- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,315
- 6,299
Apologies for lack of LSU review. Drove from Red Stick to Alabama immediately after the game, slept less than 4 hours before driving from the Alabama Mississippi border to Clermont. Then couldn’t get out of bed Monday with dehydration and flu.
For my first (and maybe only) trip to Columbia, it was an interesting game. So interesting I am writing this on my cell phone after not sleeping and enjoying a plane ride home…before I drive to Georgia this afternoon.
I had a somewhat controversial take on Twitter (well, some found it controversial) this week that I shared here after the UGA game and applied after the LSU game. Our defense is bad, but when they get stops offense needs to score. LSU, for example, had we scored after several stops (or FG’s that even Donk says is a stop for this particular D), it might be a different game as an opportunity to lead early was there. We had that same issue. After a great initial drive, UF stopped Mizzou multiple times. At best, UF could’ve gone up 21-3. Or 14-3, or 17-3 or even 10-3. All changing the feel and dynamic of the game. Granted, our detailed oriented program kept getting penalties. Some players, some how the F do you get Delay of Game penalties after a penalty? Money is on playcaller taking forever to call a play.
Instead we went scoreless the rest of the half. We were once again obsessed with the horizontal game. Granted, at one point in the 2nd quarter if Mertz his Wilson in stride on a slant it’s a TD or at least a big gain. Instead the ball was behind and lucky not to be picked. Later we’d have a pick on an overthrow. Make no mistake, if Boardingham doesn’t touch it, the safety would’ve picked it.
Anyways, scoring on early stops puts pressure on the favorites and home teams, we don’t do that. We had them where we wanted them and let them off the hook (theme of the night).
The second half was much better as we shocked everyone on offense by feeding Ricky, Etienne and Wilson. Etienne even got multiple drives in a row after scoring a TD on an excellent catch and run.
Graham Mertz had the most gutsy run of his UF career and it unfortunately cost him. All the credit in the world for that run to pick up a big first down. Brown came in and outside of an early fumble, was better than most would have thought. His running dynamic changed the game.
The offense was amazing in the second half. Kept Mizzou on their heels, which is why I can’t believe we played for the FG when we did. We were moving the ball almost at will and then Billy went Scared Money when a 1st Down essentially wins the game. Had we not been moving the ball well, had I not known Mevis had a 60+ yard game winner this season so Mizzou wouldn’t need much with a minute or more left w/ or w/o a TO (told the Mizzou fans/college kids around me we’d try to run out the clock with them having 3 TO’s). If we run read options or one of a number of our gadget plays (most don’t involve throwing) and don’t get a first down, still could’ve kicked the FG after trying to win it.
On defense, the defense for the second game in a row where more than what I thought they’d be in the first half. If only they had support when they did get stops.
We know this defense isn’t getting many stops. No reason to keep hammering it, that’s a given. They did get a stop when necessary to give us a final drive. However, once we allowed Mizzou to have the ball with time, they did great for 3 downs. Cant ask for too much more than 4th and 17. Then it happened, and again, and again, where a long FG to win became a chip shot. In quite the opposite of what we did, Mizzou didn’t settle for FG range, but attacked for the most optimal situation.
I see a lot of Alabama 2021 moral victory type tweets. Seriously, for fun I looked up Will Miles tweet after that game and it looks eerily similar to the “fought til the end” narrative I see going around. Which isn’t a bad or incorrect take, but just in the moral victory framing (while saying there are no moral victories).
We didn’t get blown out like I thought was possible so that is something. However, at the end of the day, it’s wins and losses. Next week we have a chance to do a few things that would be great. Time will tell if we will or if we have a third straight losing season. I stand by my belief that losing seasons are not acceptable. Hopefully, we start to avoid that Saturday upsetting the clown school.
Go Gators!
For my first (and maybe only) trip to Columbia, it was an interesting game. So interesting I am writing this on my cell phone after not sleeping and enjoying a plane ride home…before I drive to Georgia this afternoon.
I had a somewhat controversial take on Twitter (well, some found it controversial) this week that I shared here after the UGA game and applied after the LSU game. Our defense is bad, but when they get stops offense needs to score. LSU, for example, had we scored after several stops (or FG’s that even Donk says is a stop for this particular D), it might be a different game as an opportunity to lead early was there. We had that same issue. After a great initial drive, UF stopped Mizzou multiple times. At best, UF could’ve gone up 21-3. Or 14-3, or 17-3 or even 10-3. All changing the feel and dynamic of the game. Granted, our detailed oriented program kept getting penalties. Some players, some how the F do you get Delay of Game penalties after a penalty? Money is on playcaller taking forever to call a play.
Instead we went scoreless the rest of the half. We were once again obsessed with the horizontal game. Granted, at one point in the 2nd quarter if Mertz his Wilson in stride on a slant it’s a TD or at least a big gain. Instead the ball was behind and lucky not to be picked. Later we’d have a pick on an overthrow. Make no mistake, if Boardingham doesn’t touch it, the safety would’ve picked it.
Anyways, scoring on early stops puts pressure on the favorites and home teams, we don’t do that. We had them where we wanted them and let them off the hook (theme of the night).
The second half was much better as we shocked everyone on offense by feeding Ricky, Etienne and Wilson. Etienne even got multiple drives in a row after scoring a TD on an excellent catch and run.
Graham Mertz had the most gutsy run of his UF career and it unfortunately cost him. All the credit in the world for that run to pick up a big first down. Brown came in and outside of an early fumble, was better than most would have thought. His running dynamic changed the game.
The offense was amazing in the second half. Kept Mizzou on their heels, which is why I can’t believe we played for the FG when we did. We were moving the ball almost at will and then Billy went Scared Money when a 1st Down essentially wins the game. Had we not been moving the ball well, had I not known Mevis had a 60+ yard game winner this season so Mizzou wouldn’t need much with a minute or more left w/ or w/o a TO (told the Mizzou fans/college kids around me we’d try to run out the clock with them having 3 TO’s). If we run read options or one of a number of our gadget plays (most don’t involve throwing) and don’t get a first down, still could’ve kicked the FG after trying to win it.
On defense, the defense for the second game in a row where more than what I thought they’d be in the first half. If only they had support when they did get stops.
We know this defense isn’t getting many stops. No reason to keep hammering it, that’s a given. They did get a stop when necessary to give us a final drive. However, once we allowed Mizzou to have the ball with time, they did great for 3 downs. Cant ask for too much more than 4th and 17. Then it happened, and again, and again, where a long FG to win became a chip shot. In quite the opposite of what we did, Mizzou didn’t settle for FG range, but attacked for the most optimal situation.
I see a lot of Alabama 2021 moral victory type tweets. Seriously, for fun I looked up Will Miles tweet after that game and it looks eerily similar to the “fought til the end” narrative I see going around. Which isn’t a bad or incorrect take, but just in the moral victory framing (while saying there are no moral victories).
We didn’t get blown out like I thought was possible so that is something. However, at the end of the day, it’s wins and losses. Next week we have a chance to do a few things that would be great. Time will tell if we will or if we have a third straight losing season. I stand by my belief that losing seasons are not acceptable. Hopefully, we start to avoid that Saturday upsetting the clown school.
Go Gators!
