Florida @ Utah - 8/31 @ 8pm...

[Gator Fever]

Well we are about 3 weeks away from the opening Thursday night game against Utah. Except for the location which could make a big difference we will be facing a similar Utah team to the one we played last season. They once again have a big RB that can get loose pretty fast if the front 7 don't tackle him. He played a lot in their final few games last season and got loose quite a few times running through attempted tackles by the safeties. Their big RB last season who is gone had 115 yards against us. I look for them to be more run heavy than in last year's game.

It looks like most likely Cameron Rising will be playing QB against us again. He is being limited in practice but appears to be on schedule to play with some limitations on his scrambling. If he doesn't get the start they have a redshirt freshman as the backup who has never played in a game before I think. He isn't the scrambling threat Rising is. Utah also has the TE returning that had over 100 yards against us last season.

This is a very important game this season and imo a loss here assures us of going no better than 6-6 most likely. Hopefully I am wrong but I lean to Utah winning this game. I just don't see us making enough big plays to win this season like we did in this game last season with Richardson. Rising being limited with his running should definitely help the defense but I think Utah makes enough plays to win. I think for us to win this game on their field we will really need to impose our will running the football or one of those freshman receivers will have to have a couple of big plays for us.

 

[Dannygator1989]

Idk if you read your own posts, but you're negative in every single one.

Like it could be about the weather, and you'd go "well it looks like it should be a decent day but probably some cloud cover, and if that happens, probably going to rain some, and then the clouds go away and it's going to be really humid. Really don't stand a chance against that kind of humidity. Looking like a real bad day and honestly the rest of the week doesn't look much better. We'll be lucky to survive if we even try to go outside after 12 but hopefully that's not how it works, but honestly I just don't see any way it won't be like that. Good news is I got new windshield wipers for the rain, but my tires are bald so I'll probably slide into a ditch anyway."

Like...bruh....why and how do you exist?

 

[Gator Fever]

Idk if you read your own posts, but you're negative in every single one.

Like it could be about the weather, and you'd go "well it looks like it should be a decent day but probably some cloud cover, and if that happens, probably going to rain some, and then the clouds go away and it's going to be really humid. Really don't stand a chance against that kind of humidity. Looking like a real bad day and honestly the rest of the week doesn't look much better. We'll be lucky to survive if we even try to go outside after 12 but hopefully that's not how it works, but honestly I just don't see any way it won't be like that. Good news is I got new windshield wipers for the rain, but my tires are bald so I'll probably slide into a ditch anyway."

Like...bruh....why and how do you exist?

lol..Just talking what I think the reality of the game will be. It wouldn't shock me if we win as we have more raw talent but I don't see that likely beating this Utah team on the road. This isnt a game I give us hardly any chance this season like GA and @ LSU though. Feel free to pump some sunshine in this thread and let us know why it's more likely we go in there and beat this Utah team.

 

[Dannygator1989]

lol..Just talking what I think the reality of the game will be. It wouldn't shock me if we win as we have more raw talent but I don't see that likely beating this Utah team on the road. This isnt a game I give us hardly any chance this season like GA and @ LSU though. Feel free to pump some sunshine in this thread and let us know why it's more likely we go in there and beat this Utah team.

"Pump some sunshine"

Lol not doing that. But shitting all over everything sure seems delightful too, apparently.

 

[Gator Fever]

"Pump some sunshine"

Lol not doing that. But shitting all over everything sure seems delightful too, apparently.

I don't shit all over everything. I think this team could be a solid 8-4 team this season with a good QB and is set up for a 9-3 area 12 team playoff contention type season in 2024 if we have a good experienced QB then.

 

[sadgator]

sadgator thought this was a certain loss a few months ago…

Now, for some reason, sadgator thinks Florida is going to punch Utah in the mouth…hard…

Based on nothing other than a feeling…and the fact that everybody is sh!tting on this team…

 

[GatorNation79]

Hell I'm glad that football is back, looking forward to the season and I'm excited about the future of Gator Football with the way that recruiting is going.

 

[Gator Fever]

sadgator thought this was a certain loss a few months ago…

Now, for some reason, sadgator thinks Florida is going to punch Utah in the mouth…hard…

Based on nothing other than a feeling…and the fact that everybody is sh!tting on this team…

You need to go bet this game while getting over a TD. Even though I think we have a little chance I wouldn't bet it even with that line just because of the flashbacks of big RBs running wild over us in the 2nd half when we wore down. The video of that new RB of theirs didn't look good for opposing safeties.

 

[sadgator]

The video of that new RB of theirs didn't look good for opposing safeties.

You realize that Florida should have a pretty good running game this year too, correct?

Let’s hope this game does turn into a running game battle…sadgator would feel pretty good about that.

 

[Gator Fever]

You realize that Florida should have a pretty good running game this year too, correct?

Let’s hope this game does turn into a running game battle…sadgator would feel pretty good about that.

Yep and our 2 backs actually ran pretty good on Utah last season not even counting Richardson's big runs. I just hope the elevation change doesn't affect us in the 2nd half too much.

 

[ocalaman]

You realize that Florida should have a pretty good running game this year too, correct?

Let’s hope this game does turn into a running game battle…sadgator would feel pretty good about that.

The emphasis will certainly be on the running game, but no matter how good the backs are, if the O-line can't block it won't matter. The defense dominated the offense during spring practice and so far into fall practice. Everybody agrees that our defense is much improved, but the success of the running game is going to be determined, in large part, by how well our basically, new & revamped, offensive line performs. Plus how effective the QB is in having a decent passing game to keep the opposing defense honest and not packing the line of scrimmage.

 

[PacoGator19]

We are loaded at RB. The oline just needs to do enough to give those guys a little bit of space.

 

[Nicktheslick]

You realize that Florida should have a pretty good running game this year too, correct?

Let’s hope this game does turn into a running game battle…sadgator would feel pretty good about that.

This team is certainly going to have a chip on their shoulders.

 

[ocalaman]

This team is certainly going to have a chip on their shoulders.

I hope you're right. They definitely should be playing more as a team, as those who didn't "buy in" to Napier's system should now be gone.

 

[Gator Fever]

Utah has a really strong home field advantage the last 5 years with only 2 losses at home and no losses at home the past 2 seasons.

 

[PacoGator19]

I think we win in a close one.

 

[GatorNation79]

It will be interesting to see how our men do in the altitude. It will be a challenge, just like it was for them playing in the swamp last year. I expect it to be a great game with some ups and downs. Go Gators!

 

[LizardGrad89]

I think if we come out and punch them in the mouth we have a shot. This game is going to be on the shoulders of the front 7.

 

[LizardGrad89]

sadgator thought this was a certain loss a few months ago…

Now, for some reason, sadgator thinks Florida is going to punch Utah in the mouth…hard…

Based on nothing other than a feeling…and the fact that everybody is sh!tting on this team…

I'm not surprised about the sh!tting.

I mean, we lost a lot of games last year and had our QB drafted top 5. The casual observer is going to assume Richardson was the talent on the team and did his best to carry us, rather than the reality of the occasional fantastic highlight reel plays combined with maddening inconsistency and long stretches of subpar performance. I'm interested to see year 2, and whether we have a bunch of players who know their roles and play as a team, because if we have that, we will surprise people.

 

[Gator Fever]

I'm not surprised about the sh!tting.

I mean, we lost a lot of games last year and had our QB drafted top 5. The casual observer is going to assume Richardson was the talent on the team and did his best to carry us, rather than the reality of the occasional fantastic highlight reel plays combined with maddening inconsistency and long stretches of subpar performance. I'm interested to see year 2, and whether we have a bunch of players who know their roles and play as a team, because if we have that, we will surprise people.

Utah fans are acting pretty confident. They seem to think their defense will be better this season and that they will be able to run on us better than last season. I just hope our front 7 holds up as Napier said after the scrimmage that the tackling by the secondary needed to improve.

 

[sadgator]

Well, look, at this point it seems pretty clear that Rising isn’t (or shouldn’t) be playing…and Rose is out….

Hmmmm…
https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2023/08/12/utah-qb-brandon-rose-reveals-hes/

 

[sadgator]

Not at all attempting to be all Pollyanna, but we may not just show up and fight…we may very-well kick their asses…

sadgator believes this…

 

[DaleLoon]

There's been a covert operation based in Athens, and Tallahassee, that have kept the swamp dry. It's rainy season boys. First up is a ten point win over the latest PAC 12 defectors. I see a 24-14 victory over those Salt Lake fellows.

 

[Gator Fever]

Not at all attempting to be all Pollyanna, but we may not just show up and fight…we may very-well kick their asses…

sadgator believes this…

Well if Barnes does get the start we can probably expect an even heavier dose of their rushing attack. I hope the defense is up to the task of containing it the whole game. Coach Napier seemed to say our safeties still had issues tackling.

 

[Gator Fever]

Seeming more likely as we approach the game this former walk-on QB may actually get the start against us. This is a highlight tape obviously and doesn't show his weaknesses. It looks like he is just as much a running threat as Rising was but I took a look at the 2nd half of that Penn State game when he replaced Rising and he was mostly a deer in the headlights when they got good pressure on him. He made a lot of poor throws or just froze up. He seems to be a decent passer without much pressure but most QBs are when its easy like that.




Already getting NIL deals also.

 

[bradleygator]

That would be great to miss Rising. Think we need wins this year however we get them. I was initially optimistic about this game but thinking about it we are really going to have to have our stuff wired together, because Whittingham runs a really solid program and they are not going to beat themselves at home. Great test for CBN.

 

[Gator Fever]

That would be great to miss Rising. Think we need wins this year however we get them. I was initially optimistic about this game but thinking about it we are really going to have to have our stuff wired together, because Whittingham runs a really solid program and they are not going to beat themselves at home. Great test for CBN.

Whittingham will really try to just pound us if there is no Rising in at QB. I would expect a lot of throws to the RBs and TEs when they aren't running the ball.

 

[sadgator]

sadgator doesn’t know, man, but he just thinks we’re gonna be a pain in Utah’s ass. They’re not gonna get the revenge cakewalk rout they crave, and sadgator thinks it’s going to bother them…

Our skill guys are super good…and Mertz is capable of managing this environment well with his experience…

They’re planning to party on our asses, and you know that Napier has told Florida that…

sadgator just doesn’t see it going down like Utah expects…

 

[LizardGrad89]

sadgator doesn’t know, man, but he just thinks we’re gonna be a pain in Utah’s ass. They’re not gonna get the revenge cakewalk rout they crave, and sadgator thinks it’s going to bother them…

Our skill guys are super good…and Mertz is capable of managing this environment well with his experience…

They’re planning to party on our asses, and you know that Napier has told Florida that…

sadgator just doesn’t see it going down like Utah expects…

All I know is, we will learn a lot about this team's toughness that night.

 

[Countygator1]

sadgator doesn’t know, man, but he just thinks we’re gonna be a pain in Utah’s ass. They’re not gonna get the revenge cakewalk rout they crave, and sadgator thinks it’s going to bother them…

Our skill guys are super good…and Mertz is capable of managing this environment well with his experience…

They’re planning to party on our asses, and you know that Napier has told Florida that…

sadgator just doesn’t see it going down like Utah expects…

Gators opened as a 9.5 dog and the line is down to 7.5. Part of that may be due to QB uncertainty with Utah.

 

[Gator Fever]

sadgator doesn’t know, man, but he just thinks we’re gonna be a pain in Utah’s ass. They’re not gonna get the revenge cakewalk rout they crave, and sadgator thinks it’s going to bother them…

Our skill guys are super good…and Mertz is capable of managing this environment well with his experience…

They’re planning to party on our asses, and you know that Napier has told Florida that…

sadgator just doesn’t see it going down like Utah expects…

You remember all the bad snaps by the backup center in the spring game? Or at least I think it was the backup. Well now our starting center just went on crutches and is wearing a boot. We better hope he can play against Utah.

 

[Gator Fever]

Gators opened as a 9.5 dog and the line is down to 7.5. Part of that may be due to QB uncertainty with Utah.

I think the over/under has dropped by like 12 points.

 

[bradleygator]

I was thinking along the lines of Sad, but Whittingham is a real solid coach. They won’t give the game away but it’s on the table for us.

 

[gatordad3]

What I'm hearing is the defense actually has a clue as to what their assignments are in practice.

 

[TEBOW TIME]

ESPN’s FPI predicts every game on Florida’s 2023 schedule

Florida hopes to improve in Year 2 under Billy Napier.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

 

[sadgator]

Gators opened as a 9.5 dog and the line is down to 7.5…

Keep it at 9.5…LFG, ya’ll…

 

[sadgator]

ESPN’s FPI predicts every game on Florida’s 2023 schedule

Florida hopes to improve in Year 2 under Billy Napier.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

32.1% chance to beat Utah…

 

[Gator Fever]

Starting to think now Whittingham has known since camp started that Rising isn't going to play against us. Rising apparently has only really been doing basic passing drills and hasn't played at all in either scrimmage even with a non-contact jersey. Meanwhile all the 1st team practice snaps have supposedly been going to the backups up until this point with just a couple of practices to go. Whittingham also made his backup QBs live in the first scrimmage to see how they would hold up in real game conditions - probably to determine who he was going to start against us. With his game so dependent on his scrambling it seems unlikely he would let him go from just doing passing drills to starting against us.

 

[sadgator]

Starting to think now Whittingham has known since camp started that Rising isn't going to play against us.

Safe bet. Consider this stat. from the Salt Lake City Tribune…

“Return timelines varied wildly. For those who did return from an ACL tear, the average time was 11.6 months — far slower than Rising’s attempted return on Aug. 31, just eight months after his injury on Jan. 2. ‘When you look at the timetable, when he is going to be cleared, or projected to be cleared, is coming right down to the wire,’ Whittingham said.”

Even if he does play against us, he would be unlikely to be at full capacity. An ACL tear isn’t something you just wait out and come back in the same condition you left..it takes an exorbitant amount of time to work though…

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/utah-utes/2023/08/06/how-quickly-can-utahs-cam-rising/

 

[GatorNation79]

Starting to think now Whittingham has known since camp started that Rising isn't going to play against us. Rising apparently has only really been doing basic passing drills and hasn't played at all in either scrimmage even with a non-contact jersey. Meanwhile all the 1st team practice snaps have supposedly been going to the backups up until this point with just a couple of practices to go. Whittingham also made his backup QBs live in the first scrimmage to see how they would hold up in real game conditions - probably to determine who he was going to start against us. With his game so dependent on his scrambling it seems unlikely he would let him go from just doing passing drills to starting against us.

It's not really surprising though...guy had a surgery that puts him back middle of the season at best. He's a player though...Whittingham is going to bring a good team and they are great at home. Ready to see the game!