Post-Game Discussion: Charlotte at #25 FLORIDA

we've been really bad at 3rd and 6 or less this year

passing 8 attempts - 2 first downs, 1 int
rushing 13 attempts - 6 first downs

8-21 conversions on 3rd and manageable - like 38% - gotta get that number above 50 on the 3rd and manageable if we want to be successful moving forward.

On the flip side - UF now #5 in total defense, #30 in YPP defense, #22 Yards per rush defense, and #24 in 3rd down defense.
Really the defense's only vulnerability right now, to me, seems to be against the pass - because the pass rush is not the greatest and we have some youth at safety.

 

OK, great. Feel free to delete my post(s) if you think it's taking food off someone's table. I didn't know there was more lenience on the pay site. That'll be my last post on the topic so as to not derail the thread further.

 

Just about everywhere.
Sloppy and uninspired play.
Scored TD on first drive and had to settle for 5 field goals after that.

 

This is my, you’re not gonna like this post, I don’t either. Many are and have been clamoring for Billy to hire a real OC, play caller, and rightfully so. He has a OC though, in his eyes. I’ve watched Rob Sale a bit, he’s been more involved in organizing the offense on the sideline than he has in coaching the OL during the game. The play calling is somewhat by committee, depending on the situation certain guys chime in to influence the call, analytics is used heavily. I believe there’s a good chance Rob Sale will be the chief play caller next season. I think that how Billy got him here and why there are 2 OL coaches, plus Billy didn’t want to lose his young OL coach from ULL. Sale probably wants to be a HC at some point. To do so, he’ll likely have to be more than just an OL coach first.

If so, I’m not crazy about this, at all. Very much wish Billy would go out and hire a rising young innovative OC/QB coach and let him completely run the offense. Then Billy could focus more on all aspects of the team and further sharpen them. That’s his true strength, imho, being the offensive play caller is not.

 

I think the whole game plan was to work on fixing what has not worked well this season.
FG kicking - check
Other special teams - check
Second string OL - still needs work
Montrell up the middle -see second string OL

We are very likely to have a game this year where Smack has a chance to win it with time running out. I feel a lot better about his chances after last night

 

just fyi that Mazzcua did not play at all so 2 starting O linemen didn’t play any. UF suspended him for second half on top of ncaa 1st half suspension. At least that is what they said on air. George did play some in second half but not Mazzcua. Not that it should be a huge deal vs Charlotte.

 

I didn’t notice it in real time but post game reporters mentioned two special teams plays where one again UF only had 10 players on the field (a punt and FG attempt by Charlotte). If that is the case that is still a glaring special teams issue as it ain’t the first time.

 

UK isn't that great, but that score is misleading. That said Leary is likely to have a hard time against us. We are just as likely to have a hard time with our predictable run scheme against them. This is going to be a tough 4 quarter game.

 

Quezzie?

 

Q. Only 1 for 9 tonight on 3rd downs; that was a problem last week in the second half and carried over it seemed this week.

BILLY NAPIER: “Yeah. I think the turnovers — look, we played some of those were two-down approaches, right, and I think that affected a little bit.

But yeah, there’s no question. Ultimately — and they’re in the red area, right. Got to get it better, there’s no doubt. That’s one of the stats that’s going to stand out.”

Against that team, just terrible.

 

Hypotheticals are by definition things that might have happened but didn't or might happen but won't. Reality is what actually did occur, whether I like it or not.

Reality:

- Disjointed, predictable O that looked like it was shorthanded on the line (it was) and is still not as deep/talented as the better teams in CFB (we're not).
- D is already quite good and is getting better right before our eyes - that is not a bad thing.
- QB play is not our problem and complaining/whining about Mertz's performance/limitations to date is beyond pointless - and seems unbelievably wrong-headed to me.
- If last night's O performance was intended to impress a certain WR recruit with our passing strategies/O philosophy, I sure as hell hope he gives us another look at some point.
- AA is our DC regardless of how or why he got here, plus BN hired him away from Saban in the process of bringing him to UF. Fault finding because things might have gone more
smoothly, or that the Toney hire proves BN is just an inflexible bum who had a diamond fall into his lap is lame.
- BN is a work in progress as a HC. If you are expecting more at this point, you haven't been paying attention. I believe he can and must adjust/grow/improve in a number of areas. He
has his work cut out for him.
- We have a long way to go to get to where any of us wants to be. Some will persevere and some will not. Not all shaky commits are HS recruits.

Go Gators! Beat KY!

 

I hope you're right that they see ETN as better. But then I ask, how could the coaching staff be so wrong about who the better kicker is?

 

Did you hear Billy’s Press Conference about 10 men on field and penalties on special teams? If not, you’re going to want to listen. It’s troubling.

Etienne and 8 Carries is very concerning. Gotta get him 15-20 Carries a game. 8 Carries for our most talented back is not nearly enough.

 

Great question on kicker. It’s not even close.

 

Yeah, last night was about really good progress in the PK game. Overall, STs are still shaky at best. I hope it gets better soon.

 

So the D has only TWO turnovers in four games ?

 

Great post. Gotta win next week. Stoops has solid talent and will stack box. His DB’s will play tight and take away sideways passes. Gonna have to throw the ball downfield.

 

Didn’t we change the kicker? I’m not sure why this is being raised as an issue.

You make personnel adjustments throughout the season based on the play on the field. Just like moving Montrell & ETN ahead of Wright last year.

 

For those of us that have been paying attention (and listening to things like the GNFP podcast, etc. which I really recommend)... We knew OL was going to be an issue this year. The starters were not replacement level to the guys we lost last year, and the back ups are young and most aren't even close to replacement level for the guys who are starting. We are limited at OL this year. So one of the biggest things we knew going in is that any starters missing playing time on the OL would very bad on overall performance - and it would have a cascading effect.

Ok so in the first half, we are down THREE starters, and down 2 in the second half. I think it's also worth pointing out, and Napier mentioned it, Charlotte had very talented edge players. They had 3 guys on that DL that were consensus top 300 recruits, and one was a former top 10 guy. So I know it was charlotte, and they aren't very good, but they had a strength going against Florida's weakness last night - and many of the armchair QB's that don't know shit from shinola tend to ignore things like that.

Florida just isn't very good on the OL. But back ups got reps last night, there is room to grow. Kentucky is a tall test for this team next week- lets hope they can keep learning and growing.

Florida has not played well on the road under Napier - so let's see if they can reverse that trend starting next week.

 

Can we also talk about Florida's bad luck on fumble bounces this year?