- Oct 5, 2017
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I apologize for only sporadic appearances the last few months. Whether its been work, vacation, or watching Orlando City continue to disappoint overall its left me away from this great place. Well, SEC Media Days begin tomorrow with UF, which means football season is here. I've decided to do some takes on the 2019 position groups and this will start with the offensive backfield.
I think this position group has the potential to be the best backfield in 10 years. Yes, part of that is the return of what may end up being the most productive QB since Tebow (admittedly, this bar is low), and part of it is a loaded stable of running backs.
Quarterbacks
Review:
Feleipe Franks is the settled starter at QB. Love him, hate him, frequently frustrated by him, there is no denying that he showed tremendous growth in year one under Dan Mullen. He took less sacks last season compared to 2017, part of that was the o-line, but a big part of that was throwing the ball away. We also saw plenty of great intermediate throws, an aspect that had been missing from Florida for years.
The turning point in Franks' 2018 season, in my opinion, was being benched against Mizzou and then falling behind to South Carolina badly the next week at home. Although he had done some good things and some bad things up until that point, that's when the game seemed to change for him. At that point, we began to see more of Franks the willing runner. When a QB becomes a willing runner, it forces opposing defenses to account for the QB running and has an impact on coverages (such as a LB being a QB spy instead of dropping into a zone) and helps the running game because defenses cannot sell out on the running back each time an option play is run and gives the running backs just that much more room to work. Anyways, after one of the more bizarre UF third down conversions in recent history, Franks lead Florida back from a 31-14 deficit that day. That if it were a better opponent, many people would be calling it one of the to 10-15 games Florida has played in the Swamp.
From there, he played minimally, yet dominantly against Idaho, had some great plays against FSU, including recognizing a busted coverage and pass to Van Jefferson who had broken off his original route for a TD. In contrast to the Kentucky game where he purposely ignored Malik Davis wide open in the endzone because "it wasn't the read". He then had some great throws and decision making against Michigan including several big runs, even if one ended just short of a first down. Finishing the season with Over 30 TD's accounted for with only 6 INT's (and a bad fumble in Jax) was vastly greater than his 2017 campaign.
2019:
Franks will benefit from being in year 2 of Dan Mullen's system, Brian Johnson's coaching, and the talent he has around him. In year 2, it is less of learning the playbook and more of learning the nuances. Not that more has not and will not be added, but the learning curve is much smaller. As some would say, he will be doing less thinking and more reacting. I think we will see Mullen trust more in those around him as well (i.e. Toney) to help take pressure off of him.
The biggest area Franks needs to improve on his deep ball accuracy. He has shown some great throws (two against FSU, Heave to Cleve), but then there's plenty more where a good throw, not even an excellent or perfect one would have changed games. The biggest example? And if you haven't guessed, take a lap. The flea flicker to begin the game in Jax. If he hits Jefferson its a TD, Scarlett doesn't fumble and momentum goes nuts. It could have set a tone a la Spike in '08 or we could have still lost by 19, we may never know. I do think that changed everything from the crowd to how Georgia decided to play defense. Then the next week he missed multiple guys deep and got booed for his poor play.
I think he improves, but how much will impact the season. Two of his best receivers were new last year and it took some time to get on the same page as evidenced by Grimes and Jefferson seeming to have their better games on the back half of the season.
The depth behind Franks is unproven, but I'd probably still take both QB's in year 2 of Dan Mullen over most QB's we've had since Tebow (in the context of which they played; i.e. Champ, Mac, Nuss, etc.). I'm also convinced we may see Emory in at least 6 games this season one way or another.
Bold Predictions:
If the line meets the overall average performance of last year's line (to be discussed later), Franks will throw for at least 3,000 yards and run for 500+. In perspective, Franks threw for 2,457 and ran for 350 according to ESPN.com. So maybe that isn't too bold. So bolder, if Franks accounts for 4,000 yards, we should not only be in Atlanta, but competitive in Atlanta.
Running Backs
Review:
Florida ran for 2,700 yards last year mostly behind leading rusher Lamical Perine (826) and Jordan Scarlett (776). Both backs did well after initial contact and both showed the ability to break the home run. Perine ended the season with a 50+ TD run in each of the last two games, including a 53 yard sprint on a 3rd and 20 give up play against Michigan to put the game away. Perine was a favorite to run the speed option with and successfully ran it against LSU among others. Malik Davis was in the background the first two and a half games before being lost for the season with a broken foot. Davis' loss was newcomer Dameon Pierce's gain. Pierce showed off in his limited carries with several long TD runs of his own, including one on Rocky Top.
2019:
Scarlett, his power, and his 776 yards are gone. He is replaced by greater roles by lightning backs Davis and Pierce. In the late 2000's Clemson had Thunder and Lightning, Spiller and Davis. The thing about Perine and Pierce is they are thunder and lightning in one person each. Who can forget Perine dragging All-SEC and future first round pick Jamal Adams in Baton Rouge? Pierce was known in the 2018 pre-season as a freak in the weight room. Then he showed off his speed. That freakish power just had its second off-season with Strength Coach extraordinaire, Nick Savage.
Again, if the line can be at least average, these guys should improve the 2,771 yards rushing from last year. If we see more outside runs (please to the long side of the field) to get these guys into space, look out. I would love to see Pierce take the speed option out wide.
I would not be shocked to see Toney in the wildcat and have at least one of these guys in the backfield with him. If Davis can stay healthy, this could be a trio that keeps each other fresh for home run threats throughout all four quarters.
Bold Predictions:
Florida again does not have a 1,000 rusher due to running back by committee. However, the rushing total will surpass 3,000 yards on the season. With Franks willing to run more, defenses will have to play the options more honestly than they did for much of last season and this will open up some yards. Franks will be at least marginally better with the down the field passing game. This will keep safeties further back when lined up in formation. Even one extra yard can end up being an extra 3-4 yards on the ground. The running backs will also be helped on the perimeter with receivers and tight ends having an extra year of Savage to hold the blocks for a little longer. Plus, imagine running off of a Trips formation with the Trips being guys the size of Krull, Pitts, and Gamble. Not saying we are going to see it, but those three are pretty fleet of foot and are big dudes who will either learn to block or not see the field.
As stated above, this backfield not only has the potential to be dangerous, but has shown previously that they can be. The question is, can the O-line give Franks, Perine, Davis, and Pierce room to work?
Agree, disagree, thoughts, or any bold predictions of your own for these guys? I know its a positive outlook, but I'll go into this season feeling positive and wait for the team to show me otherwise.
I think this position group has the potential to be the best backfield in 10 years. Yes, part of that is the return of what may end up being the most productive QB since Tebow (admittedly, this bar is low), and part of it is a loaded stable of running backs.
Quarterbacks
Review:
Feleipe Franks is the settled starter at QB. Love him, hate him, frequently frustrated by him, there is no denying that he showed tremendous growth in year one under Dan Mullen. He took less sacks last season compared to 2017, part of that was the o-line, but a big part of that was throwing the ball away. We also saw plenty of great intermediate throws, an aspect that had been missing from Florida for years.
The turning point in Franks' 2018 season, in my opinion, was being benched against Mizzou and then falling behind to South Carolina badly the next week at home. Although he had done some good things and some bad things up until that point, that's when the game seemed to change for him. At that point, we began to see more of Franks the willing runner. When a QB becomes a willing runner, it forces opposing defenses to account for the QB running and has an impact on coverages (such as a LB being a QB spy instead of dropping into a zone) and helps the running game because defenses cannot sell out on the running back each time an option play is run and gives the running backs just that much more room to work. Anyways, after one of the more bizarre UF third down conversions in recent history, Franks lead Florida back from a 31-14 deficit that day. That if it were a better opponent, many people would be calling it one of the to 10-15 games Florida has played in the Swamp.
From there, he played minimally, yet dominantly against Idaho, had some great plays against FSU, including recognizing a busted coverage and pass to Van Jefferson who had broken off his original route for a TD. In contrast to the Kentucky game where he purposely ignored Malik Davis wide open in the endzone because "it wasn't the read". He then had some great throws and decision making against Michigan including several big runs, even if one ended just short of a first down. Finishing the season with Over 30 TD's accounted for with only 6 INT's (and a bad fumble in Jax) was vastly greater than his 2017 campaign.
2019:
Franks will benefit from being in year 2 of Dan Mullen's system, Brian Johnson's coaching, and the talent he has around him. In year 2, it is less of learning the playbook and more of learning the nuances. Not that more has not and will not be added, but the learning curve is much smaller. As some would say, he will be doing less thinking and more reacting. I think we will see Mullen trust more in those around him as well (i.e. Toney) to help take pressure off of him.
The biggest area Franks needs to improve on his deep ball accuracy. He has shown some great throws (two against FSU, Heave to Cleve), but then there's plenty more where a good throw, not even an excellent or perfect one would have changed games. The biggest example? And if you haven't guessed, take a lap. The flea flicker to begin the game in Jax. If he hits Jefferson its a TD, Scarlett doesn't fumble and momentum goes nuts. It could have set a tone a la Spike in '08 or we could have still lost by 19, we may never know. I do think that changed everything from the crowd to how Georgia decided to play defense. Then the next week he missed multiple guys deep and got booed for his poor play.
I think he improves, but how much will impact the season. Two of his best receivers were new last year and it took some time to get on the same page as evidenced by Grimes and Jefferson seeming to have their better games on the back half of the season.
The depth behind Franks is unproven, but I'd probably still take both QB's in year 2 of Dan Mullen over most QB's we've had since Tebow (in the context of which they played; i.e. Champ, Mac, Nuss, etc.). I'm also convinced we may see Emory in at least 6 games this season one way or another.
Bold Predictions:
If the line meets the overall average performance of last year's line (to be discussed later), Franks will throw for at least 3,000 yards and run for 500+. In perspective, Franks threw for 2,457 and ran for 350 according to ESPN.com. So maybe that isn't too bold. So bolder, if Franks accounts for 4,000 yards, we should not only be in Atlanta, but competitive in Atlanta.
Running Backs
Review:
Florida ran for 2,700 yards last year mostly behind leading rusher Lamical Perine (826) and Jordan Scarlett (776). Both backs did well after initial contact and both showed the ability to break the home run. Perine ended the season with a 50+ TD run in each of the last two games, including a 53 yard sprint on a 3rd and 20 give up play against Michigan to put the game away. Perine was a favorite to run the speed option with and successfully ran it against LSU among others. Malik Davis was in the background the first two and a half games before being lost for the season with a broken foot. Davis' loss was newcomer Dameon Pierce's gain. Pierce showed off in his limited carries with several long TD runs of his own, including one on Rocky Top.
2019:
Scarlett, his power, and his 776 yards are gone. He is replaced by greater roles by lightning backs Davis and Pierce. In the late 2000's Clemson had Thunder and Lightning, Spiller and Davis. The thing about Perine and Pierce is they are thunder and lightning in one person each. Who can forget Perine dragging All-SEC and future first round pick Jamal Adams in Baton Rouge? Pierce was known in the 2018 pre-season as a freak in the weight room. Then he showed off his speed. That freakish power just had its second off-season with Strength Coach extraordinaire, Nick Savage.
Again, if the line can be at least average, these guys should improve the 2,771 yards rushing from last year. If we see more outside runs (please to the long side of the field) to get these guys into space, look out. I would love to see Pierce take the speed option out wide.
I would not be shocked to see Toney in the wildcat and have at least one of these guys in the backfield with him. If Davis can stay healthy, this could be a trio that keeps each other fresh for home run threats throughout all four quarters.
Bold Predictions:
Florida again does not have a 1,000 rusher due to running back by committee. However, the rushing total will surpass 3,000 yards on the season. With Franks willing to run more, defenses will have to play the options more honestly than they did for much of last season and this will open up some yards. Franks will be at least marginally better with the down the field passing game. This will keep safeties further back when lined up in formation. Even one extra yard can end up being an extra 3-4 yards on the ground. The running backs will also be helped on the perimeter with receivers and tight ends having an extra year of Savage to hold the blocks for a little longer. Plus, imagine running off of a Trips formation with the Trips being guys the size of Krull, Pitts, and Gamble. Not saying we are going to see it, but those three are pretty fleet of foot and are big dudes who will either learn to block or not see the field.
As stated above, this backfield not only has the potential to be dangerous, but has shown previously that they can be. The question is, can the O-line give Franks, Perine, Davis, and Pierce room to work?
Agree, disagree, thoughts, or any bold predictions of your own for these guys? I know its a positive outlook, but I'll go into this season feeling positive and wait for the team to show me otherwise.
