spurrier or Meyer’s best years.

 

[leogator]

Reese runs a 7.0 forty....

Probably faster than Brandon Spikes.

 

[rogdochar]

Well, if the coach-crew is decent at developing players, if the S & C program advances guys, then what shows up on the field will be better than the past worth of each and all. Remember, these players were de-developed by the McZen influence thru & thru.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I think the most important thing for big fans like people who come to message boards is this information imbalance. When we are pessimistic in off seasons, we focus in on where our team is thin or inexperienced and do not know the same level of detail about opponents. When we are optimistic in off seasons, we focus on who we have and do not know the same level of detail about opponents..

Just wondering. What did you predict last year?

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Probably faster than Brandon Spikes.

lol. Reed is probably a 5.0. He couldnt stay within three steps of Brandon Spikes. Im not sure he can keep up w Fred Johnson.

 

[leogator]

lol. Reed is probably a 5.0. He couldnt stay within three steps of Brandon Spikes. Im not sure he can keep up w Fred Johnson.

That's what Brandon Spikes ran at the NFL combine. Either 5.0 or 5.1.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

That's what Brandon Spikes ran at the NFL combine. Either 5.0 or 5.1.

He was drunk and his dick was still swollen and bruised.

He lasted for years in the NFL. There's no such thing as a 5.0 linebacker in the NFL.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

Just wondering. What did you predict last year?

I can not say I remember making a prediction, but I always try to be optimistic. I certainly was hoping that UF would finally develop an offense.

Again I am not making a prediction this year, I am saying what the roster and schedule indicate. I am sure I probably said something similar last year. I do remember saying over and over having an offense better than 100+ was more important than wins and losses in McElwain's 3rd season.

 

[leogator]

He was drunk and his dick was still swollen and bruised.

He lasted for years in the NFL. There's no such thing as a 5.0 linebacker in the NFL.

Excuses, excuses. The Patriots used to substitute him on passing downs since he was too slow to cover tight ends.

 

[LagoonGator68]

Excuses, excuses. The Patriots used to substitute him on passing downs since he was too slow to cover tight ends.

And then they got rid of him.

 

[InstiGATOR1]

O line

Experience is irrelevant. They simply aren't very good as a unit.

If they are not good as a unit, that would be on coaching. If they are not individually good, that would be on talent. So your criticism of the OL does not seem to be a roster deficiency to me.