Usually if we get scoring from Young it's a really good sign. Minnesota had a very good center but FGCU I don't think is at the same caliber. Will be interesting to see if Young will take advantage. If we get the inside game going the outside game is sure to follow. We have to limit the transition opportunities and make it a half court offensive game. They seem to struggle a lot more in that setting. However if the game is up and down I know the Gators will be fine with that.
Was just going to post the same thing! LOL. Come on Gators time to end the Cinderella talk! Cinderella, game won't be over by midnight... time for you to go home!
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20130410/ARTICLES/130419924?p=3&tc=pg That is page three of the article, but pretty good article. Part that really jumped out at me was: Kind of what a lot of us thought about this team. Needed some more mental toughness.
Kind of dead in here... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1621331-florida-football-game-by-game-predictions-for-2013 Bleacher report is predicting us being 10-2. Only losing to LSU and South Carolina. What is everyone else's thoughts? I really am torn because it is so dependent on Driskell's development and if any wr will step up. For some reason, Joker has me really optimistic on a WR finally stepping up. Driskell is just really a x-factor for me. In watching the games last year, he did look like (most of the time) he was making the CORRECT read. Just he was late making it. So I am hopeful that with more practice the game will "slow down" for him and those reads will be on time. IF he can make that next step, then this team could be scary. Get a lead and then let this defense get after the other teams offense... My guess is 9-3 or 10-2.
I predicted last year a very optimistic 9-3 with losses coming to LSU,Georgia,SCarolina. I am going optimistic again with an 11-1 record with the loss to either LSU or South Carolina not both.It would be shameful to lose to Georgia again.That was Driskels worst game .Six turnovers mostly self inflicted was just too difficult to overcome.You can bet there will be a revenge factor . I am concerned that the defense will not be as good this year and it has been disappointing that the TEs have not lived up to expectations so far but the OL will be better and I believe Matt Jones will lead the SEC in rushing . IMO Driskell will get better and the WRs will finally become a factor.
I think the defense will be semi dependent on the offense this year. If the offense clicks and gets a lead for the defense to play from, I think our pressure is going to be premier. However, if the offense goes three and out a lot, I think our defense will wear down a bit and won't be as strong.
I can't wait for Football season! [video=youtube;OHXnVAY9I_I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHXnVAY9I_I[/video]
I am thinking 9-3 or 8-4 personally. I agree with you about Driskell. He just hasn't progressed and you could tell last year they hand to alter their offensive game plan because of him. He has the talent but he is very poor at anticipating WR's opening up which results in him holding the ball too long and taking stupid sacks. I am excited about Will Grier for the future though.
Ohio State turned in Florida in a minor recruiting violation. Urban denied it at first, but then he admitted that he was the one that turned them in. Wow. Urban is burning bridges.
Not really a surprise. Don't get me wrong, LOVE what he did for UF when he was here. However, his character has more than shown through in the last couple years. He is a GREAT coach, but a slimy scumbag of a person. IMO, a lot like Saban.
My understanding was the coach Meyer ratted out was a friend. He really comes off as the kind of guy who would cheat just to beat you in a game of checkers.
A lot of us including me were in denial when we were warned by my 2 cents that he was a scumbag .Now I believe it.The way he left UF was really slimy .He wanted out so he invents his health issues. The truth is that his offense was figured out by SEC conference teams and he was facing some losing seasons . So he bugged out so he could he could take over a team in a weaker conference .He is a good ,albeit devious recruiter so he will do ok for a few years until teams figure him out again. I am certainly glad we have Champ now .
We have to play LSU and Alabama next year from the West. We have to play LSU every year tho. That's a tough combination
It hardly seems fair that our biggest rivals withing the division get cupcake intradivision teams while we get the toughest teams. On the plus side we have to beat at least on of those teams to be SEC champions anyway.
Yes, but next season we'd have to beat one of them twice! The league does need to look into scheduling a bit more.
The scheduling is going to be changed but right now we will have to deal with LSU every year until at least 2016.
Yeah with the new teams in the SEC, I think they have to change it and add another conf game to the schedule. That way it enables all teams to play more cross conference teams. That way teams like USC and UGA will have to play one of the big boys at least every few years. I feel the league should try to make the top teams in each half of the conf play the other top teams in the other conf. Maybe not everyone of them, but I think at least one each.
Some good news... Should have Morrison and Jones for the UM game! http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20130826/ARTICLES/130829696/1136/FRONTPAGE
I like Jones. In my limited viewings of him last season, I thought he was a far better runner then Gillislee.
I agree.I picked Matt Jones to lead the SEC in rushing but he will not even play in the first game due to health issues so that projection goes out the window before game 1.
That was a good win vs a Toledo team who is probably better than everyone thinks. I still very much worry about our offense if we can't run the ball effectively. However what is probably the matchup of the game is.... http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=statsinfo&id=71813&src=desktop Thoughts?
If Johnson can run against a SEC defense like Florida then I will become a believer . It should be a good game . The only thing that worries me is that if the game is close the Gators no longer have a good FG kicker to rely on.
The Gators offense is also still a worry with me as well. Brent Pease refused to admit the offense was Vanilla vs Toledo but it did look that way. Gators defense will need to come up big all year. Hopefully hearing all the hype around Duke Johnson will motivate them
The game, IMO, will be won or lost when UM has the ball. If we can keep Duke somewhat in check and make them one dimensional I think we win. If they control the game ... Not sure our offense is good enough to keep us in the game. IF it is close going into the fourth quarter, I like our chances. Our offense tends to tire other teams defenses.
I agree. Our offense looks improved from last year but not a huge improvement yet. Can't wait to see what Jones can do. His style of running is punishing.
It seems that's what is expected. Lol Driskel, Dunbar, Riggs and Roberson will be captains for UFvsMia game
Offensively, the key for Miami will be Special Teams and smart play. If Miami can force long fields on on Florida by not turning the ball over and ST play, they should win. Florida just don't have the firepower to consistently sustain long drives. Especially if Miami can score and force Driskell to have to throw the ball. Defensively, stack the box. Blitz. Spy Driskell. Florida will obviously be relying on the ground game. If Driskell beats us through the air, tip of the hat and move on. For Florida, their DL is the key to the defense. That UM OL - UF DL matchup will likely determine the game. Probably the best units on each of these teams. Miami's pass defense is stout. Henderson won't get beat often. Our run blocking, particularly short yardage tends to struggle more than it should considering the size of the OL. Stop Duke Johnson and obviously the game becomes much easier for Florida. But Stephen Morris can sling the rock. Florida has a great secondary though. That's going to be another great matchup to watch. I feel their LB's can be exposed by our athletic TE's. We have to get Duke more involved in the passing game as well. Morris does make make some bad throws though. And as I alluded to earlier, just one of those bad throws giving Florida a short field or a pick 6 can mean the difference in the game. Offensively, Florida needs to work the Play Action. Need to work our LB's, and try to expose us in the middle of the field. Miami's defense is much better this year. More experienced, more talented, and most importantly, a better scheme. A lot of 3-4 looks this year, and no more CB's lined up 10 yards off the WR. Much more press man, and much more aggressive playcalling overall. The run defense has looked much better with the 3-4 look and we're likely stacking the box anyways. So Florida needs to surprise us with the pass. The team has a lot of confidence in Tracy Howard and Antonio Crawford, but both are True Sophomores, and both are first time starters. Florida should look to take advantage of this inexperience with the playaction. Preferably Crawford since Howard has looked the part of a press man stud corner. If either gets beat deep, I doubt Kacy Rodgers will be providing much help over the top.
I am so excited about this game!!!! This is going to be the last time these two teams play for a long time unless its a bowl game. Only way this Rivalry lives on is if its at a Neutral site. Raymond James would probably have to be the location but I doubt that ever happens. This game is at Noon and its going to be Hot out there. Both teams should be very use to climate but still that will take its toll on players. Florida is going to run, run, run, run, and try and run some more. Florida will use play action passes, misdirection, and motions to try and confuse the defense. If the Hurricanes can consistently stop the running game of Florida that's not a good sign. However Florida's offense will wear you down and if its close in the 2nd half that might not be good for the Hurricanes. Driskel is not a great passer at this stage but most of the time he plays very smart and makes good decisions. Plus you have to worry about him taking off and running. Defensively is where this game will be won or lost tho. The Miami offense and Gator defense are the strengths of each team. Can Duke Johnson run on the Gators? That's the big question. Duke did struggle vs Kansas State, ND, and FSU last year. Not doing much in each game. FSU and ND both had good defenses last year. Florida is going to lock up the WR's up in man to man coverage all day. That's going to leave everyone else to trying to stop the running game and Duke Johnson. Antonio Morrison is a difference maker. He is fast and very physical plus he has great instincts. Having him back for this game is huge. Miami should be looking to get Duke the ball in space and taking shots down the field when they get a chance. The big question will be can Morris beat the Gators with his arm? I am really not so sure. Gators played 5 NFL caliber QB's last year and handled all but one. Teddy Bridgewater was the only one to really hurt the gators. Should be a fun game! A lot of people are picking the Hurricanes to beat the Gators. I honestly don't see why exactly they are. Home field advantage? Florida played @ Texas A&M, FSU, and Tennessee. They have experience on the road. They play in the Florida Heat as well. A lot of ppl see weakness in the Gators because of there offense. Which I totally understand. However the defense is really really good. It should always keep Florida in games. BTW a lot of people will know and be talking about Dominique Easley after this game is over.
Sort of. Gatos were 2 for 5 in the redzone and had 5 turnovers and it was still close. Could have easily gone either way. Wouldn't a close game signify that it's strange everyone picked it one way?
No. Because you have to pick one side or another. You don't abstain from picking...the idea that people shouldn't be picking Miami at all was pretty much dispelled. I didn't mean it as a douchey comment. It was a great game and in some ways you lost it more than we won it. Though most of the turnovers were just great plays by our D, your QB made some terrible decisions as well. One to remember (or forget) depending which side you were on.