- Jun 12, 2014
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I’m late with the article. You’ll have to forgive me, I had duty at the Homecoming dance last night. Didn’t get home until midnight and I just didn’t have it in me to stay up. Vandy, I guess, has a way of affecting you like that also. I know full well that news served late is akin to fish served likewise, but I’m willing to take the risk. The Gators put away the Commodores in short fashion yesterday. The 42-0 final score felt closer than the game actually was. But it was homecoming, the 99th time in school history maybe, and everyone went home happy. Well, some did. Others who’ve fretted over our two early conference losses probably didn’t, but there’s not much that will change that at the moment.
Truthfully, it’s hard to be satisfied with a game like this. Kinda like picking up Taco Bell when a good ribeye with all the trimmings was what you’re hungry for. Too bad we missed out on the steak, twice, earlier in the season. Those previous Burrito and Crunchwrap moral victories just don’t fill you up. Maybe I’m picking nits here, but I’m having a hard time with where we are in the SEC scheme of things, particularly with the Dawgs looking pretty stout and Bama not so much.
Where Bama is concerned, their loss in College Station yesterday was a bit of a surprise to some; to others, it was imminent for a team that wasn’t quite as experienced or potent offensively as it was accustomed to being. Love him or hate him, I couldn’t help but contrast Saban’s comments post game to those of Mullen after UK. Even though his team outgained A&M 522 to 379, ran 24 more plays, and had the ball 7 minutes longer, there was no hint of satisfaction. Quite frankly put, Saban stated that his team “didn’t execute the plays needed to win and A&M did.” End of story. Had we been fed likewise after a similar outcome, maybe a homecoming rout would not seem so melodramatic? But I’m digressing here and they’ve got Saban and we ain’t. So on to the salient points…
*One positive from yesterday was that we took some shots down the field. Although most were lock-ons or one route reads, it was nice to see and that we scored a couple of times makes me think that maybe we are growing some offensively? Likely not by leaps and bounds, but growing. Emory was 14/22 for 273 yds with 4 TDs and a pick. If it were against anyone else but Vandy, it wouldn’t seem so middling. But I think that’s really better than that on a day when we weren’t quite as good on the ground as we have been (181 yds with 28 coming on a fake punt).
*Another positive was Mullen chewing on the officials some. Maybe he’s either taking criticism that he’s a little too meek to heart or just borrowing a page from some of his SEC contemporaries. Either way, I’m glad to see him aggressive in that way, at least for a day. It might have helped some on Dean’s targeting call being overturned. If it didn’t, at least the optics were favorable.
*I can’t say I was thrilled about Richardson’s part in the game plan. But this is vintage Mullen and I’m certain he’s decided that Emory needs all the confidence building he can get.
*The penalty issue, though not quite as bad as last week, hasn’t been resolved. Eight flags for 80 yds will get us beat against a competent opponent. The story this tells is that attention to that detail, possibly involving substitute players, is lacking.
*Never heard what was going on with Malik Davis, but Wright stepped up and looked pretty good with his touches. I was hoping Pierce might get some more touches, but he did score three times and his hash route was a nice hook up by Emory.
*Thumbs up on the throwback unis.
*We held Vandy to 88 yds on the ground, even though their backs, #42 in particular, seemed to escape from a lot of first contacts. The DL did a pretty good job in the tackle box and had 3 sacks and a lot of hurries on the QB. Many feel that the front 6/7 are our strength and despite lulls against Bama and UK, they have warranted that distinction.
*We had two picks! Been a while since that’s happened. Maybe the secondary is starting to develop that instinct? Or, Vandy’s just pretty much crap
Whichever, maybe this will help with some much needed confidence from this group. Shout out to Torrence who was officially credited with 5 tackles and 10 assists.*Tell me Big Head Todd’s group isn’t starting to grow on you? Here lately, they seem to be growing up a little and maybe playing good enough for us to have a great chance to win when the O clicks and does not turn it over. Don’t recall a bunch of uncovered receivers, either. Ok, I doubt he’ll be given the key to the city anytime soon, but I am happier with them overall than I have been in a while…as long as they continue to trend upward.
*There needs to be an asterisk by the shutout with the Vandy kicker’s name on it! Still glad to have the goose egg. And hasn’t Vandy been our HC opponent more than anyone?
The Vandy celebration actually ended the moment the clock hit 00:00 yesterday. I hope that Dan remembers the LSU game last year. He should, as the stench of the loss born from looking past and failing to prepare is still in our collective nostrils. A win won’t cure all the ills from then or since, but it will be a first step on an upward climb and we’ll need the momentum potentially generated to carry us toward Jacksonville where a sharp test awaits. This much, LSU and UGA, we still have to play for and nothing less than a best effort will get the job done. Let’s see if we can’t get better starting Saturday against the Coon @sses. Go Gators!
*Nothing stupid this time!
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