Post-Game Discussion: FLORIDA at Missouri

If only there was evidence clearly to the contrary on this forum...

@Bazza: "Leave ZERO time on the clock.....after scoring of course......"
@stabnburn: "Billy playing for the field goal better not bite us in the ass..."
@eastowest: "Might need to score a TD There will be time left for them to kick a FG for win"
@makattack: "HAVE TO get this next first down so we bleed the rest of the clock. We can't let them have a minute left to get in FG range. Have to get a FD here but also don't wanna slip lose and score a TD too quickly."
Me: "Napier, go for the throat, show this team you believe."

I could continue, but I think the point has been made.

 

A walk off score is the win. Points with any time left is the lead.

 

No point made except mine. None of quotes point to or offer suggested plays just desired outcomes. We gave up 4-17 we were successful on downs 1,2,3 we failed on a very advantageous 4th down opportunity no doubt.

FTR they had 1-10 on the 13 dont know if they make it or not we lost on other plays during the game not the the decision to kick the fg

 

Late to the party but I'll just say this. Sports strategy like most things doesn't exist in a vacuum. The correct thing to do in most situations is run the ball. 4th and 17 is the biggest issue as you wrote but I think the frustration for the hindsight know it alls is knowing the defense has been an issue since game 1 last year. Utah drove straight down the field and we were fortunate to intercept the last pass in the end zone which was a combination of yes, making a play but also a bad throw.

The truth of the matter is somewhere in the middle. Injury depleted team fought hard and was in position to win but coach coached using traditionally accepted strategy that just hasn't worked with our sieve of a defense. That would probably be more accepted if we hadn't shown a complete inability to make a stop when needed outside of the Carolina game.

Some are optimistic at the performance and some feel it was more of the same rigid coaching that has cost us games in the past.

For me personally I'm in limbo. I think our offense has shown great potential given our horrendous offensive line which bodes well for the future. The defense has been in better position to make plays this year but is just way too undermanned to win one on one assignments at every level especially given the injuries and defections.

The negative and concerned side of me agrees that there is a conservative and philosophical issue with Napier given our ability to score and move the ball in trailing situations this year while shutting down and going cold anytime we are tied or have a lead.

On defense, it's a similar situation to last year. If we had even a mediocre one we win several more games this year. Same as last year.

I have no idea which way the program will go next year but I can see pretty much anything happening good, bad or no change.

 

I connected post game comments unsatisfied with the outcome to comments made prior to the sequence of events, not "after the fact." Leave the goal posts alone.

 

I touched on this in my last post but for me at least the biggest frustration has been the dry spells on the offense when the defense actually does step up and make stops. Is that coaching going conservative or just terrible timing of offensive errors? I don't know but overall the offense has shown some real ability to be great down the road with a better offensive line and maybe a dedicated OC with less on their plate than the head coach.

 

Chalk me up as a hindsight know it all that saw our defense have the worst performance in school history just 1 week prior having the audacity, nay hubris, to not trust the defense to get a stop and for the offense to plan accordingly. One of the many Monday morning QB's pretending like they didn't have concerns that the exact thing that happened would happen even though there is digital evidence of them voicing these concerns prior to the series of events.

The fact you provide examples supporting the position of not trusting the Defense to get the job done, directly after making derogatory comments for those who feel that way is just the best part.

I swear I could say water is wet and posters would find a way to twist that into an unreasonable take or 20/20 hindsight.

 

You might need to go touch some grass again. It's a game. For the record I think he absolutely should have played for the first down much more aggressively. I'm just not going to pretend that people wouldn't lose their minds if he did and still failed. There is a nuance to coaching and opinion and it seems like the coach and the fans lack it some times...

Coaches are supposed to believe in their team. As much as I want him to know his defense can't make a stop I understand why a coach believes his team can step up and make a play.

 

And I want that same coach to believe his offense can get a first down. It comes down to a simple question. What should he have more confidence in, his offense can continue to run the normal offense and get a first down, or the defense can stop Mizzou from driving into FG range? I take the former every time.

 

I agree I just think his current philosophy is a problem that he can hopefully evolve from. Even if it's late coming. We know Saban went away from ball control and run heavy philosophy over time.

 

Sure, but there's an ocean between Major Wright and what 10 did on that play. There's still enough room within the rules (for now) to make a solid hit and separate that guy from the ball.

 

Dont lecture me dude, no goal posts moved. The facts remain the uproar of in game comments with generic desires for aggressive play calling would have been just as loud if we didnt score any points despite EVERYONE saying the opposite.

We were successful on the 1st 3 plays on defense and sh!t the bed on what should have been a routine play even w/o more pressure on a very favorable D&D. You would agree, no?

Claiming some ungodly insight when one of 2 outcomes happened isnt genius. Ive posted elsewhere alternative outcomes to various alternate play calls and the outrage would have been just as loud had we lost yardage and missed a kick trying to be aggressive.

I’m willing to discuss x and o’s, scheme, technique, philosophies etc the x factor let us down. If you want clarification of it let me know.

 

Alli Peek is saving our DB’s for their softness.

 

Agree 100%, have posted multiple times now why our D broke down on that play, poor zone coverage from a LB. A position down to both backups on a defense that has been poor since the UK kickoff. Having 0 expectation that our D would rise to the occasion isn't insight, it's reasonable expectation based on past evidence.

I can't speak for everyone, I can only speak for myself and take others for their word that if we fail while being aggressive on offense (the stronger unit by far at this point) and not putting it in the hands the defense I would understand it. Will I still be disappointed, of course, as I'm sure others would be as well.

What seems to be lost is this isn't a blind desire to be aggressive. If we have a top 10 D, I'm perfectly fine with the way things played out and then I'm focusing on an uncharacteristic break down on 4th and 17.

 

Reasonable admission

 

His job is not on the line next year.

He will get 4 to rebuild the program correctly.

 

That was Meyer not Mullen.

Mullen ran the offense but Meyer controlled what offense was run.

Meyer called Mullen and the offensive crew over to his house to make the adjustments to the offense to work with Leak's skill set.

A very smart move. Always adjust your scheme to work with what you got instead of what you would like to have.

They switched back when Tebow took over and the rest is history. Tebow winning a Heisman followed by another Natty in Tebow's junior year.

Of course, we lost Mullen before Tebow's senior year and saw how having a maestro like Mullen running an offense made the difference between winning a national championship and getting beat in the SEC championship game.

We were still good but not quite good enough.

 

And barely at that with the other team having the best FG kicker in the NCAAF. Heads scratcher for sure.