Defense Hangs Tough; Offense Pathetic
A tenacious Gator defense hung tough in a crucial SEC battle at Auburn, but another less than lackluster performance on offense doomed Florida in an ugly 17-6 loss at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the site massive Gator suffering over the past 80+ years.
Florida trailed 7-6 after a hard fought first half, where Auburn's TD came on a short field after a controversial fumbled punt by Chris Rainey. Rainey signaled for a fair catch and then appeared to be interfered with by an Auburn defender, causing Rainey to fumble, but no penalty was called and the ball was awarded to Auburn. Three Gator turnovers, including 2 fumbled punts doomed the Gators on a night when the offense was completely stymied.
Freshman QB Jacoby Brissett started and played the first half.The dreaded 3-headed QB monster reared it's ugly head in the second half, as O-Coordinator Charlie Weis inserted Freshman QB Jeff Driskel to start the second half and Trey Burton also took snaps at QB throughout the game. The Freshmen QBs stats were respectable considering the circumstances, but the complete lack of a running game made achieving any kind of consistent success, including scoring a touchdown, futile. The Gators coaches continued what has become a new tradition at Florida---keeping effective RB Mike Gillislee on the bench (3) carries. Gillislee and Soph WR Andre DeBose were among a large contingent of Gators, including excellent SR K, who spent time on the sideline due to injury.
The short take on this game is the D put up a valiant effort stopping Auburn on the ground and through the air, but special teams miscues coupled with a non-existent offense resulted in Florida's 3rd consecutive SEC loss.
Showing posts with label Jacoby Brissett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacoby Brissett. Show all posts
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
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.
Photo: Zimbio.com
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.
Monday, September 5, 2011
REFLECTIONS ON COACH WILL'S DEBUT
GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS
Some quick, off-the-top-of-the-head thoughts on Saturday's season debut of the 2011 Gators....
.......loved the Orange jerseys, would like to see those every now and then, once a year or so....it was very disapointing that the game wasn't an official sellout, breaking a string that went back to Vanderbilt in '89, the 4th longest string in the country.....C'mon Gators!!! Where were you for Coach Will's debut??!!!...actually, the game was virtually full, and the alumni section was jammed solid, as it always is....we have to suspect that many of the alumni section Gators have had those season tix for generations.....a very pleasant surprise was an early September game without our trademark, infamous stifling, oppressive September heat and humidity, in fact, Gator Gridiron can't recall a season opener that was ever this "comfortable"....that being said, this Gator would still prefer daytime games...the post-midnight trek back home is always tedious.....
Charlie Weis is the real deal....really liked the way Weis utilized both Demps and Rainey together in the backfield, they combined for 272 yards both rushing and receiving....it was great to see Rainey and Demps utilized as receivers out ot the backfield, in additon to rushing the ball.....Gator Gridiron is still not sold on JB as the answer at QB for the long haul.......would have liked to have seen at least a FEW shots down-the-field, but realize FAU was working hard to take that away, BUT....if FAU can take it away, what will Alabama, LSU, Tennessee do?.....BUT, we realize Coach Weis didn't want to show any bells and whistles........
...would have like to have seen Jordan Reed featured more at TE.....missed seeing Trey Burton (Gator Gridiron predicts a big year from him), but apparently he was injured early......over 10 Gators caught passes, nice job of scheming by the coaches and distributing by Brantley....Deonte Thompson made some nice catches, including one where he took a vicious shot to the back of the head, Gator Gridiron is going to "get off of Deonte's back" going forward, he is a hard worker, is respected by the coaches,,,,,,O-line performed well, (they should against FAU, but as we know, that doesn't always happen during "exhibition season").......
Defense was great......Gator Gridiron continues to emphasize we expect a big year on D.....and when your defense plays well, you always have a chance for a good year.....D-line solid and, even more impressive looks to have depth, linebackers and young (started 2 freshmen at CB for the first time in the modern era) secondary had a good night.....special teams blocked a punt for a TD (Solomon Patton got the block and Rainey ran it in fot TD) and Caleb Sturgis' kick-offs went consistently to or into the end zone.
Rainey, who is also a team captain, had a big night.... scored 3 tds, 1 rushing, 1 receiving and 1 on special teams on a punt block.....you probably won't see this anywhere else, but Gator Gridiron detected that Frosh QB Jacoby Brissette looked awesome throwing the ball in warm-ups....just sayin'
One major criticism for Coach Muschamp and/or Weis.....when Jeff Driskel came in and threw an early interception they pulled him immediately, that was wrong...if they felt confident enough to put him in the game at that point (about 5 minutes before half, with a 24-0 lead) they should have stuck with him.....the message they sent was, "Hey Jeff, make a mistake and you're coming out".....that's not productive for his development...
....along those same lines, first half was too soon to put in your 2nd string Freshman QB, anyway......there is a great rule of thumb in football and that is get all you can in the first half, don't start to coast or make major substitutions in the first half.....Gator Gridron is a believer in that axiom....Anyway, even though the Gators then lost the momentum for the rest of the first half, they recovered nicely in the second half ... Driskel even came in at the end and finished nicely leading an 11 play 4th quarter drive with 4-6 passing that garnered 3 points (on a 29 yard Sturgis field goal) ....
Overall a nice, tidy, efficient, respectful "exhibition season" 41-3 victory; a good night and nice debut for Coach Will and the 2011 Gators....
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS
Some quick, off-the-top-of-the-head thoughts on Saturday's season debut of the 2011 Gators....
.......loved the Orange jerseys, would like to see those every now and then, once a year or so....it was very disapointing that the game wasn't an official sellout, breaking a string that went back to Vanderbilt in '89, the 4th longest string in the country.....C'mon Gators!!! Where were you for Coach Will's debut??!!!...actually, the game was virtually full, and the alumni section was jammed solid, as it always is....we have to suspect that many of the alumni section Gators have had those season tix for generations.....a very pleasant surprise was an early September game without our trademark, infamous stifling, oppressive September heat and humidity, in fact, Gator Gridiron can't recall a season opener that was ever this "comfortable"....that being said, this Gator would still prefer daytime games...the post-midnight trek back home is always tedious.....
Charlie Weis is the real deal....really liked the way Weis utilized both Demps and Rainey together in the backfield, they combined for 272 yards both rushing and receiving....it was great to see Rainey and Demps utilized as receivers out ot the backfield, in additon to rushing the ball.....Gator Gridiron is still not sold on JB as the answer at QB for the long haul.......would have liked to have seen at least a FEW shots down-the-field, but realize FAU was working hard to take that away, BUT....if FAU can take it away, what will Alabama, LSU, Tennessee do?.....BUT, we realize Coach Weis didn't want to show any bells and whistles........
...would have like to have seen Jordan Reed featured more at TE.....missed seeing Trey Burton (Gator Gridiron predicts a big year from him), but apparently he was injured early......over 10 Gators caught passes, nice job of scheming by the coaches and distributing by Brantley....Deonte Thompson made some nice catches, including one where he took a vicious shot to the back of the head, Gator Gridiron is going to "get off of Deonte's back" going forward, he is a hard worker, is respected by the coaches,,,,,,O-line performed well, (they should against FAU, but as we know, that doesn't always happen during "exhibition season").......
Defense was great......Gator Gridiron continues to emphasize we expect a big year on D.....and when your defense plays well, you always have a chance for a good year.....D-line solid and, even more impressive looks to have depth, linebackers and young (started 2 freshmen at CB for the first time in the modern era) secondary had a good night.....special teams blocked a punt for a TD (Solomon Patton got the block and Rainey ran it in fot TD) and Caleb Sturgis' kick-offs went consistently to or into the end zone.
Rainey, who is also a team captain, had a big night.... scored 3 tds, 1 rushing, 1 receiving and 1 on special teams on a punt block.....you probably won't see this anywhere else, but Gator Gridiron detected that Frosh QB Jacoby Brissette looked awesome throwing the ball in warm-ups....just sayin'
One major criticism for Coach Muschamp and/or Weis.....when Jeff Driskel came in and threw an early interception they pulled him immediately, that was wrong...if they felt confident enough to put him in the game at that point (about 5 minutes before half, with a 24-0 lead) they should have stuck with him.....the message they sent was, "Hey Jeff, make a mistake and you're coming out".....that's not productive for his development...
....along those same lines, first half was too soon to put in your 2nd string Freshman QB, anyway......there is a great rule of thumb in football and that is get all you can in the first half, don't start to coast or make major substitutions in the first half.....Gator Gridron is a believer in that axiom....Anyway, even though the Gators then lost the momentum for the rest of the first half, they recovered nicely in the second half ... Driskel even came in at the end and finished nicely leading an 11 play 4th quarter drive with 4-6 passing that garnered 3 points (on a 29 yard Sturgis field goal) ....
Overall a nice, tidy, efficient, respectful "exhibition season" 41-3 victory; a good night and nice debut for Coach Will and the 2011 Gators....
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