We're Gonna Air The Ball Out This Year (Finally)

heversle

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After years of mediocrity in the passing game, we will finally field a competent and surprisingly explosive offense this year. Yeah, you heard me correctly. I'm not predicting we'll have the best offense in the country or anything, but we are going to have a good, fast SEC caliber offense again after years of mind numbing ineptness. Here's my evidence:

1.) McElwain is already raving about the 3 newcomers at receiver (Swain, Hammond, and Massey). In my opinion, at least 1 of these Freshmen and Massey will be major offensive contributors next year.

2.) He has also mentioned that CJ Worton has been more consistent and has improved his practice habits significantly. The kid has a ton of ability if he hones in on the mental aspect of the game. It sounds like he has turned a corner.

3.) The new quarterbacks all have good, if not great height for the position. Del Rio will likely win the starting job and he knows the system after having a year to familiarize himself with it. He will do a good job running the offense and making the correct reads. Receivers will finally have a better chance at not being wildly overthrown every time we want to take a shot down the field.

4.) The most physically gifted receiver UF has recruited in years isn't even showing up on campus until the Summer. Tyrie Cleveland will be a Julio Jones/AJ Green/Alshon Jeffrey type receiver in the SEC. I would be shocked if he wasn't. Just look at his tape. He's the best prospect at receiver we've had since Percy and I think he is gonna be an absolute beast. If he can pick up the playbook well enough to start a few games into the season, it will bode well for our offense. He and Callaway (when he returns) should be a formidable duo.

5.) It's obviously only the Spring, but it was noted that our starters on the interior of the offensive line are creating much more of a push up front and blowing defenders off the ball so far. The tackles have underwhelmed so far, but that will change when Martez Ivey returns as he is an excellent run blocker. If we have improved offensive line play, a bruising back like Mark Thompson will wear down defenses and opposing teams will be forced to respect our running game again. When teams respect our running game, safeties will come down in run support and play action passes will be deadly. I am confident that our team will be better at capitalizing on these kind of pitch and catch situations than we have been in recent years.

6.) The players have had a year to get acclimated to Mac's system and we will start to see fewer mental mistakes manifest themselves in games. The kids that have been here for at least a year will stop thinking as much and just start reacting. As a result, the receivers will be a more confident group.

7.) Competition in practice amongst the receivers will improve the quality of play in game. Mac will not just play upperclassmen that have perpetually been underachievers over the course of their career just because of seniority. The best players will get playing time, Freshmen or otherwise.


I am very excited about the offensive side of the ball and I believe Gator Nation has plenty of reasons to be excited as well. Call me a pumper if you want, but I say that our offense makes a dramatic improvement this year.
 

TN G8tr

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:lmao2:.....Debose

But yes, this group now has a chance to be a great unit.
 

oxrageous

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It all comes down the QB's. If they suck, we suck, no matter how great the WR's are.
 

Gator Fever

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It should definitely be improved just because Del Rio or Appleby will be way better at QB. A better run game due to the O Line improving should help a lot also. We had a decent passing game for about 5 quarters last year against real competition but regressed a lot in that Missouri game.

Not so sure what we will get out of those young receivers the first year however. That is asking a lot.
 

Concrete Helmet

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It all comes down the QB's. If they suck, we suck, no matter how great the WR's are.
This. I believe we do have more weapons on the field than we've had in the last 6 years . I'm not sold that we have the delivery system to get them off the ground. Perhaps Mac should extend an Olive branch to the Griers in case he needs to salvage the second half of the season.....
 

CGgater

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You're a pumper... But I like it! I make no bold statements, I think you're post has many valid points if the players are motivated to give max effort in the film room, playbook, practice field and game day.
 

CGgater

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It all comes down the QB's. If they suck, we suck, no matter how great the WR's are.

I agree, but we need improvement on the OL to give our QB a chance. Anyway, I gotta believe all 4 QBs are an upgrade from what we saw in the second half of last season.
 

Gator Fever

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This. I believe we do have more weapons on the field than we've had in the last 6 years . I'm not sold that we have the delivery system to get them off the ground. Perhaps Mac should extend an Olive branch to the Griers in case he needs to salvage the second half of the season.....

Grier can go play JC ball the 2nd half of this season. We don't need him here with what has went on. He is no guarantee anyway - A lot of QBs have had a good 5 quarters early in their college careers before.
 

78

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Hope springs eternal. I'll believe it when I see it in October. Fingers crossed in the meantime.
 

Concrete Helmet

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Macs record with Grier 6-0
Macs record without Grier 4-4........
Nothing wrong with an insurance policy.
 

GatorJ

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It should definitely be improved just because Del Rio or Appleby will be way better at QB. A better run game due to the O Line improving should help a lot also. We had a decent passing game for about 5 quarters last year against real competition but regressed a lot in that Missouri game.

Not so sure what we will get out of those young receivers the first year however. That is asking a lot.

Not so sure about Appleby. But Trask has been a pleasant surprise. I trust that Mac knows how to pick a QB
 

oxrageous

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I just having a sinking feeling we're going to wish we had Will Grier in the second half of the season.
 

maheo30

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I don't think Del Rio is an air it out QB. I think he is more of a game manager that needs a solid running game to be productive. He doesn't have the ability of Trask, Franks, or Appleby. He's short for his position (6'1) with an average arm. I'd pull back the expectations a bit.
 

Bernardo de la Paz

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How the hell did height suddenly become the single most important attribute for a QB? Wuerffel and Rexy were 6'1. Leak was 6'0.
 

crosscreekcooter

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A lot of very effective NFL and collegiate qbs have been considered less than towering, including Favre and Rodgers at 6'2". Just remembering so many tipped balls at the line of scrimmage last year makes one wish for as many of the boxes in the Physical Characteristics part of the purchase order to be checked as possible.
 

Concrete Helmet

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How the hell did height suddenly become the single most important attribute for a QB? Wuerffel and Rexy were 6'1. Leak was 6'0.
It's not the single most important factor. Maheo also pointed out that Del Rio has an average arm at best which I tend to agree with based on what I've seen in spring footage along with watching his HS tape. Bringing Danny W. up is a moot point....The game has changed SOOOO much in the last 20 years that what we did then would have a snowball's chance in hell of working now. Try throwing the ball to a spot on the field these days and you'll be watching guys like Derwin James beat your guy to the spot and score on the int. return...Fades don't work too well either because DB's are often equal or better athletes than the WR's these days, quick slants are out of vogue because now 275# "athlete's" disguised as DE's drop into coverage....Rex had a quick release and one of the strongest arms ever to play in the SEC...
In other words you can get around not being tall, as long as you're over 5'8" unlike Treon, but you had better be able to put some smoke on the pill and be able to find a lane to see the field.....
 
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