Honestly who cares? Time will tell but neither of the three look like championship coaches. The focus on winnign the SEC East as some kind of trump card is so simplistic, it was rated even lower than the ACC Coastal last year and the third to last worst division IIRC, that's how bad it was. Muschamp's 12' team didn't win the East yet their season was more impressive. Beat more ranked teams and their only loss came by less than a TD to an 11 win team, a team they would have beat if Driskel didn't have a meltdown and turn the ball over 6 times. Using the "won the East!" logic, last year's team is better than any UF team that didn't win the East in their season, including the 01' team. Context matters people.
A lot of job openings this offseason....
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Offensively, I agree. McElwain was left a nasty defense basically intact, which I would take every day of the week over our 2002 defense. Zook went 6-2 in the SEC in year two with a young offense that he largely recruited: Leak, Wynn, Faison, Andre Caldwell.
To clarify, I'm not saying Zook was better than McElwain. That obviously is yet to be determined. Maybe McElwain wins the East again this year (if we don't play LSU, which it is looking like we won't, he's probably got the easiest path to an SEC division win in history). Maybe he finds a quarterback he likes and his offense catches fire. My point is just that Zook and Muschamp did some good things too but were ultimately judged disasters. If I had to bet my mortgage right now on whether we have the next Meyer/Spurrier, or the next Muschamp/Zook, I wouldn't have to think too long about it.
And to be fair, there are only a handful of Meyer/Spurriers in history. Maybe McElwain middles it and turns us into a perennial top-15 program that wins the SEC twice in 10 years. That would be at the bottom of my range of acceptable outcomes for a Gator coach.
Lets be honest, if you take out last years Ole Miss game, we really have been average under Mac and have not played well against good teams.
There's no need to take out the Ole Miss game, it happened. Kudos. But so did other games like UK, Mizzou, Vandy, FAU, Umass this year, North Texas, etc.
/its the backup QB's fault
/its the backup QB's fault
Granted it wasn't pretty but we won all those games. Zook and Muschamp both have some very very bad losses to just bad teams on their resume. Muschamp lost to Vandy & Missouri very badly and to Georgia Southern. Zook had some bad losses as well.
Is McElwain the next Spurrier/Meyer? Of course he isn't but Meyer and Spurrier are also 2 of the GOATs college football coaches. Unfortunately if your waiting for UF to have a coach as good as those 2 again walking the UF sidelines your going to be waiting an awfully long time IMO.
The way some of you posts and the way you reason you think Spurrier/Meyer should be the norm here at UF. I have news for you it isn't.
Oh look, more strawmen.
Where did I say I expect the next Spurrier or Meyer in any of my posts? You people always resort to that stupid claim any time anyone says anything that doesn't jive with the "everything is awesome!" line of thinking. There's a middle ground between Spurrier and Meyer and what should be reasonably expected at a place like UF. Everyone with a brain understands that. Nobody is expecting or asking for Mac or any other coach to be Spurrier or Meyer. No shit those types don't come along often.
Where did I say I expect the next Spurrier or Meyer in any of my posts? You people always resort to that stupid claim any time anyone says anything that doesn't jive with the "everything is awesome!" line of thinking. There's a middle ground between Spurrier and Meyer and what should be reasonably expected at a place like UF. Everyone with a brain understands that. Nobody is expecting or asking for Mac or any other coach to be Spurrier or Meyer. No shit those types don't come along often.
My expectations have been so lowered that I'd settle for competence on the side of the ball our coach is supposed to be a 'genius' on. Doesn't seem like too much to ask. How dare I be so demanding.
im still waiting to see what Mac can do with a consistent good QB that doesn't get suspended after starting undefeated or dying in car wrecks like the luck this program has had... The same thing has happened again this year and it cost us a game already with Del Rio getting cheap shot'd. When his two QB's in Grier and Del rio have been playing and they are at least decent the team hasn't looked to bad at all. In fact with both of them combined starting so far Mac is undefeated... With back up QB's..... welp.. People can act like that's not a big deal and it's not the only issue, but is certainly is a problem he's dealt with so far.
Even with those two, the offense has put up multiple stinkers. 2/3 of Del Rio's starts fall into that category. Of course playing with backups matter but that also cuts both ways. We've beat teams with their backup QB's and people still bend over backwards to give credit for those wins. We lost to UT with our backup but no one mentions they were down like 6 defensive starters, had OL out, etc. At some point the offense which they were hired to fix needs to not be a trainwreck. There's always a reason. Backup QB, rain, they held back on the playbook, blah, blah, blah. Reminds me of Muschamp's 4-8 season when they same people swore up and down injuries were the only reason we were 4-8.
but they are both much better than the backups that Florida has somehow managed to have, really awful ones... good enough to win ball games with a good defense, we don't need a stellar QB to win games, yet.. I see many acting like Del Rio won't make any difference for this team or the OL, but I really think he does and will, if he doesn't get hit by a bus on campus.
It is bothersome that we can't expect to have a productive offense with a back up qb playing.
For a dude who said he could win with his dog, production under your back-up qb should be virtually seemless.
In the two times that we have had to go to the back up during Mac's tenure, we have looked like crap. That doesn't bode well for Mac's "adaptability" and it creates real uncertainty regarding his ability to maintain long-term success through transitional periods. You shouldn't always need to have an elite qb to be successful.
For a dude who said he could win with his dog, production under your back-up qb should be virtually seemless.
In the two times that we have had to go to the back up during Mac's tenure, we have looked like crap. That doesn't bode well for Mac's "adaptability" and it creates real uncertainty regarding his ability to maintain long-term success through transitional periods. You shouldn't always need to have an elite qb to be successful.
Del Rio can't save this oline. His quick release is one of the only reasons we don't have nearly 20 sacks given up already but they still let any and everybody whip em. It ain't gonna get better until they get more talent up there and we find an OC that can make an adjustment once he moves past his scripted plays (which usually work well).
Then use a freshman if the suck that bad. Get it done...no excuses.
Well FWIW Appleby's 300 yard half against UT is the most yards we've had in a half against a Power 5 opponent under this staff. Treon's UGA and LSU games were also the 2nd and 3rd most most yards put up against an SEC school last year. The only game we had eclipsing those yard totals against an SEC team was against UT, but their defense was pretty far behind both UGA and LSU. From Tennessee in 15' onward we only finally eclipsed those marks this year against UK against an SEC opponent.
So are those dudes superstars? Hell no, but they're capable enough to not put up some of the offensive performances we've put up. Why are FCS teams scoring more against FAU than we are? Their QB's better? Why can scrub teams score more against Umass and North Texas than we can? Both Treon and Appleby played well out the gate then got worse the longer they play...that's on coaching. Nuss has no counters once he moves past his scripted plays. The offense SHOULD drop off with the backup, but not to the degree it does. And like I mentioned before it isn't like the offense was lighting up the scoreboards with the starters anyway. We've had 2 great offensive games in two years...Ole Miss and UK this year. Starter or no starter.
So are those dudes superstars? Hell no, but they're capable enough to not put up some of the offensive performances we've put up. Why are FCS teams scoring more against FAU than we are? Their QB's better? Why can scrub teams score more against Umass and North Texas than we can? Both Treon and Appleby played well out the gate then got worse the longer they play...that's on coaching. Nuss has no counters once he moves past his scripted plays. The offense SHOULD drop off with the backup, but not to the degree it does. And like I mentioned before it isn't like the offense was lighting up the scoreboards with the starters anyway. We've had 2 great offensive games in two years...Ole Miss and UK this year. Starter or no starter.
Michi basically compares all our coaches to Meyer or Spurrier. What I'm saying is if that is the bar you have set then your always going to be unhappy with the coaching.
No, no, no. You are putting names on these guys. We have had huge success under two guys. Both were innovative and brought tremendous energy and excitement to the program. We keep hiring guys with backgrounds from an outdated system. Saban ditched the system these guys run several years ago. There is a reason for that. So why Foley used this model that has NOT worked for now the third coach and ignores the model that has worked is beyond me. Just because you don't have a Meyer or Saban doesn't mean you have to have a Chump or Zook either. Why can you guys not operate in the middle? This is NOT an innovative offense, even with LDR. Foley said he heard we wanted offense, and this is what we got???? Seriously???? Strike three for Folly. Good news, he is out before the next hire.
So what system was McElwain running at Colorado St.? Saban's offense isn't innovative. Has it changed? Yes but Bama isn't running anything innovative either.
In the middle is a guy like Richt who many on here said isn't acceptable either.
Look, the jury is still out...Mac is neither a tremendous success nor a complete failure at this point. But the sample size is getting bigger.
If we come out this weekend and lay a huge turd offensively, sadgator is gonna go ape shit...
They have everything in their favor. An unexpected rest week, extra time to prepare for Missouri, Del Rio back, first home game in three weeks, 4 pm start on the SEC network, homecoming...
We need to see something positive offensively...desperately.
If we come out this weekend and lay a huge turd offensively, sadgator is gonna go ape shit...
They have everything in their favor. An unexpected rest week, extra time to prepare for Missouri, Del Rio back, first home game in three weeks, 4 pm start on the SEC network, homecoming...
We need to see something positive offensively...desperately.
We likely will. Mizzou's secondary is suspect BUT they also have one of the best pass rushers in football, so he's gonna cause us trouble up front. Especially if we continue to not help our tackles by chipping with a back, TE, rolling the pocket, etc.
Give the guy a few years, FER PHUCKSAKES.
He deserves to be full evaluated after the 2018 season, but until then, I think it's premature.
We all know that Swami is premature in almost everything he does, but let's not all be like him.
He deserves to be full evaluated after the 2018 season, but until then, I think it's premature.
We all know that Swami is premature in almost everything he does, but let's not all be like him.
We know Zook was a great coach because of the way he turned the Fightin' Illini into a powerhouse for many years.
Zook was a great coach who just wasn't given a fair shot.
We know this because of the way he turned those Fightin' Illini into a powerhouse, and by the way the Gators went into steep decline immediately after Urban Meyer took over.
Zook was a great coach who just wasn't given a fair shot.
We know this because of the way he turned those Fightin' Illini into a powerhouse, and by the way the Gators went into steep decline immediately after Urban Meyer took over.
Please point out where I say anything approaching that Ron Zook was a great coach, Uninformed Retard.
#insta'd
I said the same thing sad, we need to see drastic offensive improvement this week, because otherwise the waning interest is going to be moving in the wring direction. I also think its imperative we beat UGa this year. In no way can you justify going 0-3 v our big three rivals. When is the last time that even happened???
lost to UT and UGA in 04 but beat FSU, that's probably the closest it's come in awhile off the top of my head... lost to UGA in 97 but beat the other two... with UGA and UT not ever winning often and FSU having that drought for 6 years im sure it's been a long ass time.
bad coach will get fired within 5 years....merely competent will get you fired within 8...only elite coaches make it past that time and avoid getting fired at places like Florida, FSU, ALabama, etc. Fan bases of top programs will tolerate nothing less than an elite. coach.
If that is the only criteria, then yes, it is not the only criteria to judge a coaching staff. However, winning the East is always, ALWAYS, better than not winning the East.
For example, we could be saying, "Hey, the SEC East was the worst division in the Power 5 last year and the current coaching staff *still* could not win it."
Just to be clear, that is EXACTLY what the fans of six other teams are saying right now.
Well of course. I'm just saying that alone doesn't always determine the quality of team. I could list at least 5-7 UF teams in my lifetime that did not win the East that I'd pick over last year's team, and they'd probably be pretty big favorites. We were the the tallest midget, which is why I said context matters.
I agree. But it is worth repeating; it is always good, and always notable, to win the East. Always. That is the only way to Atlanta. That is probably the only way to the playoffs. It starts there.
