- Jun 5, 2014
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By CaribGator
In Week 6, our Gators travel to Knoxville to play Tennessee in a game that will determine the mettle of this team and which direction they will go for the rest of year. Why Tennessee? Here are the reasons:
The first 3 games are two cupcakes and Kentucky (okay 3 cupcakes). The defense might shut out all three teams; Kentucky might be the only team that reaches double digits in points. The offense will still be learning the playbook and working on timing. We will see what players step up, giving Roper a chance to design plays for the skill set of individuals and certain groups. They should show marked improvement from game to game.
In Week 4 Florida heads to Alabama. How well the offense progressed in the first 3 games will determine how close this game will be. From the first few open practices it appears that the offensive line will have its hands full with SEC defenses (although facing our defensive line weekly should only improve them). Hopefully going through fall training and 3 cupcake games leading up to this one will help Coach Summers erase 2 years of lack of development and have them ready for the meat of the schedule.
I think our Gators have the ability to pull an upset in this game. However, Vegas and most of the world doesn't give them much of a chance; the odds are certainly stacked against them. So let's play with the scenarios. If the Gators lose (for any reason: our offensive line wasn't able to give time to the QB to make plays, turnovers, kicking game failed us), the most important aspect of this game is that they were competitive - a blowout would be bad news. If the Gators win, it doesn't matter if was a fluke play, a close game, a pick six in our favor – a win and this team will be sky high.
Week 5 is an open week, and then we arrive at the game that will decide which direction this Gator team goes for the remainder of the season:
Tennessee.
At one time, this used to be the game that decided the East. It had more than SEC implications, a national audience used to enjoy watching these two powers square off. The Gators are coming off their worst season in decades, and the Volunteers have fallen on hard times and seem to be in the 10th year of a rebuilding program. For the Vols there is no bigger rival than the Gators. While they have more history with Alabama, since being put in the same division as Florida no other team has crushed their dreams like the Gators have. We’re all familiar with the recent history of the rivalry so let's jump forward to 2014.
Scenarios:
A Florida squad coming off a win at Alabama could be overconfident. Tennessee has been known to pull an upset - they defeated South Carolina last year. The Volunteers will be as fired up as they can be for their biggest rival, a full house, emotions running high. A loss to Tennessee would be a big setback, as it is a game the Gators are expected to win and it would significantly hurt their chances of winning the East. They can't afford a letdown, they must win this game.
Florida coming off a loss at Alabama has a bye week to lick their wounds, hopefully spending that extra time learning from their mistakes. Regardless, Tennessee will smell blood, have a full house, and have a golden opportunity to hit their rival while they are down. A second consecutive Gator loss could send them reeling.
With three teams looming that beat the Gators last year (LSU, Missouri, and Georgia), it will be essential that Florida beat Tennessee to right the ship and move forward with confidence again.
In Week 6, our Gators travel to Knoxville to play Tennessee in a game that will determine the mettle of this team and which direction they will go for the rest of year. Why Tennessee? Here are the reasons:
The first 3 games are two cupcakes and Kentucky (okay 3 cupcakes). The defense might shut out all three teams; Kentucky might be the only team that reaches double digits in points. The offense will still be learning the playbook and working on timing. We will see what players step up, giving Roper a chance to design plays for the skill set of individuals and certain groups. They should show marked improvement from game to game.
In Week 4 Florida heads to Alabama. How well the offense progressed in the first 3 games will determine how close this game will be. From the first few open practices it appears that the offensive line will have its hands full with SEC defenses (although facing our defensive line weekly should only improve them). Hopefully going through fall training and 3 cupcake games leading up to this one will help Coach Summers erase 2 years of lack of development and have them ready for the meat of the schedule.
I think our Gators have the ability to pull an upset in this game. However, Vegas and most of the world doesn't give them much of a chance; the odds are certainly stacked against them. So let's play with the scenarios. If the Gators lose (for any reason: our offensive line wasn't able to give time to the QB to make plays, turnovers, kicking game failed us), the most important aspect of this game is that they were competitive - a blowout would be bad news. If the Gators win, it doesn't matter if was a fluke play, a close game, a pick six in our favor – a win and this team will be sky high.
Week 5 is an open week, and then we arrive at the game that will decide which direction this Gator team goes for the remainder of the season:
Tennessee.
At one time, this used to be the game that decided the East. It had more than SEC implications, a national audience used to enjoy watching these two powers square off. The Gators are coming off their worst season in decades, and the Volunteers have fallen on hard times and seem to be in the 10th year of a rebuilding program. For the Vols there is no bigger rival than the Gators. While they have more history with Alabama, since being put in the same division as Florida no other team has crushed their dreams like the Gators have. We’re all familiar with the recent history of the rivalry so let's jump forward to 2014.
Scenarios:
A Florida squad coming off a win at Alabama could be overconfident. Tennessee has been known to pull an upset - they defeated South Carolina last year. The Volunteers will be as fired up as they can be for their biggest rival, a full house, emotions running high. A loss to Tennessee would be a big setback, as it is a game the Gators are expected to win and it would significantly hurt their chances of winning the East. They can't afford a letdown, they must win this game.
Florida coming off a loss at Alabama has a bye week to lick their wounds, hopefully spending that extra time learning from their mistakes. Regardless, Tennessee will smell blood, have a full house, and have a golden opportunity to hit their rival while they are down. A second consecutive Gator loss could send them reeling.
With three teams looming that beat the Gators last year (LSU, Missouri, and Georgia), it will be essential that Florida beat Tennessee to right the ship and move forward with confidence again.
