DID GATOR GRIDIRON OVER-ESTIMATE IMPACT OF CHARLIE WEIS?

GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS

During and prior to September, the Gator Gridiron blog as well as various Central Florida radio broadcasts, pod-casts and media outlets have witnessed the Old School Gator proclaiming to the world that Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator is one of the best things to ever happen to Gator Football, that Charlie Weis is perhaps the best offensive coordinator in the game of football, at any level,and various other accolades. It's disturbing what a couple of impressive "exhibition" victories and 400 yards rushing against Kentucky can do to your judgement.

Well, cut to Sunday October 16, aka, "the day after Auburn" and the realization that in the last three weeks the 2011 Gator offense is looking a whole lot like the 2010 Gator offense...right down to, horrifically, the return of the dreaded 3-headed QB monster.

In ugly offensive performances against upper-echelon SEC competition, the Gators just flat out have not been able to run the ball, period. Demps and Rainey 4 yards a piece vs. Alabama, no running game at all at LSU and now 60-something yards on 30-something carries, or more specifically, 2 yards a carry, against Auburn...in a winnable game.

Certainly, Gator Gridiron understands that the predicament of having to play 2 pure Freshman QBs, with one of them playing on a bum ankle, puts the Florida offensive braintrust in a true disadvantage---especially when you have to play the No 1 & No 3 teams on the nation back to back. But the thing that is most disconcerting is that talented players are not being utilized.

For example, tough, quick RB Mike Gillislee, who is averaging over 7 yards per carry and has averaged over 5 yards a carry for his entire Gator career, is being completely waisted. If utilized properly, ie,15-20 times a game, Gillislee could provide that inside running presence that Florida so desperately needs.

All the while, talented speedster Andre DeBose languishes as the 4th or 5th option in the offense, when all he ever does in the very few times he is called upon is make big plays and score TDs.

At least DeBose and Gillislee actually get the ball every now and then. Big, strong, tall, fast, sure-handed, versatile WR Omarious Hines has been completely ignored! Ala DeBose, in the very few times Hines was called upon last year, he produced in a big way. Hines also brings a unique combination of size and skills--he could be utilized as a WR, a TE or even as a RB/FB. Lord knows the Gator needs something...at least something more than Rainey/Demps left; Rainey/Demps right; Rainey/Demps up the middle; short dump pass to Rainey; punt.

Why not let Gillislee, DeBose and Omarious Hines play a little and see what happens.

I bet what will happen is, the Gators will begin to move the ball, score touchdowns and maybe...just maybe WIN A FREAKING GAME!

RFW Disagrees with Sentinel Columnist Mike Bianchi

Earlier today, the Orlando Sentinel published an article by Sports Columnist Mike Bianchi entitled "Why are Will Muschamp, Charlie Weis playing games with Gators quarterbacks?"  In the article, Bianchi argues that Coaches Muschamp and Weis are being paranoid about the negative repercussions of revealing who the selected QB will be for the LSU game this weekend.

I totally disagree with Bianchi. Coach Muschamp's job isn't to make Bianchi's job easier by revealing information; it is to win football games. If LSU doesn't know who the starter is; so much the better for UF... Jeff Driskel, Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Murphy all have different styles, making it harder to prepare if LSU doesn’t know who's playing. 

Also, Driskel hasn't played well at all in the 3 games in which he has seen action. IMHO, he doesn't look ready.  It is very possible the coaches don't know yet who they are going with.  Also, Charlie Weis was very instrumental in the recruiting of Jacoby and has been very positive towards his abilities and potential in public comments.  

Plus let's not forget that Tyler Murphy outperformed all the other QBs including Brantley, in the Orange and Blue game and has a Redshirt Freshman year of experience under his belt.

Photo: Zimbio.com

Gator Gridiron Responds to Reader About the 2011 UF Football Team

Recently, a reader asked me what my thoughts are regarding the 2011 Gator Football Team. With new staff and a challenging schedule, can Gator fans expect the same excellence they've come to know year after year?

I want to share my response to him with my blog following as well.

I'm optimistic about the 2011 Gators. I hope Brantley does well, but I'm not all that confident.

On other fronts, I'm very confident. I think Muschamp was a good hire, plus he's an accomplished Defensive coach.

Weis was a great hire! He's been successful everywhere he's coached, even in high school. He knows how to mix run and pass; he's a great QB coach; and he brings that "down-the-field passing game" Gator fans crave. Weis also knows how to use talent he has. I predict Burton and Josh Reed TE will be utilized and will have big years. The same goes for DuBose, Omarious Hines, Frankie Hammond, Demps, Rainey, etc.

The Gator's defense is loaded, especially with D-Linemen! Plus Muschamp is a defensive guy.

This season promises a whole new atmosphere, a new fresh start. Meyer was a negative motivator and an extreme grinder. That obviously worked big time, I'm not knocking it or complaining, but he burned himself out and he burned everybody else out. He had a string of really good players in the dog house, like DuBose, who couldn't even get on the field.

Running back is loaded, WR is loaded. Defense is solid, at the least, new, positive, upbeat atmosphere. best OC in football.......this "Old School Gator" predicts 8-9 wins despite brutal schedule.

(Don't tell Coach Muschamp, but I think 6-6 or 7-5 would be a pretty good year.)

GATOR GRIDIRON OPTIMISTIC ABOUT 2011 GATORS

Roger Franklin Williams
Gator Gridiron

As Gators across the nation eagerly await Saturday's kick-off of the 2011 season at the Swamp against Florida Atlantic, many Gators are wisely keeping expectations for Will Muschamp's first Gator team in check. While Gator Gridiron has a personal ethic of maintaining conservative expectations, we must admit that Gator Gridiron finds much to be optimistic about in terms of the rapidly approaching 2011 season.

We'll state some of those reasons for optimism below:

1. A FRESH START AND POSITIVE, UPBEAT ATMOSPHERE. New Head Coach Muschamp has brought a much needed burst of positive energy to the Florida Football. Obviously, the hard-edged, white knuckle, stomach churning intensity of former Head Gator Urban Meyer brought extraordinary success to Florida Gator Football. Gator Gridiron, as well as all Gators, should forever have a huge spirit of gratitide and respect for what CM achieved; however, that infamous Coach Meyer 24/7/365 grinding intensity eventually took it's toll. In a nutshell, Coach Meyer not only famously burned himself out, he burned out the remnants of the post-Tebow era Gators as well. A new HC with brand  new assistant coaches with  new schemes brings not only a fresh attitude for the players, but also the opportunity for a fresh start for many talented Gators, who for whatever reason, did not fit into the Coach Meyer plan for playing time.

2, ADDAZIO IS GONE. Perhaps the best thing to happen to Florida Gator Football, other than signing Tim Tebow, in, at least, the last 20 years or so, is the departure of the most incompetent "coach" to ever set foot in Gainesville, Steve "Meathead" Addazio. Addazio, as skilled a careerist, resume' builder and apple polisher as has ever lived, parlayed an asset as Urban Meyer's best friend into the role of Assistant Head Coach (even, perish the thought, Interim Head Coach at one point!!!???) AND, most destructively, Offensive Coordinator, a position he used to severely damage the NFL prospects of one Gator QB (Tim Tebow) and virtually destroy the career of another highly touted young QB (John Brantley), not to mention take the famed Florida Gator offense to the bottom tier of the SEC and NCAA. Thankfully, "Meathead" is gone now, to Temple to destroy the winning program that Coach Al Golden has built over the past few years. Without the albatross of Steve Addazio around their neck, the 2011 Gators truly have an opportunity for success, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

3, CHARLIE WEIS. The Coach WM regime not only swept out the worst OC in college football (and possibly college football history), he replaces  him with one of the best offensive minds in the GAME of football----Charlie Weis. Weis has had nothing but success in a long career that has scanned the highest levels of the NFL (multiple Super Bowl rings with multiple teams), college and even high school (Weis bagged a state championship as a high school coach in New Jersey as he was just starting his career). Weis not only brings a lonnnnnggg track record of success to Gainesville, he also brings a balanced, "pro-style" offense that features an aggressive "down-the-field" passing game that compliments the talent in the program and that he has orchestrated to virtual perfection wherever he has been.