Bits & Pieces: Florida vs. Vanderbilt

That's a great question, and one Mullen needs to address with Grantham. There's no excuse. Dude makes nearly 2 million $$$$ a year.

I said last night I "usually" like Sean Davis in coverage, but his tackling is horrendous. Dude whiffs on more tackles than anyone I've ever seen before. And the rest of the DBs seem scared to even attempt to tackle.

Pitts is a matchup nightmare because he creates good matchups for other guys when teams scheme to limit his catches. He makes a difference just by being on the field.

Really happy with Shorter this year. I didn't know what to expect from him with all the talk about him not getting playing time at Penn State because he was a lazy out of shape fatty. Doesn't look that way at all to me. Looks like a baller.

100% agree. It's nice seeing a more disciplined team for a change.

Enjoyed the read C2!

 

Well it is certainly a win/win decision!

 

Sean Davis would pick up 10 MPH in coverage if he lost the DEW (or is it DO?)

 

Great analysis, I continually wonder why we are changing personnel especially against a team that wants to hurry up a lot. I also thought the ref was to hold the play to allow such changes if the offense made any change. Not just until the players were on the field but until they were in position.

I am beginning to believe we need a new DC and perhaps some position coaches as well as better players.

UT looked dangerous for a while at Auburn, every team we play will be very motivated and I give us no chance against Bama. Time will tell.

 

We showed our immaturity as a team yesterday. We came out flat footed along with the defense going back to this play 45 yards off your man crap. Yes its Vandy and not much has to be done to beat them but come on man have pride in being a gator, have pride in being a player. We went from being the only team to have a chance to beat Alabama from the talking heads to back to well Alabama will kill this team. I still believe this team can beat Alabama but I also would not be surprised if Alabama beats us by 60 points also.

 

Overall, Mullen has earned his $ by giving us what we craved - a Great offense (remember Nussmeir's "Top 120" offenses?). Mullen and Gator Nation deserve the one thing that used to be a staple here - Good/Great defenses. So we got Todd to keep it going on D. Todd and his band of funding sponges have done nothing in coaching these guys. So sick of seeing our D clearly lost on the field, not knowing what to do, not getting into playing position on time or even where to line up. And that's all before the play starts. Afterward, no coverage of receivers, no good angles, crap tackling - all those things that should be taught in the film room and more importantly, the practice field.

I think we win up to the SECCG because of Mullen & Trask, and go up against Bama with a snowball's chance thanks to the $1.9M man. Grantham and several of his coaching buddies have clearly shown that they don't deserve to be here. Until we clean the D-coaching house it won't change. This isn't a fluke or just bad luck. Asking these D coaches to produce a stud D on the field is like asking Nuss and Mactard to give us an O like we have now.

Next year we need to start fresh with a new, proven D coaching staff. Maybe a couple of our current guys could be retained but we need new faces that show gritted teeth.

 

Vanderbilt has gotten better in every game they've played this year. You've got to get them some credit with being so far down they continue to play hard every play. Their freshman quarterback Ken Seals is looking pretty good .Look for Vandy to win it's only game this year against Tennessee.

Kentucky was moving the ball well against Alabama in the first quarter and then they completely collapsed. They were without Chris Rodriguez their best running back who was out with COVID but will be back to play against the Gators. Kentucky has some good players and although we will win don't take them for granted.

Tennessee has played well in the first half of their games but then quarterback Jarrett Guarantano will throw an interception and after that the roof caves in. If he gets rattled he doesn't regain his poise but implodes. Tennessee can run the ball well and they will try to run it down our throats but as long if Pruitt sticks with Guarantano it's going to cost him his job. They have heralded freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey but he is very raw.

Alabama is again a complete team on offense with both running and passing. Their defense is getting better. Saban has drilled it in to his players that no matter who the opponent is you play hard every play until the end of the game. They play to meet their standard not their opponent's standard so you don't see Alabama playing up one week and down the next. I thought when Tagovailoa was gone their would be a drop off in production in their offense, but Mac Jones has really stepped up. He's very accurate with the long ball. He's surprised me with how good he has become. The match up with Jones and Trask is going to be something to see.

 

I’ve long thought there should be a Kudzu League - an Ivy League South - for Vandy, Duke, Wake, Tulane and other high academic schools who aren’t ever going to thrive in a P5 conference.

 

Great as always, @cover2!

Most has been covered by you and others... one thing worth mentioning, though. For all the players - particularly on D - who aren't adding the bulk we want to see, Gamble has gotten way thicker. He was lanky when he arrived. Maybe he should have a long talk with the young LBs about their effort in the weight room? I also suspect tg is to blame, emphasizing speed over size. How about both, tg??? Ugh.

 

First, are you seriously just now beginning to doubt the defensive coaching staff? The defense has been this bad or worse in every game this year. After 7 games this defense still.looks like we rarely practice on that side of the ball.

Agree that Bama is the heavy favorite and will likely win. It's just a shame that we have a national championship caliber offense paired with a 2-10 type of defense. Of course championships are ideal, but Trask winning the Heisman would prevent this season from being a huge disappointment. I still think fondly of 2007 in spite of the four losses.

Last, ut looks as dangerous as an old hound dog that can't see or smell and is missing three legs. Both players and fans are completely demoralized, and this year is shaping up to be an unprecedented losing season for them.

Edit: Oh, and as always, fantastic write-up, Cover.

 

Spot On Cover...as usual.

What gets me...it was VANDY...0-7.

The SECN saw it, we saw it...unacceptable

Grantham makes $2mil...why?

Players out of position, players not set, poor tackling, players looking confused...and this again was Vandy.

We are bigger, faster, deeper, and generally more talented...so explain this?

I can...now I'm no Donkey but to me it is clear...COACHING.

We would rather focus on one play...get a costly PF.. then concern ourselves with lack of basics against a winless VANDY.

Hey but I'm available for half of what Grantham makes and I'll resign if you are unhappy after my first year.

 

Nailed it.

 

A coach can actually be with his players a very small fraction of each week. What hell is Grantham doing with all that "spare time?" Needs to be studying the written works of recognized prior great coaches ... also great defensive position players. Does he think Butkus etc couldn't teach a thing or two about linebacking? TG is not studying what works. A coach is a practical teacher, all said and done.
Our D is undone. Get a doer in here.

 

Body language was shyt all game long. The only one remotely fired up seemed to be Hopper when he got in and made a few runs at the qb.

 

Trask went 26 of 35 - I counted 5 dropped passes yesterday:

1st qtr
9:11 - Copeland
8:31 - Grimes for a TD (tougher catch)

2nd qtr
15:00 - Zipperer

3rd
3:16 - Wells for a TD (out of bounds)

4th qtr
3:50 - Henderson

 

Yea, Trask was off yesterday.........

 

Terrific write-up as always. I have my fingers crossed that things aren't as jacked up as they appear, both for the rest of this season and in the future. Unfortunately, I have a sense of foreboding about the TG problem and the apparent reluctance on the part of CDM to do what has to be done. I'll be disappointed if Dan stumbles and eventually fails. But after the last decade of frustration and futility I can't say that I will be surprised.

 

You should see him when he's on.

 

Vandy!! Fking VANDY! They always seem to be like a pesty fly...sometimes you catch him on the table with your flyswatter in hand, but more often its when your reading the paper and holding it with both hands that he decides to land on your nose or crawl in your ear

Well it's pretty damn obvious to this group here as far as TG is concerned...so you have to think Dan knows it as well.... how could he not? Is it a youth thing?? Lack of experience? I keep hollering Marco... but never hear the Polo... is his ass even in the damn pool?
We play D like this and Bama is going to light us up!

As usual, love your post Cover