Que Sera, Sera
I do not consider myself an overly sentimental individual - and you don't either. However even I had a poignant thought about all the good memories I have had in the Swamp. Not to the point that I was one of the literally hundreds of flashes as Tebow led his final scoring drive in Gainesville (or the student mother who whined he did not score near our endzone seats the whole freaking game), but I still had the thought that it was the end of a era. Before the game I saw someone in a Jaguars #15 jersey with "Tebow" on the back (which Tebow had signed).
And wow, how the mighty have fallen. FSU is just terrible. We know damn well our offense is not that good. And when I watched their sidelines Bobby just stood around for most of the game. It has kinda taken the edge off the rivalry. I went the Tallahassee Democrat after the game they were pretty passive about a 27 point beatdown.
I did like the new unis, but not as much as the throwbacks from 2006.
QB: The Savior ran all over them, although on his longest run he fumbled while trying for more yards (and he was caught from behind by FOUR Noles). He made all this short yardage runs. He passed pretty well (Cooper had a big drop). I still worry about his awareness after he threw a forward pass on the option five yards downfield.
GRADE: B- (would have been an "A-" save he cried when he came onto the field)
NEXT SEASON: As I said last week, we won't know until Brantley has to do it himself.
RB: I think the injuries have slowed Rainey (3) down, he was caught from behind on his big 45 run. I'm a little surprised he and Demps (2) did not get more than 15 carries given they combined for 179 yards (11.9 average). Also props to Rainey for turning himself into a defenseback and preventing an interception when Tebow threw to him on a route when he was clearly covered.
GRADE: A
NEXT SEASON: Everyone comes back, save the fullback we have used a little bit in the last few weeks (Rick Burgess - 48), but it is okay because we have another FB we can barely play ((TJ Pridemore - 45).
WR: Omarius Hines (82) and Frankie Hammonds Jr. (85) were on the field early on, but just for a play. Cooper (11) had a couple of big catches, including a TD, but dropped one too. My favorite moment came before the game, when they introduced the seniors in their last game and listed Brandon James (25) as an "athlete" (for the ladies - that is what you put when you have a guy you don't know what to do with).
GRADE: B
NEXT SEASON: Big changes as David Nelson (83) and Cooper graduate. There is always a chance Deonte Thompson (6) gets better - he is a true sophmore, it might happen. If not there are Hammond and Hines. And don't forgot hotshot recruit Andre Debose (4) who was hurt all year. And Carl Moore (9) may get a medical redshirt. And it is a lock Meyer will recruit some speedster.
TE: Aaron Hernandez (81) had a great game, his second touchdown was a beautiful run right through their defense. Although as I said FSU is down - if you watch replay on TV you will see two Noles run into one another behind him.
GRADE: A
NEXT SEASON: Here we have to have a long conversation. The NFL player's union has a contract with the league, but it set to lapse next year. All the permutations of this are not clear to anyone (and remember I'm union), but the key part for UF is that there is a chance that the next contract will introduce salary limits for rookie contracts - when there are none right now. There is next to no chance a new contract will have closed by the draft, but it might be the last one without rookie salary cap (which means the last time that rookie's can get massive multimillion dollar contracts that are more than most veterans are paid). As a result many player agents are telling juniors to come out this year and there is a chance that many more juniors than normal may go pro. Hernandez would normally not be someone with enough buzz to leave, but he might now. I would say the odds are he stays, but if he doesn't our only TE will be Desmond Parks. Parks is a freshman who was supposed to be our second tightend in special two TE sets (originally designed for Cornelius Ingram, so we missed twice) but got hurt.
OL: While there were holes for the running game, but the passrush got there several times. Our new left tackle, Xavier Nixon (73) continues to be a work in progress. He got beat by the spin move a few times and on a run just raced downfield without hitting anyone. I think he had an assignment and just ran there - which is probably what he is coached to do.
GRADE: B+
NEXT SEASON: We have no seniors, but the Pouncey twins may go pro because of the NFL contract. I think they won't, but there is a better chance than Hernandez. If they go pro, our OL will in theory look left to right Marcus Gilbert (76) - flipping because Brantley is a righty, Carl Johnson (57) , Sam Robey (50) who has never started) Mo Hurt (74) - I think the staff is down on James Wilson (66) although I don't know why, Matt Patchan (71) - assuming he's health and the staff sees Nixon isn't quite ready.
DL: Well their quarterback broke a few scrambles, but they did not run well. We got some, but not a ton of pressure - and their QB escaped a few times when he did. The coaching staff definitely needs to coach our guys about not jumping on hardcounts after all those offsides.
GRADE: B+
NEXT SEASON: No changes at DT, but DE Jermaine Cunningham (49) graduates, which is would not be a major problem as he is just a solid rotation guy/starter, but I get junior Carlos Dunlap (8) leaves for the NFL so we will be thin. Justin Trattou (94) will start and be a stud, but the other spot will be Duke Lemmens (44), William Green (96), or Earl Okine (91) who will be a senior, junior, and sophomore, respectively. All will be part of the rotation, but not have shown me much. Okine played a bit as a freshman, maybe he will develop.
LB: No notable splash plays, but no mistakes. They were in position to stop runs and knocked down a few passes. AJ Jones (16) was hurt.
GRADE: A-
NEXT SEASON: We lose our best two linebackers in Spikes (51) and Stamper (41) and solid rotation guy Dustin Doe (32) to graduation. But we have a Brandon Hicks (40) and Jones who are already well above average starters. The other starter/rotation guy - who will probably play in the middle, if not Hicks as Jones is small - will be a true sophomore either Jonathan Bostic (52) who was huge as an early enrollee in the Orange and Blue game and has looked good the few times he got on the field or highly ranked recruit Jelani Jenkins (43) who was hurt all year. Also while we are talking about juniors going pro I will point to Brandon Spikes who came back this year when he could have been a first round pick next year. He has been dinged several times this season and had bad press from the eye gouge in the Georgia game. Chances are he will be drafted lower than he would have been last year. I always say guys should go pro when their stock is high, football is too brutal of game to pass on what might be your only big contract.
DB: Ahmad Black (35) made a great pass break up, but Joe Haden's (5) pick was just an awful throw - he did have a good pass defense on another play. Halfway through the first quarter, their quarterback had completed two passes for 12 yards. Halfway through the THIRD quarter, their quarterback had completed two passes for 12 yards.
GRADE: A+
NEXT SEASON: We don't have any senior starters, but say goodbye to our nickel back Markhie Anderson (14) who is pretty consistent and the speedy Wondy Wonder (4) which is addition by subtraction. But there is a worry because I bet Haden goes pro - hell he might have even if the NFL contract situation was stable. He's gotten lots of good press and if looks at next season he will have to figure we won't be as good and there is nothing for him to gain in terms of draft status by staying. And he's probably right to go - while in truth he isn't NFL ready (he tackles well so he does not give up many big plays, but does give up passes and against receivers in the NFL, who are faster, some of those may become big plays), but I can't see his stock getting much higher. The only thing that might keep him is that his little brother is a verbal commit. If he goes we have no one with any experience to play opposite Janoris Jenkins (1). There is a chance Dorian Munroe (20) will be back if he gets a medical redshirt, but he's yet another safety.
ST: We gave up a big kick return and an awful blocked PAT, but also pinned them at the one on a punt.
GRADE: A-
NEXT SEASON: Brandon James is gone. He hasn't been getting huge returns lately, but that is because people have been avoiding kicking to him. Next year they will be giving us more chances, which means more big returns, but also more short returns and long fields for our offense. Jonathan Phillips is also graduating, so we roll with Caleb Sturgis live or die.
Play of the game: Aaron Hernandez running through FSU's Keystone Cops defense.
Alabama: Mark Ingram is a little dinged - it is overhyped, but it can't hurt us. The bigger news is that Auburn held him to 30 yards on 16 carries. I guarantee you that Charlie Strong is looking at the footage as you read this. Our defense is better that the Tigers. This is only the second undefeated regular season in UF history (but the last one ended in the Gators getting annihilated by Nebraska).
Just a quick fun moment about the strength of the SEC. Next week Georgia Tech will play Clemson for the ACC championship. Both lost to SEC teams this week - Clemson got hammered by the Cocks. Ten SEC teams are bowl eligible, and given that all are 7-5 or better (six total, four in the East) they will be playing yet.
Finally if we beat Bama we play in the Rose Bowl. Is there anyone else out there who is fan enough to consider going to LA baby?
And wow, how the mighty have fallen. FSU is just terrible. We know damn well our offense is not that good. And when I watched their sidelines Bobby just stood around for most of the game. It has kinda taken the edge off the rivalry. I went the Tallahassee Democrat after the game they were pretty passive about a 27 point beatdown.
I did like the new unis, but not as much as the throwbacks from 2006.
QB: The Savior ran all over them, although on his longest run he fumbled while trying for more yards (and he was caught from behind by FOUR Noles). He made all this short yardage runs. He passed pretty well (Cooper had a big drop). I still worry about his awareness after he threw a forward pass on the option five yards downfield.
GRADE: B- (would have been an "A-" save he cried when he came onto the field)
NEXT SEASON: As I said last week, we won't know until Brantley has to do it himself.
RB: I think the injuries have slowed Rainey (3) down, he was caught from behind on his big 45 run. I'm a little surprised he and Demps (2) did not get more than 15 carries given they combined for 179 yards (11.9 average). Also props to Rainey for turning himself into a defenseback and preventing an interception when Tebow threw to him on a route when he was clearly covered.
GRADE: A
NEXT SEASON: Everyone comes back, save the fullback we have used a little bit in the last few weeks (Rick Burgess - 48), but it is okay because we have another FB we can barely play ((TJ Pridemore - 45).
WR: Omarius Hines (82) and Frankie Hammonds Jr. (85) were on the field early on, but just for a play. Cooper (11) had a couple of big catches, including a TD, but dropped one too. My favorite moment came before the game, when they introduced the seniors in their last game and listed Brandon James (25) as an "athlete" (for the ladies - that is what you put when you have a guy you don't know what to do with).
GRADE: B
NEXT SEASON: Big changes as David Nelson (83) and Cooper graduate. There is always a chance Deonte Thompson (6) gets better - he is a true sophmore, it might happen. If not there are Hammond and Hines. And don't forgot hotshot recruit Andre Debose (4) who was hurt all year. And Carl Moore (9) may get a medical redshirt. And it is a lock Meyer will recruit some speedster.
TE: Aaron Hernandez (81) had a great game, his second touchdown was a beautiful run right through their defense. Although as I said FSU is down - if you watch replay on TV you will see two Noles run into one another behind him.
GRADE: A
NEXT SEASON: Here we have to have a long conversation. The NFL player's union has a contract with the league, but it set to lapse next year. All the permutations of this are not clear to anyone (and remember I'm union), but the key part for UF is that there is a chance that the next contract will introduce salary limits for rookie contracts - when there are none right now. There is next to no chance a new contract will have closed by the draft, but it might be the last one without rookie salary cap (which means the last time that rookie's can get massive multimillion dollar contracts that are more than most veterans are paid). As a result many player agents are telling juniors to come out this year and there is a chance that many more juniors than normal may go pro. Hernandez would normally not be someone with enough buzz to leave, but he might now. I would say the odds are he stays, but if he doesn't our only TE will be Desmond Parks. Parks is a freshman who was supposed to be our second tightend in special two TE sets (originally designed for Cornelius Ingram, so we missed twice) but got hurt.
OL: While there were holes for the running game, but the passrush got there several times. Our new left tackle, Xavier Nixon (73) continues to be a work in progress. He got beat by the spin move a few times and on a run just raced downfield without hitting anyone. I think he had an assignment and just ran there - which is probably what he is coached to do.
GRADE: B+
NEXT SEASON: We have no seniors, but the Pouncey twins may go pro because of the NFL contract. I think they won't, but there is a better chance than Hernandez. If they go pro, our OL will in theory look left to right Marcus Gilbert (76) - flipping because Brantley is a righty, Carl Johnson (57) , Sam Robey (50) who has never started) Mo Hurt (74) - I think the staff is down on James Wilson (66) although I don't know why, Matt Patchan (71) - assuming he's health and the staff sees Nixon isn't quite ready.
DL: Well their quarterback broke a few scrambles, but they did not run well. We got some, but not a ton of pressure - and their QB escaped a few times when he did. The coaching staff definitely needs to coach our guys about not jumping on hardcounts after all those offsides.
GRADE: B+
NEXT SEASON: No changes at DT, but DE Jermaine Cunningham (49) graduates, which is would not be a major problem as he is just a solid rotation guy/starter, but I get junior Carlos Dunlap (8) leaves for the NFL so we will be thin. Justin Trattou (94) will start and be a stud, but the other spot will be Duke Lemmens (44), William Green (96), or Earl Okine (91) who will be a senior, junior, and sophomore, respectively. All will be part of the rotation, but not have shown me much. Okine played a bit as a freshman, maybe he will develop.
LB: No notable splash plays, but no mistakes. They were in position to stop runs and knocked down a few passes. AJ Jones (16) was hurt.
GRADE: A-
NEXT SEASON: We lose our best two linebackers in Spikes (51) and Stamper (41) and solid rotation guy Dustin Doe (32) to graduation. But we have a Brandon Hicks (40) and Jones who are already well above average starters. The other starter/rotation guy - who will probably play in the middle, if not Hicks as Jones is small - will be a true sophomore either Jonathan Bostic (52) who was huge as an early enrollee in the Orange and Blue game and has looked good the few times he got on the field or highly ranked recruit Jelani Jenkins (43) who was hurt all year. Also while we are talking about juniors going pro I will point to Brandon Spikes who came back this year when he could have been a first round pick next year. He has been dinged several times this season and had bad press from the eye gouge in the Georgia game. Chances are he will be drafted lower than he would have been last year. I always say guys should go pro when their stock is high, football is too brutal of game to pass on what might be your only big contract.
DB: Ahmad Black (35) made a great pass break up, but Joe Haden's (5) pick was just an awful throw - he did have a good pass defense on another play. Halfway through the first quarter, their quarterback had completed two passes for 12 yards. Halfway through the THIRD quarter, their quarterback had completed two passes for 12 yards.
GRADE: A+
NEXT SEASON: We don't have any senior starters, but say goodbye to our nickel back Markhie Anderson (14) who is pretty consistent and the speedy Wondy Wonder (4) which is addition by subtraction. But there is a worry because I bet Haden goes pro - hell he might have even if the NFL contract situation was stable. He's gotten lots of good press and if looks at next season he will have to figure we won't be as good and there is nothing for him to gain in terms of draft status by staying. And he's probably right to go - while in truth he isn't NFL ready (he tackles well so he does not give up many big plays, but does give up passes and against receivers in the NFL, who are faster, some of those may become big plays), but I can't see his stock getting much higher. The only thing that might keep him is that his little brother is a verbal commit. If he goes we have no one with any experience to play opposite Janoris Jenkins (1). There is a chance Dorian Munroe (20) will be back if he gets a medical redshirt, but he's yet another safety.
ST: We gave up a big kick return and an awful blocked PAT, but also pinned them at the one on a punt.
GRADE: A-
NEXT SEASON: Brandon James is gone. He hasn't been getting huge returns lately, but that is because people have been avoiding kicking to him. Next year they will be giving us more chances, which means more big returns, but also more short returns and long fields for our offense. Jonathan Phillips is also graduating, so we roll with Caleb Sturgis live or die.
Play of the game: Aaron Hernandez running through FSU's Keystone Cops defense.
Alabama: Mark Ingram is a little dinged - it is overhyped, but it can't hurt us. The bigger news is that Auburn held him to 30 yards on 16 carries. I guarantee you that Charlie Strong is looking at the footage as you read this. Our defense is better that the Tigers. This is only the second undefeated regular season in UF history (but the last one ended in the Gators getting annihilated by Nebraska).
Just a quick fun moment about the strength of the SEC. Next week Georgia Tech will play Clemson for the ACC championship. Both lost to SEC teams this week - Clemson got hammered by the Cocks. Ten SEC teams are bowl eligible, and given that all are 7-5 or better (six total, four in the East) they will be playing yet.
Finally if we beat Bama we play in the Rose Bowl. Is there anyone else out there who is fan enough to consider going to LA baby?
posted by El Breto @ 6:07 PM
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