- Jun 12, 2014
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Plain and simple…this is the Gators’ line of scrimmage, both offensively and defensively. It could also be our coverage schemes and execution. Or maybe even a scan of Napier’s brain, the part that controls his football processing. Though 33-20 looks better than it really was, 20-0 at the half was a much better picture of what really went on in this game. In that half we were treated at one point in the 2nd quarter to -7 yds rushing and Billy putting on a clinic of timeout usage that aided in a couple of review opportunities by the officials that hurt us and wound up leaving us with none and the ball in their territory only to see the half expire with no chance to score…
Meanwhile, I can only imagine that most of halftime was spent removing footballs from the @sses of our defenders as the Aggies pretty much ran it up everybody’s that was wearing Orange and Blue and standing anywhere near the field. The end stats belied their efficiency, 310 for them and 52 for us, also belying our ineptitude.
I guess a plus was that both QBs shared a few snaps and didn’t get hospitalized (so far as we know at this time), but “few” is the key as we only ran 54 total plays to A&M’s 72 and Time of Possession, due to a punishing ground game that yielded 310 yds, was clearly in their favor at 37:38 to our 22:22. I know we hate talking about this metric, especially after Muschamp harped on it so, but when you are WEAK and INEFFICIENT offensively as well as SOFT and CONFUSED defensively, 22 minutes is just enough time to get our @sses annihilated!
Something’s got to change…and it will. Just a matter when, who will be the interim and if the exodus will justifiably be a two-fer!
* It is sickening seeing the OL continually miss blocking assignments and struggle to adjust to blitz packages. I can’t imagine we are getting very much recognition and retention from film study and practices these days because there seems to be little transfer to the field during games.
* Likewise, seeing the DL get pushed around like rag dolls each game (with the possible exception of Samford) is disgusting and as far as you can get from winning football. Seeing 450# Des Watson being put on roller skates spells lack of effort, conditioning, pride, etc.
* And our secondary
Seems like on at least every other pass play we leave somebody completely uncovered who the QB finds and hits for a score or long gain. Yet, we don’t seem to be able to correct and adjust.* Lagway is going to be good down the road and hopefully it will be as a Gator. He struggled tonight against a team that was much better than Samford and got little help from the OL, but that’s part of the learning curve even the prodigies have to go through sometimes. I agree with Jesse’s assessment that the QBs need to keep rotating toward that developmental end and maybe to keep them a little fresh, if that’s possible. Mertz made some good throws and seems to be fully recovered. A QB controversy is the least of our problems right now.
* Remember when everybody was saying MIKE ELKO??!!! when A&M booted Jimbo and hired him? And remember when Stricklin declared Billy would be the Gators’ Coach for a LONG time?
* There was an X post in the box that declared we have an offensive and defensive coordinator, both of whom are making $1 million (+), and NEITHER are making any play calls in the game! This has got to historical…or hysterical if you’re an opponent!
* Not sure if A&M technically had their “12th Man” with them today, but it kinda felt like Billy stepped into that role very capably.
For now, another night of frozen pizza lies ahead and maybe a few warm Natty Lights left on the table from the pre-game revelry, if any of that still exists. But soon my friends and beleaguered brethren a change will come and our collective spirits will have cause to smile. But not tonight. I’d like to be able to quote Leonidas and bark that “Tonight, we dine in HELL!“ But alas, HELL dines on us once more.
Sack it up, Gators, the Hillbillies are coming. Just maybe that’ll light a fire.
