- Jun 9, 2014
- 19,757
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Founding Member
If you haven't reigned in your expectations for this season, now's the time, and that's not necessarily the worst thing. The team McElwain's coaching is still dominated by Muschamp recruits, and that's esp evident on the offensive side of the ball where we continue to spurt and sputter. Now add to that a fourth starting quarterback in three seasons. I see improvement, but it's measured. We have better than average skilled people, esp at running back (Scarlett is something), but the offensive line is no more than adequate at this point. It has to improve for us to realize our goals.
The word serviceable is most often used to describe Del Rio. I'd add to that practical. He's keeping the seat warm while Mac tries to identify someone who can protect the ball and make third-down plays. Del Rio's fine if the offensive line is dominant and we only need him to put it in the air occasionally. Over 40 attempts a game? Forget it. In the SEC, we'll lose more often than we'll win. He's tentative on his grasp of the field and lacks the cannon of Grier, whose quitting on this team set us back a year or so. Del Rio's a game manager and not much more, which explains his being so readily available. Someone carrying a clipboard is the future. Mac has this season and the spring to figure out who.
It's the recruiting that has me most concerned. I expected more in his first full season on the road. I'm not sure what to make of it, whether it points to Mac being deficient or other factors, but in a league where the elite are dining on filet mignon, we're filling the plate with flank steak. It'll do to right the ship but in the long run we need better athletes.
We'll get better. Yesterday amounted to a preseason opener. We dropped passes, threw behind people, lined up wrong, committed silly personal fouls, a lot of the stuff you expect this early in the season and with a roster in full transition. I expect us to be in the chase in the East, but did anyone take note of what Bama did to USC? We're nowhere near that level, and that's the measuring stick.
P.S., I've never seen SOS as loose or happy. He's euphoric and humbled over being back and having his alma mater name the stadium after him. Good times are ahead. I'm glad he'll be around for it. Remember, we are Florida.
The word serviceable is most often used to describe Del Rio. I'd add to that practical. He's keeping the seat warm while Mac tries to identify someone who can protect the ball and make third-down plays. Del Rio's fine if the offensive line is dominant and we only need him to put it in the air occasionally. Over 40 attempts a game? Forget it. In the SEC, we'll lose more often than we'll win. He's tentative on his grasp of the field and lacks the cannon of Grier, whose quitting on this team set us back a year or so. Del Rio's a game manager and not much more, which explains his being so readily available. Someone carrying a clipboard is the future. Mac has this season and the spring to figure out who.
It's the recruiting that has me most concerned. I expected more in his first full season on the road. I'm not sure what to make of it, whether it points to Mac being deficient or other factors, but in a league where the elite are dining on filet mignon, we're filling the plate with flank steak. It'll do to right the ship but in the long run we need better athletes.
We'll get better. Yesterday amounted to a preseason opener. We dropped passes, threw behind people, lined up wrong, committed silly personal fouls, a lot of the stuff you expect this early in the season and with a roster in full transition. I expect us to be in the chase in the East, but did anyone take note of what Bama did to USC? We're nowhere near that level, and that's the measuring stick.
P.S., I've never seen SOS as loose or happy. He's euphoric and humbled over being back and having his alma mater name the stadium after him. Good times are ahead. I'm glad he'll be around for it. Remember, we are Florida.