I am not good at analyzing routes and concepts. But does our scheme create that regardless of WR speed?
Yes. IMO - speed is overrated when running routes. It's great after you catch the ball. We run a lot of 12 personnel which most DCs put 8 in the box to defend it. Because of this all four receivers (2 TE and 2 WR) are an immediate threat to get vertical bc the second level is in tight...subsequently creating creases downfield. Since our OL gave Mertz about 1.5 seconds in the pocket he hit the underneath routes more often than looking downfield. But that doesn't mean we don't want to throw it deep or have bad routes. We also run a lot of 11 personnel and have the same routes. But we had the same issues -- OL struggled and didn't give Mertz any time to confidently look downfield. The OL will determine how good our O will be in 2024. Not the WR's.
It seems that our scheme has shown plays that were meant for deception, and the play works and the receiver is wide open if the other team buys the window dressing (and usually only if the defense buys it). However, our guys have to work to get open as well, and there are a lot of things that make them not open: wrong match of play call to defense, not enough time for play to develop, defense is cheating, defense guesses right, defense reads the qb's eyes, receivers too weak off the line, their Jimmy is better than our Joe, and of course, bad route running. We saw at times over the last two years some TE and receivers losing leverage off the line and not fighting to get into the lane they need to be in, then surprise, surprise the receivers are off of the level they are supposed to be on and end up in the same area with three defenders around them. Last year was the first in the scheme for a lot of those TE and receivers, so hopefully a lot of that will get ironed out quickly by BG. If you remember Van Jefferson getting like 4 catches against Stingley at LSU for the 2019 game, Jefferson showed great route running and Trask's throws had to be right on the money, because Stingley was all over them. Sometimes the separation is not going to be much to speak of. We don't have the Jamar Chases and Justin Jeffersons that LSU had then with the separation and length to go out and get balls thrown by Burrow.
was entirely from a few gator podcasters just speculating who could enter the portal and they speculated that since he wasn’t practicing (didn’t matter the stated reason was injury) that maybe he will transfer. That was it. No actual smoke just people making up content.
The one receiver that is being overlooked who looks like he could really break out this year is Burke. Billy really speaks highly of him and how far he has come.
He didnt need to be a great route runner after the first juke. Usually the DB was falling on his and no where in sight in about a half a stride. Guy was impossible to cover when he was at UF.
It took him three years to figure that out though. Does no good to run with a ball if you can’t get it
Talk about some nice "cake" to end this TP session. Land this kid and UF is up there in Transfer Portal success. We already are, after yesterday.
Wilson will be stellar. Jackson and Dike solid, maybe excellent. Boardingham also. Add in solid to surprising year from anyone else like Burke or young speedsters and we will be fearsome. Assuming the Oline is staunch.
