Florida and LSU are a combined 9-1, both teams are ranked in the top 15, both teams are serious contenders in the SEC race (maybe even beyond that), both teams are loaded with young, promising talent, but. …
Fans from both sides have spent most of the week before Saturday’s big game in The Swamp grousing and bitching about how bad things are with their team.
“I guess it’s because the expectations are so high at both schools,” senior UF linebacker A.J. Jones said Wednesday.
In Louisiana, the heat is back on Les Miles for his pitiful clock management (again) after the way the Tigers nearly tossed away Saturday’s game against Tennessee in the closing seconds. He’s 5-0, and yet there is a lot of chatter around Baton Rouge that maybe it’s time to say to go ahead and fire the guy.
Miles isn’t the only one under the microscope. So is LSU’s struggling offense and the erratic quarterback play of Jordan Jefferson, and now, Jarrett Lee. The Tigers are having some success running the ball, but their passing game has disappeared at times and LSU is struggling to sustain drives and score points. So, you guessed it, some are saying it’s time to demote or fire offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.
Here’s the key question: If the Tigers win Saturday’s game 7-6 and Miles bungles a scoring opportunity with bad clock management at the end of the first half and the QB play stinks, will theLSU fans even be happy?
Probably not.
Now, on to Florida.
We all know about the criticism flying around — and there is plenty of it on talk radio and on the Internet.
Let’s see, Urban Meyer isn’t the same coach he was before his leave of absence. Steve Addazio should be stripped of his play-calling duties. Mike Pouncey should be moved back to guard. John Brantley should not be asked to run the option. The Gators should throw deep. Trey Burton should be the quarterback. Play-calling is predictable.
Blah, blah, blah.
On and on it goes.
Here’s the key question: If the Gators’ win Saturday’s game 10-9 and Jeff Demps runs up the middle on second-and-10 and Burton throws a jump-pass interception in the end zone and Pouncey dribbles a snap or two to John Brantley, will the Gator fans even be happy?
Probably not.
Kind of sad, don’t you think?
I feel a win is a win but I think most fans in Gator Nation want to feel a sense of security with our offense. I think if there was more consistency (and I don’t mean the same plays) with positive gains and yardage it wouldn’t be so bad. I feel that some plays need to stay in the offense to keep the defense honest but the number of times we run them might need to change. Whatever happens I am a Gator and I will support our team!!! BEAT the Hell out of LSU
It is easy for someone who did not even realize Marsh was in the DL rotation or that Hines was in the WR rotation to not care about how well the team plays. It would be like me telling some Brazilian soccer fan to take it easy after they did not win the world cup.
“Kind of sad”?
I can think of more than 7 million reasons why there’s nothing sad about any of that.
Kind of sad that complacency within this coaching staff is holding this team back. Some can repeat the typical “We’re spoiled” and “Rah! Rah! Never question the coaches” speel, but the problem is still there, glaring as ever. I don’t think anyone wants to fire Addazio or the coaches, but some sort of serious effort to address these nagging issues should be made. Alabama replaced 10 starters on defense, 3 other starters on offense, and both kickers from last year’s team and they’re getting better every game and dominating? Why? Good, solid, coaching. Meyer should make some changes. Move Addazio up to the press box, make Scot Loeffler co-OC and put himk on the field. Have Azzani or Loeffler call the redzone possessions. Mix it up, stop autographing everything we’re doing and making it easy for the opposing defense to usurp and overwhelm our OL, and stop wasting a dozen or more plays a game on dive plays that usually get nothing or even a loss of yardage when we could be aggressive and attack downfield. Finally, Pouncey’s snapping problem has gone on for FIVE game. Not one, F-I-V-E. His bad snaps cost us directly or indirectly two TD at the Bama goalline last Saturday. He simply does not have the skill set to be a C, and he’s only hurting his NFL stock playing a position he’s just not good at. All of us Gators want the best for our team, but the coaches are going to have to want it too. Lets see the coaches get “hungry” again, see that “Eye Of The Tiger” in their eyes again. Go Gators!
Yea, we have some fans who are much too inpatient! Since when was it written in stone that we would dominate every game and win the NC every year? Sure, I get frustrated at times, but, I know we have one of the best coaches in football and he will get things on track. Have some patients folks and quit giving Saban more stuff to use against us in recruiting! Good thing it’s only a small number of our fans saying negative
Robbie, you create two fantasy scenarios complete with fantasy fan reactions. Lets deal with reality. Gator Nation has to be bigger than both of us can conceive so lets leave the crystal ball aspect to the seers.
The only sad thing I’ve seen is the Addazio presser yesterday. Why not just trot out a cheerleader that shouts “GO GATORS!! C’MON GATORS!! after every question. Either that or dress the coach in the proper cheering attire because he certainly didn’t answer questions.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
Kind of sad that so called Gator fans think they know more about football then Coach Meyer.
Look at it this way, it could be worse….we could still have Zook walking the sidelines, us averaging 7 wins a year, and destined for the Capitol one bowl. BLUF, we are young but getting older. We will be fine and will look at this week as the one that fired the gatornation up and back on the winning track. That’s the way I see it.
I agree with Todd. Our goal every year should be to win every game. If that isn’t happening, we should be trying to improve the team instead of being complacent. That is what competition is all about. Also, that Alabama defense that outscored our offense 7-6 last week is younger and replaced more starters than our offense did. We have the heaviest and one of the most veteran offensive lines in the conference, and yet we couldn’t convert a 1st and goal from the 1 yard line. That offensive line features 2 5th year players, 2 4th year players and 1 2nd year player. They were all highly recruited kids and they all saw plenty of playing time before this year. We are also FIVE games into the season. Our QB is a 4th year player and our top 2 RBs are a 5th year guy and a 3rd year guy. Our top 2 WRs are a 5th year guy and a 4th year guy. The only spot that really has a good excuse for not playing well is TE. The Gator Nation has a reason to question the coaching staff – and that staff should listen. Haven’t you heard of the wisdom of crowds?
Yes we have a lot of idiot fans. Just because they played powder puff football in high school they think they know more than Urban Meyer or Steve Spurrier or Galen Hall or Charlie Pell…etc. We had them back in the 80’s when I was at UF and we still have them today. Enjoy your twinkie and pepsi and leave the coaching to the professionals.
The way Urban appears to be going against Alabama, he is at risk of becoming to Saban what Fulmer was to Spurrier.
Andreu, I don’t think you’re seeing the big picture here. Florida fans aren’t trying to spilt hairs between winning by 35 or winning by 42. It’s about problems that everyone sees game in game out. One game for Pouncy and it’s no big deal, first game jitters and all that. But Five games in? To make it worse Addazio looks like a deer in head lights answering questions about the offense. Here’s the other thing I don’t understand is why don’t we use Debose and Hammonds that much? Debose has picked up solid yardage on just ahout every catch, so has Hammonds. I get you don’t practice well you don’t play, but what if you practice good but play like crap? (Pouncy) Throw some of these kids into the fire, you might find some of them learn better like that. Let’s face it, with the way the O plays it can’t hurt to have some other players involved despite how they practice. Meyer had a package for Tebow when he was young. Where is Debose’s package, Hammonds package, Burtons package, BRANTLEY’S PACKAGE! For christ’s sake quit running him on the option. He’s not a runner and he’s gonna get hurt again, maybe worse.
In a 12 team league where we have played an easy schedule we are 9th in rushing offense, 10th in passing offense, 8th in 3rd down conversions, and 10th in red-zone conversions. Even my wife can see our offense is horrible this year and is being poorly coached. Steve Addazio should absolutely have his play calling duties stripped, so he can focus on the offensive line which has been horrible. Maybe he can work with Pouncey who has killed the offense with his poor snaps, I counted at least 8 or 9 snaps more bad snaps on Saturday.
I agree with todd 100%
I find it offensive that you, a member of the press, feel it necessary to denigrate Gator fans for expressing their opinions. I read everything you write and have great respect for your insight, but I do believe the rest of us have the right to our views. I think that this incredibly talented and motivated group of young men deserve a plan and an approach that allows them to play up to their potential, and it is not clear that this is happening now. Debating this stuff is part of what makes college football great, as long as it is kept positive with regard to these student athletes who work so hard.
Todd summed it up perfectly!
Some very good points by all, and they all should be respected. To me that’s what this is all about, voicing your opinion, no one has to agree with you but that’s how you feel. It doesn’t make you right or wrong, its your opinion. Don’t get made at someone else opinion, state your case and move on, its an opinion.
Nobody suffers winning like Florida fans. Alabama is just a better team. Plain and simple, Florida fans are some of the worst. I love the Gators, Supports coach Meyer and have faith the fators will get back on track saturday in the Swamp!
If you have a leaky pipe in your house, do you fix it as soon as you find out or do you wait until it starts rotting away at the wood to do something about it? The point here isn’t wins and losses, it’s the fact that there is a true problem with the way the offense on this team is being run. There wasn’t this kind of outcry when Spurrier lost a game or two, so the problem isn’t just the fact that we lost a game. The truth is many predicted the beatdown in Bama, not because of a lack of talent, but because we knew the gameplan was going to be atrocious.
The fact that this team has won in the last two years under Addazio is more of an accomplishment in recruiting than coaching considering that in practically every one of those games we had a considerable talent advantage. The SEC-E has been relatively weak the last couple of years and in the 2 games against a comparable or slightly better team (Bama) Florida was dominated. Productivity dropped significantly after Mullen left and has gotten worse without the likes of Tebow and our other offensive studs.
I’m not demanding a perfect season, but it’d be nice to see some common sense and proper personnel utilization from the guys drawing up our offense. Recognizing a problem isn’t “suffering winning” and asking that it be corrected surely isn’t catastrophizing.
who the hell are the fators?
I am amazed about the criticism of the Florida coaches in terms of “if they are hungry again” or “being complacent.” We have an unbelievably hard-working and extremely motivated group of coaches that are trying their absolute best in their coaching roles. We are going to lose a game here and there and the SEC championship or the national title may not always be possible every year. We are in the SEC after all!!! Some games are going to be lost and when lost there are a multiple of reasons that usually affect the final score. For example, a Brantley incompletion could be the result of the offensive guard not getting a solid block to allow for an extra half a second of read, a receiver running a poor or wrong route, a bad call because of defensive alignment, a referee getting in the way and the list can go on and on. Believe me, unless you look at the play 5 or 6 times and focus in several key areas you are unlikely to identify the reasons a play failed. Multiply that by 110 or so plays a game and you have usually a complicated puzzle to solve. Until the critics dissect each game the way coaches breakdown the game afterwards to grade themselves and the players, an opinion on what is wrong is worth a “complacent” yawn. If there is one thing clear from the Urban Meyer era is that he and his coaching staff continue to critically evaluate themselves and the players, whether winning or losing, to provide a better result next week. They are excellent at it. Analyze and breakdown the Alabama game and you will see that we are very close to competing with Alabama. If we played next week we would still likely lose but a couple of months from now our chances are significantly better. This is not a complacent team; this is a team that made full-speed errors in a stadium that can be very intimidating for a young team. Do not panic and believe me the Florida coaches want this as much as everyone else. Once the SEC and National Championship was tasted, nothing else will truly satisfy.
What’s the elephant in the room? Last season. Game after game of dull playcalling led to boring football and an embarrassment in the SEC championship game. I and a lot of other fans saw the Sugar Bowl as a huge relief: Gator football the way we expected it to be played. And we thought that this season would mark a return to the creativity and outcoaching that Meyer showed in his years before last season.
I recognize that we have changed a number of key players. But until last week, I had not been certain of a Gator loss since the Zook years. Meyer is smart…but I would like to see it reflected in the way the plays are called and the game is managed.
And “faith”? Whether it’s faith in gators or fators, I don’t have any time for zealots. Football is fun, but it’s a helluva lot more fun when it’s played at its highest level.
Yeah, Alabama is a better team. But was it last year in the SEC championship game? I don’t think they had better players then. I think we were outcoached or outprepared or something that coaches control. This year, we have a ton of talent, esp. at receiver, yet we don’t seem to capitalize on it. Sure, they’re young, but so are some of our defensive players, but they’re doing fine. The offense isn’t meshing, and hasn’t for two years. So, Robbie, no, we’re not happy. And, yes, it’s sad because nothing, apparently, is being done to correct our problems. Or if something is being done, we don’t know about it because we can’t go to practice.
Hear, hear!!!!! Thank you very much Mr. Andreu. You are a gentleman and a scholar. Sad how spoiled some, maybe many, hopefully not most have become in the Gator Nation with success. I was at UF 1985-1990. Questioning play calling, comparing and contrasting players talents and efforts, etc. is fine and dandy and even fun. But let’s not delude ourselves about our capacities and knowledge of the game of college football. Let the professionals do their work. When Coach Meyer produces truly mediocre teams, 7-5 or 8-4, THEN we might begin questioning HIS coaching. Until then, quit bitching and enjoy the ride!!
If the Gators win 10-9 but play like junk, then we won’t be happy, because you cannot become predictable playing that way. We all know the first 3 wins did not look good and it caught up with us. You gotta win..yes. and you gotta look like a winner to continue to win.
Lets hope the gators become less predictable…and develop to the upside….and win.
Come on Robby, the offensive line has not played well since Adazio became the O Coordinator. Let him be the Coordinator but let Scott Loefler call the plays.
I am a process person, when the team plays well the wins will come, and when they don’t improvement is required. Also less than good play will result in losses. So I am happy when the team plays well no matter the outcome and unhappy when they play poorly!!! Simple logic in my opinion and the players and coaches should believe and act the same way!!!!
Your kid gets all C’s in high school. Are you upset? Hey, they passed right? They got all A’s in middle school. So you’ll just be cool with them getting C’s in high school. It’s the same thing. No, Gator fans won’t be happy with sloppy play and a win. Not too many would be, unless they upset someone. Had the Gators played sloppy and beaten Alabama, no big deal. But they didn’t win and they played sloppy. We have an O-Line that should be the strength of the team and they just aren’t.
Robbie,
I enjoy what you write, but I think you’re off base this time. Yes, Gator fans including myself have become somewhat spoiled because we thought we had a top tier program, and now those of us who can understand the big picture of what is happening are starting to realize that our football program is going backwards rather fast. It has become painfully obvious that Addazio can’t coach the O line AND call plays too, which is why our offense after five games is 80 something in the nation and our O line looks average at best. Addazio’s a great guy, but he can’t do both jobs well. The bulk of comments by the readers on this blog are accurate and totally in line with every other Gator site going. Unfortunately, I have a hunch that it is going to take us losing three of these four upcoming games, LSU, Miss. State, South Carolina, and FSU before Urban finally realizes that he must seek an imaginative Offensive Coordinator or get used to losing. I don’t know if it was Mullens or Gonzalez, or both who had the skill to diagnose other teams defenses and design plays using our players to defeat them, but I do know that we are winning games these days on shear talent alone and that isn’t going to last. We have as much if not more talent than any other SEC team this year, but are totally wasting our players. If we lose three of these four games that I’m afraid we will, the kind of recruits we need to sustain a top tier program will flock to FSU, Miami, and out of state schools if we continue to be pathetic on offense. So, please excuse we fans for seeing the obvious and not being too happy with what we see.
The concerns about Pouncey at center are legitimate considering he’s bumbled at least one snap in all 5 games.
Yes Robby, we should all tow the company line, this team is great, fantastic, go team go. Thank you for setting us straight. As fans we should just pay the ticket price, root and cheer no matter what, and not point out flaws. I suppose you guys never point out the mistakes either, it’s all sunshine and moonbeams. O wait you do point out some things. I guess when we do it it’s bitching.
IF YOU HAVE A DEEP EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, IF YOU RESENT THE LABEL “DIE HARD GATOR” BECAUSE YOU’RE REALLY A “DIE NEVER”, IF YOU TRULY BLEED ORANGE AND BLUE AND ARE NOT SOME BAND WAGON, T-SHIRT BUYING, STAY AT HOME ON SATURDAYS “FAN”, OR SOME OVER TENURED FACULTY OR ADMINISTRATION WHO FOR AS LONG AS YOU’VE BEEN THERE STILL CAN’T UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY AND WHAT IT TRULY MEANS TO BE A GATOR AND GRADUATE FROM THAT UNIVERSITY, IF YOU CAN VIVIDLY REMEMBER SATURDAYS IN THE 70’S AND EARLY 80’S……THEN YOU SHUT YOUR $&*#ING MOUTH AND YOU APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CHARACTER, INTELLIGENCE, AND WINNING QUALITIES, WHICH ARE THAT OF URBAN MEYER.
YOU KNOW HIM RIGHT???
THE MAN THAT’S BROUGHT YOU TWO NATIONAL TITLES. THE MAN THAT GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO TOUT YOUR GATORDOM, WHETHER YOU’RE A SELFISH AND NEGLECTFUL FOOL WHO DOESN’T HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO ARTICULATE TO RIVAL FANS WHY THE GATORS ARE STILL GREAT OR WHETHER YOUR SOMEONE WHO UNCONTROLLABLY FEELS SOME LEVEL OF STING AFTER EVERY LOSS AND CAN LOOK TO THOSE COLORS AND FEEL SO RELIEVED THAT YOU’RE A GATOR BECAUSE IT’S SO MUCH A PART OF YOUR IDENTITY.
HE’S THE MAN, AND YOU BETTER STAND BY HIM!
Is “the man” infallible or are you confusing him with God? Really…I know fan is short for “fanatic,” but you guys have turned Meyer into a deity. We know he’s good. That’s why this is so disappointing. All we want is an end to the strategy of throwing tiny RBs into the middle of the line, more diversity in the routes of the receivers, and a little variation when we get into the red zone. If I ask this from my knees with head bowed, may I expect to see the best that the Gators are capable of?
Loyalty to greatness is admirable, but to the mediocre is for fools. Addazio is the Ron Zook of OC’s. There is no tenure in sports like there is in teaching. That’s why only the best athletes succeed and at the same time our youth are getting dumber by the minute. Addazio has got to go as OC. Until he is moved aside we will be wasting great talent and Urban’s record will be tarnished. I feel sorry for our defense!
So we lost 1 game to the best team in the country. Forget it and get ready for the next game. This is a young team and they have to learn. I remember the time when Florida was not even a strong football team and 2 probations. Come on people, if you are a true Gator fan, you don’t start pointing fingers. We are fortunate to have Urban and his staff. Remember, once a Gator, always a Gator!
All the frustration voiced by the Gator Nation is not a lack of appreciation for Urban, our Coaches, or most importantly, our Players. It stems from the knowledge that we are aware of our immensely talented players, equal to that of Bama or any other elite program in the Nation, yet for two consecutive years, our Offense has really become very predictable, and worse, sloppy. See Oregon – they run a similar offense, yet execute MUCH better, and with more aggression from the point of play calling.
Reality is this – the crutches known as Timmy and Percy are gone, and we actually have to start to function as 11 players that rely on all 11 executing. Go back, watch how many times those two guys bailed us out of bad situations, plays and execution. They don’t come around every year, every 5, sometimes not every 10. We are unappreciative – Urban IS the best. But, boy, Saban and his Staff, as well as our the rest of the competition [with the athletes to match us] sure seem to have closed the gap and it’s reasonable to expect some adjustment and innovation.
In Urban I will trust…..
Wow……no wonder SOS left for Washington. You people keep it up and you’ll chase the guy that brought us two national championships to the NFL or worse……to Athens. Christ people, get a freakin’ grip.
The O-line hasn’t been 100% all year. The starting QB had never taken a snap that meant anything in his life. Literally 1/2 the starters from last year are in the NFL. Oh…and the previous QB was only the greatest college football player ever. But we should win every game……..This team will be fine. These coaches will be fine. We should all stop acting like we have a birthright to a national title every other year. I love the Florida Gators……..but some of these comments are just disgusting.
Even though I was disgusted at many aspects of the game last Saturday, I couldn’t agree more with Robbie. No, we did not look great in our wins and yes, the Alabama game was terrible, but we just need to learn from our mistakes and move on to the next opponent. HELLO, we’re hosting a top 15 undefeated LSU team at night and no one seems to care! It is two days before the most important game of the season and everyone is still crying over a relatively unimportant game in terms of our season goals. Just remember, if you’re not a Gator, you’re Gator Bait!
Please everyone calm down. We lost to Alabama due to some correctable mistakes. Remember we have won 27 games in a row against teams not named Alabama!
Still believe that with all the dives up the middle that Florida would greatly benefit from a 230+ pound tailback to compliment our current stable of backs. We do have some linebackers who were also running backs in high school and piled up yards and touchdowns…Just a thought.
Coach Meyer is one of, if not the best coach in college football. I believe that he probably knows that some comments come with being a head coach. What the Alabama game showed was that the Gators never gave up or stopped trying and that is a positive reflection of what Coach Meyer and the other coaches have instilled in our team. I’m proud of their never give up attitude.
I think it was interesting that Addazio said Pouncey graded out 100%….because I personally saw him miss one tackle that directly led to a tackle in the backfield. Also…the snap to Burton on the goal line was not Burton’s fault. It was far to the left, Burton had to reach way out to catch it, and the snap gave Bama players time to break through to stop Burton from scoring. How is that a 100% grade? That one snap may have changed the entire momentum of the game. I think Mike Pouncey is a great OG, but is not a great OC because of his inconsistency when snapping the ball. I watched another game last night and I did not see one poor snap when the QBs were in the shotgun formation. Addazio would not know 100% because he is to busy calling a dive play up the middle on 2nd and 10…for the 1000th time in a row.
Plus….loving the Gators doesn’t mean you have to hide your head in the sand. How many of you believe the Gator offensive is better under Addazio (with or without Tebow) since Mullen left. I personally think Addazio’s play calling is huring the effectiveness of the Gator offense. The scripted plays at the beginning of games seem to work and then we go right back to Addazio’s predictable plays as soon as those plays are over.
Coach Meyer is a great coach…was and still is. Something is just not right with the coaching on the offensive side of the ball and fingers seem to point to the OC right now.
Chill people…….1 year we lost 4 games and then the next year we won a National Championship………..Does everything in your life go according ?…… far as we know, we are 4-1 and ranked 14th in the nation and still have the possibility of goin to Glendale…….. and we can bring back the Zooker…………I agree with some about our offensive direction at this point, and the defense didnt play well either….put it aside and go forward…..since 2005 we haven’t done that awful………..
I agree with Paul. Urban Meyer is one of the best coaches in the nation. However he and his staff are significantly behind Nick Saban and his staff at this point. It is a copout to say oh well, Alabama is just a better team. WHAT IS SAD is we have one of our most experienced and supposedly talented offensive lines in the Meyer era. Against Alabama, they were dominated which is inexcusable. However, it’s difficult to block for a play when the other team already knows what it’s going to be. I’m just a lowly fan but when I see certain situations, I know what the play is going to be. I’m sure the high paid defensive staffs of the opposing teams know it (As an example Kirby Smart jumping up and down alerting his players to the jump pass right before the interception). Hmmmmm… I think I’ll run a read option where one of the major options is not an option and the other team knows it. Hmmm……it went for 0 or negative yardage the first 4 times I ran it so let’s do it again. You see I’m setting up the next …uh…actually I never did set up anything with this loser play. Our talent and experience are similar to Alabama’s (with the exception of RB) . As a fan, I don’t mind losing to a great team like Alabama. It’s losing by making the same mistakes for five games, unimaginative play calling and seemingly the coaching staff not understanding this teams strengths and trying to capitalize on them. Gator fans don’t want a new coach or staff. We do want to see them develop players where embarrassing scenes like Saturday night don’t occur for the players or the fans. This team is too talented to at least not made a game of it.
I’m with Gatorboz & Jim. These fair weather fans are the 1% that somehow get more publicity and love it. If you were a Gator fan or alumnus before Spurrier and remember seasons like 0-10-1, then you wouldn’t be on here or anywhere else complaining about 1 loss last year in the regular season and playing in the SECCG or 1 loss so far this year. Spurrier left here because people had got to the point where they weren’t happy with a 10-win season. He has said it time and time again. We don’t learn lessons very well. You have no idea what goes on behind closed doors with this staff, you can’t say they are not committed and wouldn’t want to win EVERY game, you can’t say that they aren’t trying to correct it because you aren’t at every practice and you won’t know these things because you’re first name isn’t COACH and your paycheck isn’t signed by Dr. Machen and the University of Florida! Go Gators!
I think the point has been made about the offense and people get it! Now, it’s time to get behind the team, unless you are one of those Spurrier lovers who would love nothing more than to see Meyer leave! Well, Spurrier ain’t coming back to UF and we have a coach who tops Spurrier and most other coaches! So, come on people, get over it and get behind your team! We still have a lot to play for, more than we had before Meyer; so, stop beating a dead horse! An effective argument can become a nuisance, if the one making it doesn’t know when to sit down and listen!
Gator Nation believes in Coach Meyer and our players!
Only problem I have with the play calling is running Brantley on the option. Then to hear Addazio defending it. Incredible. It ain’t working and you’re going to get him killed. Let’s see what kind of record we have then.
Robbie, my question to you or anyone else that saw the spring practice is this. I thought it was reported that passing was paramount as to use John’s best skill set. So far, I believe that John has gone deep 3 times with 2 on the numbers and 1 with the receiver giving up on the play. I really don’t see the passing game as attacking the defense. I thought whole heartedly that it was going to come out last week. I do understand two deep, but I also trust that Coach Meyers recuits talent / speed to be able to attack any type of defense.
To all those who are ragging on fans who are ragging on the team, you need to get a grip. No one is saying Meyer can’t coach. We are, however, wondering when this whole notion of tailoring the offense to fit personel is gonna happen. Why are we running option plays with a non running pockret passer? Why are we running dive plays with a 185lb scatback? Why do we contuinue to run little bubble screens when our WR’s have a hard time blocking? Why do we keep puncy in the middle when snaps are clearly still a problem? We have some of the fastest recievers in the nation. Why are we not going long more? We go long what, 2-3 times a game. Thats sad. You know that old saying, that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and thinking you’re going to get a different result. Demps gets his yardage with those little left and right sweeps. Keep him to the outside. Let gilly go up the middle. Seems as though any time a player starts to get in a rhythm they quit giving him the ball. Ride the hot player till the wheels come off, then go find another play maker.
…and one last thing. Why does it take a whole half of football to make the necessary changes? I find it hard to believe that a coach of Meyers status can’t make in game adjustments midway through the first and into the second. If that doesn’t change, well, you see what happened with Alabama. We can;t hope to beat great teams when we’re down 3-4 touchdowns after the first half. Why against a young secondary did we not role brantley out more like we did in the Kentucky game. Sometimes I feel like we set our offense up to play against the strength of the other team. Best rushing defense! Well lets run it all game. #1 pass defense, lets air it out all game. C O M E O N M A N
C’mon people, get a life. College football is entertainment. Treat it as such. Way more important things going on in the world compared to Pouncey’s snaps and the dive play. If you don’t know about them, I invite you to visit other parts of the website. And by the way, I’ve had season tickets since 1977 and have missed a total of three home games in that time.
This sounds a lot like the argument the Noles were having for the past 5 years. Half saying “follow the coach blindly”, the other half saying “we need change”.
How did that work out for them?
Nothing wrong with wanting to see the best product on the field – UF charges us plenty of money for those tix, and we don’t pay to see 10-9 games. That will never fly here…it is about winning and style. So Robbie Andreu, yes we will still complain with a 10-9 victory. We were the better team last year against Bama, but got Bama wanted it more, they were hungrier because of losing to us in 08. It happens. But you see us air it out last year vs. Georgia, then go into a shell vs. Vandy or Tenn, or LSU. How many passes have been thrown downfield, more than 15 yards? And you’re telling me that Addazio is ok with 3 bad snaps per game – what football coach is ever happy about that??
Oh, and I’m not pining for Mullen either. He’s the guy who left Percy on the bench on 4th and 1 against Ole Miss for the obvious “jumbo” package or whatever. But Meyer says the offense adjusts to the personnel, yet insists on the option, so please explain.
I can’t believe Adazzio keeps talking about rebuilding and developing young players when there are schools that have won a naional championship with true freshmen or first year starting QB. I could remember a few, McElroy at Alabama, Ken Dorsey and Berny Kosar at Miami. These guys excelled because the system in place was right. Also, these school featured passing attacks and draw back QB’s. How come Florida with all of their playmakers cannot do the same? It comes down to poor playcalling rather than execution. I bet if Brantley is given the chance to throw the ball more often, teams would try to protect the passing game, opening huge opportunities to establish a running game and things could get mixed up a bit.
You are right Robbie. We are 4-1 with a great shot at the SEC east title. I think we listen too much to the media “talking heads” who at best offer bad but very detailed analysis. Fans have gone from clamouring to put in the backup QB decades ago to wanting wholesale position and strategy changes when they think they are not sufficiently entertained. If you want a real picture of what happens we informed leadership panders to the opinions of the public, just take a look how effective our political system has become. It is probably a good thing that we don’t elect our coaches.
WE ARE THE GATORS AND WE DEMAND PERFECTION. THAT IS ALL. WE JUST WANT TO SEE THE BEST EFFORT, 110%. AND NOTHING LESS WILL MAKE THE FANS HAPPY! THIS IS AMERICA. WE WANNA WIN AND WIN B-I-G!!!
GO GATORS
WE LUV U URBAN- YOUR DOING A HECK OF A GREAT JOB! ATTA-GATOR!!
As I’m reading all of this, I started to think…..what would Tim Tebow say? Timmy would say that the players and the coaches are going to work hard to get better. He would tell us they are gonig to play hard and leave it all on the field every game. He would tell us they will be fired up and use every weapon they have. If that happens, it’s plenty good enough for me. Go Gators!
Look, all reasonable Gator fans know that this team is not as good as last year, nor should anyone expect it to be. We lost a ton of talent and you can’t win SEC and National titles every year. I think what is so frustrating is seeing an offensive system designed for a dual-threat quarterback in place when we have a traditional drop back passer. What doubles the frustration level is that we have ALREADY had this same set of circumstances before with Chris Leak and Meyer and the staff adjusted the system to fit his talents and won a National title.
Why are we not modifying the system to fit Brantley as we did for Leak? That is the biggest question I think Gator fans have. If we did adjust the system and just lost a few games because we’re too young, so be it. But to lose when the system asks the players to be something they are not is incredibly frustrating. I don’t think anybody should be fired, but as Meyer did in ’05 after the Alabama and LSU losses, he needs to scrap the option and adjust the system.
If a person gives every ounce of their intellect, ability, and energy to being successful, but is not; do you get mad, angry, or frustrated with them? No. Disappointed? Probably, but you know they are better for having given so much to the goal.
People are mad, angry, and frustrated with the team, more specifically the coaching staff, because they are not giving the players all the tools for success. Pouncey is a GREAT offensive linemen and deserves to be playing center. He does have all the tools to be successful but it is the coaches responsibility to get him playing at the level he is capable of and currently is not. Brantley has a cannon and 5-star recruits to throw to. Let him distribute the ball, he WILL be good at it. Debose isn’t getting the whole playbook, so coach him up and give him some things he will be good at. Throw to Moore more often than on 3rd and long, he’s earned that right because he has come through for this offense with his talent and great hands.
I’m mad at the Gators coaching staff because they are not calling plays that highlight the players talents, they are not get the players to execute to their ability. This falls squarely on the shoulders of the offensive staff Addazio and Meyer.
I love my team! I’ve been a gator since birth, am a graduate of UF, and am raising two future Gators (fingers crossed). It is the coaches responsibility to make the players look good doing what they do best and “coach ’em up.”
Robbie, you and Pat are becoming quite the hypocrites. Don’t come on here preaching this and that when you know damned well that you have asked the same questions. I’ve watched your swampcasts and post game reports and know you guys are scratching your heads about the same things we are, so get off your soap box.
Honestly Gator Nation has an right to complain when my 17 year old brother (who is an Miami fan) can sit right next to me and predict the plays we’re going to run while he’s analyzing open holes/recievers. Look I don’t think anyone in Gator Nation is questioning Urban..its Addazio! he had the whole offseason to prepare. And its like we going into weekend with a “let’s just win” mentality rather than an actual game plan. Sure he can remain the OC but PLEASE convince him to give up the play calling. Then we would know where to adjust our talent.
Has anyone considered the high school recruits that are looking at this program right now. How many of them want to play in that offense!!!
We need a full time OC !!!!
Let me clarify. If 10-9 is the best our players/coaches can do, I’ll live with it. But does anyone believe that’s the best we can do? with 5-star and 4-star talent, and coaches paid handsomely, is 10-9 the best we could do? It sounds to me like some people are happy with just getting by, instead of keeping the expectations aimed high.
Who cares about grammar, spelling, facts…as long as it gets published. Right?
If you want to win you’ve got to be hard on yourself, even brutally honest, and set aside your ego in the name of victory. A great program takes average players to greatness, yet an average program reduces great players to mediocrity. There’s no doubt we’ve got the playmakers, but it’s up to coaches to bring out the best not only in each player but in the team as a whole to make the sum greater than the parts. I’m seeing none of that magic whatsoever- all I see is Meyer and the rest standing on the sidelines twisting in the wind looking like whipped dogs. Not fired up and barely engaged, in shock and watching helplessly with nary a thought of leadership. I was skeptical about Myer from the outset- he never seemed to me to have the moxy to coach in the SEC (too many players having too many problems on-field and off makes me think the coaches can’t relate nor keep the team on track). Now even the players AND COACHES are discussing a real lack of leadership, but isn’t that Myer’s job? You’d think at least someone on the staff would step up to the plate on that. Even with the BCS I wasn’t confident in the coaching and feared for the Gators without Tebow- “Superman” always came up with something out of nothing and that made the staff look better than they apparently are. Plus, he gave the leadership and focus characteristic of champions and now the team is adrift without coach Tebow. We have the opportunity to build on that winning tradition, but instead we’re creating a losing one with recruiting oversights, bad play calling, lack of leadership, stupid mistakes, and an obvious lack of self-discipline not to mention complete absence of passion. Even the victories somehow feel like defeats, like we barely eked it out, and every week we slip further in the polls. We’ve got a long row to hoe and I sure hope the staff is up to it. They need to prove themselves- and quick- because a few more games without bringing out the best in our team for some clear victories or it’ll be a bad few years at the least (once you’ve set up a losing cycle you’re stuck until you tear it out at the root). Meyer’s got his work cut out for him. If his nerves got to him with all those wins we’ll soon enough see if he’s built for it. Both Pell and Zook had great rosters. We all know we’ve got the talent but what matters is what we do with it. GO GATORS!
Ok…so if 9 out of 10 armchair QB’s on this comment board can see the predictability in the playcalling- don’t you think that is being discussed on some level behind closed doors during a coaches meeting? What I do not understand is the recruiting of a drop back passer in a spread option offense…Brantley is great- for Texas. Loyalty can be costly. In Urban I trust…but do not completely understand.
Here’s one for you Robbie.The GATOR fans have every right to be angry at the Coaching staff for not doing a better job at preparing the GATORS,especially Andre DuBose.He should have been ready when the season started.Gator fans pay their hard earned money,well most of them,for the tickets to go see the games.And that gives them the right to bitch.Robbie,get a grip and get a life.If it weren’t for the fans,where would UF be?So lighten up on the fans.We’re not as stupid and blind as you think we are.Bad snaps are bad snaps period.And it throws off their timing.We feel that Robey can handle the snapping chores better at this point.We’ve been very patient with Mike Pouncey.We still hold Mike dear to us.But still,he needs to be back at Guard.Furthermore,the jump pass has to go.Only Tebow could execute it properly.We love our GATORS just as much as you do.So don’t come down on us when we have the right to complain when it’s our money that supports the team.GO GATORS!!!!!!
Well said by Gator91. “In Urban I trust, but do not completely understand”
Most fans do not think Adazzio is what we need. Urban hired him, promoted and furiously supports him so he will be here until he is hired away. In my opinion, UF will not win another SEC crown with Adazzio as OC.
Thanks Al.
Who am I to complain? I pay for my tickets but am certainly not qualified to earn the 4+M Coach Meyer gets annually. He has to see we run the same 10 plays. He has to know the recruitment of a drop back passer in his system is not optimal. He has to believe the only way the dive play works is if there is a threat of the QB running around the end on a keeper every now and then.
That being said…Our new DC kicks tail. Came in, installed a new scheme, has the D ready to go- great job! I heard Mike Leach can call some ball plays;) The O has been lame since the Mullen departure. Oh well, Coach A isn’t going anywhere- this was Urban’s go-to guy while he took a leave. Yikes.
Coach Meyer’s responses on the sidelines during the Alabama game were too calm, too reserved, too laid back for a head coach when things are badly going wrong. Any normal coach would have had a fit if the jump pass failed, plus any number of other goofs. In my opinion, Coach is on a strong med to keep him calm (and alive!). Something like valium or zoloft or something stronger.
Watch Meyer this Saturday. He’ll be walking back and forth like in a daze. It’s not that he doesn’t care. He’s sedated.
Winning 10-9 means the offense didn’t do their job but the defense played “lights out” to save the team’s season. I’m proud of the Gators’ defense, but cringe everytime the offense takes the field. They look way too sloppy. Acting like the fans are insufferable winners isn’t fair. We want to see the offense look as sharp as the defense. Your friend, Addazio, just isn’t doing a good job of getting the offense ready for play.
NO AL!! THE FACT THAT YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES AND UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO “BITCH”.
IT ALSO GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO CALL ANYONE OF YOU WHO DON’T COACH COLLEGE FOOTBALL A DUMB #*% FOR THINKING HIGHLY ENOUGH OF YOURSELF TO QUESTION AND CRITICIZE A MAN THAT MAKES OVER 4 MILL/YEAR COACHING COLLEGE FOOTBALL, HAS WON TWO NATNL TITLES, AND IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE MOST, RESPECTED MEN IN HIS PROFESSION.
WHAT…..IN THE NAME……OF GOD???!!!!!…..MAKES YOU THINK YOU KNOW MORE THAN HIM, YOU KNOW WHAT’S BETTER FOR THE TEAM THAN HIM, YOU KNOW THE PLAYS TO RUN BETTER THAN HIM, YOU KNOW WHO SHOULD BE DEVELOPED BY NOW BETTER THAN HIM, YOU KNOW WHO SHOULD BE PLAYING WHAT POSITION BETTER THAN HIM, AND SO ON, AND SO ON, AND SO ON?????
TELL ME!!!! I WANT TO HEAR IT!!!!! WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS??? OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT “you’re a fan”, NOT A BOOSTER, just “a fan”.
I’M GOING TO ASK YOU TO SELF REFLECT HERE FOR A MOMENT, ALL OF THOSE WHO COMPLAIN AND “BITCH” ABOUT THE COACHING.
ARE YOU THIS WAY IN OTHER FACETS OF YOUR LIFE??
DO YOU OFTEN FIND YOURSELF BEING CRITICAL TO LOVED ONES WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ENCOURAGING??
DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS?? THAT’S A BIG INDICATOR, BY THE WAY.
ARE YOU HAPPY AND CONTENT WITH YOUR LIFE??
DO PEOPLE ENJOY BEING AROUND YOU??
I HOPE YOU CAN DISCERN THE INFERENCE HERE AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WE CAN ALL DERIVE SOME GOOD FROM THIS UNFORTUNATE BEHAVIOR.
I dont think people think the Urban has lost his coaching gift, we are just puzzled that what he was so good at seems to be slipping. He used to be a coach that knew how to best leverage the talent he had by adjusting the play calling to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers. Having Brantley run the option is just stupid! and anyone who questions this is not a good coach. If the offensive line is so good (which i do not agree with) stop running trick plays and go more traditional, line up and maul’em and let the RB run through. If they can stop you with a base set then you are not a good running team. If they fill the box then the QB needs to make them pay(if Brantley is going to be good he has to show this). truth is, they are mediocre right now on offense and really need to get clear what t until something chawhat kind of team they are. Biggest thing hurting the gators right now is COACHING there is a reason why Saban can predict everything the gators are doing- right now he and his assistants are better.
Fans have every right to express themselves in a respectful manner. I don’t think anyone is calling for firing of coaches or anything closes. But to turn a blind eye to this situation, and not point out the obvious is beyond most fans’ abilities. The last two times we’ve played Alabama, we have played a much better prepared and coached team than our own, plain and simple. Does that mean that our coaches are not great coaches in their own right? No, it simply means that the other team’s coaches have done a much better job of preparing their team to beat the Gators. The talent and experience are equal. In fact, I’d probably give the Gators the edge there. I live in Alabama, and listen to their cr*p 365 days a year, and for a Gator team to not play up to their potential in this game is disheartening. We need to get our play calling and offensive line play fixed, and do it in a hurry, or it’s going to be a long season. Personally, I think we have a defense that is getting better with every game, and plays like a Gator team should play. Offensively, we have a veteran offensive line that has not played up to potential and bizarre play calling that no one who is a student of the game can figure out, yet we have a talented group of receivers, a redshirt junior QB who can make all the throws, and speed in the backfield. Is it coaching? You tell me……
IT’S A CYCLE. DON’T YOU GET IT? A CYCLE!!! IT’S NOT HARD TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU’VE FOLLOWED COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR A WHILE AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT’S DYNAMICS AS IT RELATES TO TEAM PERSONNEL. However, I don’t think many people that call themselves “Gator fans” are.
This is the normal cycle of college football, where extremely talented blue-chips Meyer recruited 3 or 4 years ago leave for the professional arena and the younger more inexperienced ones step up to take their place. When the current circumstances created by this dynamic are combined with playing the best team in the land it often results in what we’re seeing now. A situation whereby the misaligned, judgmental, and dare I say spoiled fans act as if they have become subverted by their own frustration. It’s not a product of coaching, or lack of talent, or calling the wrong plays. It’s a cycle.
Now you know. And knowing is half the battle. You’re on your way so stay positive.
Look, this may have already been said but I’m not going to read all the above for hours. We are better than we have been playing and our talent is way above most in the country but we are throwing it down the tubes at times with bad calls and improper use of players. No one believes Brantly is going to keep the ball so why run the option with him? Everyone knows Burton is going to run it and although that was the case in 06 with Tebow, Burton ISN’T Tebow and able to run guys over at will. Enough is enough with Pouncey, he is a valuable asset to the team and I hope he plays in Pittsburgh with his brother but he is a guard, not a center, CLEARLY! We handed that game to Bama instead of at least putting ourselves in position to possibly win if we executed the simple things like SNAPS! Lots of coaching mistakes and player mistakes. Urban needed the time off and I wouldn’t ask for that back since it means he will be around much longer but his absence has been noticed through the lack of discipline from the team.
I feel better. Was it me or did everyone think Gatorboz ALL CAPS key was stuck. I feel much better knowing gatorboz can tell us all collectively how we should feel about the cycle of college athletics, how to stay positive, not act spoiled, how to assess our personal lives and friendships, and put us all in the know.
You sir are a consumate jackazz. I bet you are the guy in the cubicle that no matter how resdiculous the request is from above at work rallies your coworkers into a frenzy only to fall short. I like your half-glass full approach to life. And even happier your ALL CAPS key isn’t stuck. And happiest I don’t know you personally.
Gatorboz, I feel for you and understand your loyalty and rationale. I agree with you to a certain point. However if it is a cycle, then how do you explain Alabama’s ability to reload and develop all the the players they lost last year and maintain the high execution and mental capacity to do so well. If it is a cycle, I can’t wait till I see them go through a down turn. If they don’t sir then you are wrong.
I didn’t get a chance to finish, so I apologize for the incomplete comment.
My point was about our inability to get receivers open. I’ve noticed that sometimes our receivers at at the same spot at the same time. What ever happen to the wheel routes we ran back in 06? Johnny is great! I have all the confidence he could make the throws–he just needs help with better counter plays and better routes. We made Bamma look better than they are.
The passing game would open everything up and John would have the ability to run for 7 or more then make the slide to safety. And what it sould open up for Demps would be 15+ a clip. We have the tools…we just need to tune it and start taking some chances earlier in the game. I have all the confidence we’ll see our friends again in Atlanta and all the confidence in the world we’ll send’em pack’n. Stay positive my friends and God Bless all of you!
Guys seriously the play calling is pathetic, Alabama’s coaches knew the plays before the snaps its ridiculous I can call tell what some of the plays are before they run them. I mean this is big time college football everybody on the opposing sideline knows its a run play when you cover up the tight end every time! Maybe Gary Danielson should be our play caller he seems to know how to make this offense go. Our staff simply got out coached again. With the talent we have we should look a bit better
gatorboz- did you also tell everyone to stay positive for coach Zook? That Zook knew more than us all… There is a reason for the huge concerns everyone has had. I agree that some of them are a bit ridiculus, but there is definitely truth behind the concerns. It is beyond just a typical rebuilding that teams go through. Not saying that the team is bad, just that they should be doing better, this is not Kentucky where an average year is OK. Utilize the talent we have and figure it out… the same old stuff probably doesn’t work with the personnel we now have on offense.
Can we we not put Brantley under center, run some sweeps, draws, screens and play action with a post or corner route and kick LSU’s butt?
Bad article by robie, unusual, worse article (cude b worse) by stooley, expected. gator fans dont have to agree with what the coaches r doing or the opinions of the so called guru (and arrogant in doolys case) sports writers. adazio to oline coach only, has only called a few good games since taking over. pouncey to left tackle so brantley can throw the ball downfield in peace, hes not a center by a long shot. big backs up the middle, demps around the edge, burton stretching the d like at uk and finding a seam, especially against lsu 2nd string de. moody on the bench once and for all, antwine also, all promise and no production. one of doolys problems is he thinks bama was better than uf, dead wrong, with good play calling we win that game. coaches should stop trying to outsmart everybody and do like bama and make the other team stop your strengths if they can. so brantley throwing vertically with a shovel pass now and then, burton running the option and keeping it most of the time, dive plays to 200lb + backs behind what they need to acknowledge is just an average quality oline, speedy guys arnd the corners. if they can stop that then theyre better and well live with it till next year, pretty darn simple. if they stop demps up the middle and burton up the middle and on a jump pass then gee i wonder why fans are disgruntled. myer shude stay of course, xclnt coach but needs to get a handle on offense now that tims not here to make up for pedestrian play calling, i predict no big v’s till adazio is demoted by um. adazios big on quoting stats and avrges as fact. his facts r distorted by weak early opponents and a few big plays. and even if pouncey was 3 bad snaps (conservative) out of 63 thats still almost 5% bad snaps which is way too hi and magnified by doing it on the goalline. a better stat would be offcenter snap ratio over the whole season. u wonder why the suns pundits dont c the same things everyone else does although i recall lots of negative press from them last year when we were just scraping by (guess they forgot) i say they better quit taking shots at their readership since were the ones buying theyre rag and giving them inet hits so the advertisers will pay them their overinflated salaries no matter how little they are. keep berating fans for having an opinion and even your slowwitted editors will catch on and bencb you. ive been a gator for over 30 years and am entitled to my opinion as are all the other posters whether u agree or not. if u dont want our opinions then dont open up your article for posts, which u dont do much anyway. Go Gators, go myer, lets get back on track and give the players and fans an offense to be proud of before more talent is squandered.
No.
I concur with Todd also, except I’d call it the “Eye of the Gator!”
Two observations from Addazio’s locker room interviews: 1) He’s a good ol’ boy, and 2) He’s not a leader.
@Robert — A better comparison would be: Saban is becoming to Meyer what Bowden was to Spurrier!
“UF Football Guru?” Indeed,… what IS wrong with this picture?!?
Okay, the game just ended, and somehow we almost pulled it out. I’m listening to Meyer’s post game comments. He said “the offense didn’t hold up their end of the deal.” That from an alleged offensive genius! Hey Coach, stop passing the buck!
He was asked how he thought the OL performed, and said he’d have to watch the film first. I guess it looks different on a monitor than in person. I watched it on a monitor (live), and AGAIN the Offensive Line was by far the chief offender! Their maturity and experience only makes them more accountable and thus more guilty! They are without excuse – plain and simple!!!
They couldn’t even give Brantley enough time to throw a hail mary – giving us one final chance to score, however remote!
Don’t tell me they were tired at the end: were they tired in the middle of the game, or at the beginning?? … for they sucked throughout!
This team is chock full of problems, but the OL is problem numero uno!!!
FIX IT NOW (through COACHING), or suffer even more Gator wrath!! CHOMP, CHOMP!
IGTBAG!
Ciao
by quickenedspirit
Thanks for the responses guys. They may not be alignment with the way I see things but I still appreciate them. By the way, because it seemed to bother Gator91 I had the caps key fixed.
Obviously, the response regarding Zook was the most sincere and credible argument here so I wanted to respond in kind.
I agree with every word of your response. And to answer your question, no, I did not tell people to stay positive for Zook and was, as a matter of fact, one of the loudest ones calling for his head.
Regarding my contention that Meyer knows more than us all and to trust in him if you’re truly concerned about the long-term performance and betterment of this Gator football team compared to my past and current feelings of Ron Zook. Zook never consistently exemplified the qualities and focus of a winning coach and clear thinker, and as a matter of fact he exemplified the opposite in a few cases. His press conferences were filled with sentences that contained 5 more within them before they were even finished, as well as giving the impression that he was constantly on the defensive, a common manifestation of one’s confidence level. He, very rarely spoke of the importance of team chemistry, did not emphasize leadership anywhere near to that of Meyer, and his attention to the little things that make players and teams champions was almost non-existent.
More importantly though as it pertains to my argument, Ron Zook had no exemplary performance record of winning, for me to base this contention on and Meyer obviously does. We all know just because you coach college football doesn’t mean you know how to consistently win. So just to clarify, their is that realization here and may I make clear that an individual’s status as a head coach of a college football team is not, in any way a factor in my measurement of the individual’s ability.
As laid out in the aforementioned Zook was nowhere near the caliber of Meyer so, respectfully, it seems to me to be a comparison of an apple to an orange.
Judging by their loss to sc yesterday alabama wasn’t good as advertised. they are not getting better every game. ingram and richardson BOTH have been held to less than 100 yards the last two games. Look, the personnel losses have been huge. If you watch on Sunday you’ll see Haden starting at Cleveland, Pouncey/Pittsburgh and Hernandez, Cunningham and Spikes in New England. Oh yes and Tebow is gone as well. I think the idea of just “reloading” is a myth. That kind of talent isn’t easily replaced. Congrats to sc by the way…now i won’t have to hear that greg mccelroy hasn’t lost a game as a starter since he was in diapers!
gatorboz, I agree with your assessment that comparing Meyer to Zook is a little far out. However I think comparing Steve Addazio to Ron Zook is apples to apples all the way. I’m not a football coach and don’t claim to be a great football mind, but I have amazed my wife by consistently predicting the plays Florida will run on offense AND the result. To borrow your phrase he doesn’t “consistently exemplified the qualities and focus of a winning coach and clear thinker, and as a matter of fact he exemplified the opposite in a few cases.”
It’s time to honestly assess this football team and make some changes. I think they are letting the players down by not putting them in the best position to win and they owe that to those kids.
“Kind of sad, don’t you think?”
Sad would be if no one cared enough to complain.
Lets start a fire steve addazio website or petition, something because this cant go on. As long as he is the o coach florida will NEVER win a championship. Each week im having less and less respect for urban meyer, the guy is an arrogant prick and hes too stubborn to change the way things are going. Guys dont expect a change, i promise you your going to be seeing this the whole season, horrible play calling, bad defense, bad o line but maybe after this season someone will talk some sense into urban and have him fire addazio. this is not about friendship meyer, its about business, its about money, its about the university of florida and its fans not you and addazio.
It’s not about firing, it’s about learning. Dan Mullins had his bad experiences with being too conservative on offense. He learned.He got better. He figured out how to actually do the mythological coaching thing of getting the gamers in the open with the ball against one defender.
Addazio can learn that too, but he has to be open to it (like listen when the criticism rightfully rains upon him) and ask himself if he is too captive to O/L mindset – grind, grind, grind?
its been a year and half and nothing has changed, dont plan on it.
Brantley? Interesting choice, but I wouldn’t question the call at this rate.