Truth Takes: The Vandy Overreaction

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A week after our season comes down to being happy if we get to 10 wins we shut out a team at home for the 3rd time this season. I haven't found a season, granted I haven't looked at all 113 seasons of Gators football, where we have done that. We had a QB throw for 363 yards, without looking it up I knew it was the most since Tebow's send off where Addazio (more on that SOB later) actually decided to be aggressive and throw the ball. We had 6 sacks, 3 by a true freshman possibly beginning to make a name for himself. We shut down one of the best RB's in the SEC. We had a safety make multiple picks. It was our best SEC shut out in at least a decade and I had a lot of fun.

It reminded me of the annual tune up game before FSU that we don't have this year. You know, like in 2014 when we waxed Eastern Kentucky 52-3 and people were calling into Steve Russell's Extra Point Show saying that maybe we were wrong about Champ and should "unfire" him. Or in 2017 when Randy Shannon lead us to a rousing 36-7 route of the mighty UAB Blazers after they had restarted their football program and people were calling into Steve Russell's Extra Point Show saying that maybe we should hire Shannon because of that win. So, I made it a point NOT to listen because I had already begun seeing on the Twitter machine what some people were doing, the Vandy Overreaction. That any naysayers or those questioning anything in Jacksonville were wrong and Florida proved it against a mighty SEC team on their 3rd and 4th string QB's that even with the first string would lose to Towson this year. Yes, they beat Mizzou, but they also got beat by UNLV.

Don't get me wrong, plenty of negative overreaction during the game as well. People speaking ill of Trask while he throws for a ton of yards, like he's done no matter the competition, behind an offensive line starting two true freshmen. Some fair criticism as well about how long Trask was in the game. I think at first it was simply to break the 350 yard mark, but kept going.

Again, fun when, enjoy it, just don't overreact one way or the other.

Offense
14 points in the first half was poor, we left a number of points on the field whether from a missed field goal or two interceptions. The second half was as good as you can ask for with 2 TD's on 3 plays to start the second half, including our second 66-yard screen pass TD of the season. Trask was over 300 yards with 10 minutes to go in the 3rd, it's been a long time since we've seen that. Am I surprised we didn't see more rushing attempts? Yes, because Mullen is usually rigid about 50/50 playcalling no matter what is/isn't working and because why not try and work out some kinks against Vandy. However, I won't complain that he let the team throw it all over the yard.

Trask did very well. I know that there are some fans that believe that a QB can't do well unless they have a Franks vs. UT-Martin type day (nvm, that wasn't good enough for some either), but a guy with a 67% completion percentage and throws for over 350 has a great day. Only 12 incompletions, could be better, but a few drops, two incompletions caused by slippage around the south 40-yard line, and two picks (at least one that shouldn't have been) is what it is throwing 37 times. I'll address one of the drops, but it was deflected. On the very good playcall on the early 4th down that had a Perine TD had he caught it. The defender did get a small piece of the ball blindly throwing his hands up, something I wish our DB's tried more...except they rarely are close enough for that to matter. Anyways, decent pass, maybe a little further out with a little more air, but that doesn't mean there would have been more separation of a different ball angle. Hits Perine in the hands, have to make that catch. The two slips? Trask bounced a ball on a screen losing his footing in the first quarter and then the no-catch on Copeland, it appeared live that he lost his footing coming back for the ball. Watching the replay, you can see that Copeland has no momentum coming back for the ball. If not, poor decision by Cope to not dive back toward the ball. The INT's, I have seen argument that the first one was an option route that was not read correctly by the receiver (Lee McGriff and others) and I have seen that he threw it straight to a defender, I don't know. The second INT, well, how you don't call PI there should cost a few officials their jobs. Seriously, without the PI it's a perfect back shoulder throw and a TD. The announcers here acting like a player has a right to make early contact and wrap their arms is embarrassing.

Jones did well, but despite what some seem to want, I don't think there should be a QB controversy going into the off-season. I'm not arguing Jones isn't the future, I'm arguing that Trask has taken this offense to a new level. Imagine Trask with an off-season as the guy.

Defense
Diabate played decent against UGA and had a heck of a game against Vandy. This guy with experience could be the next Polite/Greenard. Yes, this might be a Vandy overreaction, but seeing this performance as a true freshman gives me hope. Also, I want to give Elam a shout out. Still good in coverage and might be the best corner on the team at getting body position. Most times this year when I've seen a pass thrown his way he has the receiver boxed out like it is basketball. JAlso it helps we were actually blitzing from the line of scrimmage. Giving the o-line less time to react to a blitz seems to work. Not sure why that wasn't done much since Auburn. Also, nice seeing press and close coverage again. Seems to buy some time for the blitz. Stiner gets two picks, many people saying that perhaps he was over criticized, he's not, probably under criticized, good game from him against an overmatched opponent, moving on. Defense got a shut out, TD, and three turnovers, not much else to say.

Special Teams
McPherson barely misses a FG, but he needs to make those, especially lined up between the hashes as opposed to on one. Still I like this kid and we haven't lost to a team by a margin of him missing an extra point yet. Of course, that's how you get people thinking you're a god and chanting your name. We finally saw some semblance of a punt return game. Made me happy even if barely effective. Can we not do the pop up kick and just kick touchbacks? Yes, it worked more times than not yesterday, but not everyone is Vandy.


Around the Nation
  • I hate when FSU plays BC because I find myself cheering for Addazio. But just like his time as OC at Florida, all he does is disappoint me. Is there a worse human being in college football that still grades out as a champion in his own mind?
  • LSU won, but arguments will still be made for Bama to be #1 will be made on Finebaum's show and others I'm sure. At this point, what is Bama's best win?
  • Minnesota is my dream National Champion at this point, mostly because its so random.
  • Buckeyes, just like when they beat Rutgers, get too much credit for beating a blind kid. Think they sold them a dead bird as well.
  • Muschamp loses again to a former FCS National Champion and current member of the Fun Belt...if Taggart has been fired, then you can't fire Muschamp, it's not right.
  • Mizzou continues to disappoint, but don't worry, they'll be a threat next week because its what happens.
  • Kentucky blew a game to UT, Guano comes on and becomes a hero...what's next?
  • Clemson going to get a lot of love for hammering a team even FSU hammered.

Well, on to next week's last SEC game of the season. It hasn't always gone how we've liked, but it has been fun.

Special shout out to BNA and happy birthday to you sir.

Go Gators!
 

Gator Fever

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Bama should absolutely not be in the playoff over any 1 loss PAC 12 or Big 12 champion especially when their only good win the whole season will most likely be an 8-4 Auburn team.
 

oxrageous

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For the last decade, about 80% of the discussion before and after games has been about the quarterback play. That is well down the list these days, which is a huge compliment to Trask. He makes a bad throw or two during games, but overall he's been rock solid and we have been able to depend on him.
 

BMF

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Imagine Diabate w/ 15-20 extra pounds! Great pick up in the last class. There was also a Jaelin Humphries sighting late in the game (big dude too).

TT, one correction on the OL - only one 'true freshman' started (Gouraige is a redshirt). White is going to be a mauler - eventually. When he signed I don't think many people thought he'd have an impact for at least two years.

Trask is going to be very good next year. I'm hoping when/if this OL comes together (next season), Trask can become a similar runner to what we saw Franks doing towards the end of the 18 season (just to be more effective running Mullen's offense). I agree that there should be no qb controversy.
 

Gatorraid81

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If anything, our performance yesterday along with how bad Mizzou looked last night, makes me more nervous for that game next week.
 

oxrageous

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If anything, our performance yesterday along with how bad Mizzou looked last night, makes me more nervous for that game next week.
Missouri is a hideously bad team. Just horrific. Really not any better than Vandy.....who beat them.
 

Zambo

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Trask is good at throwing the ball. Where he could vastly improve (reference Burrow yesterday) is taking off and running the ball when necessary. Finally yesterday he took off and walked in for an easy TD. Love to see more of that.

Should be noted that although Trask continues to perform well, we also do well with EJ when we give him more than one play at a time. He scored 3 rushing TDs yesterday in limited action.
 

Sec14Gator

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I have seen argument that the first one was an option route that was not read correctly by the receiver (Lee McGriff and others) and I have seen that he threw it straight to a defender, I don't know.

I don't know if this was mentioned on the broadcast, but Pitts was stopped coming off the field by a coach who was talking to him and clearly acting like he thought Pitts made a mistake on the play, even motioning with his hand how Pitts should have cut in. Based on that, and the throw placement, I'm guessing Pitts didn't run the right route.

The second INT, well, how you don't call PI there should cost a few officials their jobs. Seriously, without the PI it's a perfect back shoulder throw and a TD.

In the stadium this looked lie the opposite of a perfect back shoulder throw. The pass needed to be about 1-2 yards shorter and toward the sideline. It was thrown so far from the boundary, it required almost a slant at the end of the route to get in position. I think there was just no way the refs were going to bail out the bad throw, especially when it was our receiver working through the DB, not the other way around. Trask has been really accurate this season. That pass was an exception.

Great to see the dominating win, but where has this tempo been all season and why just use it against Vandy instead of when down two scores the prior week.
 
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SeabeeGator

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Offense

4th down play was great, especially the fake QB run to the right which had everyone fooled except the LB covering Perine. But watch it again - Perine screwed it up. He was watching the backfield the entire time. It slowed him down AND transmitted exactly what was happening to the LB. The LB smartly watched his eyes and put his hands up when the pass neared. Good play by him, bad play by Perine. Regarding Trask, totally agree. Dude wasn’t as sharp early but he still made plays. I do think he can improve some this offseason but no matter how good he is or becomes, the biggest improvement for the offense this offseason has to be the running game. Can you imagine how good Trask would be if the defense had to account for a running game?

Defense

Totally disagree on Diabate - dude needs to grow into a LB, not a DE like Greenard or Zuniga. His emergence is heartening though - might actually have a future at LB. Bogle might have a chance to grow into that DE role though. Agree about Stiner. He did some nice things but he is what he is - a guy who gives his all, great Gator, just not SEC talented. Not his fault. Finally, don’t try to understand Grantham or the shut outs. He makes no sense. He obviously can call a good defense sometimes but he’ll also crap the bed a few times a season. Like Stiner, he is what he is.

STs

Wrong here. Just crap show all over. No wonder we don’t return punts - no blocking scheme. And Vandy couldn’t move the ball so the thought was to kick it short enough for them to return it.... 40 yards? Knox is consistently awful. There’s no excuse for it. Mullen knows how valuable STs can be - they made huge differences for us in 06 and 08. Why he allows that idiot to handicap us in STs is beyond me. If it wasn’t for a talented kicker and punter, we’d be toast. And maybe that’s not great either - if they weren’t covering for Knox, maybe Mullen would be forced to act sooner.

General

Announcers were the worst I can remember. Just all around bad and unintelligent. The PI play call was embarrassing. Their failure to understand the context of why Mullen was mad about the Copeland review highlights their laziness in game prep - that was a big story last week. Complaining about Mullen giving his second teamers real reps later because of “fairness” makes me want to puke. Really awful - about as awful as Orlovsky was as a NFL QB.
 

TLB

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Bama should absolutely not be in the playoff over any 1 loss PAC 12 or Big 12 champion especially when their only good win the whole season will most likely be an 8-4 Auburn team.

Bama will sneak back in as a one loss to #1 LSU. Ok, Bama has no great wins...neither do the P12 or B12 champs. Besides, it's Bama. They already have the trophy made, they just need to play the games in order to claim another NC.
 

Gator Fever

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Bama will sneak back in as a one loss to #1 LSU. Ok, Bama has no great wins...neither do the P12 or B12 champs. Besides, it's Bama. They already have the trophy made, they just need to play the games in order to claim another NC.

Their wins resume will clearly be better after the championship games and they will be conference champions unlike Bama.
 

oxrageous

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Trask is good at throwing the ball. Where he could vastly improve (reference Burrow yesterday) is taking off and running the ball when necessary. Finally yesterday he took off and walked in for an easy TD. Love to see more of that.

Should be noted that although Trask continues to perform well, we also do well with EJ when we give him more than one play at a time. He scored 3 rushing TDs yesterday in limited action.
Yeah, when he comes in at the 1-yard line and punches in 3 TD's after Trask got them all the way down there, it's not as impressive. You keep saying "3 TD's!" like he was the second coming of Tom Brady when he was in there.

He was average. Perhaps he's an above-average player, but Mullen refuses to open up the playbook for him (even in a blowout) so we can actually find out.
 

Ancient Reptile

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I thought that he was better than average Saturday. I would have liked to have seen what he did with a whole series against Vandy. It was the perfect time to find out.
 

Zambo

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Yeah, when he comes in at the 1-yard line and punches in 3 TD's after Trask got them all the way down there, it's not as impressive. You keep saying "3 TD's!" like he was the second coming of Tom Brady when he was in there.

He was average. Perhaps he's an above-average player, but Mullen refuses to open up the playbook for him (even in a blowout) so we can actually find out.
You're the one adding exclamation points to my post like a HS girl. I just want to see him run the offense. The fact is we can't run the ball at all, but when he's in there it seems the running game opens up. Perhaps we might be more effective overall with a running QB, even if there is some dropoff in the passing game. A blowout against Vandy IMO is the perfect time to take a look.
 

oxrageous

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You're the one adding exclamation points to my post like a HS girl. I just want to see him run the offense. The fact is we can't run the ball at all, but when he's in there it seems the running game opens up. Perhaps we might be more effective overall with a running QB, even if there is some dropoff in the passing game. A blowout against Vandy IMO is the perfect time to take a look.
You mentioned the "3 TD's" in six different posts, so I think the exclamation point was appropriate. Something tells me you busted a nut when he crossed the goal line on that third one. Must have been one hell of a mess.

You should thank Trask for moving the team all the way down there so your boy could get the glory.
 

Swamp Donkey

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You mentioned the "3 TD's" in six different posts, so I think the exclamation point was appropriate. Something tells me you busted a nut when he crossed the goal line on that third one. Must have been one hell of a mess.

You should thank Trask for moving the team all the way down there so your boy could get the glory.
The year Scam and company played for the NC, they had CUM and the South Pole Elf Saban making some comments either before or during the game. CUM was beaming about spread offenses and Elf said "it may work but only until you get to the redzone." CUM said "well then you just run the single wing."

Whether it's true or not and the only way you can score in the redzone is with a running QB, it is exactly they way CUM, Mullinz and all the other Notre Dame kids were raised. It's in Mullinz blood and it's what he is going to do, period.
 

Zambo

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You mentioned the "3 TD's" in six different posts, so I think the exclamation point was appropriate. Something tells me you busted a nut when he crossed the goal line on that third one. Must have been one hell of a mess.

You should thank Trask for moving the team all the way down there so your boy could get the glory.
Pretty sure I mentioned it in two posts. But in millennial world where feelings and exclamation points matter more than facts it doesn't really matter.
 

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