- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,315
- 6,299
This weekend I hit either a new high or low in my fandom depending on your perspective. After being in the hospital overnight from Friday to Saturday, I was released at 11:15, with no restrictions and the ability to resume normal activities so I drove the 2 1/2 hours to Jacksonville to watch the game...and do so with a Gator podcaster that I won't name right now, but we will say that his stuff ends up on this board a lot.
I could write about the 4th down try that changed the game, but @cover2 has done a great job of that. Indeed, it changed the game and those in my party all agreed. The spot and probably the overturn was ridiculous in our opinion, but we ran a play where it's a genius if it works, but you'll take heat if it doesn't. I've seen many take that to mean its a genius call either way and should be praised no matter what. Even if the guy didn't break through so easily, the love of throwing in the flats was easily covered as guys like Kirby and Muschamp aren't dumb and know Nape's tendencies just like any Gator fan. Watch it back, Pearsall is smothered by the coverage.
Yes, I had hope going into the game that we might have a shot. Bowers injury basically opened up a new level of creativity that you see from real OC's. Bobo didn't lament losing Bowers and shrink like a turtle into its shell. Instead, he found ways to get busy with the rest of his weapons. He looked for, and found, ways to get the ball moving.
I point that out to say this game had all the fingerprints of a MacNuss game. An opening drive that was beautifully scripted and scored points only to be followed by a useless offense until we were down by 3 scores. Yes, for the third time this season, UF was down by 3 scores before halfway through the second half and the second time it was down by 3 scores before the half. All those games we had one scoring drive in the first half. I know I'm beating a deadhorse, but I will obliterate it.
This game is decently on the offense. I know the defense was pretty awful at times, but hear me out. The game is 10-7, we don't get a first down, call that execution, playcalling, stupid decision to go for it with the punter you have, game close, and the ball on your own 34. That's major momentum and a short field for the offense at 31 yards. Then you give them an 11 yard field after a fumble on the next drive. Then on the next one you fail again and get the punt blocked, and it's 26-7 with 10 minutes left in the first half. Defense has surrendered all of 42 yards for those 16 points. Those major 16 points that make it a 19 point lead.
The defense then would give us a chance forcing 3 straight Georgia punts (end of half not included). If the offense scores on either of the first half stops and after the first stop of the second half it's a one score game, with momentum and who knows what happens in that situation. I know this isn't the case, but it did give me flashbacks of those 2015/16 defenses that would get stops and then get frustrated when the offense would do nothing with them so it lead to lackluster defense.
I'm not about to say the defense was good or we would have won, but momentum means a lot. When the defense does their part and the offense is rolling in mediocrity, I can't hold it all on the defense, especially when the offense put them in several bad spots.
It isn't the "oline" or "youth" or "2nd year coach" or the blanket statement defense of your choice that has Hansen and Boardingham having close to even number of snaps with Hansen have more early on. It isn't one of the blanket statements that Wilson got the ball several different ways including a down the field in route on the first drive, but then didn't get any touches for several drives and most were predicatable screens before he got leveled on yet another 3rd down slant (which you bet they adjusted to after the TD and knew the tendency). We did have one non-3rd down slant that went for 7. It isn't one of the blanket statements that keeps designing, running and throwing routes short of the sticks on 3rd/4th down (again like we saw in the MacNuss years). It isn't a blanket statement that doesn't see much of a downfield quick passing game.
Again, I know it's a dead horse, but if you think it's one of those blanket excuses please tackle for me how it is one of those.
There's no reason we haven't seen an announcement loud and clear about Chris Couch. Not only did we have a punt blocked, but on UGA's FG attempt (on their first drive, again, if offense scores after this bend, but don't break its a different game) we had 10 men with the 11th running on late.
I get sick of losing. In most people's heads and even in the pre-season most saw this as a loss. I can accept losing, what I refuse to accept is anymore excuses for getting blown out and how it is acceptable. You will not convince me Auburn and Carolina are better off than us this year, but they didn't lose by 23 and pad stats towards the end to say look at us, we didn't stop fighting.
At least we get to wear UGA colors this upcoming Saturday...granted our Coach does that every week. That, like 2 OL coaches, will be one of those things you don't mind, but absolutely hate if and once the UAA says you can.
At least we beat Carolina at the last second...a team increasingly looking like a 3 win team.
I said 7 wins is the measuring stick for the season before the season and no one though it was controversial. That is still possible. Wins and losses do not change that. I have too much integrity to move the goalposts. Now to see how we respond in our "easiest" game left.
Go Gators!
I could write about the 4th down try that changed the game, but @cover2 has done a great job of that. Indeed, it changed the game and those in my party all agreed. The spot and probably the overturn was ridiculous in our opinion, but we ran a play where it's a genius if it works, but you'll take heat if it doesn't. I've seen many take that to mean its a genius call either way and should be praised no matter what. Even if the guy didn't break through so easily, the love of throwing in the flats was easily covered as guys like Kirby and Muschamp aren't dumb and know Nape's tendencies just like any Gator fan. Watch it back, Pearsall is smothered by the coverage.
Yes, I had hope going into the game that we might have a shot. Bowers injury basically opened up a new level of creativity that you see from real OC's. Bobo didn't lament losing Bowers and shrink like a turtle into its shell. Instead, he found ways to get busy with the rest of his weapons. He looked for, and found, ways to get the ball moving.
I point that out to say this game had all the fingerprints of a MacNuss game. An opening drive that was beautifully scripted and scored points only to be followed by a useless offense until we were down by 3 scores. Yes, for the third time this season, UF was down by 3 scores before halfway through the second half and the second time it was down by 3 scores before the half. All those games we had one scoring drive in the first half. I know I'm beating a deadhorse, but I will obliterate it.
This game is decently on the offense. I know the defense was pretty awful at times, but hear me out. The game is 10-7, we don't get a first down, call that execution, playcalling, stupid decision to go for it with the punter you have, game close, and the ball on your own 34. That's major momentum and a short field for the offense at 31 yards. Then you give them an 11 yard field after a fumble on the next drive. Then on the next one you fail again and get the punt blocked, and it's 26-7 with 10 minutes left in the first half. Defense has surrendered all of 42 yards for those 16 points. Those major 16 points that make it a 19 point lead.
The defense then would give us a chance forcing 3 straight Georgia punts (end of half not included). If the offense scores on either of the first half stops and after the first stop of the second half it's a one score game, with momentum and who knows what happens in that situation. I know this isn't the case, but it did give me flashbacks of those 2015/16 defenses that would get stops and then get frustrated when the offense would do nothing with them so it lead to lackluster defense.
I'm not about to say the defense was good or we would have won, but momentum means a lot. When the defense does their part and the offense is rolling in mediocrity, I can't hold it all on the defense, especially when the offense put them in several bad spots.
It isn't the "oline" or "youth" or "2nd year coach" or the blanket statement defense of your choice that has Hansen and Boardingham having close to even number of snaps with Hansen have more early on. It isn't one of the blanket statements that Wilson got the ball several different ways including a down the field in route on the first drive, but then didn't get any touches for several drives and most were predicatable screens before he got leveled on yet another 3rd down slant (which you bet they adjusted to after the TD and knew the tendency). We did have one non-3rd down slant that went for 7. It isn't one of the blanket statements that keeps designing, running and throwing routes short of the sticks on 3rd/4th down (again like we saw in the MacNuss years). It isn't a blanket statement that doesn't see much of a downfield quick passing game.
Again, I know it's a dead horse, but if you think it's one of those blanket excuses please tackle for me how it is one of those.
There's no reason we haven't seen an announcement loud and clear about Chris Couch. Not only did we have a punt blocked, but on UGA's FG attempt (on their first drive, again, if offense scores after this bend, but don't break its a different game) we had 10 men with the 11th running on late.
I get sick of losing. In most people's heads and even in the pre-season most saw this as a loss. I can accept losing, what I refuse to accept is anymore excuses for getting blown out and how it is acceptable. You will not convince me Auburn and Carolina are better off than us this year, but they didn't lose by 23 and pad stats towards the end to say look at us, we didn't stop fighting.
At least we get to wear UGA colors this upcoming Saturday...granted our Coach does that every week. That, like 2 OL coaches, will be one of those things you don't mind, but absolutely hate if and once the UAA says you can.
At least we beat Carolina at the last second...a team increasingly looking like a 3 win team.
I said 7 wins is the measuring stick for the season before the season and no one though it was controversial. That is still possible. Wins and losses do not change that. I have too much integrity to move the goalposts. Now to see how we respond in our "easiest" game left.
Go Gators!