- Jun 12, 2014
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Gators Get Back On Track With 38-14 Homecoming Victory Over Commodores!
…or
Meh, It Was Just Vandy!
Of, course, no real poll or option, quasi- or otherwise, would be complete without perennial favorite “ham sammich,” but you get the picture. On one hand, 495 total yds, 38 pts that covered the spread, 215 yds rushing after being shut down the previous week by UK, and Mertz throwing for 254 and 3 TDs could be cause for at least a sigh of relief if not a minor celebration. But on the other hand, last week’s juggernauts from Lexington got thoroughly pantsed in Athens last evening 51-13, surrendering 608 yds of offense to the Mutts. How’s that for a dose of perspective?
It becomes tiresome saying and hearing, particularly as our decade-plus thirst for the return to our rightful post among the SEC and the elite of college football’s elites has yet to be quenched, but we aren’t there, not really close yet, and it‘s going to take a game at a time approach of building and sustaining improvements to get there. But I find myself wanting to think like SOS used to and maybe “Meh, It Was Just Vandy” is appropriate. We used to always get by them, usually not in spectacular fashion, but then played really well against the next team. Could that be the trajectory upcoming against USCe next week? It would certainly make for the trend and storyline the Gators and Billy in particular need about now. Last week, I asked for us to put together back-to-back wins…well, the first step is in place.
Even though it was “just Vandy,” we showed a little more life and versatility offensively, the little jet sweeps to Tre Wilson was a nice addition and also identified another emerging playmaker. I can’t say that we went bananas stretching the field, but Mertz has found a good go-to guy in Boardingham and at least the short stuff to the flanks is getting in the hands of guys who can set up a block and/or make people miss for some good yardage. And it was good to get back on track rushing the ball, even without Etienne, as Montrell Johnson picked up 135 yds and a TD on 18 carries. Treyaun Webb added 70 on 4 touches and showed some pretty good speed and explosion. From that, you could say that the OL had a little better game from that perspective, but pass pro is still too shaky at times, even in max pro, and we seem to be compounding our problems and stalling drives with procedure and personal fouls (hands to the face, holding, etc.). We might beat Vandy with these mistakes, but not other teams looming ahead. The OL’s got to show steady progress this week with no backing up. A large task, but very necessary.
Defensively, If you take away two possessions, or really one play that went for a score and the other possession they scored right after we did, the defense would have had a nice afternoon. Billy kind of shook off the long ball that saw the Vandy receiver grab Marshall’s face mask and separate to the football, haul it in, and race to the end zone untouched with #3 jogging along behind. Should it have been offensive interference? Hell yeah, but welcome to Florida! Don’t lope along feeling sorry for yourself, bust your @ss trying to hawk him down! That’s the effort that needs to be on display, every play, every game! Hopefully that will be a learning point, among many, that becomes instilled in this green and still growing bunch. I get that Billy has got a lot of learning and growing to instill, but we’re at the halfway mark heading into the meat grinder, so finding a way to expedite and congeal much of the needed learning and growing is paramount for obvious reasons.
* If Mertz can stay healthy and the passing O expands even a bit at a time, we’ve got a chance in our remaining games. Of course the Dawgs are playing on another level right now and their QB seems to be hitting his stride, but you’ve got to expect us to show up for a big rival. But the others on the remaining SEC schedule aren’t exactly showing lock-down defenses. That begs the questions of can we move and score against them, but more importantly, can we stop them, at least once more than they stop us? I don’t know if that can be answered beyond one game at a time. There’s just not enough consistent evidence to go along with the current growth and any perceived potential just yet. Thus, the take it a game at a time approach. Feels a lot like the 70’s again in several respects.
* Was glad to see the tackling to be better and the Vandy run game held in check (64 yds rushing). Holding them 0/3 on 4th down conversions was a big stat for us. The LB play was better and we were able to get some pressure on their QB at times (2 sacks), but that’s going to have to improve each week if we’re going to have success. This is all reminding me of teaching our kids to ride their bikes. Still getting some skinned knees and pile-ups on the sidewalk, but the training wheels are off!
* Didn’t specifically keep up with Spec Teams gaffs, which have been an unfortunate theme, but can only recall @Zambo ’s “banana in the tailpipe” reference on the cover guys breaking down on the faircatch feint that allowed the ball to trickle in the end zone for a touchback instead of being downed potentially inside the ten. Yeah, could‘ve been handled better, but comparatively speaking, there didn’t seem to be the gaff-a-palooza we’ve been treated to previously. Kicking and punting right now is pretty solid and dependable and as long as we don’t back up from that, we’ve got a little advantage in one area.
* I really hope the smoke that’s trickling about an OC being added next season comes to fruition. I want to believe that UK was a big wake up in that regard, despite any perceived success in play calling/scheme against Vandy. In pressure situations and/or when things aren’t going according to plan, the tendency is to double down on what you do and who you are, e.g. run off tackle on 3rd and 9. Billy‘s got too many other things to attend to. Put the play calls in other hands is a priority upcoming.
Next up, the Cocks at Williams-Brice. Saturday in South Carolina with Rattler slinging it around and us looking for a consistent identity and a chance to string together back-to-back wins should be a challenge, but one we’ve got to be ready for on the road back to relevance. The road runs through it. Whatcha got Gators? What else…Beat those Cocks!
…or
Meh, It Was Just Vandy!
Of, course, no real poll or option, quasi- or otherwise, would be complete without perennial favorite “ham sammich,” but you get the picture. On one hand, 495 total yds, 38 pts that covered the spread, 215 yds rushing after being shut down the previous week by UK, and Mertz throwing for 254 and 3 TDs could be cause for at least a sigh of relief if not a minor celebration. But on the other hand, last week’s juggernauts from Lexington got thoroughly pantsed in Athens last evening 51-13, surrendering 608 yds of offense to the Mutts. How’s that for a dose of perspective?
It becomes tiresome saying and hearing, particularly as our decade-plus thirst for the return to our rightful post among the SEC and the elite of college football’s elites has yet to be quenched, but we aren’t there, not really close yet, and it‘s going to take a game at a time approach of building and sustaining improvements to get there. But I find myself wanting to think like SOS used to and maybe “Meh, It Was Just Vandy” is appropriate. We used to always get by them, usually not in spectacular fashion, but then played really well against the next team. Could that be the trajectory upcoming against USCe next week? It would certainly make for the trend and storyline the Gators and Billy in particular need about now. Last week, I asked for us to put together back-to-back wins…well, the first step is in place.
Even though it was “just Vandy,” we showed a little more life and versatility offensively, the little jet sweeps to Tre Wilson was a nice addition and also identified another emerging playmaker. I can’t say that we went bananas stretching the field, but Mertz has found a good go-to guy in Boardingham and at least the short stuff to the flanks is getting in the hands of guys who can set up a block and/or make people miss for some good yardage. And it was good to get back on track rushing the ball, even without Etienne, as Montrell Johnson picked up 135 yds and a TD on 18 carries. Treyaun Webb added 70 on 4 touches and showed some pretty good speed and explosion. From that, you could say that the OL had a little better game from that perspective, but pass pro is still too shaky at times, even in max pro, and we seem to be compounding our problems and stalling drives with procedure and personal fouls (hands to the face, holding, etc.). We might beat Vandy with these mistakes, but not other teams looming ahead. The OL’s got to show steady progress this week with no backing up. A large task, but very necessary.
Defensively, If you take away two possessions, or really one play that went for a score and the other possession they scored right after we did, the defense would have had a nice afternoon. Billy kind of shook off the long ball that saw the Vandy receiver grab Marshall’s face mask and separate to the football, haul it in, and race to the end zone untouched with #3 jogging along behind. Should it have been offensive interference? Hell yeah, but welcome to Florida! Don’t lope along feeling sorry for yourself, bust your @ss trying to hawk him down! That’s the effort that needs to be on display, every play, every game! Hopefully that will be a learning point, among many, that becomes instilled in this green and still growing bunch. I get that Billy has got a lot of learning and growing to instill, but we’re at the halfway mark heading into the meat grinder, so finding a way to expedite and congeal much of the needed learning and growing is paramount for obvious reasons.
* If Mertz can stay healthy and the passing O expands even a bit at a time, we’ve got a chance in our remaining games. Of course the Dawgs are playing on another level right now and their QB seems to be hitting his stride, but you’ve got to expect us to show up for a big rival. But the others on the remaining SEC schedule aren’t exactly showing lock-down defenses. That begs the questions of can we move and score against them, but more importantly, can we stop them, at least once more than they stop us? I don’t know if that can be answered beyond one game at a time. There’s just not enough consistent evidence to go along with the current growth and any perceived potential just yet. Thus, the take it a game at a time approach. Feels a lot like the 70’s again in several respects.
* Was glad to see the tackling to be better and the Vandy run game held in check (64 yds rushing). Holding them 0/3 on 4th down conversions was a big stat for us. The LB play was better and we were able to get some pressure on their QB at times (2 sacks), but that’s going to have to improve each week if we’re going to have success. This is all reminding me of teaching our kids to ride their bikes. Still getting some skinned knees and pile-ups on the sidewalk, but the training wheels are off!
* Didn’t specifically keep up with Spec Teams gaffs, which have been an unfortunate theme, but can only recall @Zambo ’s “banana in the tailpipe” reference on the cover guys breaking down on the faircatch feint that allowed the ball to trickle in the end zone for a touchback instead of being downed potentially inside the ten. Yeah, could‘ve been handled better, but comparatively speaking, there didn’t seem to be the gaff-a-palooza we’ve been treated to previously. Kicking and punting right now is pretty solid and dependable and as long as we don’t back up from that, we’ve got a little advantage in one area.
* I really hope the smoke that’s trickling about an OC being added next season comes to fruition. I want to believe that UK was a big wake up in that regard, despite any perceived success in play calling/scheme against Vandy. In pressure situations and/or when things aren’t going according to plan, the tendency is to double down on what you do and who you are, e.g. run off tackle on 3rd and 9. Billy‘s got too many other things to attend to. Put the play calls in other hands is a priority upcoming.
Next up, the Cocks at Williams-Brice. Saturday in South Carolina with Rattler slinging it around and us looking for a consistent identity and a chance to string together back-to-back wins should be a challenge, but one we’ve got to be ready for on the road back to relevance. The road runs through it. Whatcha got Gators? What else…Beat those Cocks!
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