GNFP (actual podcast, NOT the vids)

Real deal podcast. No link.

I have a day off tomorrow so I can listen tonight. This is James and Allen pontificating loooooong form. James has already done the film study, but hasn't finished the videos yet. So a lot of good stuff. Also 2.5 hours. So I'll put some notes out here. Some "spoilers" since the vids are basically Cliffs Notes version of this. So proceed as you see fit.

I am attempting to be neutral, but I am also sentient. So if you are upset by the wording, it's likely me. Otherwise, I blame James.

• They shame each other for each predicting losses. But that was before the news about the missing players. Both thought Weigman was a difference maker.
• Shoulda been 50 points. Both hit on their "keys to the game", except for <250 yards passing for TAM.
• 291 yards rushing for UF was obviously big.
• 4/13 third downs for UF D. Missing starters or not, effective.
• Dismissals, transfers news, recruiting, etc. had Gator Nation in a bit of an emotional funk. Needed a boost. GOT IT.
• King missed a BUNCH of open guys in 2H. Skeptical Weigman would've missed them all, although he's a freshman so who knows.
• Napier hinted post game that while TAM was hit hard by flu, UF has plenty of stuff going on and just isn't as public about it.
• 11 personnel maybe forced by Zip out, but it worked. Guys open all over. Coulda been 450 yards and multiple 40 yard TD's. Not a criticism, per se. Brand new stuff on film, guys open all over, and TAM's strength is pass D. Fewer bunch sets, fewer 2 WR routes. Best plan and play-calls all year, including UT.
• FTR, UF runs more 11 than 12 even with zip. But the creativity was new. James feels BN was "labbing" 12 in Q4 because it is the bedrock of fancy NFL O's like Shanahan (SF.) Obviously didn't work out so well, it stalled. But that is BN's O philosophy.
• TAM sold out on inside run specifically. First team that has focused that heavily on the inside, and BN countered with stuff like Pearsall sweeps.
• Shorter being out may have helped AR. He does a lot of one-read, pre-play leaning on Shorter. Wasn't there, AR had to be more "honest." Left a LOT on the bone, but also seemed more confident and engaged from beginning to end. He needs to be more intense, and he was. Both also mentioned that getting outside of Jax/Gainesville may be a thing. He was frustrated on false starts, throwing blocks, just fired up all day. Need to see that at home against USC this week. Is it related to his health? Is he finally healthy, and therefore confident? Hard to say, but it was different. James still thinks he isn't 100%, but still had the sort of game speed to smoke a S with an angle so hard that he could pull up late and cruise.
• Arm strength is better than most NFL QB's. But as Troy Aikman says, it is the most over-rated attribute. He is also 11 games in. Figuring it out. This is why the NFL talk persists. He flashes THAT level. He does indeed have top 10 level talent. But pros do the details incessantly. AR is not doing that. AR was worst against zone, timing was off, missed open guys, gave up too early, etc. But remember it is ELEVEN games. AR might be passing up windows because he knows he can throw a ball 75 yards. But that's not a positive. Take the throws, stick them, learn.
• The sweet adlib pitch. MJ also aware and ready for it. Not the play, MJ had to make it work. Nice 4th down make-it-work. AR fired up. Flag football fun.
• Seven "quick game" plays. At least that's new. The screens are still pretty much doomed. We run it on 3v3 and even 3v4 sometimes. WHA??
• MJ and ETN both DESTROYED guys on actual pass routes, although AR didn't go for either. Perhaps not bad reads, just putting it on film to see what happens. Is this a coming wrinkle?
• Three RPO's. More optimistic than any game all year. Is this a turning point? Let's see if the things we saw on film this week carry over to USC.
• King's stats look good, but ended up 38 QBR.
• 24 points is TAM season high. Had it at halftime! Also, had it end of game!
• 3 pressures in 1H, 13 in 2H. Same rate of pressure brought each half. 11 of 19, 10 of 26 snaps H:H M2M. Cover 2 man, cover 6, etc., all basically equal half to half. There is no smoking gun via scheme. Execution was simply better 2H. Same scheme, dramatically different results. King also inaccurate, but also just getting his tower buzzed 2H. EIGHTS stops in a row. Hold your horses: TAM O is bad. But something happened.
• Cox gone: hmmmmmm. No shade, but perhaps the culture is already different. Cox would've probably won some indy battles others didn't. But is the unit better? Again, don't sweep with a broad brush just yet. Hard to say your D is better without the guy who has been the best on film all year. ***My addendum: I found the Cox reactions to teammates blowing stuff "leadership." I may have been dead wrong about that. That may have been what they call "asshole." U\
• UF still allergic to covering hitches. TAM had them open on 3/longs all day, King couldn't hit them, thankfully.
• The schemes seem solid. But at some point, it has to be asked, are you playing for now or later? We had two guys covering the same guys or zones again, King couldn't figure it out.
• Still a 3 year test. Have patience. Toney is not doing idiotic things. Lots of bad execution, lots of "questionable" schemes, and just lots of inexplicable stuff. Coordinators are on a shorter two year leash.
• TD played another solid game. Still mysterious why Kamari hasn't taken over. It's time. Loyalty? Perkins is an obvious layup over the alternative. Dude balls, even in mistakes. TD has suddenly turned a corner that makes him at least viable. Perkins has proven himself and should be getting more run. (My addendum: Perkins needs to be out there, now, front and center. This cat has a different gear, even with his faults.)
• 4-3 vs 3-4. We played more 4DL. We have a bunch of undersized, non-specific position players. Most NFL teams have gone away from 3-4 because it requires specific players. Need three DL and 4 LB badasses. 4-3 requires two interior DL, like Dexter and Dez, and a bunch of hybrids, like we have. Add McClellan, we have a solid interior core. Make it work. Dez isn't being double-teamed, no need. Toney is a "multiple" guy. But he hasn't called it that way. Is Cox being gone, Toney thinking was he was a game-changer, changing his thinking to more unit-oriented?
• Henderson budding into a nice WR, chemistry with AR. But PR? Henderson seems like a floor level guy there. We don't have a quick-twitch PR right now.
• End of half: all three TO's. Moving the ball. But we shut it down. NOT what he did at UL. Both are frustrated. What does Jimbo WANT? Shut it down. Scared money? Plus M just hit a 50 yard FG. TAM also didn't call their TO's. IOW, they wanted to run the half out too. This is a trend at this point. BN needs to fix this.
• 4th and 1 up 10. Go for it? "Rule of scores" (this is a James' fave) says ABSOLUTELY. 13 is barely an advantage. 17 is a back breaker. But trash play call. 12 personnel. TAM sent everyone to the middle run, and we did it. They sold out for that single part of the field. Almost anything else has a chance.
• AR is missing things he SHOULD miss at his stage. Emory is benched at his new gig because he is STUCK at a level that is untenable at HIS stage. AR was not long ago melting down on field. And then went nuclear later. And now has leveled out. He has acquitted himself quite well. He is not stuck like EJ. Everyone calm down, from lovers to haters. He's in the middle today.
• Fans, take a breath. If you freak at the climax of a movie, you'll totally miss the point of the ending. Let's see how it goes. 9-4 with a bowl win is not crazy. Obviously it could go otherwise. Hold the line and save the sweeping judgments a few more weeks.
• Lots of talk about other games, which is always good. Miss St. intentionally lasering that KO into the up-man was sweet (youtube it.) JAX/LV late game penalty/FG also interesting. MO roughing the kicker was wacko. Wheels are off at Arkansas. Liberty, prolly on the road to needing forgiveness, they have an in. Brian Kelly left ND to be able to beat teams like Bama because he lacked the talent...uh oh. Short term play was always Kelly. Long play is BN. But there is no denying BK. And it is coaching, he is legit. Old BK's pimp slap Clemson. Freeman, pump the brakes. He is recruiting like mad, and has turned the ship.
• Ruiz is just trolling UF now. He's bribing players to play at a broken program. Still going nowhere at UM, but def hurting UF. UF stay the course.
• Kirby willing to do what no one else will. UGA went man and UT went where the go. (My add: I said it all week, Hooker not a dart thrower; A button offense all the way.) UT: find a way, this is the book now.
• Jeff Scott: eh, maybe.
• Why are the Gamecocks called that: Thomas Sumpter, revolutionary war hero, called the Carolina Gamecock for fierce fighting style.
• Prior to Spurrier, one 10 game winning season. Spurrier is the all-time winning coach there.
• Clemson fans call USC fans "SEC Gamecocks" because they root for USC and ANY SEC team "aggressively." Apparently cars in SC and fans have dual logos, SC and some other SEC team.
• USC throws a LOT to TE and RB. Uh oh.
• 50% of their passes are at the LOS. 25% are within 5 yards. The rest are 20+. So, it's a quick drop and throw, or bomb.
• USC is amongst the worst in sacks and INT's.
• Rattler is good against 5. Bring 6. Very simple. Play man and bring heat.
• DL can generate pressure. 35% man. SHOULD be big advantage UF in run game. Lots of INT, not many sacks.
• UF run game vs. USC run D is advantage. Expect M2M. USC safeties are weak. CB's are solid. USC O might be a little better than TAM. 100% FG for USC.
• No info on Shorter.
• James: Big believer in Y1 ideas: Culture, chemistry, belief. 1) We compete to the end. 2) Lost best D player, lost #1 recruit. 3) Lots of rumors about guys leaving and a fractured locker room. 4) Played their best half of football.
• Sold out.
• USC will also play to the end. Can't trust D until more data supports it.
• If you simulate this 100 times, USC wins 35-40 times. Don't get "cocky". (That one was me.)
• If AR turns in a big timer at home, BHG will go wild.
• A loss will reset this all back to DOOM.
• Lots of thoughts on other games. LSU-3 at ARK???? Interesting. Both are all over LSU. Why does the public only give LSU that little love? UT-21 at home against MO. Both (IMO) are skeptical of that line. MO plays solid D, but no O. Don't see them stopping that A button much. Bama -11 at Ole Miss. Seems like Bama getting punished now. Whatevs.
• UF starts the punking of foos in BB tonight too. I'm guessing we beat SB by about 36. Maybe I cheated. But no shiznit, Golden will prolly turn this around pretty fast.