UF Fall Camp: camp over...Game 1 up next

[Swamp Donkey]

The buzz around Black reminds me a lot of the buzz Reggie Nelson had. JUCO and a bit of a mystique.

Let’s see if he can produce.

Except Reggie wasnt playing out of position. I think Black skipped his senior season in high school to concentrate on grades, skipped his first season in junior college to concentrate on grades then played a very abbreviated season last year due to covid. it's hard to say much because other than a couple of camps we don't even have senior football footage of him and juco talent is generally garbage.

I suspect Black would be a really good strong safety if we had a system that played a strong safety. he probably would also be a pretty good nickel/safety hybrid, but we require man coverage with no help up top so essentially that position is just the third cornerback.

So he's forced to try to play linebacker at safety weight. I suspect he'll probably only be a special teams guy.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

He hasn't aged well. That's what happens when you wear a leghumper hat.

of course he's wearing a leg humper hat. he's a leg humper.

and his number one assistant is a leghumper too.

so of course our defense looks like a leg humper defense.

 

[NavetG8r]

The buzz around Black reminds me a lot of the buzz Reggie Nelson had. JUCO and a bit of a mystique.

Let’s see if he can produce.

That's funny because I get the same vibe about this kid.

 

[lizardbreath]

That's funny because I get the same vibe about this kid.

I suspect that, despite your Icon tag, you might not be all that stupid.

 

[lizardbreath]

I"m proud to be a pumper. I'd much rather find something to be positive about than be pi$$ and moan all day. Life's better that way.

But I can tell, I'm apathetic regarding this season. And it is partly because of 2 of the 3 games that you mention. Mullen didn't have the team ready for LSU or the bowl game. There is no excuse for a coach not taking LSU seriously.

I understand completely. The failure to seize the initiative after spanking the dwags, by not taking care of the task at hand one game at a time, was a phukk-up of the first order of magnitude. DM's refusal to replace Toad Gruntly, immediately after the season was over just served as the final turd in the punch bowl that was 2020. Moon Mullen got a lot of splainin' to do. But the question is: Is anyone outside of the diehard few really listening? Stay tuned.

 

[Homer J]

Except Reggie wasnt playing out of position. I think Black skipped his senior season in high school to concentrate on grades, skipped his first season in junior college to concentrate on grades then played a very abbreviated season last year due to covid. it's hard to say much because other than a couple of camps we don't even have senior football footage of him and juco talent is generally garbage.

I suspect Black would be a really good strong safety if we had a system that played a strong safety. he probably would also be a pretty good nickel/safety hybrid, but we require man coverage with no help up top so essentially that position is just the third cornerback.

So he's forced to try to play linebacker at safety weight. I suspect he'll probably only be a special teams guy.

He played his first year at JUCO, I don’t know why he missed his SR year in high school. JUCO didn’t play last year.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

That's funny because I get the same vibe about this kid.

Reggie Nelson was starting day one. if you remember he played cornerback first, then got moved to safety when Jackson lost a game by himself.

 

[Homer J]

Reggie Nelson was starting day one. if you remember he played cornerback first, then got moved to safety when Jackson lost a game by himself.

Negative!

He was not a starter. He didn't start until midway through the first year. Kyle Jackson beat him out.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Negative!

He was not a starter. He didn't start until midway through the first year. Kyle Jackson beat him out.

No, he was at Corner and got moved back to safety bc Kyles play, and someone else started at corner in his place.

VERY few DBs can pull that off.

by the way Kyle Jackson must have been one hell of a practice player. pretty sure he was a five-star player also just like Reggie.

 

[soflagator]

No, he was at Corner and got moved back to safety bc Kyles play, and someone else started at corner in his place.

VERY few DBs can pull that off.

by the way Kyle Jackson must have been one hell of a practice player. pretty sure he was a five-star player also just like Reggie.

I thought Vernell and Webb had those spots nailed down going in, but I could be wrong.

KJ was a 5* and played surprisingly well as a Freshman. He was the type of guy that peaked and didn’t improve. I’m not sure he ever really had a true position either. He seemed like kind of a tweener, imo, where almost seemed like he should’ve been bulked up and played a SS or even OLB role. He definitely wasn’t a FS. That much is clear, which is why he was so easily overtaken twice by first year guys(RFN and Major).

Also, I’ve mentioned before but he’s a really incredible guy. Met him twice and hung out with him before uga in 2019. He’s exactly what you want representing UF and is very successful. Off the field.

 

[The Lateral Move]

Johnson aims to provide stability to the STAR position | GatorCountry.com

Two things:

1. I had no idea Brad Stewart just left and opted out of his last year of eligibility. Was that reported?

2. "The STAR position is perhaps the most important spot in Todd Grantham’s defense. It is a hybrid cornerback, safety and linebacker position that requires a player capable of covering, tackling and blitzing with near equal proficiency. Grantham likes to make offenses worry about what the STAR is going to do on a given play."

Just lol. And now we think 3* Tre'Vez is gonna be THAT guy?!

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Johnson aims to provide stability to the STAR position | GatorCountry.com

2. "The STAR position is perhaps the most important spot in Todd Grantham’s defense. It is a hybrid cornerback, safety and linebacker position that requires a player capable of covering, tackling and blitzing with near equal proficiency. Grantham likes to make offenses worry about what the STAR is going to do on a given play."

Just lol. And now we think 3* Tre'Vez is gonna be THAT guy?!

Think anyone is afraid of our "star"?

Star under Fat Dwag is just a third corner.

 

[jdh5484]

Think anyone is afraid of our "star"?

Star under Fat Dwag is just a third corner.

Note: The definition didn't say a single player had to be capable of doing each of those roles efficiently...All players on his D are "STAR" players. Sometimes they play LB ... but that's when they are supposed to be in cover, sometimes they play corner, but that's when they fall back 20 minutes out of the play, sometimes they play safety but that's when they lineup over the center (especially on 3rd and 248). And, if they luck up and HAPPEN to be in the right place at the right time (blind squirrel) none of them can tackle.

"requires a player capable of covering, tackling and blitzing with near equal proficiency."

Key words are "near equal proficiency". As long as they are bad, terrible, bad.. they meet those specifications and are "STAR". Everybody gets a gold star!!!!

C'mon man ... you never heard of "marketing"?

 

[soflagator]

Johnson aims to provide stability to the STAR position | GatorCountry.com

Two things:

1. I had no idea Brad Stewart just left and opted out of his last year of eligibility. Was that reported?

2. "The STAR position is perhaps the most important spot in Todd Grantham’s defense. It is a hybrid cornerback, safety and linebacker position that requires a player capable of covering, tackling and blitzing with near equal proficiency. Grantham likes to make offenses worry about what the STAR is going to do on a given play."

Just lol. And now we think 3* Tre'Vez is gonna be THAT guy?!

I’m not going to knock Johnson, and he may end up playing way above his rating. My bigger takeaway from that article is the complete reliance on having one guy that’s just a freak of nature at all times. And considering he’ll need to be spelled and injuries will inevitably hit, each years teams need 3-4 of these. In 4 years we’ve really struggled to find one that was really that perfect fit. The question I have is why do we intentionally box ourselves in? Grantham wants defenses to be afraid of one specific guy. How about tapping into our state’s talent and having 11 really solid-to-great players at all positions running more of a traditional defense with great fundamentals.

It’s why I’ve always thought he’s a Louisville/MsSt type DC, and doesn’t belong at place like UF or uga. We don’t need to rely on one position, nor do we need to be “exotic” with blitzing every down because we have(should have) enough talent to just lineup and beat every team we find ourselves across from. This aforementioned schools don’t have that luxury and need to roll the dice. We don’t.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

we don't have this type of player, and frankly this type of player doesn't really exist.

if you're good in the box playing as a linebacker you're not capable of running man to man coverage on a wide receiver, period.

This is one of the many reasons that were terrible versus the run. Do you think any opposing guards or running backs are concerned about seeing a cornerback in the box? for that matter do you think any of them are afraid of our actual linebackers? of course not.

 

[lizardbreath]

I’m not going to knock Johnson, and he may end up playing way above his rating. My bigger takeaway from that article is the complete reliance on having one guy that’s just a freak of nature at all times. And considering he’ll need to be spelled and injuries will inevitably hit, each years teams need 3-4 of these. In 4 years we’ve really struggled to find one that was really that perfect fit. The question I have is why do we intentionally box ourselves in? Grantham wants defenses to be afraid of one specific guy. How about tapping into our state’s talent and having 11 really solid-to-great players at all positions running more of a traditional defense with great fundamentals.

It’s why I’ve always thought he’s a Louisville/MsSt type DC, and doesn’t belong at place like UF or uga. We don’t need to rely on one position, nor do we need to be “exotic” with blitzing every down because we have(should have) enough talent to just lineup and beat every team we find ourselves across from. This aforementioned schools don’t have that luxury and need to roll the dice. We don’t.

Precisely, well said. DM basically chose him over the best interests of the program, players, and many throughout Gator Nation. May they ride off together into the sunset ASAP.

 

[Thick&ThinG8r]

It really screwed us that Chauncey played so well in his one year at star. Grantham now thinks anyone can do it. Black not gaining weight will hold him back this year.
I hear he's listed a LB but is cross training at star. If true it makes no sense.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

It really screwed us that Chauncey played so well in his one year at star. Grantham now thinks anyone can do it. Black not gaining weight will hold him back this year.
I hear he's listed a LB but is cross training at star. If true it makes no sense.

he didn't really played that well. no one feared him in the box like a linebacker should be feared. he certainly more of what we needed though, more safety and less cornerback. we've never really had a linebacker type out there at Star or even a heavier safety.

Black would make a great star in any competent defensive system. so would Burney.

as I think about the changes coming in the conference as we moved from Stone age offense back to modern football with teams passing the ball around, in a way the conference is coming to us on defense. as they get lighter and more pass oriented hopefully our run defense will not be such a detriment. that being said of course I past defense has been putrid also.

.

 

[Thick&ThinG8r]

he didn't really played that well. no one feared him in the box like a linebacker should be feared. he certainly more of what we needed though, more safety and less cornerback. we've never really had a linebacker type out there at Star.

Black would make a great star in any competent defensive system. so would Burney.

If you watched or attended any games you would see he played better than good. Now, was the fact he was such a piss poor tackler the year before make it seem his play was better than it actually was, possibly but , the level we've seen since isn't in the same ballpark.