Disagree. Guys were dropping passes left and right in the 2nd half (probably where his comment about “can’t catch the ball too” stems from). We had a lot of backups in because of injuries but it was pretty weak on the WRs parts
I also think Zipperer missing almost the entire 2nd half of the season hurt more than we realized. He seemed to be the one TE that could make plays and help out on the line. And for the 2 posters that gave me a "come on man" for my earlier post...I have been a Gator fan long enough to remember when scoring 38 points in a game (vs FSU) equalled a win.
^ This is what is missing from the combine numbers. AR's issues were never physical ability or potential. It was the one or two bad plays that snowballed into an unmitigated disaster. In just about every game last year you knew by the end of the first quarter if AR was going to have a day and we win or competitive when we were under dog. Or, if we were going to struggle. My non gator friend would text me every week, Is he Cam Newton or Jamarcus Russell today?
Typical! The nfl scouts and TV sports guys start talking, early in a good players college career, about how he'd do in the no-fun-league. AR heard the talk very early and started protecting himself from injury thus the lack of production and leaving early. He never fulfilled his promise at Florida because of agents and sportscasters being in his ear constantly. Hope he's successful but doubt it.
If you go back and watch his high school tape, with his size and speed, he could probably start for most NFL teams at WR while developing as a QB.
On one hand we have people that say AR didn’t try On the other we have people that say he’s brittle and was always playing hurt So he tried very little while playing hurt. Makes sense
Mullen obviously screwed up. AR while erratic was still the 30th best QB in football this year. Mullen played Jones over him. Jones is now on his 3rd team and is an underdog to start at a non P5 school as a 23 year old. AR was obviously going to be a high pick. Almost a certain first rounder. We all knew this last year. Playing Jones over him was criminal. You take the lumps and you build experience. The lumps are still > than Jones though
..and then we have someone who is completely obsessed with defending all things AR. Give it up dude, he gone.
Jones is long gone as is Mullen, neither had anything to do with ARs performance last year, good or bad. Stop the rationalizations.
Maybe Mullen felt AR wasn't emotionally ready to start and face the fire that comes with being a starting QB in the SEC. Especially when the year began. Based on last year, when AR was a full year older and still didn't handle things well emotionally, that sounds plausible to me. I'm so amazed how immature the guy is. It's one reason I don't think he will be able to handle the NFL. It's another reason he should have come back, but I know we disagree on that point. Let me give you a baseball analogy though I know you don't know much about that sport. In baseball a team may have a future superstar in its organization, but they let him play in the minors for a few years to let him develop at his own pace. Bad things happen when you rush guys- though I understand no one has much patience. So maybe Mullen felt that way- or maybe he thought EJ gave us a better chance to win vs Bama, UT and other games.
30th best isn’t something to be all puffy chested about. Who was the thirtieth best receiver? I bet that receiver is applying for a job about now.
I can see why Mullen may have had more faith in EJ but has sense been proven wrong. Coaches make choices and they aren’t always right. AR would almost certainly benefit from a couple more seasons to be prepared for the nfl. He would also be a damn fool to come back to college. He is going to get a huge pile of guaranteed money whether he ever takes a snap or not. He could only hurt his financial situation by coming back.