Mullen on Defensive Woes: We have simply been facing "great" offenses

[YLGator]

Here's some interesting data points

We're giving up 30 more yards on D than we're gaining on O. The only other time this has happened since 2004 (that's as far back as I could find stats) is 2017 where the gap was 14 yards. Don't think its a coincidence that we fired our coach that year.

We're giving up 495 yards of offense. Occasionally, people will try to compare this D with 2007. There are so many reasons why that's a ridiculous comparison, with the primary reason being that the 2007 D was loaded with young talent that just lacked experience. Even so, the 2007 D gave up only 348 yards a game.

The only teams giving up more yards per game than us this year are
Texas Tech
UCF
North Texas
Ole Miss
Memphis

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Frabkly, I like Dorky Dan feeling like he has to score every time. He takes whole quarters off otherwise.

 

[soflagator]

Here's some interesting data points

We're giving up 30 more yards on D than we're gaining on O. The only other time this has happened since 2004 (that's as far back as I could find stats) is 2017 where the gap was 14 yards. Don't think its a coincidence that we fired our coach that year.

We're giving up 495 yards of offense. Occasionally, people will try to compare this D with 2007. There are so many reasons why that's a ridiculous comparison, with the primary reason being that the 2007 D was loaded with young talent that just lacked experience. Even so, the 2007 D gave up only 348 yards a game.

The only teams giving up more yards per game than us this year are
Texas Tech
UCF
North Texas
Ole Miss
Memphis

For all the heat that ‘07 team gets, they only really played poorly against Heisman candidate Woodson, eventual #2 uga and a healthy Michigan team. They didn’t lose us the game against Aub. They didn’t lose the game against Lsu. And they had some stout moments when we needed them.

Totally agree with your point, and have stated the same reasons for why this is different and devoid of any “next year and beyond” feelings. But I also wanted to make that point. This a different level, and reason, of bad and nothing close to that group.

 

[MissouriGator]

I don't think anyone is comparing this defense with 2007; we had some young talent and there was hope for the future.
Now we are completely depleted on the line of scrimmage, and we are playing underweight ends at tackle and safeties at LB; it's no wonder our dbs are so confused.
Imagine trying to recruit when you have no answer for where or what position someone is going to play?
What a mess, and it starts at the top.
I'm starting to think that Mullen's obsession with smurfs and speed has affected Fat Todd.
What DC in his right mind would not recruit true defensive tackles?
We are getting OWNED by opposing offensive linemen, and making RBs look like Heisman contenders.
QBs and their OCs are chomping at the bit.
****ing sad.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

What a mess, and it starts at the top.
I'm starting to think that Mullen's obsession with smurfs and speed has affected Fat Todd.
What DC in his right mind would not recruit true defensive tackles?

Im not so sure. Cowbell had pretty good size on both lines. He even had some beef at RB.
I think he did learn from the Demps/ Raimey/ Thompson show.

I guess like everyone else in the last decade they arrived expecting to immediately be gifted "Florida recruiting" again. They expect for kids to want to go to Bammer or UF.

We TRIED to land DTs, they just all went to Bammer, Ugly, LSU, Miami, Clowntown, and Ohio State.

It does stop at the top though. I dont know how you dont have plan Z's ready. At some point you have to fill the roster.

We dont have talent that is going to be elite next year, ala 2007. We have some three star DTs who will be ok in 3 years, maybe good in 5. And we better be grabbing three more this year too, just to make up for what we didmt do in 2018 and 2019. A DT can play SDE pretty well, if all of them develop, which is extremely unlikely.

Mullinz dug himself a huge hole and frankly I dont believe it is possible to get out.

 

[MissouriGator]

Im not so sure. Cowbell had pretty good size on both lines. He even had some beef at RB.
I think he did learn from the Demps/ Raimey/ Thompson show.

I guess like everyone else in the last decade they arrived expecting to immediately be gifted "Florida recruiting" again. They expect for kids to want to go to Bammer or UF.

We TRIED to land DTs, they just all went to Bammer, Ugly, LSU, Miami, Clowntown, and Ohio State.

It does stop at the top though. I dont know how you dont have plan Z's ready. At some point you have to fill the roster.

We dont have talent that is going to be elite next year, ala 2007. We have some three star DTs who will be ok in 3 years, maybe good in 5. And we better be grabbing three more this year too, just to make up for what we didmt do in 2018 and 2019. A DT can play SDE pretty well, if all of them develop, which is extremely unlikely.

Mullinz dug himself a huge hole and frankly I dont believe it is possible to get out.

No, it's too late.
We ALL knew that Mullen desperately needed to recruit. We all knew that he needed that 2nd class. He didn't get it done.
Now it's about putting the pieces in place, and hoping for some sustainability.
Unfortunately, the only hope is these guys can work some miracles and, in the mean time, changes are made with the coaching staff that equate to some actual recruiting (and coaching).
But that just looks like another 5 years of being 2nd best in the SEC east, and that is being optimistic.

 

[soflagator]

No, it's too late.
We ALL knew that Mullen desperately needed to recruit. We all knew that he needed that 2nd class. He didn't get it done.
Now it's about putting the pieces in place, and hoping for some sustainability.
Unfortunately, the only hope is these guys can work some miracles and, in the mean time, changes are made with the coaching staff that equate to some actual recruiting (and coaching).
But that just looks like another 5 years of being 2nd best in the SEC east, and that is being optimistic.

Hope that isn’t the case. But there is no five years of looking up at uga. We’ll have cleaned house by then. Even with Foley and his love affair for WM, he made it very clear that the East was the goal in ‘14, and that even despite the win in Jax, the moment we were eliminated, he was done. It took less than 24 hours. That would be the equivalent of a deciding loss to uga next season. It’s not going much further than that, if at all, and Dan knows that. Again, hoping he keeps it from happening.

 

[GatorTruth133]

Hope that isn’t the case. But there is no five years of looking up at uga. We’ll have cleaned house by then. Even with Foley and his love affair for WM, he made it very clear that the East was the goal in ‘14, and that even despite the win in Jax, the moment we were eliminated, he was done. It took less than 24 hours. That would be the equivalent of a deciding loss to uga next season. It’s not going much further than that, if at all, and Dan knows that. Again, hoping he keeps it from happening.

As true as all this is, if Dan keeps winning 10+ a year and NY6 bowls, he could almost never win the east and I believe he will be kept on. Yes, Muschamp had to win the East by Year 4, but he also had the two worst years in modern Gators football history in ‘11 and ‘13 leading to that ultimatum. Dan has taken the offense to places it hasn’t been in a decade (where Mac was hired to fix an offense, but couldn’t get in the top-100). Kyle Trask is putting up 300+ a game, something we have seen since 2001.

Now, I’m not saying whether or not Dan should be forced to win the East by year 4 and yes 5 straight to UGA overall would be cause for alarm (like Mike White’s winless against FSU). However, I recognize the slight differences that a Stricklin would point to in order to avoid this decision. Counter-point though, if Dan pulls a Mac and refuses to fire an underperforming coordinator and it doesn’t get better, that timeline could be pushed WAY up.

 

[soflagator]

As true as all this is, if Dan keeps winning 10+ a year and NY6 bowls, he could almost never win the east and I believe he will be kept on. Yes, Muschamp had to win the East by Year 4, but he also had the two worst years in modern Gators football history in ‘11 and ‘13 leading to that ultimatum. Dan has taken the offense to places it hasn’t been in a decade (where Mac was hired to fix an offense, but couldn’t get in the top-100). Kyle Trask is putting up 300+ a game, something we have seen since 2001.

Now, I’m not saying whether or not Dan should be forced to win the East by year 4 and yes 5 straight to UGA overall would be cause for alarm (like Mike White’s winless against FSU). However, I recognize the slight differences that a Stricklin would point to in order to avoid this decision. Counter-point though, if Dan pulls a Mac and refuses to fire an underperforming coordinator and it doesn’t get better, that timeline could be pushed WAY up.

That won’t happen in today’s SEC, and state of Florida. We already missed our chance to put a foot on the necks of fsu and miami. If we’re not recruiting well enough to beat uga, it’s just a matter of time before we’re not on par talent wise with this two schools. Start dropping the cocktail party and fsu and it’s bye-bye-o. I can’t think of a single coach that has survived that, 9-10 wins or not. Remember, it won’t be Stricklin making that call, or I’m inclined to agree with you. But it will be, in many respects, the fans, specifically boosters who withdraw their support that causes it.

And it’s really an easy fix that could’ve been made years ago. Again, I just hope he gets it before it’s too late. I like Mullen, and I think we’re getting a glimpse of what he can do offensively. But he needs to dump half the staff and leave Grantham at a rest stop somewhere. Like immediately.

 

[MissouriGator]

That won’t happen in today’s SEC, and state of Florida. We already missed our chance to put a foot on the necks of fsu and miami. If we’re not recruiting well enough to beat uga, it’s just a matter of time before we’re not on par talent wise with this two schools. Start dropping the cocktail party and fsu and it’s bye-bye-o. I can’t think of a single coach that has survived that, 9-10 wins or not. Remember, it won’t be Stricklin making that call, or I’m inclined to agree with you. But it will be, in many respects, the fans, specifically boosters who withdraw their support that causes it.

And it’s really an easy fix that could’ve been made years ago. Again, I just hope he gets it before it’s too late. I like Mullen, and I think we’re getting a glimpse of what he can do offensively. But he needs to dump half the staff and leave Grantham at a rest stop somewhere. Like immediately.

I hope you are correct.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

As true as all this is, if Dan keeps winning 10+ a year and NY6 bowls, .

you're wrong.

And ny6 doesn't mean shyt now, the playoffs are the real bowl games. Its like being a Citrus Bowl or Outback Champ. Just a leftover bowl for the 3rd or 4th team.

Nor does 10-4 mean any more than 7-4 used to, just because they've added three more geographic schools through the years.

Dont kid yourself, the noise will be LOUD after this next lost to Ugly and deafening and deadly 12 months from now.

He had better pull something out of his ass.

And your point about Stricklan being happy with mediocrity, though probably true, doesn't mean anything. Fooley managed to keep Chump for a fourth year, solely because he put his own reputation on the line and he died for it. Nothing's changed except that Strickland doesn't have the cash in the bank that Foley did.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

. Start dropping the cocktail party and fsu and it’s bye-bye-o.

He's just ****ing lucky he had Tagelwain.

 

[MissouriGator]

you're wrong.

And ny6 doesn't mean shyt now, the playoffs are the real bowl games. Its like being a Citrus Bowl or Outback Champ. Just a leftover bowl for the 3rd or 4th team.

Nor does 10-4 mean any more than 7-4 used to, just because they've added three more geographic schools through the years.

Dont kid yourself, the noise will be LOUD after this next lost to Ugly and deafening and deadly 12 months from now.

He had better pull something out of his ass.

And your point about Stricklan being happy with mediocrity, though probably true, doesn't mean anything. Fooley managed to keep Chump for a fourth year, solely because he put his own reputation on the line and he died for it. Nothing's changed except that Strickland doesn't have the cash in the bank that Foley did.

I hope so, but it's a different world now.
I guess we'll see.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I hope so, but it's a different world now.
I guess we'll see.

if we have finally accepted being Tennessee or Cowbell, I'll turn it off.

I don't think making two shttty hires makes a third one acceptable.

as we keep circling the toilet though no doubt our income is going to continue circling the toilet.

Thanks Fooley!

 

[BMF]

We TRIED to land DTs, they just all went to Bammer, Ugly, LSU, Miami, Clowntown, and Ohio State.

It does stop at the top though. I dont know how you dont have plan Z's ready. At some point you have to fill the roster.

That's the problem. This underperforming staff had NO back up plan along the DL. We made a bunch of offers to DT's & SDE's in 18 & 19, but they had no plan after they all said "no".

They went after Brandon Dorlus late in 2019, but he chose to go from Deerfield Beach, Florida to Oregon, rather than play for UF. smh Jaquez Sorrells was a UF commit at one point, he de-committed at ended up at TCU. TCU? He's from Orlando! Rashad Cheney, a former Alabama commit, ended up at Minnesota - he's from Georgia (and had a UF offer). We missed on Fuller & Hunter (FSU & A&M) in 19. Meanwhile, Alabama & UGA signed 5+ in each class.

They had no back up plan in 2018. It was their first class, and they did sign SDE Malik Langham - but he was gone within a year.

And we can do this same exercise w/ ILB's. I still don't get why they passed on Hypolite last year.

 

[ThreatMatrix]

Our best hope is that Todd gets fired and takes a few of his assistants with him. And the only possible way I see that happening is by continuing to be the 77th ranked defense. I have no reason to believe that this defense gets better. So cheer up kids. There may be light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[GatorTruth133]

you're wrong.

And ny6 doesn't mean shyt now, the playoffs are the real bowl games. Its like being a Citrus Bowl or Outback Champ. Just a leftover bowl for the 3rd or 4th team.

Nor does 10-4 mean any more than 7-4 used to, just because they've added three more geographic schools through the years.

Dont kid yourself, the noise will be LOUD after this next lost to Ugly and deafening and deadly 12 months from now.

He had better pull something out of his ass.

And your point about Stricklan being happy with mediocrity, though probably true, doesn't mean anything. Fooley managed to keep Chump for a fourth year, solely because he put his own reputation on the line and he died for it. Nothing's changed except that Strickland doesn't have the cash in the bank that Foley did.

I'm not doubting there will be loud noise. However, I do remember how much Mullen was played up as the right hire before he was hired and while we were still in the running for Frost and Kelly. There's a reason why there are so many hindsight articles as well, to insulate Mullen.

Do you really think I believe that NY6 means much? Not really. I'm just pointing out that I really believe he will be allowed to Richt for longer than either of the previous two were and they weren't even doing well enough to call it Richting. The media only had the "wait til next year" line to circle the wagons around Mac and Muschamp and that wears thin quickly when your losing to Georgia Southern at home and only scoring 2 against FSU at home. You and I both know there are plenty of people in Gator Nation (we will call them Swam Pgas) who look for excuses to be happy and will defend coaches at all costs. People who defended Mac up until his firing and even after. People who defended Nuss on nothing more than the "wait til next year" schtick. You really think the media and a lot of those people (and even some who were for Mac's head) won't try to stick with Mullen with the additional ammo for defending him?

You also think that I want it that way? Hell no. Though if Stricklin hasn't pulled the trigger on Mike White at this point, I highly doubt he'd pull it on a guy who to this point has been much more successful in their respective sport. I know, the argument is that we care a lot less about basketball. That argument also cuts the other way in that if we don't care as much, why not just dump him.

Don't confuse with my beliefs that Stricklin would surprise me if he fired Mullen within the next three years for anything short of getting caught cornholing a co-ed against their will with desiring that he stay no matter what happens. Though I'll reiterate, IF he were to keep Grantham in spite of demands from Stricklin like happened with Mac/Nuss, that changes the timeline.

I completely agree he needs to fix the defense and should be gone if he doesn't, but I'm not blind in thinking he's currently out the door within a year if he doesn't based on the support and built in excuses he has.

 

[GatorTruth133]

That won’t happen in today’s SEC, and state of Florida. We already missed our chance to put a foot on the necks of fsu and miami. If we’re not recruiting well enough to beat uga, it’s just a matter of time before we’re not on par talent wise with this two schools. Start dropping the cocktail party and fsu and it’s bye-bye-o. I can’t think of a single coach that has survived that, 9-10 wins or not. Remember, it won’t be Stricklin making that call, or I’m inclined to agree with you. But it will be, in many respects, the fans, specifically boosters who withdraw their support that causes it.

And it’s really an easy fix that could’ve been made years ago. Again, I just hope he gets it before it’s too late. I like Mullen, and I think we’re getting a glimpse of what he can do offensively. But he needs to dump half the staff and leave Grantham at a rest stop somewhere. Like immediately.

I agree. But I also know that some Bullgators (Stumpy Harris) were still singing Mullen's praises in 2014 while in mid-2017 before "death threats" they were telling Tony Barnhart that Mac needed to go. I have heard Tony talk about that in person. It's not a matter necessarily if boosters, but which boosters whether we like it or not.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

He isnt a Richt. Richt won two SECs in his first five years. And Richt recruited well.

As for him not firing Mike White, the vast majority of Gators don't give a shtt about basketball and basketball doesn't pay the bills. I personally don't want him spending football money to hire a new basketball coach until football is fixed.

 

[lagator]

I'm not doubting there will be loud noise. However, I do remember how much Mullen was played up as the right hire before he was hired and while we were still in the running for Frost and Kelly. There's a reason why there are so many hindsight articles as well, to insulate Mullen.

Do you really think I believe that NY6 means much? Not really. I'm just pointing out that I really believe he will be allowed to Richt for longer than either of the previous two were and they weren't even doing well enough to call it Richting. The media only had the "wait til next year" line to circle the wagons around Mac and Muschamp and that wears thin quickly when your losing to Georgia Southern at home and only scoring 2 against FSU at home. You and I both know there are plenty of people in Gator Nation (we will call them Swam Pgas) who look for excuses to be happy and will defend coaches at all costs. People who defended Mac up until his firing and even after. People who defended Nuss on nothing more than the "wait til next year" schtick. You really think the media and a lot of those people (and even some who were for Mac's head) won't try to stick with Mullen with the additional ammo for defending him?

You also think that I want it that way? Hell no. Though if Stricklin hasn't pulled the trigger on Mike White at this point, I highly doubt he'd pull it on a guy who to this point has been much more successful in their respective sport. I know, the argument is that we care a lot less about basketball. That argument also cuts the other way in that if we don't care as much, why not just dump him.

Don't confuse with my beliefs that Stricklin would surprise me if he fired Mullen within the next three years for anything short of getting caught cornholing a co-ed against their will with desiring that he stay no matter what happens. Though I'll reiterate, IF he were to keep Grantham in spite of demands from Stricklin like happened with Mac/Nuss, that changes the timeline.

I completely agree he needs to fix the defense and should be gone if he doesn't, but I'm not blind in thinking he's currently out the door within a year if he doesn't based on the support and built in excuses he has.

Mike White's Elite 8 run in his second year is better than anything Mullinz has done so far. Not arguing that Mike White doesn't suck, just pointing out Dan hasn't done Dick.