I’m telling you, I’ve got Graham Mertz fever.
Brad,
A highlight video is a marketing tool; you only put in the good stuff. Even allowing for that, Mertz does looks good in those snippets.
I realized that without even seeing him play as a Gator, I was negative about him.
I guess with all the other "Elite (?)" portal QBs supposedly available, I was - beyond disappointed -
pissed off that we had to settle for Mertz.
Watching that video helped me to move on from that attitude & hopefully give him a fair chance.
Even if Mertz plays well, I still don't think we will be much better than last year - Offense has the potential to be acceptable, Defense non-existent, & "game changer" concept for special teams (off the field ST coach) isn't working.
Seems like the OL has been in a state of crisis every year since
Jim McElwain took over & found that
Will Muschamp only left him 7 scholarship OL (6 actually - 1 got injured & quit football).
Kamryn Waites & his Achilles injury is a major setback but CBN's prompt portal moves & a year of growth for the other OL should help.
NOTE:
We may not have the NIL$$$ for the superstars that everyone wants (& UGA, Bama, etc get), but the Portal OL we signed got some NIL$$$ & CBN got their deals done quickly & discretely.
OFFENSE
Don't know if the OL will be SEC caliber, but they should at least be better than what we saw in the L V Bowl. We have good RBs, mediocre TEs, & at least 1 WR.
If Mertz is a good ball handler, we should use RPO extensively & since they are similar, throw in some veer, triple option, & dare I say it - Wishbone offense just to make what will certainly be a run heavy offense less predictable.
You can't win the SEC or a Nattie without an elite QB & a strong passing game,
BUT
UGA has won a lot of football with a competent game manager at QB, a good running game, defense, & special teams.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Don't know how CBN's year 2 will turn out; but as a Gator, I've been "waiting for next year" for most of my life -
AS
long as we don't go "chumming" in the portal for a QB (& waste a scholarship), 1 more year won't kill me.
Tebow, thanks again for finding & posting Mertz's video.