I'm going to apologize for a few things before getting started: First to L-boy, as some of this could probably fit in your post-game thread; second to the GC members nice enough to read for a somewhat negative title ( but dammit there were a lot of negatives today!); and third to the women and children and any other hyper-sensitive Gator "fans" for any profanity, offensive non-PC opinions, and my version of football truth.
Now that I've got that out of the way I'll start by saying we probably had no business winning that game based on the way we played for all but the chronological duration of the final TD drive, and I'm including in the sh!tty play on the final defensive series. The defense made a few big plays, but were atrocious for the greater part of the game, primarily because they likely missed twice or three times as many tackles as they actually made! Gator Mac (and others) addressed this in L-boy's thread, so others have noticed. We've seen this prior to this afternoon, but today was the pinnacle. I said last week that if we play like this against LSU, Fournette will clinch the Heisman against us. I'm going to add that he'll also probably severely injure several of our defenders. Collins will get the blame for this unit and how they played, and rightfully so, but part goes to the players themselves. This grabbing BS, half-@ss pursuit angles, false steps by LBs/Safeties, playing high as a camel c0ck, and generally waiting for somebody else to make a play much of the time is not Gator defense and I can only hope and pray that this is straightened out, and soon. But who am I kidding? The way the rules have been adjusted, this type of horse manure happens more now than it ever did and will likely continue. What has my beloved defensive football become?
Offensively, it starts with Grier, who went from sugar to sh!t and back to sugar (thank goodness). He's going to have to be more consistent, more patient, and be able to slow the passing game down enough so that he can accurately read pre-snap what the coverages (and blitzes) will be and quickly process where the ball must go. On the positive side, our final drive might be one we remember for a long time and two plays showed us where he is and where I think he is heading. The TD toss to Powell was both timely and a great throw, especially considering that he released the ball close enough to his out cut that the defender couldn't make a play on it and only a few plays before we ran essentially the same play and held the ball until Powell was well into his cut and the defender was able to make an easy break up. Kudos are deserved for Calloway (our Go-To guy?), McGee, Powell, and Taylor. None, however, for Nussmeier. A lot of predictable and pedestrian calls, but perhaps that belies the cumulative inexperience of our offensive personnel and the heretofore unwillingness of some of the skills to step up? Also, the 4th down efficiency was phenomenal!
Mac might not have had his best day, either. Easy to second-guess some of his decisions, though he followed the cook book on the final FG attempt and it is easy armchair that one at 00:00. Might should have challenged the "fumble" by the UT back on the bench route that was ruled an incompletion. Truthfully, this might be an indicator of just what a huge job he has putting this team back together and growing them into a championship caliber team.
Alright, I've vented and as I reflect I'm not unhappy by any means that we won. As bad as it looked for most of the game, it was a win we needed (if not HOW we needed it to happen). Myself and the rest of us should, I suppose, remember that this team was predicted by many to only win seven games by the pundits and amateurs alike. Well, we haven't won seven yet, but we're over half way there and snatched victory from the jaws of a heated rival, thereby extending our streak over them to eleven and sending Butch Jones (who incidentally reminds me of McCauly Culkin's older brother in Home Alone) back to the drawing board (and the liquor store) yet again. I'll be looking for improvement in all phases the next time we tee it up. That would be a great indicator of how the team is actually maturing and the job the staff is doing. Go Gators!
"Don't call it a Comeback
I've been here for years
I'm rockin' my peers
Puttin' suckers in fear
Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon
Listen to the bass go Boom
Explosions, overpowerin'
Over the competition I'm towerin'..."
LL Cool J, arguably describing where we were and where we are trying to get back to!
Yeah.....I know that. No clue why I said soph. Was still working on cup full of coffee number 2 this when I typed that out.
