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11-17-2008, 12:48 AM
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if I don't take us down the field, bench me
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Five Things We Learned This Weekend | FanNation
Quote:
Five Things We Learned This Weekend
Troy nearly upset LSU one week after Wyoming won at Tennessee.
AP 1. That the SEC was vastly overrated this year. It's funny to think that just a few months ago, people were asking me whether the SEC would ever relinquish its spot as the nation's preeminent conference. If you've been reading me for any period of time, you know I preach that conference strength is cyclical (see: preseason preview) and that every league has its ups and downs from year to year. The SEC has two fantastic teams this year in Alabama and Florida. But remember when there were five SEC teams in the Top 10? Umm ... not anymore.
First Auburn and Tennessee fell to pieces. Now we're seeing with each passing week that Georgia and LSU aren't what we thought they'd be. For all the Dawgs' talent, their injuries (and perhaps their damaged psyche from the Florida game) have caught up to them. For the second straight week, Georgia struggled to beat an inferior foe on the road, this time 17-13 at Auburn. Then there was LSU, falling behind 31-3 on its home field to ... Troy. Most telling of all: South Carolina, blown off the field at Florida, may still wind up in a New Year's bowl -- by default.
2. That Vanderbilt is going to a bowl! At least there's one great story amongst the SEC's mediocre middle. At long last, the Commodores' 26-year bowl drought is over. With a 31-24 win at Kentucky, Bobby Johnson's team broke a four-game losing streak and improved to 6-4. They should make it seven next week against woeful Tennessee. Even if they don't, Vandy is all but guaranteed a bowl slot. Barring a miracle finish by Auburn or Arkansas, the league will only produce eight bowl-eligible teams for nine spots (not including a likely second BCS berth).
While the 'Dores' offense has been anemic at times this season, their defense has been a constant, holding the Wildcats to 241 total yards Saturday. Leading the charge was potential All-American CB D.J. Moore, who had two interceptions, including a game-saver at the Vandy 17. Moore also played offense and made the first two catches of his career in the first quarter -- both for touchdowns. Finally, Johnson earns a tangible reward for taking a program that has now produced as many SEC wins the past four seasons (10) as it had in the decade prior to his arrival.
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11-24-2008, 01:55 AM
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Grade A Losers
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ESPN - Florida Gators could be missing two defensive lineman against Florida State Seminoles
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida could be without two defensive lineman against
rival Florida State on Saturday.
Lawrence Marsh and Matt Patchan injured their left knees during Saturday's
70-19 victory over The Citadel. Coach Urban Meyer said Sunday that Patchan
would not play against the Seminoles and called Marsh questionable for the game.
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11-24-2008, 02:00 AM
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if I don't take us down the field, bench me
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What kind of impact?
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11-24-2008, 02:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jwinslow
What kind of impact?
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Depends on the game. If we get out of the blocks quickly like our recent habit, and put some points on them, it is not as big a deal. I dread a time consuming ground game from them, with the threat of the home run when they are in their five wide sets. We do well against the run, but we need to substitute guys, as we have no dominent DTs. We can wear you down with substitutions, especially a youngish FSU O line, if we can keep changing guys. That might be a problem now.
If we fast start and force them into a passing mode, we should get some pics. Ponder is a good kid, but still learning. But if we let them get confidence, the crowd start that annoying chop whine thing, and our d-line is kept on the field, we could give up some points, maybe turn it over, and then who the hell knows.
Rivalry game. Their place. Just like in 97 when we kept the Noles out of the MNC game when Spurrier changed qbs everydown, weird [censored] happens.
FSU is not great, but they are not 08 Michigan. They are now ranked, and just finished crushing a ranked team at their (Maryland) house on Saturday, scoring a bunch of points and holding the turtles to a field goal.
We should win, but then, we should have beaten Ole [censored]. They are similar teams, with Miss having a better qb and FSU a better defense and receiver corp.
This one has my attention.
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11-24-2008, 02:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gatorubet
Depends on the game. If we get out of the blocks quickly like our recent habit, and put some points on them, it is not as big a deal. I dread a time consuming ground game from them, with the threat of the home run when they are in their five wide sets. We do well against the run, but we need to substitute guys, as we have no dominent DTs. We can wear you down with substitutions, especially a youngish FSU O line, if we can keep changing guys. That might be a problem now.
If we fast start and force them into a passing mode, we should get some pics. Ponder is a good kid, but still learning. But if we let them get confidence, the crowd start that annoying chop whine thing, and our d-line is kept on the field, we could give up some points, maybe turn it over, and then who the hell knows.
Rivalry game. Their place. Just like in 97 when we kept the Noles out of the MNC game when Spurrier changed qbs everydown, weird [censored] happens.
FSU is not great, but they are not 08 Michigan. They are now ranked, and just finished crushing a ranked team at their (Maryland) house on Saturday, scoring a bunch of points and holding the turtles to a field goal.
We should win, but then, we should have beaten Ole [censored]. They are similar teams, with Miss having a better qb and FSU a better defense and receiver corp.
This one has my attention.
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Just my .02.
I'm honestly smiling ear to ear for this game. FSU has ZERO to lose going into this game. Nobody expects them to win, and it will have zero impact on their bowl game situation. This game is soley to ruin UF's title chances.
I don't think you need to be worried about the run game so much. Antone Smith lacks top-end speed, and really relies on the passing game to get going. FSU is the definition of a team that needs to throw to set-up the run. I will give credit to Antone for his short yardage running this year. He is a little slippery, and he'll turn sideways to make a 2 yard gain 4 or 5 yards. But he isn't going to hit the homerun, which allows defenses to creep up to the line a little bit. I think theres a perception out there of Antone being a blazer, but it's completely off-base.
Ponder is tricky because some games he comes out and hits every bubble screen and throws great deep balls. Other games he can't connect on a screen pass. When Ponder is off, the FSU offense obviously suffers BADLY.
The FSU receiving core is very underrated. Individually, all of these guys have major flaws, but collectively they work very well. Jimbo Fisher has really put together a nice combination of guys that are difficult to defend. If Ponder is on, he is hitting Preston Parket and Bert Reed on tons of bubble screens and underneath routes. If those passes are hitting, it opens up the deep throws to Greg Carr and Correy Surrency. I really like Surrency in this game. Correy has been used in many jump ball situations this year, and he pin-points the ball extremlely well... unfortunately he hasn't been able to finish the play. I really think Correy is going to be a difference maker on Saturday.
The FSU O-line has to be the youngest in the nation. It is ALL fresh and sophmores. Ohio O-lineman Zebrie Sanders anchors the left side and has had a nice year. Again, they go as Ponder goes. If Ponder loses his confidence, he starts the scramble drills instead of staying in the system. The offense is built for quick hitters, so if you see Ponder sitting in the pocket, it generally means trouble. Even on deep throws, Ponder is supposed to hit his back foot, and put tons of air under the ball. Nothing in the system revolves around pocket protection. If UF is getting to him, it means the secondary is covering well and Ponder doesn't trust his throws.
Defensively, Tebow will create a lot of problems. Gator said FSU's D is better than Ole [censored]s. This is the worst tackling defense I have ever seen under Mickey Andrews. The cornerbacks are awful in space, the linebackers are undersized and not as fast as you'd expect, and the D-line has been solid, but again...very undersized. This isn't the raw talent FSU defense most are used to seeing. UF will get their points....I just hope Mickey Andrews is capable of getting to Tebow with multiple blitz looks. If FSU wins, it's because they control the clock, and keep UF off the field. Percy Harvin in space will be an absolute massacre.
I really do like FSU's chances though. Perhaps Gator can give a good breakdown of the UF secondary and overall strengths and weaknesses. I know I view UF's secondary as a relative weakness...lots of youth and inexperience.
And if it's an indication, the game is being televised by ABC. I really do think Gary Danielson is one of the better minds out there in regards to college football, but I am soooooo happy I won't have to listen to him slobber all over Tebow throughout the telecast.
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11-24-2008, 07:20 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gatorubet
Depends on the game. If we get out of the blocks quickly like our recent habit, and put some points on them, it is not as big a deal. I dread a time consuming ground game from them, with the threat of the home run when they are in their five wide sets. We do well against the run, but we need to substitute guys, as we have no dominent DTs. We can wear you down with substitutions, especially a youngish FSU O line, if we can keep changing guys. That might be a problem now.
If we fast start and force them into a passing mode, we should get some pics. Ponder is a good kid, but still learning. But if we let them get confidence, the crowd start that annoying chop whine thing, and our d-line is kept on the field, we could give up some points, maybe turn it over, and then who the hell knows.
Rivalry game. Their place. Just like in 97 when we kept the Noles out of the MNC game when Spurrier changed qbs everydown, weird [censored] happens.
FSU is not great, but they are not 08 Michigan. They are now ranked, and just finished crushing a ranked team at their (Maryland) house on Saturday, scoring a bunch of points and holding the turtles to a field goal.
We should win, but then, we should have beaten Ole [censored]. They are similar teams, with Miss having a better qb and FSU a better defense and receiver corp.
This one has my attention.
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Normally I pull for UF in this game to [censored] off my sister, but she's got my niece and nephew brainwashed for now and they'd be sad if the criminoles* lost. So go FS | |
