2023 GNFP Film Review- Florida Gators Defense vs Utah

I haven't watched this videos, but I want to comment on some of the comments. Obviously when you lose (or the team doesn't meet your expectations), you can use hindsight (especially with video "proof") to justify your take, which likely is biased to what was NOT done versus what was. It is natural.

IMO, the offensive philosophy is just fine...as long as you have the players to make it work. The same goes with the defense. I am damn sure that Raymond did NOT forget how to coach up DBs last year. We just did not have the pieces in the back 7 to play the way we should be able to.

And to the "gotcha" sort of design in the offense, again it is fine...as long as you have their defense looking one way. IMO, against Utah, they sold out on stopping the run and either the O-line was slow to react (very plausible) or it needed better bodies (maybe one or two more) or when you have them leaning that way too far, you hit them with quick passes (slants especially) and play action over the middle. We did not do enough "gotcha" passes to get them loosened up. That to me is on the OC. He does need to be kicked upstairs.

The defense either was not up to the task that night or the replacement pieces in the Utah offense was better than expected. I am leaning towards the former. And as I have posted more than once, in this incarnation of the team, if the offense isn't running the ball effectively against the upper echelon teams, the defense has to take up the slack or else the other team (Utah this time) has to just lose it. I say they lost the game last year (they should have tied it up in regulation) rather than we won it. It is what it is.

 

I trust James far more than I trust myself. That said, it's easy for the sweeping analysis to sound right when a single result sucks.

Billy's offense last year: "Offensively, the Gators are the 24th-best team in SP+, with a rating of 37.5...Offensively, the Gators were one of the best-rushing teams in the nation."

Obviously 24th isn't 4th. But it also isn't 124th of Muschamp.

 

That first paragraph is incredible. You didn't watch then proceeded to comment to conclusions posters had to watching the video. Followed by saying using video evidence to prove your post game reactions is biased.

Prosecuter: John Doe murder Jane.
Defense: No he didn't.
Prosecutor: Here is video evidence.
Defense: That only confirms your bias.
Random Juror: Thumbs Up

 

I was glad to hear him talk about the checkdown constantly being 4 yards deep along with lack of hot routes and recognition

 

It's high school. The FL in motion all the time reminds me of a double-wing you'd see high schools run. Using bunch formations, but not trying to exploit the space outside? I seriously don't get that or the routes that put WR's in the same place on the field.

 

You need to watch. He praised the running scheme last year while expressing the same concerns in the passing game. In particular, not forcing the defenders into conflict and decision making because of our route trees, namely, poor spacing and short routes that make it easier for the defense.

On defense, we did ok for so many new and young pieces together with the exception that we didn't put enough pressure on the qb at times. Better tackling. Better scheme. Better situational play calling and much less soft coverage. The points were a busted opening play in which Mitchell slips and falls letting his man run free which forced the Moten to become the scapegoat into a no win situation.

The short field from the INT and the obvious special teams penalty.

The defense wasn't nearly as bad and some young guys are really flashing.
You actually are left excited for the future of the defense once they have more experience and a few more pieces in place.

 

I will never understand essentially letting the defense not have to defend as much as 1/3 of the field. There is a reason arena football doesn't go 11 on 11.

 

It's fairly obvious to most people that Napier needs to give up the reigns on the offense. Especially design if we are running such an easily defended passing scheme. He needs to reflect internally and hire an OC. In this conference, it's going to get consistently eaten alive. Even Utah made it look easy.

If the D starts to come around (the 2nd half D against Utah was really good) and the O continues to be stuck in the mud, the rumblings will get louder.

 

By his 4th year at UL, Napier's team had about as much of a talent advantage as you can have and his offenses were all over the place. He had one year (2019) with the best O in the Sun Belt, and no better than 3rd any of the other years...

 

So what YOU are saying, paraphrased, is:

I saw the game, but I can't make an opinion that is accurate. Therefore I need someone whose hair sticks up to tell me what is what.

Well then, okay!

Um, you DO know that he shows what he chooses to show to reflect his opinion, don't you? And you DO know it is an opinion and not from someone who heard a voice coming from a burning bush, correct?

 

His videos are, quite frankly, long and repetitious. And if he thinks like I do about the game and the potential of the team, well then good for him!

 

Well Respectfully, you expressed an opinion of others having no idea what he said as evidenced by your take on the defense alone. He can definitely be repetitive which is why increasing the speed of the video is helpful. It's their first take on the offense under Mertz so it's particularly interesting for some of us to see if and what if any differences there are in the offense under a different qb. Frankly, he supports his issues with the deficiencies with plenty of examples. We have an influx of talent at the receiver position and if those guys don't put up numbers this year it will be a problem going forward.

 

Genuinely amazed that is what you got out of what I said. So, I'll go line by line.

My immediate post game reaction was more or less in line with what James presented. He didn't tell me what was what, he provided opinion/analyst based on video review. Not sure what his hair has to do with anything other than showing your childish reaction to criticism.

Okay indeed.

It's amazing you know how many plays he showed in the videos without watching them. Perhaps you hear a voice from a burning bush? Yeah I know it is his opinion and I respect it which is why I watch. I lean toward people who give an opinion backed by empirical evidence.

If you don't want to watch, don't watch. But to talk condescendingly to people in a thread discussing the contents of the video is just jackassery.

 

Anty1, please the re-read my first line of my original post. All I have done is plainly said that I have not seen the videos, as your last response to me understands, as well as said that I am responding to those who I believe are using them as a method of supporting THEIR beliefs. If they are incorrect as to what he opines, well that is on them. All I have done, beginning with my OP, is to say what I believe about the offense and the defense...based on what I saw.

Question - if you read my OP beyond my first line - what did you disagree, either your opinion or what the videos are purporting, about my take?

 

Not sure why I was included in this bunch. I didn't opine. I relayed what is said in the video. It's an objectively verifiable statement that the creator of the video is not a fan of our passing attack design nor is he a fan of bunch sets. One need only listen to the video to confirm that.

 

He also has access to the All-22, which is an advantage that we don't have.

 

Sure. The offense is "fine" but it's pedestrian. It isn't muschampian but the passing game is lacking. It's functional but it's rigid and the reality is sometimes as you said when one aspect fails another needs to step up. The passing game doesn't seem to have that ability. We do the opposite of spread the field. We predictably react in situations that allow defenses to prep easily for us. Play action when its not necessary. ANY negative play on 1st or 2nd down is a drive killer because we don't seem to run anything that stresses the back end of the defense. 3rd and long is never easy but we seem to have no chance. I'm not sure how we acquired guys like Jean, Mizell and Wilson but I imagine a 2nd year of pedestrian passing and recieving isn't going to lure top recieving talent going forward.

As frustrating as it was to watch the opening touchdown bomb, the defense played well enough to win with a competent offense and special teams. You mentioned they didn't step up enough but the defensive breakdown film illustrates some real good things to look forward to this year. The opening touchdown was not on Moten as many immediately blamed him. Mitchell didn't play his man well but also slipped (we slipped a lot for some reason.) The main disappointment from the defense was a lack of qb pressure from the front 4 with exception of a couple of players who showed some real promise in Collins and Searcy.

I imagine any offense can be "fine," even muschamp if you have Derrick Henry running behind a 5 star laden Offensive line but coaches can and do more with less when needed. The fact that the last drive took as long as it did is a huge problem as well.

 

Good breakdowns. I was certain Princely had a good game despite nothing on the stat sheet. And Mertz didn't have nearly as good a game as someone with 300+ yards passing would lead you to believe.

 

Watched the Defense first then Offense. D better than we looked a week ago.

The offense will be an achilles heel unless we bring an OC. Call me a pessimist but I don’t see Billy changing his ways. He will simply say “trust the process.”