- Jun 12, 2014
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I'm not a professional journalist, but I've heard those that qualify say this about news (sports or otherwise): like fish, it's best served fresh and hot. The longer it sits, the less interesting it becomes. Therein lies the basis for my apology for being a day late with this article. I consider this my "real" job, but for starters the one that pays the bills got in the way. A cross country meet that we hosted finished about 11:35 and after sprinting to the wing joint (I volunteered to pick up the necessaries for the family viewing), I was about halfway into the first quarter before I got to start watching (though Mick kept me informed and I did get to watch our first series while picking up the wings). Afterward, it was up to the lake place for a family weekend (both kids home from Tifton and Valdosta respectively). No cable and no internet...yet and the result is this Sunday evening offering. I hope you'll forgive me.
Alright, enough of this waxing melancholy BS. Let's talk about our 34-3 drubbing of the hapless Vols. The culmination of our effort and the win over a primary conference rival, which is always good, left me feeling more like Smokey had heart worms and we had to put him down. It is hard for me to comprehend just what tough times their program has fallen upon and for how long the malaise has lasted. But make no mistake, I have no sympathy. As we well know, one bad hire (or two) can quickly set you on your ear. Couple that with capital inefficiencies and the recipe for a dying program is before you. It is debatable about the time frame of our turn around, better but not yet best maybe, but there is little argument that the Vols are clinging to the rim. Better them than us.
The Trask story was probably the biggest to most everyone. Chapter One (last week was the Introduction I guess) solid and awe-inspiring to an extent when you consider Trask's football journey to date, but he's not quite super hero status yet. Still a mere mortal, but maybe just a spider bite or radiation exposure away from something really special . The contrived point here is to enjoy what he's been able to do and anticipate what he might, but keep it in proper perspective. He's got an advantage with our elite corps of receivers, but he's also a missed block away from an ambulance ride. With a better OL, not necessarily elite, and a strong running game, his progression might really be something, Kerwin Bell-ian perhaps. But as it stands, we get to enjoy this mystery chapter by chapter. On to the recap:
*Trask does some things really well, like throwing a good ball, most of the time, and putting it where our guy can catch it, most of the time. He has a confidence about him that doesn't belie that this was his first start since 9th grade. He's pretty clean with his mechanics (not just the throwing part) and his footwork. His humility, which is more throwback than modern day, makes me feel like he's very appreciative of where he finds himself and what it took to get there. He's not a finished product by any means and it is unbeknownst whether they'll make a CFB version of The Natural starring him, but who knows? I'll take him being in the conversation for All SEC. That's not too much to ask is it? ;)
*I'll be brief about the OL. They're still not very good. That said, I think it's time for more Pierce, as he seems to be the only guy we've got in the backfield that can get behind his pads consistently and I'm afraid that's what we're going to need this season. I see there's a thread on this subject (thanks @AugustaGator) so I don't believe it's my homer-ism. If I have a worry it's that we're liable to lose a back or two behind this line before the year's out.
*I felt like the coverage was some better, still a little soft in spots, and the interceptions were timely, but we missed a lot of tackles yet again. I keep my fingers crossed each week that we don't get fatally blistered, but so far we've escaped. I hope the growth and progression stays up (or ahead) of the level of our competition, but my head tells me we're going to get our britches pulled down sooner or later. It'll be nice to have Henderson back and see some of the others play up to their potential consistently (e.g. Wilson) and others keep progressing (e.g. Elam, Davis).
*Greenhard is bad dude. It was him amongst the boys yesterday. Glad we got him for a year at least. His play is especially important with no Zuniga. I think his heart might be the strongest muscle in his body. I appreciate what he brings. Quickness, strength, and great positional knowledge. Sometimes getting your hands up in the passing lane is as good as a sack.
*I think this game might have set some sort of record for official reviews. Luckily, we seemed to come out on top of most of them and I suppose it's great to be able to get most of the calls right, but it makes the games kind of clunky sometimes. Just wish we'd have had this feature in '03. Jack Childress would still be in prison.
*LBs looked like they were some better. Saw Moon make a couple of plays. Brunson may be emerging. Think it was Miller that got injured. Not sure of his status, but hoping this group can stay healthy throughout the season. The more reps they get, especially on passing downs, the better our entire D becomes.
*The OL notwithstanding, what's wrong with Malik Davis? Just doesn't look like the same guy. Ball security issues is a killer. Body looks healthy, just not sure about his head.
*One more note on Pierce...on a visit back home, one of our coaches asked if he thought he might be our best back. He immediately deferred to Perine and said it was his year. If Perine's going to be a scat back, which it looks like that is what he's become, it might not be his year for long. I appreciate Pierce's respect for his older teammate, but he needs to seize the opportunity.
*Three turnovers will hurt us against a better team, but I can't fault Trask's aggressiveness. It not hard to understand given the guys he's got to throw to. If Copeland hangs on to the one he dropped, the stat line might have had a little more bulge. I've already referred to the receivers as "elite," but if you add Pitts in with them, they might be as solid as any group we've had since the Spurrier years.
*Hats off to Franks. You can tell he's invested even though he can't be a part physically. I have to admit he's shown more character than I might have once thought he had. Glad to be wrong and hope for his future best.
*The TV guys made a big deal out of it, but Mullen calling time out to "refocus" the troops was well-timed. Hopefully they soon become self-correcting.
I think we grew some. Even though it was a not so good Tennessee team, the fact that the new QB starter clicked and the rest of the offense clicked along with him tell me that there is a developing trust and an "eyes front, keep marching" mentality forming. The test will be when we get punched in the mouth by AU, LSU, UGA, etc. The strength of your conviction as well as your plan will be revealed. But that's got to wait until after Towson. Keep growing and stay healthy!
Go Gators!
Alright, enough of this waxing melancholy BS. Let's talk about our 34-3 drubbing of the hapless Vols. The culmination of our effort and the win over a primary conference rival, which is always good, left me feeling more like Smokey had heart worms and we had to put him down. It is hard for me to comprehend just what tough times their program has fallen upon and for how long the malaise has lasted. But make no mistake, I have no sympathy. As we well know, one bad hire (or two) can quickly set you on your ear. Couple that with capital inefficiencies and the recipe for a dying program is before you. It is debatable about the time frame of our turn around, better but not yet best maybe, but there is little argument that the Vols are clinging to the rim. Better them than us.
The Trask story was probably the biggest to most everyone. Chapter One (last week was the Introduction I guess) solid and awe-inspiring to an extent when you consider Trask's football journey to date, but he's not quite super hero status yet. Still a mere mortal, but maybe just a spider bite or radiation exposure away from something really special . The contrived point here is to enjoy what he's been able to do and anticipate what he might, but keep it in proper perspective. He's got an advantage with our elite corps of receivers, but he's also a missed block away from an ambulance ride. With a better OL, not necessarily elite, and a strong running game, his progression might really be something, Kerwin Bell-ian perhaps. But as it stands, we get to enjoy this mystery chapter by chapter. On to the recap:
*Trask does some things really well, like throwing a good ball, most of the time, and putting it where our guy can catch it, most of the time. He has a confidence about him that doesn't belie that this was his first start since 9th grade. He's pretty clean with his mechanics (not just the throwing part) and his footwork. His humility, which is more throwback than modern day, makes me feel like he's very appreciative of where he finds himself and what it took to get there. He's not a finished product by any means and it is unbeknownst whether they'll make a CFB version of The Natural starring him, but who knows? I'll take him being in the conversation for All SEC. That's not too much to ask is it? ;)
*I'll be brief about the OL. They're still not very good. That said, I think it's time for more Pierce, as he seems to be the only guy we've got in the backfield that can get behind his pads consistently and I'm afraid that's what we're going to need this season. I see there's a thread on this subject (thanks @AugustaGator) so I don't believe it's my homer-ism. If I have a worry it's that we're liable to lose a back or two behind this line before the year's out.
*I felt like the coverage was some better, still a little soft in spots, and the interceptions were timely, but we missed a lot of tackles yet again. I keep my fingers crossed each week that we don't get fatally blistered, but so far we've escaped. I hope the growth and progression stays up (or ahead) of the level of our competition, but my head tells me we're going to get our britches pulled down sooner or later. It'll be nice to have Henderson back and see some of the others play up to their potential consistently (e.g. Wilson) and others keep progressing (e.g. Elam, Davis).
*Greenhard is bad dude. It was him amongst the boys yesterday. Glad we got him for a year at least. His play is especially important with no Zuniga. I think his heart might be the strongest muscle in his body. I appreciate what he brings. Quickness, strength, and great positional knowledge. Sometimes getting your hands up in the passing lane is as good as a sack.
*I think this game might have set some sort of record for official reviews. Luckily, we seemed to come out on top of most of them and I suppose it's great to be able to get most of the calls right, but it makes the games kind of clunky sometimes. Just wish we'd have had this feature in '03. Jack Childress would still be in prison.
*LBs looked like they were some better. Saw Moon make a couple of plays. Brunson may be emerging. Think it was Miller that got injured. Not sure of his status, but hoping this group can stay healthy throughout the season. The more reps they get, especially on passing downs, the better our entire D becomes.
*The OL notwithstanding, what's wrong with Malik Davis? Just doesn't look like the same guy. Ball security issues is a killer. Body looks healthy, just not sure about his head.
*One more note on Pierce...on a visit back home, one of our coaches asked if he thought he might be our best back. He immediately deferred to Perine and said it was his year. If Perine's going to be a scat back, which it looks like that is what he's become, it might not be his year for long. I appreciate Pierce's respect for his older teammate, but he needs to seize the opportunity.
*Three turnovers will hurt us against a better team, but I can't fault Trask's aggressiveness. It not hard to understand given the guys he's got to throw to. If Copeland hangs on to the one he dropped, the stat line might have had a little more bulge. I've already referred to the receivers as "elite," but if you add Pitts in with them, they might be as solid as any group we've had since the Spurrier years.
*Hats off to Franks. You can tell he's invested even though he can't be a part physically. I have to admit he's shown more character than I might have once thought he had. Glad to be wrong and hope for his future best.
*The TV guys made a big deal out of it, but Mullen calling time out to "refocus" the troops was well-timed. Hopefully they soon become self-correcting.
I think we grew some. Even though it was a not so good Tennessee team, the fact that the new QB starter clicked and the rest of the offense clicked along with him tell me that there is a developing trust and an "eyes front, keep marching" mentality forming. The test will be when we get punched in the mouth by AU, LSU, UGA, etc. The strength of your conviction as well as your plan will be revealed. But that's got to wait until after Towson. Keep growing and stay healthy!
Go Gators!