Citahell

We’ve gotten so good our games get a little boring. And I mean SEC teams. This game was boring when it started. I had awesome seats – right behind VMI’s bench. Usually those seats go to visiting fans (but I saw only one person wearing their gear the whole day – can’t really blame them, it’s a long drive to watch a I-AA team this is 4-7). It’s easy to see why, we could actually hear there coaches talking to their players. And they certainly got an earful from us. We actually had some creative undergrads here.

Player of the game – whomever decided to give VMI $400,000 to come in for us to pummel.

I refuse to really do this game – but I talk about two of our picks. Before that I will point out we still did not have a ton of passrush and that scrambling QB was able to move around against us. The first pick to Freshman of the Year CB Janoris Jenkins (29) was great because it was right in front of me. He and the receiver both turned back while the ball was in the air coming to them, but the receiver turned and ran up field AWAY FROM THE BALL and Jenkins just waited for the easy pick. On our second interception safety Will Hill (10) came across in mid-air and got a great one hander – right in from of Joe Haden (5) who would have had a much easier pick. I don’t think he was entirely pleased by that. Still Hill showed good hands, maybe we can put him in the lineup ahead of Major Wright (21) next season.

Actually since the computers screwed me out of the SEC Championship Game this might be my last write up so I will look forward to next season.

We’re not losing many guys on defense. The only guy we’ll miss will be Brandon Spikes (51) who I bet will jump to the NFL. He’s a first round pick (some pundits say top 10 guy), you can’t blame him. He’s great, but with Doe (32), Jones (16), Stamper (41), and Hicks (40) LB will still be strong.

On offense if Percy Havin (1) goes pro, which I also expect and think is his smarter move, we will have lost our top two WRs as Murphy (9) is a senior. I expect Deonte Thompson(6) will quickly become our #1 guys, but we may be in trouble. While Murphy had a bunch of drops unless we get a ready to play freshman or transfer our other WRs will be a mix-mash of Riley Cooper (11) who has been a non-entity this year, the juco Carl Moore (16) who drops passes on the rare occasions he plays, and David Nelson (83) who has been here three years and never done anything (14 career catches). That’s all the WRs who had catches this year. All of them. We will still have Aaron Hernandez (81) at TE, who I expect will become a much bigger part of the offense.

However our running game may be in even more trouble. The closest thing we have to a fullback, Kestahn Moore (33 – I know, but you tell me who think is more of a FB) is graduating. As is Tater Salad (#84 in your program, #1 in your heart), who is not a bad blocker at TE. Guard Jim Tartt (63) is leaving, but given how little he has played this year that is survivable (although he is very good) with Carl Johnson (57) and Marcus Gilbert (76) – plus the Pounceys will be a year more experienced. What I am worried about is tackle – which is very important given much we run outside. Both Phil Trautwein (75) and Jason Watkins (77) are seniors. I’m not a huge Trautwein fan, seen him pushed around too much – but Watkins is much better than people realize, especially passblocking. I had not realized Watkins was leaving us, which is worrying. I have no idea who our tackles will be. Gilbert can probably move to right tackle and hold his own, but I don’t know who will protecting Tebow’s blind side. Thankfully our QB is big and we run often.

I don’t think Tebow will go pro – if for no other reason that I don’t think he would be a high pick.

Oh yeah - that game was a Smelley Garcia

Okay, South Carolina didn’t play well enough to deserve a full write-up - which is too bad because I had front row seats. On the other hand I high-fived several players, including Tebow, although as you might imagine I found it less spiritual than others may have. I certainly seemed less excited than the people behind me dry humping my back to get a high-five too. I felt sorry for all the bozos who left early. Personally I was more interested in noticing how sticky their gloves are – more so than when I played.

The best thing that came out of this game was the phrase “Smelley Garcia” – as in we gave the Cocks a Smelley Garcia. South Carolina was just flat terrible on offense, I really don’t see the advantage of platooning quarterbacks every single play (especially not when they are basically the same guy).

I’m glad South Carolina played so badly I didn’t have to come up with a player or play of the game – it was tough to judge in a universal beatdown. Maybe it was their failed kickoff lateral – less than a quarter down we were up 21-0. Fight went out of them after that, when they set up a fake screen putting two receivers and two lineman out wide the receiver the play was called to ran a route, but the other three – including their star WR, Kenny McKinley – just stood there and did nothing to sell the fake. Brandon Hicks pressured the QB in the endzone so he threw off his back foot for Spikes to pick it for our first TD, then tipped the pass that Ahmad Black picked to set up our second touchdown. He’s gotten good enough we are legitimately five deep at linebacker.

And we have lots of other young talent: Janoris Jenkins apparently has gotten enough of a reputation that the Gamecocks barely tried to test him (although that might have been their general ineptitude – it was tough to tell what they were even trying to do at points). And my new favorite Deonte Thompson is starting to get more and more time with the first team offense – witness the 46 yard bomb. I wonder if Meyer is souring on Riley Cooper? I know I am tired of his disappearing act.

Our offensive line did pretty well opening holes against a defense that we were constantly told was the best we would face all year. They did get some serious push against us on passing downs – although not enough to seriously disrupt us. And we ran for 346 yards. Anyone who is familiar with me knows I don’t drink the Kool-Aid and throw out all kinds hyperbole about how great my team is. Maybe I am too cynical, conservative (NOT POLITICALLY – deal with it when you sit with me), cautious or whatever - just remember that most often I’m right (and it is a pleasant surprise when I am wrong). Anyway my point is that at this point I have to say the Florida Gators are probably the best team in the college football. We have a very real chance of winning out the rest of the way including the championship game. We’re not totally unstoppable, I would take the field over us, but there is no team that I would take in a game against us.

One guy in the stands asked me detailed questions about where I got my hat. Every once in a while I see someone else with my hat we always nod – we’ve all got a little private camaraderie going.

Our fastest players

According to ESPN we have twelve players who run a 4.4 or better in the forty:

RB Jeffery Demps
RB Chris Rainey
RB Brandon James
RB Kestahn Moore
WR Percy Harvin
WR Louis Murphy
WR Deonte Thompson
CB Joe Haden
CB Markihe Anderson
CB Wondy Pierre-Louis
SF Dorian Munroe
SF Justin Williams

I have never heard of Justin Williams (Mr. Internet say he is WR and #7 – I have seen a #7 DB, maybe he switched positions. He has done nothing special). Dorian Munroe was going to be a starter, but blew out his knee. He looked good in spot duty in the past. The same goes for Markihe Anderson, who also blew out his knee two years ago and is now our nickel. Honestly seeing this makes me annoyed he did not play more when everyone was burning us last year (although I am guessing he was not 100%). I’m shocked Kestahn Moore is that fast, and mildly surprised about Louis Murphy. I like Deonte Thompson, but I had not realized he was that fast either. And I did not suspect that about pretty much all the defenders to be honest with you – and why are guys that fast playing safety and not corner? Save for the Wondy Wonder, who is clearly fast – and a prime example that speed alone doesn’t make someone a good player no matter how much the talking heads drool over it.

By the way, twelve guys is a lot. I think the ESPN headline was some generic line such as “speed kills” and was talking about Meyer has recruited the fast team he wanted and by implication that why we are so good.

So I have no life

I saw a poll on the Gainesville Sun that drove me up a wall: it asked which team has better depth the Gators or the 2006 Gators. This team is good, and another title would not shock me (although I think our odds are low of getting to Miami), but I remember that 2006 as significantly better. Here is a breakdown:

SF
2006 – Tony Joiner and Reggie Nelson
2008 – Major Wright, Ahmad Black, and now reportedly Will Hill.

Verdict: Uh, yeah (and we miss Dorian Munroe) 2006

CB:
2006 – Reggie Lewis and Ryan “Lucky” Smith
2008 – Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden

Verdict: Really? We won with those two? Shows you the value of a passrush 2008

[If I was to do the secondary as a whole our safeties are better than our corners were 2008]

LB:
2006 – Brandon Siler, Earl Everett, Brian Crum
2008 – Brandon Spike, Ryan Stamper, AJ Jones and sometimes Dustin Doe

Verdict: Everett was better than he got credit for, but Crum was just a guy and every spot is stronger now (although Siler and Everett are close) 2008

DL:
2006 – Jarvis Moss, Joe Cohen, Ray McDonald, Derrick Harvey (Steven Harris)
2008 – Justin Trattou, Lawerence Marsh, Terron Sanders, Jermaine Cunningham (Carlos Dunlop and Matt Patchman)

Verdict: Across the board stronger back then. Maybe Marsh and Sanders could have pushed Harris for playing time in the rotation two years ago 2006

ST: (this will be fun)
2006 – Chris Hetland, Eric Wilbur, Brandon James
2008 – Does it matter? Chris Hetland!! When was the last time you thought about him?

Verdict: Wilbur had a big leg, but was inconsistent, Chas Henry is great at hanging them high and winning field position – which is more valuable in a punter. Both squads could block kicks 2008

OL:
2006 – Phil Trautwein, Ronnie Wilson (I think), Steve Rissler, Drew Miller, Carlton Medder
2008 – Phil Trautwein, Pouncy1, Pouncy2, Jim (Carl Johnson/Marcus Gilbert) Tartt, Jason Watkins

Verdict: This years line is probably more balanced run/pass, but in 2006 they could really open holes for our backs although pass-blocking was a problem. Tossup

TE:
2006 – Tater Salad
2008 – Aaron Hernandez

Verdict: No contest 2008

WR:
2006 – Jemalle Cornelius, Dallas Baker, Bubba Caldwell, Percy Harvin.
2008 – Percy Harvin Louis Murphy, and allegedly Riley Cooper

Verdict: Harvin today is the best of the bunch, but there is no way you pass on the 2006 corps as a whole. It’s easy to forget how good Cornelius was 2006

RB:
2006 – DeShawn Wynn, Kestahn Moore
2008 – Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and occasionally Emmanuel Moody

Verdict: This pick will get grief I know, but you need to be able to run inside. While those outside pitches are great one those occasions when they net big plays (which is not that often – we are a throw first team), it’s not cool we always have to rely of Tebow for short yardage. Plus a lot of those runs are Harvin. Besides Wynn was better catching out of the backfield than you remember 2006

FB:
2006 – Billy Latsko
2008 – Kestahn Moore

Verdict: Sure was nice to not have to run Tebow on short yardage every play because we could let the linebacker out of the hole 2006

QB:
2006 – Chris Leak, Tim Tebow
2008 – Tim Tebow

Verdict: I know everyone will say I too critical of Tebow, but I was realistic about Chris Leak back in the day too. Tebow is a better thrower, but Leak was a better QB. Plus occasionally bringing in the bruising Tebow gave us a two-headed monster. I’m more an NFL guy, and Leak is much better suited for the pro game, yeah Tebow is the better college QB, but it was close 2008

Final tally:
2008 – 5
2006 – 5

So there you have it, my initially impulse was wrong and now I see foolishly wasted my time. Oh well, it was fun. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it. And overall the D then was much better – the gap between DLs is huge compared to the gap at linebacker (and the line is more important). Our offense is better now, but I am defensive guy. But it does make you feel better about this year’s team.

I admit I had to use Mr. Internet to pull some of the 2006 names – and that led me down a trip down memory lane:

Remember Jarred Fayson (11)? He was supposed to be the other Percy Harvin (then 8) when he came here – we always talked about them together, the hotshot altheletic QBs from up north would be the ultimate spread receivers. He transferred because we barely played him. He left for Illinois, but he is not playing this year and I have not been able to determine why.

You won’t remember Nyan Boateng (80, then 17 briefly), but I remember seeing some great catches in garbage time out of a true freshman and thinking the future looked bright. Then he made a great onehanded catch in an Orange and Blue game and was sure. Turned out though that he had what we will deem as “maturity issues” and left. Turns out I was right about him – he’s a leading receiver on the #21 Cal Bears and is averaging 17 yards a catch (as much as Harvin or Murphy)

Georgia dropped a Hairy uga on the field

This was only my second neutral site game. The first was the Outback Bowl against Iowa several years ago. That second tier bowl had an 11:00AM kickoff. This was a little different. I can’t imagine even half the crowd there had tickets (at realize attendance was 84,000). It was just a crush of colorfully dressed people moving in mass (not always in the same direction). After the game the whole area was just trashed, I walked through a lot more garbage and drained beer bottles than I ever have after a game at the Swamp. It’s a unique experience – I would recommend to anyone that if you can get some tickets in the future you take advantage of them (but boy would I have been annoyed to see us lose by 39). Dawgs fans were a little surly, but honestly most of ours were nimrods too – although two were dressed as Mr. Two Bits and lead the cheer. And when the game started their stands were a little fuller, while we straggled in. Also I have nowhere good to add this, so I will stick it here. That mascot in a plush bulldog outfit is known as “Hairy” (also, their bands is called the Redcoats) – think your own thoughts. I never saw Uga VI. I was high up, so high up in fact no Jags fans sits there as I was in a temporary stand put up for the cocktail party. I was in an endzone too, but I had a pretty good view. I’ve never been high in an endzone for a UF game before. Finally I want to add that no less than seven people complimented me on my hat.

QB: The Savior (15) is getting better. He barely threw this game, but a few times I saw him clearly go through his reads – and I am pretty sure he was looking at the whole field. That said the interception he threw (called back by a penalty before our first TD) was atrocious – after holding the ball for a while he floated a pass out to a short receiver. He ran okay, defenses key on him so the yards are getting harder. He still runs hard and gets short yards. His toughness comes in handy other times – on our first TD it was an option and he held the ball until the last second, taking the hit, which let Harvin (1) run for an easy six.
GRADE: A-

RB: I was very surprised to see Moody (21) come on the field when the starters left. I thought he was not playing much because he was dinged, not because Meyer doesn’t like him. He is our only RB of size. I know Meyer loves his little speedsters, but they rarely get much inside and against fast defenses they struggle to get wide so why not try Moody? Our longest rush by a back not named Emmanuel was five yards.
GRADE: C

WR: First of all while Louis Murphy (9) had the TD that for all intents and purposes put the game away, he also had yet drop earlier in Georgia territory (which was why the bomb was his only catch). Also on his TD he totally grabbed the corner and pulled him aside to get open. We had a briefly Riley Cooper (11) sighting too, but I still worry Harvin needs help.
GRADE: B (the big three combined for 6 catches).

TE: I had thought Hernandez (81) would be that #2 guy for Harvin, but he as disappeared lately. To be fair Tebow has not had more than 17 competitions and 217 since Ole Miss in September (and every game his stats have gone down). Tater Salad (#84 in your program, #1 in your heart) is playing more too. I want to be clear about something – I don’t think Tate Casey is a bad player – he does whatever he is asked, catches okay, and blocks fairly well. You need those guys. They line him up close behind the line - it works especially well because the defense will key on that and on one play action play he crashed down on the DE as Tebow rolled out – which gave him a ton of time.
GRADE: B

OL: Tebow had plenty of time on those rare occasions he passed (that rarity also helped slow the pass rush as their D was usually thinking rush). On the other hand rushing yards were not coming in bunches. Guard Jim Tartt (63) did not start, but got some time. If he can get healthy our offense should get even better. He held Glenn Dorsey quiet for most of the game at LSU last year. When he plays Mike Pouncey (55) flips to the other side (right) of his twin brother.
GRADE: B

DL: They weren’t dominant by any stretch, but there was only one major hole I remember the entire game – Moreano never broke one for even twenty yards. For the most part the DL just clogged lanes and let the backers clean up. But make no mistake that they were doing their job – because it was when I noticed our backups (such as Brandon Antwine (47) and Duke Lemmens (44)) were in that UGA’s offense was most effective. Torrey Davis (95) made one nice penetration stop – which surprised me because I though he was academically ineligible. DT Terron Sanders (92) was probably our best guy this game getting some run penetration and some passrush.
GRADE: B+

LB: I was happy to see Stamper (41) starting again over Doe (32), but was surprised to see him in the middle often as Spikes (51) was outside. I think that was in part to us Spikes as a passrusher. I liked that quite a bit, Spikes was not all over Stafford, but his presence did enough to give us a little pass rush – which we have been desperately lacking all year. As a whole the linebacking corps was good in coverage, and got in the backfield to disrupt the run several times.
GRADE A+

DB: Okay at this point it is clear that freshman superstud Janoris Jenkins (29) is already our best defensive back. That’s not meant to be a knock on Joe Haden (5) – who is talented enough in his own right and knocked down a few passes. Haden did struggle several times playing balls in the air and get outworked for the ball. He gave up one right over his head and might have given up another in the endzone if freshman safety Will Hill (10) had not hit the receiver in support. Maybe Hill should be playing more because Major Wright (21) continues to something of a liability. He goes for the kill shot and misses tackles with his bad angles. Nor is he exemplar in coverage. Take for example that funny play where he deflected a pass with his head – he was going for the hit when if he had played the pass he might have gotten a pick. Ahmad Black (35) is just a centerfielder, which is not bad: he’ll get some picks on tips and bad throws and should prevent us from giving up too many deep plays (the one against Ole Miss was Wright’s mistake). That said he is not a playmaker. Also, we don’t move our corners, they always line up at the same spot, so if two WRs are on one side we have to rely on a safety to cover one of them – that is how I would attack this secondary. They didn’t have a great game – Stafford had 265 yards and he worked with his receivers to put several drive together – hitting several third and longs. They did clamp down a little better in the redzone. Also, the Wondy Wonder (4) is so bad that other fans complained when he game on the field even though the game was over.
GRADE: B-

Defense overall: I just want to point that while we scored a bunch, the defense really had the better game. When UGA got close to our endzone we somehow kept them out. Several scores were set up by turnovers, and once we were ahead the defense got a few more.

ST: Last time I said special teams could be a key to a win for us, and they were, but not because we did anything special. Their kicker killed them with two misses and an awful onside kick that went right to Butch Rowley (37). We allowed had one big return (which was one more than we had) and had a kickoff out of bounds but coverage was pretty good overall and we pinned them deep once. The Chris Rainey (3) fake kneel return was hilarious even if was called back for a block in the back (which was a legit call).
GRADE: B

Coaching: I’m conflicted because Florida has been rolling lately (the only game we did not win by at least 23 was the one lost). On the other hand Meyer is suppose to be an offensive guy and our offense was not outstanding (Georgia had more yards and time of possession). We did not have any real long dominate drives and I am getting tired of seeing the same crappy runs into the line for few yards. Also there is momentum in the game – while we blew them out if things had gone different early (which was possible) they might have kept it closer for longer (not saying they would have won). Finally I can’t really complain too much about the timeouts late in the game – in some ways you have to do something in response to the celebration last season – the team mentality feels off if you don’t. Also, that pass to Harvin when were up 35-3 in the 4th also seemed to surprise the Bulldogs D, who all just watch him run past them.
GRADE: A- (hey results matter, and this grade includes Charlie Strong – and the offense certainly took advantage of the opportunities the D gave them).

Football 101: When a quarter back “goes through his progressions” (or “reads the defense” or “surveys the field”) what that means is he is looking at his receivers to find one that is open. When a play starts every receiver has a route he is suppose to run, and one of them is the primary receiver (the guy the play is supposed to go to). If he is covered then the quarterback is suppose too look for the secondary receiver and so on until he completes a pass, throws it away, runs, or get sacked. Bad quarterbacks will stare down their primary receiver the whole play and throw it to him no matter once – which is often bad because the defense will see him staring the receiver down and get a good play on the ball. Good quarterbacks will purposely look at another receiver to draw the defense in the wrong direction. Bad (or if you prefer “inexperienced”) quarterbacks won’t be given many reads – coaches will tell them to just look at two guys and then throw it away, or too look at receivers only at one part (usually just one side) of the field. Michael Vick make a career of that, and Tebow started out doing that.

Play of the game: After pinning the Bullpuppies at their two while ahead 14-3 (and it might have been 14-6) we gave up a long drive. Momentum was absolutely with them as they got play after play against us – our defense looked as though it could not do anything and they were getting frustrated. Then deep in our territory we got just enough pass rush (Sanders) in Stafford’s face that his pass sailed and Joe Haden was able to slip under the receiver, steal it, and run 88 yards. One play later it was 21-3 and the pups knew they were in trouble.

Player of the game: I have been down on him because he has never been much of a play maker for his hype and because Stamper is solid and (along with Jenkins) our best tackler. However I will be the first to give props to Dustin Doe (32). He had two crucial passes defensed while the game was still in doubt. They were both great plays because the receivers had their hands on them for both and could have had catches, but Doe reached in both times and knocked them out of their hands. Football is a game of inches. Doe also later added pick on a nice self deflection. He played well enough he could be getting more time – our backers are the strength of our D, I don’t want to go to a 3-4 to get all of them out there, but on any obvious passing down they should move Spikes up to DE.

Bottom line: When I first got here, the Gators were a team that won with its defense. That lasted until last year, when we could score with anyone, but not necessarily stop them. This year we are much more balanced, the D has taken a step forward while the offense has not been able to keep its pace from a season ago. I’d rather have live with my defense, but we are better than last year and a legitimate contender.

I got home in time (10:50) to see some of the second half of Texas Tech doing us a favor by knocking off Texas. They still have to take down Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and potentially Missouri in the championship game to stay undefeated. We’ll probably run the table and face Bama in the SEC Championship. If we win and Texas Tech loses we’ll have a strong argument to face Penn State in Miami (can’t see them losing until January). But so will Oklahoma if they beat the Red Raiders and win the Big 12 (Texas might too) – which is realistic. But it is the BCS so I am sure BYU end up going.

By the way I went to the Atlanta Constitution Journal and looked around – over half their readers gave Fs to their offense, defense, special teams, and Richt (who I have a lot of respect for). 70% were cool with Meyer’s late timeouts.