Bits & Pieces: Florida vs. Tennessee

Swamp Donkey

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@cover2 what is your take on why we start so slow, on both sides really, but especially on defense. This was true for the last three years also. We always act like we're surprised by what they're doing, even when it is nothing new from the other team.

We tend to give up a few scores often quickly, the settle down after halftime adjustments. obviously adjusting at halftime does suggest good coaching but not being prepared at kickoff suggests poor coaching.

The truth is both these teams run much of the same playbook. I was kind of hoping that we might not start slow this week.

Lack of preparation? Or something else?
 

BMF

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Give credit where it's due. The OL has significantly improved, despite not having big named recruits. This is what Hevesy was brought in to do, mesh an OL to Mullen's QB centric running offense. Also give credit to @Swamp Donkey who said that the OL would play much better in a traditional Mullen offense.

Delance & Reese were out for significant portions last night - allowing Tarquin & Braun to get a lot of snaps. I want to see the snap count chart and see how much they played. The OL is in pretty good shape right now. Eguakun got banged up too.
 

GatorCatsi

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@cover2 what is your take on why we start so slow, on both sides really, but especially on defense. This was true for the last three years also. We always act like we're surprised by what they're doing, even when it is nothing new from the other team.

Lack of preparation? Or something else?
Yeah, I heard Danielsen last week saying the Gators were starting slow because their previous two games had been against lesser opponents and it took them a few series to get used to the speed of Alabama.

Kinda made sense, but to the extent that's true, that's on the coaches. I mean, aren't they going against fast players in practice?

And after playing Alabama, they should've come out of the gates on fire against the Vols.
 

soflagator

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Seems like I remember Aubrey Hill involved in one of those against Bama in the SECCG….


Edit: :lol: Sofla just beat me to it!

Actually if Mullen wants to imitate Spurrier’s plays from that drive, I’d prefer he start with the one where his starting QB limps off with an “injury” and the backup comes in for a play(or 30).
 

alcoholica

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Delance & Reese were out for significant portions last night - allowing Tarquin & Braun to get a lot of snaps. I want to see the snap count chart and see how much they played. The OL is in pretty good shape right now. Eguakun got banged up too.
Not a lot of snaps but Leonard looked like a serviceable backup center last night.
 

itsgr82bag8r

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Actually if Mullen wants to imitate Spurrier’s plays from that drive, I’d prefer he start with the one where his starting QB limps off with an “injury” and the backup comes in for a play(or 30).
There are so many of these little nuggets of SOS’s devious mind that it’s hard to remember them all, but this I remember! I also loved the hand signal he implemented for the ‘96 UT game where he looked like he was playing the air-banjo! :lol:

His backhanded homage to the local hillbillies!
 

Zambo

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I think I’m starting to like the way Mullen is platooning so many players into the game. You worry that we don’t always have the “best” player in for every play or that they can’t get in a rhythm, but on the other hand you get fresh legs in there more often and everybody pushing each other. Seems like when we do have a breakout player like Pitts or Toney that they will still get plenty of touches. I’m just not sure it will translate to the qb position. I suppose you could argue that the snaps EJ got last year, which were maddening at times, has helped him get ready for this year.
 

PastyStoole

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Can't we bring some soccer chick onto the team to kick extra points? They're enough to give you a nervous breakdown at this point. Some club-footed midget would be a better choice than the guy we have now, and given the cryptic death threat I sent him after the Alabama game, his psyche is too damaged now anyway.
 

Zambo

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Can't we bring some soccer chick onto the team to kick extra points? They're enough to give you a nervous breakdown at this point. Some club-footed midget would be a better choice than the guy we have now, and given the cryptic death threat I sent him after the Alabama game, his psyche is too damaged now anyway.
It sure would be nice to not have to sit there holding your breath and waiting for the ref signal because you can’t tell if the XP snuck inside the upright.
 

oxrageous

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I was pleased to see Emory Jones running so well, meaning shaking more tacklers than I remember seeing in the past. He only weighs about a buck-fifty, but is running bigger than that.

I like Emory a lot, but the fact is this offense is only at about 70% of what it could be if we had a more decisive passer. I'm telling you, this team could blow teams off the field with AR running the show. It's only a matter of time (this week?) that teams sell out to stop the run and make Emory beat them downfield. I'm not certain he can do it, he just doesn't see the field well enough to make quick decisions.

We are going to HAVE to be able to score a lot of points with this defense. I have zero faith they'll be able to stop teams on a consistent basis, and the secondary has to be one of the worst in the nation. Why did we not put our 400 pound glacier in the middle when UT was gashing us on the ground in second half? Did he play at all?
 

Shortcast

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I've come to the conclusion Gator fans are adrenaline junkies and just aren't happy till they get their fix. I'll admit I am as well. How is it that EJ can pull off a long run for 40 plus and while we liked it and cheered loudly... we cream ( just another coffee reference) all over ourselves when AR15 does approximately the same thing!
We like what EJ is doing for the most part, but we got a taste of that stronger drug, and when it's not there, the jitters set in...Need to keep that AR15 drug in your holster Dan for the right moment! I love EJ to death, he is a marvelous athlete, loyal Gator, and a fine young man,, (props to his momma)who can take us a long way....BUT! AR15 is the "Silver Bullet"! In Dan I trust
 

soflagator

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I was pleased to see Emory Jones running so well, meaning shaking more tacklers than I remember seeing in the past. He only weighs about a buck-fifty, but is running bigger than that.

I like Emory a lot, but the fact is this offense is only at about 70% of what it could be if we had a more decisive passer. I'm telling you, this team could blow teams off the field with AR running the show. It's only a matter of time (this week?) that teams sell out to stop the run and make Emory beat them downfield. I'm not certain he can do it, he just doesn't see the field well enough to make quick decisions.

We are going to HAVE to be able to score a lot of points with this defense. I have zero faith they'll be able to stop teams on a consistent basis, and the secondary has to be one of the worst in the nation. Why did we not put our 400 pound glacier in the middle when UT was gashing us on the ground in second half? Did he play at all?

My guess on that part is that Dez and an opposing team running tempo don’t mesh at this point. If they get a 30 yard play and then do hurry up, he’s likely offsides by about 20 yards.
 

NavetG8r

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I was pleased to see Emory Jones running so well, meaning shaking more tacklers than I remember seeing in the past. He only weighs about a buck-fifty, but is running bigger than that.

I like Emory a lot, but the fact is this offense is only at about 70% of what it could be if we had a more decisive passer. I'm telling you, this team could blow teams off the field with AR running the show. It's only a matter of time (this week?) that teams sell out to stop the run and make Emory beat them downfield. I'm not certain he can do it, he just doesn't see the field well enough to make quick decisions.

We are going to HAVE to be able to score a lot of points with this defense. I have zero faith they'll be able to stop teams on a consistent basis, and the secondary has to be one of the worst in the nation. Why did we not put our 400 pound glacier in the middle when UT was gashing us on the ground in second half? Did he play at all?

Yes, he was playing late in the game when UT was having success again. Against what looked like a lot of our #2 guys in at that point.
 

Bait'n Gator

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My guess on that part is that Dez and an opposing team running tempo don’t mesh at this point. If they get a 30 yard play and then do hurry up, he’s likely offsides by about 20 yards.

He'd just have to pop a squat mid field and wait until the quarter ended so the opposition would be coming back in his direction. Kinda like the fat kids at school playing full court basketball. They just stand around under the goal waiting on the ball to come back to their end so they can be involved in the game again. They only "play" offense or defense, never both.
 

cover2

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@cover2 what is your take on why we start so slow, on both sides really, but especially on defense. This was true for the last three years also. We always act like we're surprised by what they're doing, even when it is nothing new from the other team.

We tend to give up a few scores often quickly, the settle down after halftime adjustments. obviously adjusting at halftime does suggest good coaching but not being prepared at kickoff suggests poor coaching.

The truth is both these teams run much of the same playbook. I was kind of hoping that we might not start slow this week.

Lack of preparation? Or something else?
Law, it would be hard to know for sure without hearing or seeing directly, but I would think preparation first. As far as what the other team does, there are specifics like identifying formations and knowing their particular tendencies. Seems like for the first quarter or so we don’t have a clue. Even as bad as Grantham may be thought of, I can’t imagine any coordinator at this level not going in great depth during preparations. Teams will often have a couple of new wrinkles that may cause early problems, but everyone is so multiple these days that truly there shouldn’t be much new under the sun.

This also raises questions we’ve all probably had concerning overall talent and skill level. Our secondary isn’t exactly a stocked cupboard of 5* players, but I can’t help but wonder about their collective aptitude as much as we make the same mistakes repeatedly (i.e. safeties squatting on play action and never seeing a receiver releasing up the hash). If you’ve got guys who blow assignments consistently and you don’t have anything better to swap them with, you either have to reevaluate your practice plans and reps and make adjustments or simplify what you are doing. Better overall recruiting could help, obviously.

Luckily, we don’t have quite as much to worry about with the front 6/7, even though they weren’t quite as good yesterday as they were against Bama
 

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