This off week came at the perfect time, it has allowed everyone to sit back calm down and look at this season in the grand scheme of things. It has given the football team a chance to heal physically and it has given the coaches an extra week to fix the problems. It has even given me a chance to go back and re-watch the last three games, boy, what a joy! At the risk of being labeled a Polly Anna, we are not as bad as we have looked. In fact, for as bad as we have played we easily could have won the last two games. Of course, we could have just as easily been blown out. What I am seeing with this team is conservative play calling, poor execution by players and turnovers. With bad play calling and poor execution, we still would have won the last two on talent alone. Throw in turnovers at inopportune times and it spelled doom. Playcalling - I am not sure if it's the plays being called or the scheme. I watch a lot of football and there are a couple of plays that we just don't run. One is WR crossing routes off the line - this makes the defense make a choice immediately as to who is going to cover who, more often than not one of the WRs will get separation and be open. This is an especially important play for us as our OL is not providing the protection for our guys to get open downfield, and most D's are playing a cover 2 most of the time, leaving 2 safeties deep to double on the long ball. The second thing that is missing is misdirection - based on how we line up and certain tells (look at RBs and OL slightly angled in the direction we are going), not every player but enough that a LB who has watched enough film during the week can probably guess right 80% of the time which direction we are running. A misdirection play will help because they now have to wait before attacking the hole. The third big missing play is a simple slant or crossing route from our slot receivers. These guys will usually be covered by a LB coming across the middle and we should be able to win that battle, but we never seem to run the play. The last thing is audibles at the line. I don't know if Brantley is allowed to or not, but last week we had at least 2 plays where the corner came on a blitz and the WR was left uncovered as the safeties had crept up to cover the run. A simple hot audible and it would have been a TD, but instead we handed off to a RB both times. Execution - Who was the coach when asked about his team's execution replied "I'm all for it"? Bottom line is we have very talented players who more often than not are in position to make plays, but don't. I don't know if is mental or what, but they have the physical attributes but tank. Brantley with off-target throws, we have seen him zip it in at time, but he is inconsistent. Deonte with the drops, numerous OL whiffing on blocks, DBs who can't tackle, etc. I have a hard time attributing this to coaching as this coaching staff has been successful in the past, yes there are a lot of changes, but at the same time there is a lot of holdover too. Turnovers - Anybody else equate the return of fumbilitis with the return of Stan Drayton? Wasn't that the big knock on him when he left? Turnovers are killing us, we fix this and things will get better in a hurry. As for this weekend, I'm as nervous as I have been in a long time for a Cocktail Party, but I think we will come out strong and with something to prove. Ugh is going to come out and think they can throw it all over the field like they have the past 3 games (against UT, UK and Vandy). They are going to find out that even with 3 losses, we are bit more formidable opponent than they have seen recently and if they want to try and use AJ Jones, bring it on, I say we end up with at least 3 picks this weekend. If we don't turn the ball over, Gators win 34-17. If we turn it over, someone better rush Woody to the hospital... Ken K MNGator
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