Bits & Pieces: Florida vs South Carolina

cover2

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I’m about over my “case of the @ss,” as my granddaddy used to call it. In sports, winning can be a healing salve. Winning and looking pretty good doing it is even better. So I expect us fans, thoroughbreds and jackasses alike, to be finding a better feeling about the recent turn. And a 38-6 thumping of the ‘Cocks is certainly that, comparatively speaking.

Defensively, it’s hard not to notice the flip of the switch that started in the second half a week prior against Texas A&M that continued for four quarters yesterday. Not that I would necessarily consider USCe an offensive juggernaut, but holding them to 237 total yards (44 rushing) and no offensive scores was quite the contrast. Another couple of big stats were holding them to 3/11 on third down conversions and three takeaways. There’s a noticeable difference in the play of the front 6/7. The interior guys are controlling the gaps which is freeing the LBs to scrape and flow. We’re also getting some pressure more consistently from the front with a few blitzes mixed in. As important or maybe more so, the secondary is playing much tighter in coverage as well as run support. Can’t help but think that the light is coming on which allows for less tentative play and fewer instances of paralysis from over-analysis. Kudos to this group from the staff down to the players.

Offensively, our identity is definitely in the ground game. Montrell, ET, and AR rushed for 161, 100, and 96 yds respectively with each scoring a TD. The team total was 374 and a lot of the credit has to go to the OL, anchored by Torrence who is receiving a lot of well-deserved notice, and Sale, who is looking more and more like the best OL coach we’ve had in years as well as a contender for the best in the SEC. Passing, on the other hand, has looked more complimentary as opposed to threatening. While it’s nice to see some youngsters stepping in and doing good things and Pearsall becoming maybe a favored target, the fact remains that AR’s inconsistency is the biggest issue with the throw game. A lot of his misses seem to be behind receivers, leading me to believe he is late with his reads and execution. What’s the cure? More reps, more film, another year in college. If he ever works out the consistency kinks, he’ll be extremely difficult to game plan for, given his rushing ability. I do think his confidence is growing, which is an important part of his development. The sky’s still the limit, but his window at UF grows smaller with each game.

* Punt return was responsible for the ‘Cocks’ lone score and a penalty that set them up with a short field. Certainly work to do there.

* Not nominating him for MVP by any means, but 0 has played more solidly of late. He made a great play running down JuJu McDowell from behind on a sweep. Glad to see the improvement.

* I don’t think the dismissal of one player is the sole reason for our better defensive play, but it’s a known truth that people generally experience an improved demeanor when they have a boil on their @ss removed.

* Am I concerned with the two-minute plan to end the first half? Sure. But in the grand scheme of things, the defense improving is higher on the priority list. I’m not suggesting time management isn’t important, but I am suggesting that there were more issues with this team than might have been realized and while the improvements haven’t been immediate, they are showing up…as expected.

* We’re bowl eligible! Not an end all, but a step along the way to getting back where we expect to be.

Vandy’s looming and they appear to be much better than your Dad’s Vandy. We’ll be tested, but we’re rising as well. It’ll be more of a test than usual I suspect, but with our defense starting to figure things out, we should be in a good position to take the next step in the rebuild.

I’ll close with my sincere wishes that all will feel better and better about the direction of the program. I do, despite a rocky start and any lingering uncertainties. We might not have a highly polished SEC head coach, but the guy knows how to work and I don’t believe will embarrass the University and the fans, at least those of reasonable temperament. Hang in there Gators! I truly believe our better if not best days are ahead. If I’m wrong, I’ll refund your subscriptions :lol:

Go Gators!

:chomp:
 
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Frozen Gator

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Glad you're back C2. As usual spot on and nailed it!
Hard to add anything but the path up the mountain seems less rocky now and we certainly walk better with that large boil off our @ss!

Go Gators!
 

TN G8tr

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Awesome you're back C2
I was glad to see this! :stars:

Knocked it out and spot on. I have been very critical of Dean, but yes you are right. He has been much better so I will give him props for the improved play. Agree with you that Cox may not be the lone catalyst, but think he was the piece that helped "flip the switch".

Want your take on this.....
To me playing with tempo and 2 minute drill are two different processes. I think when we go tempo, we are hard to stop. Seems when AR and offense go into a 2 minute mode, they make mistakes. Surely I would think Napier knows and how to address that. But also know he is a process guy. If he feels this team cannot accomplish running a 2 min. drill, perhaps he's hesitant and relegates being conservative knowing what he has. Just my take on it.

But in all great game. Vandy will be a test, but yes the next step in the rebuild. Can tell there is a difference with this team.
 

RiverRat

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Good to see you back Cover ,we missed you.
It was fun again in the SWAMP, the defense made plays unseen this season, ETN’s long scamper was reminiscent of Emmit.
The Icing on the cake was seeing Watson’s snatch and run , then seeing the team dog pile him , like I said it was Fun again in the SWAMP for the players and the fans.
 

oxrageous

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That Dean play where he exploded into the backfield and relentlessly chased the guy down with a flying tackle was one of my favorites of the day. That's the kind of play on film that makes coaches bust a nut.
 

revgator

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Great write up @cover2 and welcome back. I'm going to say it out loud. Billy Napier is really starting to grow on me. I'm begining to have hope again.

The team looks better, they're having fun, there's excitement, and maybe just maybe... Billy is the guy we think he can be. All anyone ever wanted was progress and these last two games have been a huge shift in the right direction.
 

Double Gator Dad

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So glad you are back cover.

Life wasn’t as good without cutting edge comparisons like “Brinton Cox and a boil on my a$$.”

I too am excited about the direction of the program
 

Altitude Gator

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Awesome you're back C2
I was glad to see this! :stars:

Knocked it out and spot on. I have been very critical of Dean, but yes you are right. He has been much better so I will give him props for the improved play. Agree with you that Cox may not be the lone catalyst, but think he was the piece that helped "flip the switch".

Want your take on this.....
To me playing with tempo and 2 minute drill are two different processes. I think when we go tempo, we are hard to stop. Seems when AR and offense go into a 2 minute mode, they make mistakes. Surely I would think Napier knows and how to address that. But also know he is a process guy. If he feels this team cannot accomplish running a 2 min. drill, perhaps he's hesitant and relegates being conservative knowing what he has. Just my take on it.

But in all great game. Vandy will be a test, but yes the next step in the rebuild. Can tell there is a difference with this team.
Great write up, Cover!

I was critical of the end of half clock management, horrible time out usage and lack of aggressiveness all year. I was infuriated last week until I researched the game. When we got the ball with over two minutes and three time outs, I couldn't believe we weren't more aggressive. And especially so when we lost the lead and had a minute and still all three time outs.

Rewatching, AR screwed up the first play of the next to last drive. He went the wrong direction on the RPO and messed up the drive resulting in the three and out. The cameras panned to CBN and you can see he lost confidence in AR in the execution of the two minute drill and seems he didn't want to make it worse or give TAM another shot at the end of the half.

Guess we just have to accept that CBN has a lack of game management skills for end of half and he also is not willing to trust AR in really small windows.
 

Lake Gator

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It seems to me over the years Vandy is a team the Gators routinely take lightly resulting in closer than warranted, even worrisome UF victories. Vandy just beat a Kentucky team in Lexington that Florida did not in Gainesville. Nothing would deflate the Gators' feel-good balloon faster than a loss to Vandy.

I trust Napier to squash any overconfidence and have the team ready to play.
 

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