- Oct 5, 2017
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We beat Mizzou, a school that has been a thorn in our side since 2012 on and off and somehow it feels hollow. Is it because this is a 5-5 Mizzou team who in their last 4 SEC games has scored 27 total points. That the most they scored in that span was 14 against a mighty Vandy team we barely beat last week. Yes, they didn't have Bryant for some of those games and they were, and still are missing, one of their top receivers in senior Johnathon Johnson.
I am happy we got over the hump of Mizzou. I am happy we are looking at the possibility of a 10 win season. I am happy to see our defense dominate another SEC team. There is a lot to be happy about. There is also context that this Mizzou team may finish 6-6 or 5-7. However, we have beat every SEC team that wasn't a top team. We did go 1-2 in those top tier match ups, but that's a discussion for after the season.
Offense
The offense overall did well. The score at the end of the first half, just like against Vandy, didn't reveal as well as they played overall. I do agree with Mullen that we did well moving the ball down the field in the first half only to get a penalty or something else to stall. Heck, we had at least one TD dropped that also had possible PI. The team still needs to finish, but I'll take it for a cold 11 am road kickoff that the team isn't used to against a team with a decent defense that we have had a difficulty with, even in wins, since they joined the SEC.
The second half we finally broke through. We had two beautiful touchdowns and continued to move the ball. We could have had more points, but questionable playcalling at times and a drop in the endzone slowed that down.
Speaking of that drop, it was good to see Toney back. Sure, the reverse was well scouted, but he also had a 25
yard run. That's the feast or famine with Toney, but with more touches I think it will be more of feast. I liked seeing him catch a downfield throw, it only helps the offense that the defense has more to worry about when they see Toney on the field.
I want to shout out to Van Jefferson who after the loss to Mizzou last year I specifically called out and said his performance lowered his draft stock. With that said, he started the game off with a bang and finished with 5 catches for 82 yards. Good game from Jefferson. In fairness, I remember a specific play where Jefferson didn't lay out on a pass going towards the North Endzone last year. I did see Swain make a similar failure on 3rd and 8 on the second drive. Trask put the ball in front of Swain in stride, just a little bit ahead of him. I would like to see Swain layout like he did on his crazy TD catch in the other Columbia. I think Swain is fine, but it was a call back in my mind to a particular critique in the loss last year.
Trask overall played well. Completed 65% of his passes while throwing for 282 and 2 TD's with at least one more dropped. He did have a few bad throws. Every QB has bad throws. Luckily, they didn't hurt us this week. I also didn't know that Trask was the leader in SEC league play in passing yards. I think Burrow will get ahead of him by the time the Tigers finish SEC play, but still a good stat. He has had a better year than most would have thought if we told you that he would take over in game 3.
Emory's use continues to be a mixed bag. If we give him a drive, give him a drive. I feel the same way for Trask. He did under throw the ball to Toney, but did get a 48 yard reception. He was also our leading rusher. I'm not saying that we have a QB battle this off season, we may, but I haven't seen enough in Jones' aerial game (when throwing consistently) to say for sure. He definitely brings some good things to the table.
The Oline continues to be awful. We knew the season would start bad, but the lack of improvement through the season is what is shocking.
Defense
Three sacks is good. 256 yards allowed, some of which when we stopped being as pressuring after being up three scores is also good. I did see a writer say that Hendo is playing himself out of the first round. I have to say I don't disagree. He did give up a 44 yard play on an underthrown ball. Does not being a first rounder mean he's bad? No, just means he is not a top 32 player. Greenard continues to earn money though. He has 6 sacks on the season, but imagine if he were not struggling with injury for a significant part of the season.
It bothers me that just by looking that our defensive playcalling against LSU and UGA was so different. The putting 5+ at the line and blitzing, the man defense instead of the soft zone, etc. Elam continues to play well and good on Wilson to end the game with an INT.
ST
Amazing day for Townsend averaging over 45 a punt with a long of 71. McPherson continues to march toward the all-time leading scorer mark with 11 more points.
Around the Nation
Now, we end the season against a motivated, bowl eligible (Addazio sucks) FSU team who we have not beaten in Gainesville in 10 years. That's disgusting. I hope that we treat FSU like we did in 2009.
Go Gators!
I am happy we got over the hump of Mizzou. I am happy we are looking at the possibility of a 10 win season. I am happy to see our defense dominate another SEC team. There is a lot to be happy about. There is also context that this Mizzou team may finish 6-6 or 5-7. However, we have beat every SEC team that wasn't a top team. We did go 1-2 in those top tier match ups, but that's a discussion for after the season.
Offense
The offense overall did well. The score at the end of the first half, just like against Vandy, didn't reveal as well as they played overall. I do agree with Mullen that we did well moving the ball down the field in the first half only to get a penalty or something else to stall. Heck, we had at least one TD dropped that also had possible PI. The team still needs to finish, but I'll take it for a cold 11 am road kickoff that the team isn't used to against a team with a decent defense that we have had a difficulty with, even in wins, since they joined the SEC.
The second half we finally broke through. We had two beautiful touchdowns and continued to move the ball. We could have had more points, but questionable playcalling at times and a drop in the endzone slowed that down.
Speaking of that drop, it was good to see Toney back. Sure, the reverse was well scouted, but he also had a 25
yard run. That's the feast or famine with Toney, but with more touches I think it will be more of feast. I liked seeing him catch a downfield throw, it only helps the offense that the defense has more to worry about when they see Toney on the field.
I want to shout out to Van Jefferson who after the loss to Mizzou last year I specifically called out and said his performance lowered his draft stock. With that said, he started the game off with a bang and finished with 5 catches for 82 yards. Good game from Jefferson. In fairness, I remember a specific play where Jefferson didn't lay out on a pass going towards the North Endzone last year. I did see Swain make a similar failure on 3rd and 8 on the second drive. Trask put the ball in front of Swain in stride, just a little bit ahead of him. I would like to see Swain layout like he did on his crazy TD catch in the other Columbia. I think Swain is fine, but it was a call back in my mind to a particular critique in the loss last year.
Trask overall played well. Completed 65% of his passes while throwing for 282 and 2 TD's with at least one more dropped. He did have a few bad throws. Every QB has bad throws. Luckily, they didn't hurt us this week. I also didn't know that Trask was the leader in SEC league play in passing yards. I think Burrow will get ahead of him by the time the Tigers finish SEC play, but still a good stat. He has had a better year than most would have thought if we told you that he would take over in game 3.
Emory's use continues to be a mixed bag. If we give him a drive, give him a drive. I feel the same way for Trask. He did under throw the ball to Toney, but did get a 48 yard reception. He was also our leading rusher. I'm not saying that we have a QB battle this off season, we may, but I haven't seen enough in Jones' aerial game (when throwing consistently) to say for sure. He definitely brings some good things to the table.
The Oline continues to be awful. We knew the season would start bad, but the lack of improvement through the season is what is shocking.
Defense
Three sacks is good. 256 yards allowed, some of which when we stopped being as pressuring after being up three scores is also good. I did see a writer say that Hendo is playing himself out of the first round. I have to say I don't disagree. He did give up a 44 yard play on an underthrown ball. Does not being a first rounder mean he's bad? No, just means he is not a top 32 player. Greenard continues to earn money though. He has 6 sacks on the season, but imagine if he were not struggling with injury for a significant part of the season.
It bothers me that just by looking that our defensive playcalling against LSU and UGA was so different. The putting 5+ at the line and blitzing, the man defense instead of the soft zone, etc. Elam continues to play well and good on Wilson to end the game with an INT.
ST
Amazing day for Townsend averaging over 45 a punt with a long of 71. McPherson continues to march toward the all-time leading scorer mark with 11 more points.
Around the Nation
- If I wasn't clear Addazio sucks. I have no idea what BC did this week or if they played, but FSU is bowl eligible now because of his failure last week.
- Auburn wants a seat at the grown ups table, maybe don't go down by 21 and you have a better chance.
- USC and Cal played last night and no one cared.
- If Wazzu wants to keep battling for bowl eligibility, they should keep Leach...like keep him from the SEC, lest they go back to fighting for 2 wins a season.
- Carolina lost to A&M after making it sound like Champ is safe...nothing to lose going to Clemson...will lose by 40. This is Carolina's 2013.
- Big 12 continues to eat its own. Baylor will beat OU in the Big 12 Championship game to eliminate the Big 12 from the playoffs. Book it.
- Let's be honest, Minnesota could go 13-0 and weren't making the playoff. Iowa just cut the whining off at the pass.
- I see that LSU again has allowed at least 28 points, which they have done 5 times this season, can we stop acting like that defense is one of the top defenses in the SEC? If Joe Brady isn't in Baton Rouge, they may be getting boat raced this season. But they have Brady, Burrow will win the Heisman, and they may win the Natty.
Now, we end the season against a motivated, bowl eligible (Addazio sucks) FSU team who we have not beaten in Gainesville in 10 years. That's disgusting. I hope that we treat FSU like we did in 2009.
Go Gators!
