Praises:
Offense - when they play with tempo - take their first series, or the back to back TD's scored ran they ran it down LSU throats and didn't give them a chance to breathe... it was exciting, balanced and ran with conviction
Special Teams - created a turnover, made no critical mistakes and won this phase of the game
Louisiana RB's - Johnson & ETN played at another level - had something to prove coming home and played at the highest level i've seen both.
Napier - Loved we got to see his competitive side - his interview with Alyssa was awesome, the emotion around the special teams TO - man was i excited for him and stoked to see.
The team came to fight and win - especially offense & ST... The D showed up early...
Give the D praise with their goal line stand after Florida's TO and Florida's aggressiveness passing on the 1.
No quit - after 2 possession down - able to take a brief lead and with last series - overcame 2nd & 30, was able to respond most times until end after LSU scores - showing resiliancy.
IMPROVED OFFENSIVE & SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY - just had to restate and repraise
Postulates: (maybe each deserves it's own discussion - 15 points)
UF doesn't make things easy for themselves when constantly playing from behind. There are numerous questions, thoughts, statistics to share on this Defense:
1. Versus SEC & Utah - Florida's D has given up opening possession points in every game except Vandy
> TD's allowed - LSU, SC, Utah, Tenn, Ark
> FG's allowed - KY, GA
> Where is the coaches game plan - to me this a complete reflection on the coaching staff preparation and how outmatched they are against their offensive counterparts.
2. Who is the leader of team on Defense? Who is that player opposing teams must game plan against? Who will make sure the team aligns properly? Who is the heart & soul of Florida and wears it on their sleeve (Think Spikes, Siler, and Vernell Brown for bleeding Gator)
> last spiritual leader on D was Ventrell Miller
> while I feel this year's D doesn't have one in that position - James was closest and with his injury vs. GA - the gap is ginourmous
> Looking to the future will Graham become that player as he evolves in the program?
3. So with poor coaching leadership, no leader on D, injuries decimating front 7, a lack of talent remaining at the LB position, transfer portal failures on D and freshman playing everywhere - is it no surprise the D:
> looks like 11 players playing individually 1:1 instead of a unit of 1 team of 11 with coordination and purpose
> there's too much thinking instead of just playing and letting natural ability take over
> gaping missed assignments (yesterday it was not covering the rb out of the backfield)
> makes opponents look like they took a video game cheat pill and become Heisman contenders
> If this was flag football - Daniels still would've scored on those long runs (do we not have a single team member who has an equivalent speed?)
> No turnovers forced
3B. Opponent offensive (SEC/Utah) dropoff the following week after playing us
a) Utah - 24 - next week vs Baylor (20)
b) Tennessee - 16 - next week vs UTSA (45) *** increase +29 vs non P5 team
c) Kentucky - 33 - next week vs Georgia (13)
d) Vandy - 14 - next week vs Georgia (20) ***increase +6
e) S. Carolina - 39 - next week vs Missouri (12)
f) Georgia - 43 - next week vs. Missouri (30)
g) Arkansas - 39; vs. Auburn (10)
h) LSU - 52; TBD
So other than Vandy and Tennessee (which played a non P5 right after) - opponents have scored double digit less points the next week (except Utah).
4. The South Carolina game has been the most impactful game of the 2023 year (with Arkansas second)
> would have losing record instead of being 5-5 now (and gave perception of winning team for 2 extra weeks)
> Offense has elevated game:
- Before SC - avg points 27 (11, 49, 29, 22, 14, 38) where 49 was McNeese & 38 Vandy
- SC & after - avg points 34 (41, 20, 39, 35) - where 20 is Georgia
> Defense post-SC has completely regressed giving up 39+ each game. Youth, injuries are factors but all teams are facing some element. This is a coaching issue and maybe a lack of experience in how to handle
5. While it happens in other games (FSU - Miami for instance) - continue to see secondary taking poor angles to players on the sidelines. It's either they are misjudging the speed of the game, Florida receivers are too slow in comparison to what they see on Saturday or they are going half speed simulations during practice.
6. Middle 8 - LSU 7-0 - for some reason Florida's most conservative playcalling was during this time - a little more understandble with ball backed up to end first half but there was 2 min to go to consider a tying FG if being aggressive. The 3 & out to start 2nd half was predictable and completely opposite of their opening drive.
7. Was thinking how cool was it seeing the opposition burn all their TO's in the first half due to offense and Florida perform time management free in first half.
8. Coaches - how do you allow a Delay of Game after change of possession from a KO and not immediately sending in your team with the play.
9. When 45-35 with under 7 to play - where was the tempo/urgency/playcalling that worked earlier - 3 runs in a row forcing the 4th down must pass (which was incomplete)
10. Player improvements this season - Mertz, Trey, ETN, Hayden, Slaughter, Pearsall, Smack, Crenshaw, K. Jackson, Boardingham, Lyons, Searcy, J. Jackson, Waites, McClellan
11. Wished they would've tried an onside K when everyone knew this D was not going to be able to stop LSU offense
12. Offense - love Mertz but he's not a running QB and it's clear Napier's O needs one to reach full potential... I can see times if Lagway (like AR 15 last year) was available - the gaping holes available.
13. Watching the Penn St game - that's a team with absolutely no O (makes you appreciate Florida) and can't win the big game - makes me think - would Florida fans sign up to go 10-2 yearly knowing you'll lose to Georgia & top 10 opponent each year and beat the underbelly.
14. Watched the UCF/OK St game (flipping between them and FSU/Miami) - after the meltdown to Baylor - was really impressed by how in the 4th Q - they went for the jugular - still with downfield passes, continued to try and score and showed no mercy. It harkened back to the Spurrier days and was impressed with their lesson learned.
Recruiting:
If I'm an elite defensive recruit - I wouldn't be fleeing from Florida - I'd be running and begging the coaches for an opportunity. There is not one position that is completely locked down to where you can't compete for starter opportunity. The offense is about to get exciting with a Mertz/Lagway duo, a RB headlined by ETN and WR unit led by Trey.
Applaud Napier for willing to recruit the best players nationwide... risk with that strategy is if a player is not in your natural recruiting territory - the risk for decommitment becomes elevated. Based on what's transpired and whispers in about what's to come - these players are located outside the 5 hour recruiting circle/state of Florida.
I'm worried less about recruiting rankings than are we filling each position with elite talent (increasing the talent base) as recruiting rankings do not take into account of meeting needs.
Go Gators - Beat Missouri this week.
Offense - when they play with tempo - take their first series, or the back to back TD's scored ran they ran it down LSU throats and didn't give them a chance to breathe... it was exciting, balanced and ran with conviction
Special Teams - created a turnover, made no critical mistakes and won this phase of the game
Louisiana RB's - Johnson & ETN played at another level - had something to prove coming home and played at the highest level i've seen both.
Napier - Loved we got to see his competitive side - his interview with Alyssa was awesome, the emotion around the special teams TO - man was i excited for him and stoked to see.
The team came to fight and win - especially offense & ST... The D showed up early...
Give the D praise with their goal line stand after Florida's TO and Florida's aggressiveness passing on the 1.
No quit - after 2 possession down - able to take a brief lead and with last series - overcame 2nd & 30, was able to respond most times until end after LSU scores - showing resiliancy.
IMPROVED OFFENSIVE & SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY - just had to restate and repraise
Postulates: (maybe each deserves it's own discussion - 15 points)
UF doesn't make things easy for themselves when constantly playing from behind. There are numerous questions, thoughts, statistics to share on this Defense:
1. Versus SEC & Utah - Florida's D has given up opening possession points in every game except Vandy
> TD's allowed - LSU, SC, Utah, Tenn, Ark
> FG's allowed - KY, GA
> Where is the coaches game plan - to me this a complete reflection on the coaching staff preparation and how outmatched they are against their offensive counterparts.
2. Who is the leader of team on Defense? Who is that player opposing teams must game plan against? Who will make sure the team aligns properly? Who is the heart & soul of Florida and wears it on their sleeve (Think Spikes, Siler, and Vernell Brown for bleeding Gator)
> last spiritual leader on D was Ventrell Miller
> while I feel this year's D doesn't have one in that position - James was closest and with his injury vs. GA - the gap is ginourmous
> Looking to the future will Graham become that player as he evolves in the program?
3. So with poor coaching leadership, no leader on D, injuries decimating front 7, a lack of talent remaining at the LB position, transfer portal failures on D and freshman playing everywhere - is it no surprise the D:
> looks like 11 players playing individually 1:1 instead of a unit of 1 team of 11 with coordination and purpose
> there's too much thinking instead of just playing and letting natural ability take over
> gaping missed assignments (yesterday it was not covering the rb out of the backfield)
> makes opponents look like they took a video game cheat pill and become Heisman contenders
> If this was flag football - Daniels still would've scored on those long runs (do we not have a single team member who has an equivalent speed?)
> No turnovers forced
3B. Opponent offensive (SEC/Utah) dropoff the following week after playing us
a) Utah - 24 - next week vs Baylor (20)
b) Tennessee - 16 - next week vs UTSA (45) *** increase +29 vs non P5 team
c) Kentucky - 33 - next week vs Georgia (13)
d) Vandy - 14 - next week vs Georgia (20) ***increase +6
e) S. Carolina - 39 - next week vs Missouri (12)
f) Georgia - 43 - next week vs. Missouri (30)
g) Arkansas - 39; vs. Auburn (10)
h) LSU - 52; TBD
So other than Vandy and Tennessee (which played a non P5 right after) - opponents have scored double digit less points the next week (except Utah).
4. The South Carolina game has been the most impactful game of the 2023 year (with Arkansas second)
> would have losing record instead of being 5-5 now (and gave perception of winning team for 2 extra weeks)
> Offense has elevated game:
- Before SC - avg points 27 (11, 49, 29, 22, 14, 38) where 49 was McNeese & 38 Vandy
- SC & after - avg points 34 (41, 20, 39, 35) - where 20 is Georgia
> Defense post-SC has completely regressed giving up 39+ each game. Youth, injuries are factors but all teams are facing some element. This is a coaching issue and maybe a lack of experience in how to handle
5. While it happens in other games (FSU - Miami for instance) - continue to see secondary taking poor angles to players on the sidelines. It's either they are misjudging the speed of the game, Florida receivers are too slow in comparison to what they see on Saturday or they are going half speed simulations during practice.
6. Middle 8 - LSU 7-0 - for some reason Florida's most conservative playcalling was during this time - a little more understandble with ball backed up to end first half but there was 2 min to go to consider a tying FG if being aggressive. The 3 & out to start 2nd half was predictable and completely opposite of their opening drive.
7. Was thinking how cool was it seeing the opposition burn all their TO's in the first half due to offense and Florida perform time management free in first half.
8. Coaches - how do you allow a Delay of Game after change of possession from a KO and not immediately sending in your team with the play.
9. When 45-35 with under 7 to play - where was the tempo/urgency/playcalling that worked earlier - 3 runs in a row forcing the 4th down must pass (which was incomplete)
10. Player improvements this season - Mertz, Trey, ETN, Hayden, Slaughter, Pearsall, Smack, Crenshaw, K. Jackson, Boardingham, Lyons, Searcy, J. Jackson, Waites, McClellan
11. Wished they would've tried an onside K when everyone knew this D was not going to be able to stop LSU offense
12. Offense - love Mertz but he's not a running QB and it's clear Napier's O needs one to reach full potential... I can see times if Lagway (like AR 15 last year) was available - the gaping holes available.
13. Watching the Penn St game - that's a team with absolutely no O (makes you appreciate Florida) and can't win the big game - makes me think - would Florida fans sign up to go 10-2 yearly knowing you'll lose to Georgia & top 10 opponent each year and beat the underbelly.
14. Watched the UCF/OK St game (flipping between them and FSU/Miami) - after the meltdown to Baylor - was really impressed by how in the 4th Q - they went for the jugular - still with downfield passes, continued to try and score and showed no mercy. It harkened back to the Spurrier days and was impressed with their lesson learned.
Recruiting:
If I'm an elite defensive recruit - I wouldn't be fleeing from Florida - I'd be running and begging the coaches for an opportunity. There is not one position that is completely locked down to where you can't compete for starter opportunity. The offense is about to get exciting with a Mertz/Lagway duo, a RB headlined by ETN and WR unit led by Trey.
Applaud Napier for willing to recruit the best players nationwide... risk with that strategy is if a player is not in your natural recruiting territory - the risk for decommitment becomes elevated. Based on what's transpired and whispers in about what's to come - these players are located outside the 5 hour recruiting circle/state of Florida.
I'm worried less about recruiting rankings than are we filling each position with elite talent (increasing the talent base) as recruiting rankings do not take into account of meeting needs.
Go Gators - Beat Missouri this week.
