- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,315
- 6,299
I've written a lot recently and I'm sorry, what would've been a weekly deal got shoved into a few weeks so I've put a lot on here every few days. There have been some fun conversations though. I try not to blast the podcast here, but if you haven't definitely check out my interview with Utah super fan UteFanIvan on Youtube as it is interesting to hear his impressions of the Swamp and Gator fans. It is also cool to hear about some of the Utes' gameday and tradition. I do want to start having some conversations like that with Gator fans. Trying to find the things we all have in common whether it was watching games with friends or parents or while a student or maybe you didn't attend UF at all. Those fun little things that make college football special.
I definitely want to say hi to all Chatter members making the journey to SLC. Always nice to meet other Gators like I've met a number before and I hope to meet guys like Slev in SLC.
Football season is back. The Gators play in 2 days and I can't wait.
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Last year the Gators beat the Utes 29-26 in Gainesville, FL. The Gators won with a good running game and probably the most complete game by Anthony Richardson who put up 274 total yards including a 45-yard scramble for a TD after evading pressure and a bigtime 4th down conversion after evading pressure. Florida’s defense did a decent job bending, but not breaking with two goalline stands in the game, including the game sealing INT by Amari Burney. There was also a stop on a poorly executed 2-point conversion attempt by the Utes.
Last year I was confident we could beat the Utes due to their massive turnover from 2021 and a bunch of new starters having their first game together in the hostile atmosphere of the Swamp. This year, it is the Gators who have bunch of new starters having their first game together in a hostile atmosphere in Rice-Eccles Stadium. I know the Gators have faced bigger and crazier stadiums in the past. However, there are plenty of players on this year’s squad, including some starters who have not experienced that. Utah has not lost at home since 2018. I do think the roughly 50k Utah fans will be wild for this game (I’m accounting for at least 5,000 UF fans). At the very best for UF, this is a good experience to have before going to Lexington and Columbia.
Florida’s offense will continue to be a run first affair. I chronicled the position groups I think will be better or worse previously. Mertz could be solid with two main things; one being that we see a quick passing game that we didn’t see in any game last year or in the spring game and two the OL gives him time. The first one ties into the second one by punishing the blitz and keeps some defenders further from the line of scrimmage and doing so will open up space for the running game.
There are still question marks about who will start at center on the OL. This is an offensive line who have not all practiced together too much as it seems that since the Spring there was always at least one guy injured. A good counterpoint to that is it does give plenty of young guys valuable reps in practice with the first team. However, it will be interesting to see how this OL does working together and communicating in their first game together in a hostile environment.
If Florida can get the running game going, it would go a long way towards a victory. If they cannot, it could end up being a long night in Salt Lake City. Utah returns a ton of defensive production and has a former starting LB from Stanford starting alongside two Ute LB’s that have almost 40 starts between them. Utah does their DL from left to right while UF will switch it around. I say that to say that a good match up to watch will be how Barber handles the very experienced Fillinger as our best OL takes on their best DL.
The best offensive match up that UF has against Utah’s defense is at the slot position where Tao Johnson is starting for the Utes according to the depth chart released last week. He played four games for the Utes last year at wide receiver. Whether it is Jackson, Pearsall, Wilson, or Mizell, there is a decent chance that speed can take advantage of a redshirt freshman in his first defensive performance. Especially, if we see some quick routes to our quick guys.
Obviously, the biggest question coming into the game is the status of Cam Rising, followed by the status of Brant Kuithe. If they do not play, the Gators have a lot better chance in SLC. Either way, just like the Gators, I expect to see the Utes try to establish the run first with Ja'Quinden Jackson and Micah Bernard. Jackson started the 2022 season as a back up QB but made the move to RB and over the final 5 games of the season averaged at least 6.2 yards per carry each game. Bernard had some limited success last year against the Gators, but most of the damage on the ground was done by Rising and Tayvion Thomas, who is no longer with the Utes.
No, I don't think if Rising plays he will be 100%, but I don't think this will be him like some Gators make it sound.
If the young Gators DL and LB corps can slow the Utah running game, it will be a major step for the Gators towards victory. Although the Utes have some solid wide receivers, I do not believe they have any spectacular receivers. If the Gators play press man, which we’ve heard they will, that creates tighter windows and demands more time for the QB to find an open guy. More time means it is more likely that the Gators pass rushers get home. If the Gators can slow the run, then the Gators can be more aggressive in the pass rush with guys like Marshall, Kimber, Hill, Moore, and Perkins at the CB/Star positions, I think it will give the Gators pass rushers ample time to get some sacks.
The best defensive match up the Gators have is against the left tackle, Spencer Fano. Fano is a true freshman who is being asked to go up against the likes of Princely, Sapp, and Pyburn. That is a tough draw for a young guy. I noted earlier the Utes seem to be static with their DL (according to their depth chart) in keeping most guys left or right. Florida adjusts its DL (including the Jack/OLB) based on opponent’s formation. That alone could help the Gators in what I believe is this mismatch because facing different guys as the front rotates and adjusts gives him less time to figure out the style of any one player to better counter it.
I believe the Utes are a tough team and a tough draw for a Gators team replacing so much production. Granted, some is an upgrade in replacement. I think it being an away night game in a hostile environment on a Thursday night doesn’t help. However, I think a more aggressive defensive style could be the difference in the game for the Gators. I expect this to be a game for four quarters like last year. I think the Gators can pull this out.
Gators 21 Utes 20.
I definitely want to say hi to all Chatter members making the journey to SLC. Always nice to meet other Gators like I've met a number before and I hope to meet guys like Slev in SLC.
Football season is back. The Gators play in 2 days and I can't wait.
*********************************************************************************************************
Last year the Gators beat the Utes 29-26 in Gainesville, FL. The Gators won with a good running game and probably the most complete game by Anthony Richardson who put up 274 total yards including a 45-yard scramble for a TD after evading pressure and a bigtime 4th down conversion after evading pressure. Florida’s defense did a decent job bending, but not breaking with two goalline stands in the game, including the game sealing INT by Amari Burney. There was also a stop on a poorly executed 2-point conversion attempt by the Utes.
Last year I was confident we could beat the Utes due to their massive turnover from 2021 and a bunch of new starters having their first game together in the hostile atmosphere of the Swamp. This year, it is the Gators who have bunch of new starters having their first game together in a hostile atmosphere in Rice-Eccles Stadium. I know the Gators have faced bigger and crazier stadiums in the past. However, there are plenty of players on this year’s squad, including some starters who have not experienced that. Utah has not lost at home since 2018. I do think the roughly 50k Utah fans will be wild for this game (I’m accounting for at least 5,000 UF fans). At the very best for UF, this is a good experience to have before going to Lexington and Columbia.
Florida’s offense will continue to be a run first affair. I chronicled the position groups I think will be better or worse previously. Mertz could be solid with two main things; one being that we see a quick passing game that we didn’t see in any game last year or in the spring game and two the OL gives him time. The first one ties into the second one by punishing the blitz and keeps some defenders further from the line of scrimmage and doing so will open up space for the running game.
There are still question marks about who will start at center on the OL. This is an offensive line who have not all practiced together too much as it seems that since the Spring there was always at least one guy injured. A good counterpoint to that is it does give plenty of young guys valuable reps in practice with the first team. However, it will be interesting to see how this OL does working together and communicating in their first game together in a hostile environment.
If Florida can get the running game going, it would go a long way towards a victory. If they cannot, it could end up being a long night in Salt Lake City. Utah returns a ton of defensive production and has a former starting LB from Stanford starting alongside two Ute LB’s that have almost 40 starts between them. Utah does their DL from left to right while UF will switch it around. I say that to say that a good match up to watch will be how Barber handles the very experienced Fillinger as our best OL takes on their best DL.
The best offensive match up that UF has against Utah’s defense is at the slot position where Tao Johnson is starting for the Utes according to the depth chart released last week. He played four games for the Utes last year at wide receiver. Whether it is Jackson, Pearsall, Wilson, or Mizell, there is a decent chance that speed can take advantage of a redshirt freshman in his first defensive performance. Especially, if we see some quick routes to our quick guys.
Obviously, the biggest question coming into the game is the status of Cam Rising, followed by the status of Brant Kuithe. If they do not play, the Gators have a lot better chance in SLC. Either way, just like the Gators, I expect to see the Utes try to establish the run first with Ja'Quinden Jackson and Micah Bernard. Jackson started the 2022 season as a back up QB but made the move to RB and over the final 5 games of the season averaged at least 6.2 yards per carry each game. Bernard had some limited success last year against the Gators, but most of the damage on the ground was done by Rising and Tayvion Thomas, who is no longer with the Utes.
No, I don't think if Rising plays he will be 100%, but I don't think this will be him like some Gators make it sound.
If the young Gators DL and LB corps can slow the Utah running game, it will be a major step for the Gators towards victory. Although the Utes have some solid wide receivers, I do not believe they have any spectacular receivers. If the Gators play press man, which we’ve heard they will, that creates tighter windows and demands more time for the QB to find an open guy. More time means it is more likely that the Gators pass rushers get home. If the Gators can slow the run, then the Gators can be more aggressive in the pass rush with guys like Marshall, Kimber, Hill, Moore, and Perkins at the CB/Star positions, I think it will give the Gators pass rushers ample time to get some sacks.
The best defensive match up the Gators have is against the left tackle, Spencer Fano. Fano is a true freshman who is being asked to go up against the likes of Princely, Sapp, and Pyburn. That is a tough draw for a young guy. I noted earlier the Utes seem to be static with their DL (according to their depth chart) in keeping most guys left or right. Florida adjusts its DL (including the Jack/OLB) based on opponent’s formation. That alone could help the Gators in what I believe is this mismatch because facing different guys as the front rotates and adjusts gives him less time to figure out the style of any one player to better counter it.
I believe the Utes are a tough team and a tough draw for a Gators team replacing so much production. Granted, some is an upgrade in replacement. I think it being an away night game in a hostile environment on a Thursday night doesn’t help. However, I think a more aggressive defensive style could be the difference in the game for the Gators. I expect this to be a game for four quarters like last year. I think the Gators can pull this out.
Gators 21 Utes 20.
