I didn't see a highlights from the GNFP this week so I though I'd stick-together some clips from Tiwtter. In this first one I think the argument for scheme vs. personnel is obvious: Just a bad mistake or series of mistakes . . . and the infuriating part of it was that Georgia had watched enough tape to know they could count on it.
Again, criticizing the scheme. Maybe the scheme is there for a reason? Folks tell me if #3 Jason Marshall should have waited for the receiver to catch the ball and run all the way from the 11 to him standing almost flat-footed at the 2 . . . after his man was clearly a decoy because the ball had already been thrown . . . and then that same WR runs right past him and 3-4 other Gator defenders who stand there with nobody being aggressive towards the ball to make a tackle. Marshall did reach-out and grab the WR's ankle as he ran past which is at least something the others didn't do.
I'll end on what many have said: Trey Dean played much better last Saturday! I hope Dean continues to improve and others do likewise Saturday!
The key summary is the scheme was bad for UGA. UGA struggles vs man. Like struggles badly… especially when you bring pressure. UGA crushes zone So we went very heavy zone and got hammered. Not surprising When we went man (esp with pressure) we did very well. As expected The theory is Toney is hell bent on installing his scheme rather than attacking other teams weaknesses. Playing for 2023 vs winning in 2022. But even with a full install we should still attack their weaknesses
Aw heck, it is getting hard to keep this up. Yes, it is possible that Toney is scared, belligerent, focused on "the big picture" along with Napier, OR.... it could be that we ARE a limited team defensively (and even collectively) and it works when we "surprise" the opposing team and change it up somewhat. But if we were to keep it up, we would then set up another routine that they could exploit even worse. Until further notice (meaning we just don't have enough data points), we play "bend-don't-break" and not "defense can win this". This game was against the supposed #1 team in the country. This hindsight "coulda shoulda" gets REALLY tiring. How about, "damn, let's hope we fix this mess beginning next year, this isn't much fun"?
The two long passes to BB that were completed were both in Man coverage. One was well defended and a circus catch, of course.
I genuinely think it's also ignoring Florida's typical strengths on defense from recent memory. In the last decade, when Florida was elite on defense, I believe they normally played an aggressive man or press (predominantly of course). First mistake was in Mullen changing the scheme to hire one of his buddies. 2017 was an outlier the year before he was hired, he shouldn't have fixed what wasn't broken, and he should've hired somebody with a similar defensive philosophy. Now we're a good 5 years removed from our elite defenses. If we see progress from Toney (and I think we can, he's really young), I'd be more than happy to give him more time, otherwise, bring back Geoff Collins!
I really like watching these weekly breakdowns. I see so much when things are slowed down and pointed out. Great YouTube channel!
They came out late this week, D didn't drop until yesterday (Wednesday) evening. Notes: Tre'Vez loses leverage immediately in M2M, gives up 2 and 18. Trey Dean and Burney had best games as Gators, quite possibly. TD play should have produced an INT early, Burney in beautiful coverage (with one notable exception.) More monster cushions to Bowers and one time from the 11 which led to a simple screen that went to the 1. Pitch fake gets EIGHT defenders flowing in the wrong direction, including the DE on the off-side from the fake. Also shows why back-to-the-field is so preferable. Bunch sets give UF trouble all day. Playing way off from essentially all WR's is either auto-run or simple quick pass. Bennett great at pre-snap reads. Sees probable cover 2/4 early, checks to TE seam and gashes it. Three DL from the 2 yard line; easy push for TD. Georgia simply bigger and stronger. Perkins always good to great in M2M, makes the pick even after a bad step giving up leverage. Toney is often TOO creative. Runs a robber with a S all the way to Bowers at the LOS. S late making the dive. Shemar takes to many backfield peeks on M2M, TE runs right by but drops a biggie. Common for HS studs to not understand that they can't cheat like this anymore. Non TD S again crazy slow in breaking on a cover 2 robber, which would've been a good call if executed. Perfect Burney D and ludicrous bounce on Bowers TD. However, an RB was uncovered shallower, that really should've been the throw, huge chunk. TD gets turned but not ludicrously burned on McConkey long drop, but Marshall also made a brilliant play coming off his initial cover to be in great position, but late getting eyes on the ball. McClellan and Cox both go beast on UGA OL on 3&1 and stuff the A gap. Burney dump trucks RB, Marshall all over UGA WR with pro-level M2M incompletion. TD plays flat zone perfectly. PI was indeed pretty much a ridiculous call. Marshall had some contact low on WR's hand, which is NFL quality contact, and WR does get a late shove in. If not OPI, then it was a no-call. DPI is just silly. TD before the half was almost a gimme with the outrageous cushions. Simple slant with guys stacked up on on the GL. Burney another great play on the forced fumble after UGA executed a solid GT counter. Burney INT looked cool, but in reality his man was three steps in front of him and it was going to be a monster play. But Bennett just doesn't thread needles in M2M and throws a total dud. Q3 TD run looked easy but in reality RB got through a comically small hole that was actually played decently. More huge cushions late. This session ends with TD's break-up. Throw was behind but it was still solid D, and UF likely playing the fact that Bennett just isn't going to dart you to death in M2M. There was actually some really good D on this film. Not a lot of absurd busts, angles, lost edges, etc. The schemes are still mysterious with undersized DL on GL and whatarewedoing cushions at inopportune moments. But we saw the best work by a couple of our oft-maligned guys and lots of guys in better spots but seemingly a step or two slow to react or start their moves. Had a wacky bounce go against us, although UGA also dropped probably another 100 yards of passes. But not just devastating to watch it this week.
I agree totally. The current zone scheme has the Gator D Backs looking like statues or spectators. Going to Man Defense enables those D Backs to at the least be close enough to deflect the pass or attempt to tackle. When playing Zone, I notice bad decision making, slow reaction to get into the play, and poor, and I mean poor tackling.
Given we’ve been torched in zone all year that argument falls flat. In fact I’d argue man is far better if we are “limited”. Proper zone is complex However this point wasn’t about us, it’s about playing to your opponents weakness. Georgia struggles vs man. They dominate zone. Even if we are a better zone team (which is debatable) that doesn’t mean we should automatically play zone vs a team like UGA Even if you are absolutely elite it still makes sense to scout and play to your opponents weaknesses.
We weren’t perfect but the data played out exactly what it showed pregame. Georgia torches zone and is much worse vs man
It’s been a common theme by the defense this year. 5-10 yard cushions off the ball giving up easy completions. Scheme isn’t doing the players any favors at times and even putting them at a disadvantage. Not putting a defender on the LOS against that trips bunch formation is suicide. Better players would make the scheme more functional, but that doesn’t mean the scheme is very good. We will see how things go without Cox on Saturday. I bet Fisher will use that trips bunch formation against us and we will see if any adjustment has been made.
