Gators release depth chart; throw in towel and start Delance

[Ocalaman]

Offensive line has been the weak spot in the Gator football team for many years. We just haven't been able to recruit enough high quality players at that position, nor have they jelled as a unit since the year before Urban Meyer left. A lot of it is recruiting, IMO, but some of it has to be player development. But we'll never win an SEC title or be able to compete for the playoffs with a weak or even an average offensive line.

 

[neteng]

We aren't talking about Fobhobbit Land.

My last deployment to Afghan was pure Fobhobbit ... and I loved it.

The other two ... not so much

 

[Durty South Swamp]

We aren't talking about Fobhobbit Land.

IT specialists arent really military... change my mind...

 

[neteng]

IT specialists arent really military... change my mind...

Well ... not sure what Army you've been in but lately the door kickers and their vehicles are loaded up with IT. We have gone from voice and limited data at the halt to big bandwidth comms on the move. What does that mean for 'IT specialists'? It means their butts are out there a heck of a lot more than what you probably think. We are a pretty high tech force.

Having said that, I'm not nor was I ever an 'IT specialist'. For my deployments I was the Network Technician for 2 Brigade Combat Teams (both light infantry ... which has a deeper meaning if you speak Army) and a Network Engineer for an Armored Division. For both of my Net Tech jobs I was out a whole lot going from Patrol Base to Combat Outposts to make sure their comms were good, check on the soldiers operating and interface with the doorkickers to make sure their stuff worked. I didn't have no personal security detachment or my own convoy ... I pretty much hitch hiked my way around our battlespace. That means I was on patrols going from A to B most the time with the door kickers as they dropped me off when I got to the next destination. That meant being very much present when poo hit the fan and normally the highest ranking dude amongst and infantry squad size element (though I never ever pulled rank on them guys because those 18-24 yr old dudes are straight up professionals and will wax the crap out of anything if you just get out of their way ... and I recognized I was mostly in their way if I tried to influence anything).

One deployment in particular, my BCT was the lead element of the surge. That meant going from 6 FOBs to 6 FOBs plus about 24 Patrol Bases and Combat Outposts. That meant my butt hardley ever was in my fobbit bunk and instead out on assaults as they overtook space to set up those Patrol Bases and Combat Outposts and I led the small team to get digital comms in quickly.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

gotcha... again

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Well ... not sure what Army you've been in but lately the door kickers and their vehicles are loaded up with IT. .

No one is saying we dont need and love our geeks..... just.....

 

[Gator Fever]

Offensive line has been the weak spot in the Gator football team for many years. We just haven't been able to recruit enough high quality players at that position, nor have they jelled as a unit since the year before Urban Meyer left. A lot of it is recruiting, IMO, but some of it has to be player development. But we'll never win an SEC title or be able to compete for the playoffs with a weak or even an average offensive line.

They jelled last season pretty good. Even against Georgia I was surprised how well the blocking (pulling etc.) was most of the game despite the apparent talent difference. A few bad games but a good year overall. This current O line isn't in the ballpark of last year's line so far.

 

[gatorkev85]

As Renard and others pointed out, we've played a ton of younger ones both this year and last. After the opener, there was actually a tweet about how many true freshman had already played. Last year there were new faces all over the place. And Franks and Trask are the same year, so it was never about true seniority. But yes, coaches whose job it is to win games will often gravitate to a player that has more experience, not to mention fits their mold better in terms of body type, much more so than a kid who hadn't started in a decade. If his hand was forced, like against Mizzou, so be it. But otherwise that's the route most coaches would take. Ironically, given the opponent this week, it wasn't until after Terry Dean threw his 20th interception against Auburn in '94 that known-moron Spurrier opted to play Wuerffel the rest of the year. And this was after the Uk win a year earlier where Wuerffel had bailed us out.

If the NFL draft were held tomorrow, Franks would be drafted ahead of Trask by a mile because every offensive minded coach would see the physical traits and drive and think they could be the one that get him over the hump. Unfortunately, he seemed to peak last year and never improved. But making it seem as if we went .500 because of him is wrong. At most, he was the difference(negatively) in one game, and had several others that his play contributed greatly to the victory. I agree that Trask makes us look better. But who knows what things look like behind practice doors. If the team truly felt that KT wasn't getting a fair shake, or that we were losing because of FF, there would've been chatter about it. Instead, even after miami, we got the exact opposite.

As for Pierce, I do tend to agree. I mentioned Saturday that I think the staff feels compelled to play him because he came back. Pierce, albeit usually against tired or backup defenders, has looked better.

I'll also add what ATX said. I could see Mullen just barking out names to someone who's frantically writing them down as he pees in a urinal. I don't read too much into it.

I'm not saying Mullen wont play freshman I keep saying he wont start freshman. Dont get it mixed up. I'm saying Mullen wont play the best option at times because he goes with the more experienced player.

 

[GatorTruth133]

They jelled last season pretty good. Even against Georgia I was surprised how well the blocking (pulling etc.) was most of the game despite the apparent talent difference. A few bad games but a good year overall. This current O line isn't in the ballpark of last year's line so far.

We did coach around the line last year, but they did step up plenty as well. The left side of our line has been up to last years in my opinion, but the right side has been the worst case scenario. I’d start Gouraige myself, but I understand them not wanting to start a new line up for the first time in this game.

 

[Gator Fever]

We did coach around the line last year, but they did step up plenty as well. The left side of our line has been up to last years in my opinion, but the right side has been the worst case scenario. I’d start Gouraige myself, but I understand them not wanting to start a new line up for the first time in this game.

Good points. The pulling and the rest have been lacking for sure. Not sure on Gouraige and his progress but he was a turnstile on pass plays at LT in the spring game.

 

[soflagator]

I'm not saying Mullen wont play freshman I keep saying he wont start freshman. Dont get it mixed up. I'm saying Mullen wont play the best option at times because he goes with the more experienced player.

And I provided an example that shows that’s a pretty common decision by successful head coaches, including Spurrier. When it comes to key positions, you don’t just wing it. Other than around the time of his injury, when would you have suggested he start Trask. Week 0 against a canes defense at a neutral site? Or do you yank the starting spot from a mentally fragile Franks against UTM after he helped lead you back against um? It’s just not that simple. Like it or not, FF had probably the best QB season since Tebow in ‘09 and helped us win 10 games. Even if KT is lighting up and years ahead in practice(which no outlets ever reported), you can’t just roll the dice on a kid who didn’t even start in HS.

Aside from Stewart who seems to be erratic in his off field life, I can’t think of another player that is a definite upgrade over the starter but isn’t being played or started. Pierce may be the closest thing and I don’t know that even he is a slam dunk, though I do agree he’s looked better.

 

[gatorkev85]

And I provided an example that shows that’s a pretty common decision by successful head coaches, including Spurrier. When it comes to key positions, you don’t just wing it. Other than around the time of his injury, when would you have suggested he start Trask. Week 0 against a canes defense at a neutral site? Or do you yank the starting spot from a mentally fragile Franks against UTM after he helped lead you back against um? It’s just not that simple. Like it or not, FF had probably the best QB season since Tebow in ‘09 and helped us win 10 games. Even if KT is lighting up and years ahead in practice(which no outlets ever reported), you can’t just roll the dice on a kid who didn’t even start in HS.

Aside from Stewart who seems to be erratic in his off field life, I can’t think of another player that is a definite upgrade over the starter but isn’t being played or started. Pierce may be the closest thing and I don’t know that even he is a slam dunk, though I do agree he’s looked better.

You say that's a pretty common decision by successful head coaches, like Spurrier. Well this isn't the 90's anymore my friend. The successful coaches these days Saban, Swinney and though he hasn't won a title yet but is probably has the 3rd best program in the country Smart all started a true freshman at the most important position in football Qb. Gus is playing a true freshman at Qb right now.

You act as if it doesn't happen. It's happening all around the country, just not here in Gainesville. I said it before I'll say it again, if Fields would have picked us he wouldn't have seen the field as a Fr because Mullen wouldn't have given him a fair chance. It's one of the reasons I believe Bowman chose Clemson over us. He seen Copeland and the rest of his teammates from Lakeland not get much playing time as a Fr.

 

[soflagator]

You say that's a pretty common decision by successful head coaches, like Spurrier. Well this isn't the 90's anymore my friend. The successful coaches these days Saban, Swinney and though he hasn't won a title yet but is probably has the 3rd best program in the country Smart all started a true freshman at the most important position in football Qb. Gus is playing a true freshman at Qb right now.

You act as if it doesn't happen. It's happening all around the country, just not here in Gainesville. I said it before I'll say it again, if Fields would have picked us he wouldn't have seen the field as a Fr because Mullen wouldn't have given him a fair chance. It's one of the reasons I believe Bowman chose Clemson over us. He seen Copeland and the rest of his teammates from Lakeland not get much playing time as a Fr.

So now we're comparing Trask vs Franks to Bryant vs Lawrence? What some analysts called the best QB prospect ever. This is the comparison you're going with? And if we are, it's important to consider that Bryant simply didn't look very good early on, and it was during game 4 against GTech where Bryant was continuing to struggle that Lawrence took over. That would've been the ut game for us last year where Franks played great. So I'll ask again, outside of Mizzou where he did, and then post-injury this year in the Uk game when he did, when exactly should Mullen have put Trask in over Franks?

As for Copeland, we are probably as talented and as deep at WR as any team in the country at that one position. Even still, he's had several targets this year, and a few other cases that may explain why he's not out there more and didn't do much last year. And ftr, Fields didn't see the field much at uga as a freshmanl, so I'm not sure what he has to do with things. But if you're implying that we have a player that looks like he currently does, but they aren't seeing the field because they're only Sophomores, I'd have to just disagree.

I'm also glad you brought up Saban as well, because it wasn't until he was absolutely forced that he sat his stable QB Hurts for the younger, better player. So actually, in both the Alabama and Clemson's cases you brought up, it's basically exactly how Mullen has handled his QB situation.

 

[Oscar the G]

. It's one of the reasons I believe Bowman chose Clemson over us. He seen Copeland and the rest of his teammates from Lakeland not get much playing time as a Fr.

Copeland was hurt much of last year and is now getting good run early in his freshman year. As for his Lakeland teammates, zipperer is starting to see the field 4 games into his career, hammond isnt on the team and summerall is 190#. What teammates are you referring to?

 

[gatormandan]

when exactly should Mullen have put Trask in over Franks?

When he found out he can see his receivers and move the ball so much better? I don't know...

 

[soflagator]

When he found out he can see his receivers and move the ball so much better? I don't know...

Which we saw in Q4 against Kentucky.

Again, you'll get no argument from me on the improvements in the offense since Trask has taken over. This has never been about knocking him. But Franks could do a lot of things, or potentially could do them, that made him worth investing in, which is why he was heavily recruited in the first place. And no practice reports, or teammate grumblings indicated that Trask could run things better than him. So Mullen is naturally going to gravitate to the experienced player that he feels fits his mold better. I just don't buy into this notion that he knew Trask would play better but didn't play him out of stubbornness.

 

[gatormandan]

Really doesn't matter now.

 

[soflagator]

Really doesn't matter now.

Agreed. Completely irrelevant. The whole argument above is just the latest fodder for the ones who never really liked Mullen and still don't.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I just don't buy into this notion that he knew Trask would play better but didn't play him out of stubbornness.

One of the biggest changes is WHAT he has called. He isn't wasting first and second down on those godawful option runs as much now.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Garage (sp) was highly regarded out of HS. Been waiting for him to show his potential. A team is only as good as it's oline and the guys we see this year are the guys we are going to see next year. And it's not like we're bringing in any studs in 2020. It's hard to have high expectations knowing what we've got to work with.

When I predicted that they would be bad this year, I predicted that they would be good next year. Still believe my winning streak continues.