- Jun 11, 2014
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I'm Rethinking UF's Recruiting
- Thread starter Concrete Helmet
- Start date
- Jun 12, 2014
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That's the problem with this class. Yes we needed to beef up the offense, but we still need to recruit well on defense. If the offense improves but the defense gets worse, then the team still doesn't get better. Meyer's best year on offense was 2007. Yeah it got us a Heisman but it also left a 9-4 record and allowed UT to back their way in to Atlanta.
- Jun 12, 2014
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1) If we're depending on freshman LB's to contribute (which we are) we're screwed (which we are).
2) Daniel McMillan was a highly sought after recruit that everybody was fawning all over. Not many were very excited about Morrison or Davis (both of whom were 3*s.) Those guys turned into pretty good SEC linebackers. McMillan, not so much...though we really need him to finally be a factor in 2016.
- If you watched Collins' interview yesterday he seemed giddy over a couple of those LB's. I'm guessing the staff feels really good about the ones they got. Not that they didn't want Wilson or another stud LB. Of course they did. But Collins definitely had a twinkle in his eye when talking about them and I don't think it was just because he saw the snack table behind that reporter.
- Jul 29, 2014
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Are you really that disappointed with our numbers on offense? Sure, we all would like them to be 5 stars but I'd rather have a balanced roster than some hodge podge made up of a couple 4 and 5 stars, a couple of undersized guys, and some converted DE's and misfits along with either a slot receiver or TE as the second option at QB....I also forgot we have a full stable of 4 star RB's that are at least 210# and above....The more I think about it the better it looks.
- Jun 11, 2014
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Some of us were stoked about Morrison. He was a true under the radar kid. If I recall, he never really camped, yet still got 3*s. He also was known for freak strength. had some big squat numbers and youtube vids.
I'll give you Davis all day. He was an afterthought. McMillian was touted and has the physical game, just no mental game. I hope these LBs can perform, but we aren't expecting it. We are hoping. We expected McMillian and Anzalone to perform, and that really hasn't happened yet. We can't expect these kids to perform this year. I'll be rooting like hell for them, but my expectations are low, and there's is nothing wrong with that.
- Jun 11, 2014
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Some of the haters probably forget we're limited to 25 per class, and are STILL dangerously below the 85 scholly limit. Sometimes when it's raining outside and you don't have an umbrella, you have to grab a newspaper to hold over your head because that's what's at hand. I think JMac grabbed what was at hand this year and is working his, and all the other coaches' tails off building relationships for 2017 and 2018. I hope I'm right. 
- Jun 11, 2014
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an ESPN article had FSU bragging that he only committed to us due to pressure. Zach said some IMG staffer mentioned that he had a lot of work to do in the classroom a month or two back. Zach also said a UF source mentioned academics. It sounds like he would have trouble to qualify, but not impossible.
- Jul 29, 2014
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You can't build a house without a foundation.....You can't fire a canon from a canoe either. All the 5 star skill position players in the world won't help if you don't have a line to block for them...We've taken the first step to building a functional offense...we have real QB's, real WR's real RB's and FINALLY decent numbers AND size on the offensive line.
- Jan 6, 2015
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Unless you've signed ALL the 5 stars, and ALL the 4 stars you can until you hit your scholly limit, then there is always room to improve and "Just f ing recruit better"
I never mentioned a specific player, and had none in mind. There was a player last year we were excited about who didn't qualify - kid was a good player AND wanted to be a Gator. He wen't JUCO or prop and hasn't been heard of since other than 'what happened to him' followed by assumptions he wouldn't be coming to us when he got his grades up. I'm sorry I don't remember his name. It happens every year, highly touted recruits commit to a school and can't get in (unless you are F$U or AU) and never make it. Every year, and not just to UF.
The point was that perfection isn't realistic, though that's what it sounds like you are pressing for in recruiting. Below perfection, there are factors at play that limit a coach's success. Some are beyond his control (academics, number of players coming out that are 4-5 stars, the positions of need vs the positions of highly rated kids), some are within his control (Just f ing recruit better). Always room to be 'better', but at what point has a coach done all he can for that season's recruiting? And what do you do when you are still short in your areas of need? Say 4+ star or nothing?
You seem to take no solace in having a 3 star on the roster rather than another hole for another year. 4-5 star is preferred, and that's where YOU stop and btch. The rest of us, including Mac, assess and do the best we can given that situation.
While the glass may be half full for some of us, or even half empty for the others, you seem stuck on the fact that you ordered a pitcher and got a glass.
- Jun 24, 2014
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You are completely wrong. Just look at our past numbers and where the stars break down. Perfection? Hardly. Do you think it is ok to have the most 3 stars ever over the last two seasons? You don't think something is very wrong? You do realize that it is possible hiring Mac was a mistake, right? Yes, it is too early but he should have cleaned up this cycle. 14th is below avg for us. Are you ok with below avg?
Have you seen the past numbers on the break down of each - 3 stars, 4 stars and 5 stars? We've NEVER taken this many ever. The trend is alarming. The bulk of our classes has always been 4 star kids, always. This isn;t something new or me asking for perfection. It goes back to the Zooker days. You can look it up.
If we've always had the majority of our kids as 4 stars and now we are taking mostly 3 star kids - honestly - do you think that will affect our overall talent level for the better or for the worse? Honest opinion. It's not just one year but now THREE in a row.
- Jun 12, 2014
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Our biggest weakness for years has been offensive recruiting and offensive production. It was certainly our Achilles heel again this year. This is the best offensive class we've signed in years! Think about this:
- Two 4* RB's. The number one JC running back and another that Saban was salivating over
- Two QB's. A 4* flip from lsu and the other guy to hold the clipboard and signal in the plays to him
- FIVE 4* receivers. One of them the #2 receiver in the country and most talented one we've landed since Percy Harvin
- Three OL to finally have us to the number a major college program is actually supposed to have. Young OL next year again, but at least we have numbers back up
- The number one kicker who we flipped from bama so maybe we can actually kick extra points and an occasional FG
- The only position we whiffed on was TE but we have four on the roster currently
We addressed the biggest weakness of this team and what has been the source of Gator misery for six seasons now. Yet, all we hear is negativity and anytime somebody has anything positive to say a certain somebody thinks it's his God given mission to shout them down.
Yes, I know we can't improve the offense and then let the defense slip away. Yes, I'm aware that'll cause as much or more frustration moving forward. But defensive recruiting has been superb for years now and this years class was pretty good, but far from great. However, I am stoked about the way our offensive class shaped up. Yet, all we hear about was how bad this class was. See above and then tell me how "bad" we did. If we have a average defensive class next year, that'll be cause for concern. But this is the best offensive class we've had in years and not only addressed our needs, but got exceptional talent.
No one can be excited about that? No one can be allowed to be excited about anything positive whatsoever or risk being shouted down? Ridiculous.
- Two 4* RB's. The number one JC running back and another that Saban was salivating over
- Two QB's. A 4* flip from lsu and the other guy to hold the clipboard and signal in the plays to him
- FIVE 4* receivers. One of them the #2 receiver in the country and most talented one we've landed since Percy Harvin
- Three OL to finally have us to the number a major college program is actually supposed to have. Young OL next year again, but at least we have numbers back up
- The number one kicker who we flipped from bama so maybe we can actually kick extra points and an occasional FG
- The only position we whiffed on was TE but we have four on the roster currently
We addressed the biggest weakness of this team and what has been the source of Gator misery for six seasons now. Yet, all we hear is negativity and anytime somebody has anything positive to say a certain somebody thinks it's his God given mission to shout them down.
Yes, I know we can't improve the offense and then let the defense slip away. Yes, I'm aware that'll cause as much or more frustration moving forward. But defensive recruiting has been superb for years now and this years class was pretty good, but far from great. However, I am stoked about the way our offensive class shaped up. Yet, all we hear about was how bad this class was. See above and then tell me how "bad" we did. If we have a average defensive class next year, that'll be cause for concern. But this is the best offensive class we've had in years and not only addressed our needs, but got exceptional talent.
No one can be excited about that? No one can be allowed to be excited about anything positive whatsoever or risk being shouted down? Ridiculous.
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- Jun 12, 2014
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Wait! What?!?!
That's a thing!?! Haven't heard about that yet. Why haven't you mentioned that yet????
- Jun 9, 2014
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Our 25 limit was less the early enrollees that counted back (8 I think). I heard several numbers, as high as 32 for our goal this year. We definitely wanted 5 OL and were furiously trying to add multiple at the end. We were also trying to add top LBers like Davis, Wilson, Uche Bosse and the other kid that signed with Michigan until the last day. We are relegated to begging for Jucos now at DT after signing zero again. Spin all you want.
This is just a mirror image of a Mushcamp class, all offense no defense (instead of all defense) and about 3 big eater OL and DL when we needed 8. We havent landed a true NT since Meyer was here. Swing and miss again. Oh yeah, but a lot less talent in the kids we did manage to land.
You guys are hoping Mac is just a great talent scout, so am I. However Mac was out trying desperately to land better players, especially at LB where we really need 4-6, so we sure as hell werent comfortable with what we had.
This is just a mirror image of a Mushcamp class, all offense no defense (instead of all defense) and about 3 big eater OL and DL when we needed 8. We havent landed a true NT since Meyer was here. Swing and miss again. Oh yeah, but a lot less talent in the kids we did manage to land.
You guys are hoping Mac is just a great talent scout, so am I. However Mac was out trying desperately to land better players, especially at LB where we really need 4-6, so we sure as hell werent comfortable with what we had.
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Ancient Reptile
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- Mar 4, 2015
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Round the Horn said he wouldn't qualify for UF and might not at fsu, but both teams wanted him when he came back from juco. If true, this means we never expected to have a DT for this class.
WinterGarden Gator
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- Jan 15, 2015
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- Jun 13, 2014
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I was really just messing with ya. The offensive side of recruiting looks very good. The defensive class was a trainwreck outside of a few players.
- Jul 29, 2014
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You're making good points and most of us are aware of the problem areas that we missed on. We do have quite a few bodies for the defensive line though and I'm not worried about a dominant nose tackle. We can work around that by playing true 4 man fronts. LBers will have to stay healthy as I only count 8 total bodies there.
I guess what I'm saying is we might be average on defense for a change but I think we can only get much better on offense and there's just no way to plug all the holes at one time.
- Sep 6, 2014
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Conventional recruitnik scoring doesn't give any extra credits for the EEs. But it really should.
When the 2016 season starts, they'll have twice as many formal practices as the fall-arriving freshman. They'll have been in a college-level strength and conditioning program for 9 months vs +/- 2. They'll have months more of player-led activities. They're not going to be phased by fall term academics because they're already in the routine, and they were smart and dedicated enough in high school to earn an accelerated graduation.
Put all that together, and everything else being equal, an EE is probably 2.5 to 3 times more likely to be able to make a contribution as a true freshman than a non-EE.
I'm hoping we can get two good DTs as EEs next year. That would pretty much plug that hole, so to speak.
When the 2016 season starts, they'll have twice as many formal practices as the fall-arriving freshman. They'll have been in a college-level strength and conditioning program for 9 months vs +/- 2. They'll have months more of player-led activities. They're not going to be phased by fall term academics because they're already in the routine, and they were smart and dedicated enough in high school to earn an accelerated graduation.
Put all that together, and everything else being equal, an EE is probably 2.5 to 3 times more likely to be able to make a contribution as a true freshman than a non-EE.
I'm hoping we can get two good DTs as EEs next year. That would pretty much plug that hole, so to speak.
Ancient Reptile
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- Mar 4, 2015
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Can you name 2 UF DTs that have been early entrants? With DTs, it is great when they can enter at all.
