A Huge Sigh of Relief

That was one of the most nerve-racking games I’ve watched in a long time. In a game where both Georgia and Florida are experiencing mediocre seasons, this game might arguably be one of the best in the series.

I must admit, it’s the best I’ve felt in a quite a while.

Our offense picked up 450 total yards which seems like a million more than we’ve been getting. Both quarterbacks played their roles perfectly.

John Brantley went 16-25 for almost 200 yards while Trey Burton had 110 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

I was wrong.

I didn’t think we could keep running both quarterbacks with split time and be successful. They proved me wrong, however.

The difference maker to me in how both quarterbacks co-existed was the blitz protection. Now, at times, our offensive line lacked continuity and gave up some big hits on Brantley, especially early on.

However, as the game progressed, Brantley was able to have some time in the pocket and do what he does best: wind up and throw the football. His ability to pass the ball during the game and complete the 8 yard throws kept the Georgia defense on its toes and allowed Burton more room to run the ball.

This is going to sound cliché but if our offensive line helps buy time for our quarterbacks we can put up the numbers we did this afternoon.

Good for the offense.

Our defense came up in the clutch again forcing four turnovers. None bigger than Will Hill’s 90 some yard scamper after the interception that help set up the win.

We need to get better at blitzing the quarterback, though. I’ve noticed in the multiple times Brantley has been sacked, how the defense maneuvers its way to pressure the quarterback.

Our defensive line and linebackers need to get better at utilizing various blitz packages to confuse the offensive and open up bigger holes to attack the quarterback.

In the few times we got to Aaron Murray, good things happened for us. If we commit to blitzing and sending pressure non-stop, I think good things will continue to happen for our defense, and the opportunities to create turnovers will increase. We have the best overall secondary in the SEC (with Janoris Jenkins, Ahmad Black, and Will Hill), we can afford to test the offense in one-on-one coverage.

Overall, I’m optimistic heading into next week. I believe we’ll be ready for South Carolina in the Swamp in two weeks.

Good game Gators, and more importantly, good kick Chas Henry.

Recruiting News

This past Tuesday the Gators received a huge commit in RB Mike Blakely (4-star, #7 RB, #34 recruit in Rivals Top 100). Blakely is the Gators 18^th recruit in the 2011 class and their recruiting class ranks third on Rivals.com and fifth on ESPN.

Here is a complete list of the Florida Gator’s recruiting class: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/commitments/2011/Florida-67

My Top Ten

1. Oregon (If they win at USC)

2. Cam Newton

3. Boise State

4. TCU

5. Alabama

6. Oklahoma

7. Ohio State

8. Nebraska

9. Wisconsin

10. Stanford

Heisman Watch

QB Cam Newton (Auburn) 2,441 total yards; 27 total touchdowns, 5 interceptions

RB LaMichael James (Oregon) 971 rushing yards; 12 total touchdowns, 121 receiving yards

QB Kellen Moore (Boise St.) 1,865 passing yards; 18 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

WR Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma St.) 62 receptions, 1,112 receiving yards; 14 touchdowns

"We can't lose on a bye week"

Well it’s arguably the best week the Gators have had in the last month: their bye week.

With bye week, we as Gator fans, wait with anticipation for the Florida Georgia game next Saturday.

It is not only a big game because of the rivalry and hatred between the two teams, but it’s a must-win for the Gators in order to salvage their season.

This bye-week in particular can accomplish a lot for Florida. However, two things stand out to me the most.

The Gators need the rest.

According to bleachereport.com this is the list of the Florida players who have missed time or played injured this season.

[Jeff Demps (foot), John Brantley (ribs, wrist), Deonte Thompson (concussion), Chris Rainey (concussion), Mike Gillislee (ankle), Matt Elam (concussion), Lawrence Marsh (forearm), Andre Debose (ankle), Jaye Howard (ankle), Emmanuel Moody (thigh), Brandon Antwine (shoulder), Jon Halapio (finger), Moses Jenkins (elbow), Dee Finely (collarbone), Caleb Sturgis (back), Chris Dunkley (hamstring), Matt Patchan (wrist), and Jelani Jenkins (concussion)]

The Gators are clearly hurting. The top three running backs on the depth chart have all missed time due to injury, most notably the speedster Jeff Demps, whom without, the Gators offense seems anemic and lacks the big play.

They will most likely be without Andre Debose against Georgia because he suffered a badly sprained ankle against Mississippi State.

Hopefully, with an extra week of rest, players can return to the field and help bring leadership and production back to the team.

The bye week will also hopefully provide a major overhaul on offense. The past three games in which the offense has scored three total touchdowns cannot be ignored.

The time for extra preparation poses so many questions for the Gator offense. Will Urban take over play calling duties or allow Steve Addazio to still lead the offense? Does Trey Burton play more and perhaps earn the starting nod due to his dual-threat play? If Brantley is the starter, will Meyer tweak the offense to fit Brantley’s strengths?

Unfortunately, Meyer is notorious for keeping these things quiet until game-time, so we won’t be able to find out until Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville.

Go Gators.

Two links that everyone should see:

Steve Addazio Playbook Flowchart

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/10/11/1743359/steve-addazios-playbook-a-flowchart

The Alabama Super Fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7KdbvJUOL4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

My top 10 college football teams:

1. Oregon

2. Cam Newton

3. TCU

4. Boise State

5. Alabama

6. Michigan State

7. Missouri

8. Wisconsin

9. Ohio State

10. Oklahoma

Consistently Inconsistent

It’s official. Steve Addazio needs to go.

On the day after the Florida Gator’s third straight loss (to Mississippi St. nonetheless), changes need to be made.

The Gators hardly showed up Saturday in the Swamp, for the third straight week. It’s just an awful sight to see really. Florida’s offense is just miserable.

We continue to flip flop back and forth on what we are doing offensively. We put John Brantley in to do a couple zone reads and option plays and then we punt. Then, Trey Burton comes in and does the same thing. Next drive, Brantley will drop back and throw it three straight times until, you guessed it, we punt.

Now, before I go into a rant about Addazio and explain how his lack of hair correlates to his lack of intelligence, let me defend him for a second.

Addazio was able to help lead the team to an undefeated regular season record last year with the leadership of Tim Tebow and Aaron Hernandez. We also showed flashes of how good our offense was with the 52 points we scored in the Sugar Bowl last year.

In lieu of Urban Meyer’s “resignation”, Addazio was able to step in and seemingly keep control of the program in what seemed a very unstable time.

Addazio was instrumental in retaining many of the recruits as well as getting even more top recruits to commit. And for that, I thank him.

However, times have changed.

Now, to some extent the offensive struggles fall on the shoulders of Meyer because he is the head coach. This is his offense. There’s no excuse for Meyer.

But Addazio’s inability to make decisions is costing the Gators.

Make up your mind. Either start Brantley or Burton.

If it is Burton, keep running our spread offense. He is the exact quarterback we need to run it, a dual-threat QB. With Burton, the defense must respect his running and play-making ability; therefore, the option works much better. Also, through the last several games Burton has showed that he is simply better at making decisions when running the option.

If Addazio sticks with Brantley, we cannot stick with our spread offense like in the days of Tim Tebow. Brantley is just simply not built for that kind of offense. He is a drop-back passer.

Just make a decision, Steve!

Chris Low from ESPN said it best when he described it as watching a little kid trying to stick a square peg in a round hole.

The fact is we only scored seven points on Mississippi St. in the Swamp. For the third straight game, Brantley was unable to throw a touchdown pass. We were shutout in the first half for the first time since Auburn came to Gainesville in 2007. We have not scored points in the first quarter in six of our seven games.

Unfortunately, our offensive woes aren’t just hurting us this season, but also in the future as well. Recruits considering Florida have been unhappy with the play calling as well. A.C. Leonard, a commit since last November for the Gators has de-committed, citing the offense does not utilize the tight ends enough.

Mike Bellamy, a top-5 running back recruit left at halftime against LSU. He left at halftime. In one of the biggest games of the year for Florida, a top recruit left at halftime.

It’s undeniable. Something needs to change. We need a change at the top with our offense, either Meyer or Addazio. And I guarantee you…it won’t be Meyer.

More than a loss for the Gators

Let me begin by saying that I do not like Alabama football.

It's my passion for the Florida Gators, Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, being told Julio Jones is actually an All-American wide receiver, and Nick Saban that fuel my dislike for the Crimson Tide.

However, Alabama's 31-6 victory over the Gators this past Saturday showed me something: I can no longer argue that Florida is on the same level as Alabama.

Alabama has shown that they are the new class of the SEC, separating them greatly from the rest of the conference.

They run the ball well, manage games well, shut offenses down, and force turnovers. They recruit well and are well-coached.

Alabama's defense is clutch.

Florida was able to move the ball down the field and reach the red zone five times Saturday. Out of those five red zone trips, Alabama gave up two field goals and forced three turnovers.

This inexperienced defense is learning quickly and showing it on the field.

The Crimson Tide was able to seemingly dominate in a game where their offense did not put up the numbers they are accustomed to producing.

While Alabama had their way, Florida desperately needs to find answers.

Florida's defense has been a cornerstone this year and very reliable for the young Gator team, but the offense is a different story.

I excused the offense's lack of chemistry the first couple weeks and chalked it up to inexperience and first week jitters.

However, with the snap problems still evident and John Brantley unable to establish true chemistry with the offense, the Gators have a lot to improve on before they can have a shot at the best.

Sure, not having Tim Tebow causes somewhat of a setback, but it's the lack of playmakers that is killing the Gators.

They got a flash of playmaking ability against Kentucky when freshman "all-position" athlete Trey Burton scored six touchdowns, setting a new Gator record. Right now, Burton is at best a "change-up" option in the offense.

Jeff Demps has displayed his speed in big runs this season, but an injury has hurt his consistency. Chris Rainey is too busy stalking girls and sending death threat texts, and the offensive line cannot snap the ball or buy Brantley enough time to make plays and go through his reads.

Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio needs to realize there is no Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, or Aaron Hernandez lined up and his play calling thus far can also be part of the reason for the offensive woes.

It's clear the Gators are not the team that Florida fans have been used to.

Florida is going through the growing pains of a first-year starting quarterback and struggling to find its identity on offense.

With the way Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina and Arkansas are playing right now, the Gators need to rebound quickly or they could be finishing the season as the fifth best team in the SEC this year.

Florida could potentially lose the SEC East, which it has dominated the past few years.

Good game, Alabama; thank you for bringing us to reality.

Nevertheless, go Gators.