This 2010 Florida team has been a mysterious disappointment from day one this season and the article I link to below underscores the severity: http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20101016/COLUMNISTS/101019496/1044/gatorsfootball?Title=Gators-descend-into-also-ran-status I hope Meyer has the fire to turn this slide around.
You'll understand if I don't feel your pain, right? :wink: As I have said before, the staff turnover, misses in recruiting...sorry John Brantley is not a good QB for the Urban Meyer system, star players leaving early for the NFL and you have to now wonder how much Urban is investing in coaching right now. Remember is was less than a year ago he retired.
This same type situation was present in 2005 with regard to offensive struggles at Qb.....Urbie's first season except we knew then he was indeed invested in coaching at that time. In the two weeks off before Georgia that year he put together an offensive adjustment based on Chris Leak's talent that would see Florida turning things around to the point of winning the National Title in 2006 with Leak at the helm. That was Urban then......now because of recent developments with his health I do wonder what kind of Urban we have on the sideline today. We'll see.
I see that Urban said he has to get a running game going. But the UF running game in the past was Tim Tebow plus a bunch of misdirection to guys in motion, fast guys like Harvin. You guys don't really have any RB's in the traditional sense, oh yeah E.Moody. Without Tim Tebow (or Alex Smith) type of QB I wonder if you can get a running game going. I know for one thing if I am a RB, I'm not going to Fla.
BTW, speaking of Tim Tebow, did you see his first NFL touchdown? He was a Wildcat QB on the goal line. That's his ticket to playing time the rest of the year, his reads are simple and he can throw the ball something the rest of the leagues Wildcat QB's (except Mike Vick) can't do credibly.
We have a running back who is supposed to be pretty good red shirting, Mack Brown. We have a lot of hope for him in the future. Terry, I think a lot of the things you say in your first post are true. It's kind of like a perfect storm hitting us all at once. I also think some questions about Meyer linger. Can he learn to adapt to his new role. I love the guy and hope this season is his feeling out how to move forward, still be the great coach but not burn himself out. If he goes back where he was last year he will no doubt have to retire. If he cannot coach any other way then I think he would also retire. I'm rooting for him. All the other factors, players lost, coaches lost make things very difficult. Then there are Gator fans, many who have only seen them win constantly. They feel entitled to always win. Not only win but win with flair, a close low scoring win isn't good enough. We are at a bit of a crossroads, but I think it will work out.
Bill are Gator fans starting to call for Brantley to be benched in favor of Trey Burton? Do you have a QB in the 2011 class who is more of the physical dual threat style of QB? Who calls the plays? Addazzio or Meyer?
Some of the reason you haven't seen success from Burton lately falls squarely on Addazio's inability to call the right plays. I watched in person as Burton sprinted to the endzone 4 times vs. Ky.....outracing everyone to the corner on the outside. I watched in disgust on TV as Burton was sent up the middle numerous times in the red zone vs. Bama all to no avail while not even once did Addazio send him to the outside only a week removed from his outside success vs. Ky. Then against LSU.....same thing.....up the middle.....no surprise.....no success until one play.....something like 4th and 2 he was sent to the outside and lo and friggin behold he gained about 5 yards and a critical first down. I think Addazio is a huge reason this offense is moribund and ineffective. It's the same problems as last year except last year there was Rainey....a healthy Demps....Tebow, Cooper and Hernandez. Last year's contingent overcame Addazio......but barely in reality when you look at the production and especially theSECG loss to Bama when the offense looked much like this year's Gator offense.
The networks conveniently leave one thing out about Newton. When he was suspended by Meyer for suspicion of receiving stolen property what he had done was toss a laptop he had purchased from some individual out of his dorm window when the cops knocked on his door. Why would a completely innocent kid do that? Not smart and it precipitated his leaving Florida for good. It's too bad for UF but it sure seems to be working out for Newton. Hopefully his character issue was just a small anomaly and he has made good personal choices since. But it doesn't help Florida's Qb situation now.
I continue to be amazed at how fast Chizik has turned around Auburn. Maybe it's just an anomaly or maybe not, 1 good year does not make a turn around but it's a good start. I really thought them hiring Chizik was a desperation move and would flop.
kp, contrary to what some people say Newton was not kicked out of UF. He did something stupid but could have easily worked his way back on the team. And the reason he left was because it was obvious that Brantley was next in line. In hindsight that doesn't look so good, but Brantley was lined up to be next. Terry, the answer to both questions is yes. Some folks are calling for Brantley to be benched. However even more want our offensive coordinator hung from the nearest tree. And yes we have a commitment for 2011 from a QB who would fit Urban's system nicely. His name is Jeff Driskel. Jeff Driskel
Bill, a TE from Jax.....AC Leonard......has recommitted to the Gators and closed his recruiting. Terry.....you have it down pretty good what is ailing the Gators but I think there is one thing that has probably cost UF two of the three losses in spite of the shakiness on offense and that is our injured kicker Caleb Sturgis. If he is around making the kicks he usually makes I think UF is 6-1 overall.....and would be one of the shakiest 6-1 teams you have ever seen.
That is "SO" true Bill and could be said about a couple teams I know of....One of them hasn't won a big game in ten years.... :cry:
I think criticism of Meyer is understandable because he runs the show but any Gator fan that wants Meyer to abandon the program is dumber than dumb. Meyer has earned the right to have plenty of time to get this thing turned around. It may not happen this season at all and if it doesn't happen by next season then I will start to wonder why he hasn't responded appropriately. For now I think the convergence of all of the bad luck ( kicker hurt, Rainey out, Demps limited, LSU's lucky bounce on the fake, etc. ) all add up to take it's toll on Meyer. I will be very interested to see how/if he responds with vigor, creativity and hands on management of the offense for Georgia.
Do you think that Meyer will make some staff changes in the offseason? While I haven't watched a lot of Gator football it seems like your defense is not the same alignment that you had with Charlie Strong, were you playing a 4-2-5 or 5-2-4 against LSU, seems like Strong was using a more conventional 4-3. Does the new DCoord match your talent with scheme? Who actually calls the plays?
I have been present at two games and in each of those the team came out fired up and looked ready to whip ass. The first one....vs. Ky......they did just that. The 2nd one.....vs. LSU.....saw the Gator's offense revert back to ealier troubles and foibles. It was amazing that the offense was able to muster what should have been a game winning drive late vs. LSU but of course the Madness of the Mad Hatter began after that. Some of that "madness" was a huge defensive letdown after the fake FG and that underscores another problem.....the lack of real on field leadership. I think that lack of leadership is a carry over from lack of leadership from the coaches while in-game and Meyer is definitely part of the problem there. So yes....Strong made a big difference on D because he is a college coach whereas Austin came from the pros and I do think there may be some coaching shuffles/additions at the OC position in the offseason unless Meyer has become just that complacent.
New depths...for sure. Gators make their first appearance (ever?) in the infamous Bottom 10!! #5!! Kesley's Coogs own the bottom spot!! Bottom 10
Bottom 10, that's absurd, but he probably gets more hits because of that rating. Terry, I think there well may be coaching changes after the season is over. I expect our offensive coordinator to change but stay with the Gators, I think Meyer is watching several others closely including Austin the defensive coordinator. I have no idea what changes their may be though. I'm not sure if I understand what defense we are playing, it changes. We've been in a 5-2, a 3-4 and a 4-3 at various times. We need this extra week off.