Pre-Game Discussion: UcheaT at FLORIDA

A TD home advantage is too high. I think about 10-15 years ago home field advantages were listed and the Swamp was something like 3.5. One of the highest in the country.

it would still equal a double digit dog if the game was in Neyland

 

Better for the fans, but CBS not picking us as the 3:30 must-watch SEC game is disrespectful. I'm saying the players can use that as motivation.

 

Calling "MARINE":

Marine, PLEASE, can we have some pics of "Tooth-Decay" to share with our UT friends??

LOL

 

So if UF beats the Vols how far will it set back UT football? Another decade? Will they drop the sport? Reclassify to Div 2? Rehire Kiffen? Start brushing their teeth? Reinstitute "champions of life for 5 minutes"?

Only the good lord knows................

 

Posted some of my thoughts in the prediction thread but after catching up on this weeks gator podcasts and various film reviews from week 1 and week 2 (to clarify, just UF film reviews- didn’t watch any of UT)….

happy to see for the first time in 3-4 seasons the defense not just be “better” but from a tactical standpoint, just making sense. That is awesome to see. The defensive staff adjusting scheme, player placement, defensive calls (man, zone, TITE formations, #s in the box, etc) are all making sense. Doesn’t mean we always make the plays but defensive coaches are doing the correct tactical things/counters to put players in best chance to succeed. Great to see.

Unfortunately, that is not happening with half of the offense. The running game concepts are good to great. But passing game/route trees/route concepts are a major hindrance. Billy himself has said his routes/planned routes in his offense by WRs can work regardless of the defense called- receivers can adjust to what defense is playing. So, instead of calling optimal routes vs the called defense, we run a sub optimal route that may work, but with lower chance of success. We don’t run man beaters. We run too few receivers into a given area. We tried to run deep vs McNeese 7-8 times per film review and every time checked it down because no one was open (except on Ricky TD which film shows a busted coverage). Not because our receivers cannot get separation but…since UK game last year teams know Billy’s passing concepts and they are easier to counter.

As a former data analyst myself, I give a lot of credence to data probably give too much - but one film review said something like …” the data over 14 games shows Billy won’t change his stripes offensively so offense will continue to struggle due to the passing game. You would be betting against the data to think we will change the passing game this week”.

I got super frustrated that Dan Mullen was too stubborn to fire Grantham. Too stubborn to play the younger talent. I was exasperated watching film review of Toneys defense - how tactically they rarely played the optimal defense for a given opponent. Same with Granthams last two years. I am concerned Billy and his passing game is going that same route - film shows it is suboptimal. Cannot anyone in the staff see it? Does no one mention it to coach? Will he be too stubborn to change it? (Be it himself or a different OC). When coaches don’t adjust and change / advance their concepts to what is happening in the field - just drives me nuts.

that came off as a long rant. Lol. I am a huge Billy fan and wanted us to hire him so hope he can make the adjustments in the passing game since I think he does great at everything else a head coach needs to do.

for this game- UT returned 8 starters from a blah defense. But they are older now and playing better. Hope our defense can get sacks and turnovers - they can be random and come in bunches. Maybe this week is the week we get a ton. Milton doesn’t scare me.

I am surprisingly more confident in the defense this weekend. I think someone gets a pick 6 or scoop and score for the gators D- maybe one of each. If that happens, look out! Lol

Special teams - would be nice to have some great plays but I’d take just 100% competency here.

crowd- let’s bring it!

 

I'm not holding my breath on the brushing their teeth part.

 

Upon further review as presented by GNFP:

The defense actually knows where to be and what to do most of the time now, and is clearly improved - despite ongoing problems with getting pressure on the QB. Of course, the opponent was not much of a factor, but the defense did pretty well with the "opportunity" that was afforded to them by this game. It's hard to take too much from this except that we have cleaned up some problems with keeping assignments and maintaining gap integrity. The tackling is significantly improved as well, and the athleticism and depth are much improved in several spots.

The offense is not completely terrible overall, but scheming WRs open seems to be a weakness in this O, at least for now. That absolutely must be addressed - or we can expect some unpleasant consequences, starting as soon as this Saturday. FTR, I love what BN brings to the table as a Head Coach, but he needs an OC that can get guys open and create some chunk plays on a more regular basis. The young talent at WR is impressive and encouraging, but IMO the coaching/route development has to improve considerably if we are to take advantage of that talent. The future is now...or it will be come Saturday night, anyway. GG!

 

I watched that last Tenn game. They got caught flat-footed a few times. Milton is beastly, and I expect him to be pretty serviceable, but not epically great. I expect the Swamp-crowd to be a challenge. Their kicker looked good, like really good. The rest of the team was good, but not crazy great. They have that one kid from out here in Cal from Mater Dei -the receiver, he's for real. Our backers need one more player to emerge. Our offensive line needs to play as a mad, road-grading insync unit.

I'd put their head coach in the same category as Kentucky's. They are both very good above-average game-day coaches, that's JMHO.

I like our weapons to emerge, establish the running game and our defense to take the next step. I don't know what else to say so I'll stop here.

BEAT THE VOLS!!!

Go Gators.

 

Joe Milton out to prove he's ready for prime time as Tennessee seeks first win in The Swamp since 2003

“This one means more -- much more. The last time the Vols beat the Gators in Gainesville, Heupel was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma. Tennessee has not beaten Florida in back-to-back seasons since 2003-04.”

Defend the Swamp Gators!

 

Thanks, 62Gator. Crap, I want a Gator win so bad it's killing me. I want this whole mess to turn the corner, for the kids, for the coaches and Gator Nation!

Go Gators.

 

The pressure is all on Milton. Last week he started 1 for 8 that I recall. A lot of drops were bad balls. Sunday they had a players' only meeting where he took the blame for poor offense. Let's make him regret visiting Gainesville.

 

I think Heupel is the best coach at UT since Fulmer. If I was a UT fan I would love the way they throw it around and the pace they set.

Not quite ready to put him in a Saban category though. ...snicker...

Interesting stat line about the relative starts between the two.

But it's just stat noise IMO. We will see if UT is really ready to go to that next level. The swamp will be a nice stern test for that theory.

Frankly it was remarkable that UF hung with those guys, literally to the last play of the game................at UT, last year, UF kept them nervous the entire game. (4th down Billy)

I think UF will come out chompin mad for this one.

I'm a glass 2/3rd full guy for UF - and I have a gut feeling the Gators are going to show up big this Saturday and show us fans things are turning around.

I have predicted a UF win, that may or may not happen but I think UT will know they are in a swamp fight. I do not see any easy road for the Vols Saturday night.

 

You just had to, didn’t ya, way to go, nice going..

 

I hate all the talk about the home game streak against UT. Streaks being brought constantly are like the Achilles heel of UF these last several years.