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Posted on 1/3/17 at 6:13 am
Posted on 1/3/17 at 6:13 am
Its time to understand that we could be in a worse place than we think are in now.
While in 2016 we had some painful moments...look at UGA & UT of examples of teams who didnt fare well. Geez, just click on over to AUs board right now and they are besides themselves...its fire Gus, fire Lashley, etc etc the usual stupid crap after a loss....even though their starting QB got injured early.
As I went to Tampa Stadium and mingled with so many Gators...one thing struck me...for the most part the fans were optimistic even though we had so many injuries on our defense. Any fears were washed away by halftime when it was obvious that the defense came to play and were going all in to make sure we didnt have a 3 game skid. That was coaching imo..Mac & staff got our team to play hardnose football.
The future is bright when you consider that Mac & staff have evaluated well when recruiting and have coached up the recruits once they have stepped on campus. My home boy Carter will be an All SEC type player before he leaves UF...trust me on that.
Heres a list of why we should be optimistic next year:
Franks, Trask , Scarlett, Perine, Thompson, Calloway, Swain, Cleveland, Hammond, Massey, Powell, Goolsby, Lewis, Ivey, Johnson, Jordan, Dillard, McCoy, Taylor to name some offensive players.
Bryan, Clark, Davis, Jefferson, Zuniga, Polite, Sherit, Reed, Clayton, Ancrum, Reese, Anzalone, Joseph, Kylan Johnson, Gardner, Washington, M. Harris, Dawson to name some defensive players
Fast Eddie and Townsend both back!
These are just some of the players and I didnt include guys like Harkless, Mike, Forsythe, Moon, Putu, Heggie, Riles, Desir-Jones, etc etc.
While in 2016 we had some painful moments...look at UGA & UT of examples of teams who didnt fare well. Geez, just click on over to AUs board right now and they are besides themselves...its fire Gus, fire Lashley, etc etc the usual stupid crap after a loss....even though their starting QB got injured early.
As I went to Tampa Stadium and mingled with so many Gators...one thing struck me...for the most part the fans were optimistic even though we had so many injuries on our defense. Any fears were washed away by halftime when it was obvious that the defense came to play and were going all in to make sure we didnt have a 3 game skid. That was coaching imo..Mac & staff got our team to play hardnose football.
The future is bright when you consider that Mac & staff have evaluated well when recruiting and have coached up the recruits once they have stepped on campus. My home boy Carter will be an All SEC type player before he leaves UF...trust me on that.
Heres a list of why we should be optimistic next year:
Franks, Trask , Scarlett, Perine, Thompson, Calloway, Swain, Cleveland, Hammond, Massey, Powell, Goolsby, Lewis, Ivey, Johnson, Jordan, Dillard, McCoy, Taylor to name some offensive players.
Bryan, Clark, Davis, Jefferson, Zuniga, Polite, Sherit, Reed, Clayton, Ancrum, Reese, Anzalone, Joseph, Kylan Johnson, Gardner, Washington, M. Harris, Dawson to name some defensive players
Fast Eddie and Townsend both back!
These are just some of the players and I didnt include guys like Harkless, Mike, Forsythe, Moon, Putu, Heggie, Riles, Desir-Jones, etc etc.
3
Posted on 1/3/17 at 8:55 am to reel_gator8
I agree that the future is bright. As a fan base, we need to chill. we have a coach that has won more games in his first 2 years at UF than anyone not called the HBC, he has won 2 SEC divisional titles and would have 2 10 win seasons had a game not been cancelled. We have a good group returning and some good players coming in, although I agree we need to land a few more top recruits before signing day. Hopefully the bowl game will turn some heads and help us get a few players that may not have been considering UF.
I would rate the 2016 season a B with an understanding of where we are as a program right now but again, the future is bright so as Gators lets start acting like it. Go Gators.
I would rate the 2016 season a B with an understanding of where we are as a program right now but again, the future is bright so as Gators lets start acting like it. Go Gators.
This post was edited on 1/3/17 at 8:57 am
Posted on 1/3/17 at 10:35 am to UFMatt
Peter Burns of ESPN:
There is a ton of hope for Florida in 2017. McElwain got UF to the SEC Championship game two years in a row with back up quarterbacks. Criticism of Jim McElwain is laughable.
That's weird, TJ and Finch don't care about the wins on the field, they only care about recruiting rankings before signing day and stats that fail to give the proper perspective to what a good job Mac has done so far. The future is bright boys. As Gators let's enjoy the process of what Mac is building
There is a ton of hope for Florida in 2017. McElwain got UF to the SEC Championship game two years in a row with back up quarterbacks. Criticism of Jim McElwain is laughable.
That's weird, TJ and Finch don't care about the wins on the field, they only care about recruiting rankings before signing day and stats that fail to give the proper perspective to what a good job Mac has done so far. The future is bright boys. As Gators let's enjoy the process of what Mac is building
Posted on 1/3/17 at 10:39 am to atlgator
2 10 win seasons with 2 straight SECCG appearances and nothing from them about how this team is getting better.
Too wrapped up in class rankings instead of looking at WHO we are getting. OL and DB help. More guys lining up for OVs before NSD
Still complaining.
Too wrapped up in class rankings instead of looking at WHO we are getting. OL and DB help. More guys lining up for OVs before NSD
Still complaining.
Posted on 1/3/17 at 10:45 am to dbuchanon
Finished last year ranked 24th
Will probably finish this year 14th
Quarterback play was still bad but it was improved from last year. We finished in the top half of the conference in passing yards per game for the first time since Tebows senior season. If Appleby could've avoided his 3-4 boneheaded mental lapses a game he showed flashes of improvement and ability throughout the season. He was just wildly inconsistent and could never seem to put it all together
Will probably finish this year 14th
Quarterback play was still bad but it was improved from last year. We finished in the top half of the conference in passing yards per game for the first time since Tebows senior season. If Appleby could've avoided his 3-4 boneheaded mental lapses a game he showed flashes of improvement and ability throughout the season. He was just wildly inconsistent and could never seem to put it all together
This post was edited on 1/3/17 at 10:48 am
Posted on 1/3/17 at 11:00 am to atlgator
We are a QB away from really taking off as a team. In the meantime we have improved the OL and have a nice stable of weapons to spread the ball to. Defensively i believe we will be fine, lots of young boys got some playing time this yr and stepped up big.
Vosean is a young star in the making imo
We land some DTs to go with the rest of our young DL and that front 4 will be a force.
Go Gators! Cant wait for next season
Vosean is a young star in the making imo
We land some DTs to go with the rest of our young DL and that front 4 will be a force.
Go Gators! Cant wait for next season
Posted on 1/3/17 at 12:07 pm to reel_gator8
Reasons for optimism:
--Returning a ton on the OL, including 7 guys that started 5 or more games in 2016
--Returning 3 really good RB's
--Return top 7 pass catchers
--Top 3 sack guys and 6 of top 9 sack guys return in 2017, a ton of depth at DE
--Marcell Harris, Chauncey Gardner, and Nick Washington may be one of the best safety combos in the country next year.
--Return best punter in team history
--Return one of the best kickers in the country
--Return one of the best PR in the country - Callaway even in a down year was #15 in the country in PR yards
Areas of concern:
--Most important position on the team, QB, remains a serious question mark. Return one experienced guy who isn't very talented who threw as many INT as TD, and then a bunch of talented freshmen with zero experience
--With expected losses to the draft, the outside CB rotation is gutted, with very little and largely unknown depth left to replace the starters.
--With expected losses to the draft and to graduation, the DT rotation will be gutted. Only two players above 290 pounds will remain on the roster at the position.
--UF has been really bad at Kick Return for a while now. Will they find a guy?
--UF doesn't have TE's that can both catch and block consistently. Lewis can block OK, but can't catch, Goolsby and catch, but is terrible at blocking.
--Returning a ton on the OL, including 7 guys that started 5 or more games in 2016
--Returning 3 really good RB's
--Return top 7 pass catchers
--Top 3 sack guys and 6 of top 9 sack guys return in 2017, a ton of depth at DE
--Marcell Harris, Chauncey Gardner, and Nick Washington may be one of the best safety combos in the country next year.
--Return best punter in team history
--Return one of the best kickers in the country
--Return one of the best PR in the country - Callaway even in a down year was #15 in the country in PR yards
Areas of concern:
--Most important position on the team, QB, remains a serious question mark. Return one experienced guy who isn't very talented who threw as many INT as TD, and then a bunch of talented freshmen with zero experience
--With expected losses to the draft, the outside CB rotation is gutted, with very little and largely unknown depth left to replace the starters.
--With expected losses to the draft and to graduation, the DT rotation will be gutted. Only two players above 290 pounds will remain on the roster at the position.
--UF has been really bad at Kick Return for a while now. Will they find a guy?
--UF doesn't have TE's that can both catch and block consistently. Lewis can block OK, but can't catch, Goolsby and catch, but is terrible at blocking.
Posted on 1/3/17 at 12:16 pm to slayerxing
TE we have Gamble comin in
DT right now we have a good one in this class, need 2 more at least
DE we have Carter coming in, Clayton needs to step it up.
DBs some young boys will need to start early.
DT right now we have a good one in this class, need 2 more at least
DE we have Carter coming in, Clayton needs to step it up.
DBs some young boys will need to start early.
Posted on 1/3/17 at 12:25 pm to slayerxing
This is a very fair assessment slayer. Hopefully we have some answers for those concerns in the spring and are able to sure up the DB position. Goolsby was exposed in blocking at times and Lewis needs to work a ton on his hands.
The addition of Kyree Campbell should help immediately, along with a couple of other freshmen providing quality depth that we hopefully won't have to depend on next year. Power run offenses like LSU, Arky, and FSU are going to continue to hurt us until we can get beef up front. Hopefully Mac means it when he says he wants us to be the meanest, most physical group of SOBs in the country next year and they're going to focus on that in the offseason. I want to see that nastiness come to fruition. The talk is good, I'm hoping to see Mac make it come to fruition
The addition of Kyree Campbell should help immediately, along with a couple of other freshmen providing quality depth that we hopefully won't have to depend on next year. Power run offenses like LSU, Arky, and FSU are going to continue to hurt us until we can get beef up front. Hopefully Mac means it when he says he wants us to be the meanest, most physical group of SOBs in the country next year and they're going to focus on that in the offseason. I want to see that nastiness come to fruition. The talk is good, I'm hoping to see Mac make it come to fruition
Posted on 1/4/17 at 3:29 pm to atlgator
I care about winning. I just don't want it to look like a root canal in the process. Where have I ever said I don't like UF winning? You guys need to be like us real Gator fans and expect a offensive coach to actually improve an offense that can score points and who can recruit. Otherwise go root for the WMs of the world.
Here's some perspective.
Mac has had an offense ranked In the 100s his first 2 years
He's the worst UF recruiter in the rankings era
Signed more 3*s than any other UF coach in the same time span
UF had the least amount of rushing yards this year than they've had in over a decade.
Mac owns the record for worst loss in UFs SECCG history. 1 point behind SCAR in 2010.
He's
3-7 vs top 25
Here's some perspective.
Mac has had an offense ranked In the 100s his first 2 years
He's the worst UF recruiter in the rankings era
Signed more 3*s than any other UF coach in the same time span
UF had the least amount of rushing yards this year than they've had in over a decade.
Mac owns the record for worst loss in UFs SECCG history. 1 point behind SCAR in 2010.
He's
3-7 vs top 25
This post was edited on 1/4/17 at 3:31 pm
Posted on 1/4/17 at 3:36 pm to TJGator1215
I would encourage you to look at the scholarship break down I posted in another thread.
The players that UF has counted on, on offense, have all been extremely young, or WM castoffs.
There are no excuses left next year though. Time to put up or shut up in regards to the offense.
I think the 19-8 (or 20-8 really) record is just fine over the first two years, given the size of the rebuild.
The players that UF has counted on, on offense, have all been extremely young, or WM castoffs.
There are no excuses left next year though. Time to put up or shut up in regards to the offense.
I think the 19-8 (or 20-8 really) record is just fine over the first two years, given the size of the rebuild.
Posted on 1/4/17 at 3:51 pm to slayerxing
Coaches deal with roster problems all the time. It's Mac's job to fix the offense and restock the defense with elite talent. He's failed to do both. The defense will fall off dramatically this year and the offense has given zero indication it will get better. Trask and Franks not beating out AA or LDR tells me we are in serious trouble this year. Otherwise they would've have played. WM was 18-8 trying to fix the program Meyer himself broke and was trying to make us like Bama. McElwain is doing the same but whoever takes over for him will have to rebuild the roster completely with ELite talent on both sides of the ball. The talent level on offense under Mac is on the same level as WM imo except at WR. Overall record is misleading imo when you look at the coach overall. Mac neglecting DT is just as awful as WM neglect of the OL( you could at least blame the OL depletion on Medical RS). This team is is couple of top 5 classes away from being a contender again.
Posted on 1/4/17 at 8:42 pm to TJGator1215
quote:
Coaches deal with roster problems all the time
Some coaches lose to FCS teams, some win the East.
Give it a goddamn break, dude.
Posted on 1/4/17 at 11:06 pm to StrawsDrawnAtRandom
Some turn 4th string QBs into all SEC QBs, or win NCs with drop back passers passing in a spread option scheme. While others start castaways from smaller tier P5 schools. Pretty kewl and yet....
Posted on 1/5/17 at 6:45 am to TJGator1215
So you're angry that Mac didn't turn Jacob Guy into an all SEC quarterback?
It's pretty amazing that Mac managed to win the east with a backup quarterback in year one and two walk ons in year two. That's a testament to his coaching ability.
What do you want him to do? I get you're frustrated with the recruiting and I understand that and your concern with it. That's why we rarely argue when discussing recruiting. But you let the recruiting effect your outlook of Mac as a coach. And as a coach, he's proven to find way to win despite roster deficiencies, fire staff members who didn't get the job done (Kirk Callahan getting replaced by Torrian Gray, Summers and Nord likely getting replaced), putting players in a position to succeed. When you see Antonio Callaway on his own running down the goal line against Vandy and Appleby throws it out of the back of the end zone, then fumbles the snap the next play, that's not coaching, that's not executing. Same with against LSU and Iowa when it wasn't necessarily a great play call, but it probably would have worked if Appleby had of gotten the pitch right.
Florida fans want excellence and conference championships and national championships. Where we are at is not good enough. We still have a ways to go. My question is this: what do you wish Mac did better that is realistic? Did you ever give him an actual chance? Or did you hate the hire from the start and just never wanted to give it any thought? I feel like you can see the growth in the roster and the team getting better and we just have to break through the wall, but I don't understand how you could be so surely negative of a team that just won what would have been 10 games for the second consecutive year after going 4-8 just one year prior to Mac getting there.
It's pretty amazing that Mac managed to win the east with a backup quarterback in year one and two walk ons in year two. That's a testament to his coaching ability.
What do you want him to do? I get you're frustrated with the recruiting and I understand that and your concern with it. That's why we rarely argue when discussing recruiting. But you let the recruiting effect your outlook of Mac as a coach. And as a coach, he's proven to find way to win despite roster deficiencies, fire staff members who didn't get the job done (Kirk Callahan getting replaced by Torrian Gray, Summers and Nord likely getting replaced), putting players in a position to succeed. When you see Antonio Callaway on his own running down the goal line against Vandy and Appleby throws it out of the back of the end zone, then fumbles the snap the next play, that's not coaching, that's not executing. Same with against LSU and Iowa when it wasn't necessarily a great play call, but it probably would have worked if Appleby had of gotten the pitch right.
Florida fans want excellence and conference championships and national championships. Where we are at is not good enough. We still have a ways to go. My question is this: what do you wish Mac did better that is realistic? Did you ever give him an actual chance? Or did you hate the hire from the start and just never wanted to give it any thought? I feel like you can see the growth in the roster and the team getting better and we just have to break through the wall, but I don't understand how you could be so surely negative of a team that just won what would have been 10 games for the second consecutive year after going 4-8 just one year prior to Mac getting there.
Posted on 1/5/17 at 7:26 am to TJGator1215
I mean, it's a bit different though, because WM walked into a team with culture problems, but they were hugely talented. UF had been 34-7 the past 3 years, and was only 3 years removed from a historically good run.
When Mac got here, UF had been 11-13 the previous two years (22-15 the last 3) and 6 years removed from the SEC title game, the team had no OL, no talent on offense, really at all, outside of maybe Demarcus Robinson, who was ridiculously inconsistent, and maybe Kelvin Taylor.
Yes he benefited from some good defensive players on the team, but that can be said for just about any UF coach that has ever come here in the past 40 years besides maybe Ron Zook.
Year 3 will tell the tale. The team will be about 75% McElwain recruits. Muschamp was 4-8, Zook was 4-3 when he got fired, and UF ended 7-5 that year. I think McElwain will do better in year three than any of those guys.
When Mac got here, UF had been 11-13 the previous two years (22-15 the last 3) and 6 years removed from the SEC title game, the team had no OL, no talent on offense, really at all, outside of maybe Demarcus Robinson, who was ridiculously inconsistent, and maybe Kelvin Taylor.
Yes he benefited from some good defensive players on the team, but that can be said for just about any UF coach that has ever come here in the past 40 years besides maybe Ron Zook.
Year 3 will tell the tale. The team will be about 75% McElwain recruits. Muschamp was 4-8, Zook was 4-3 when he got fired, and UF ended 7-5 that year. I think McElwain will do better in year three than any of those guys.
Posted on 1/5/17 at 9:36 am to slayerxing
quote:
I mean, it's a bit different though, because WM walked into a team with culture problems, but they were hugely talented. UF had been 34-7 the past 3 years, and was only 3 years removed from a historically good run.
When Mac got here, UF had been 11-13 the previous two years (22-15 the last 3) and 6 years removed from the SEC title game, the team had no OL, no talent on offense, really at all, outside of maybe Demarcus Robinson, who was ridiculously inconsistent, and maybe Kelvin Taylor.
Yes he benefited from some good defensive players on the team, but that can be said for just about any UF coach that has ever come here in the past 40 years besides maybe Ron Zook.
Year 3 will tell the tale. The team will be about 75% McElwain recruits. Muschamp was 4-8, Zook was 4-3 when he got fired, and UF ended 7-5 that year. I think McElwain will do better in year three than any of those guys.
I agree that this is the year to start judging McElwain. Here is were I agree with TJ. The standard is Graves, Spurrier, and Urban. It is about moving the program forward and making progress. Muschamp and Zook did not do this.
McElwain needs to beat more top 25 teams than losing to top 25 teams. He needs to develop a QB. Less reactive recruiting and more proactive recruiting, ie needing a ton DTs and DBs this class instead of last class.
I loved that this years team did not completely fold up when the leaders on defense got hurt. Younger guys stepped up and played very well. Our offensive line got banged up, but the next guy in played well if not better in some cases. That goes back to developing leadership and depth through recruiting.
Posted on 1/5/17 at 9:44 am to BloodSweat&Beers
I'm still not 100% sold on the guy, but I was looking for a reason to believe in the bowl game and the team came out and played hard when the program needed some positive momentum.
Posted on 1/5/17 at 9:53 am to slayerxing
Posted on 1/5/17 at 12:15 pm to slayerxing
It was not the same. He had no QB or elite WRs, he was trying to turn Demps and Rainey into power backs.
The offense was Not talented and the OL was average at best and had zero depth. Jordan Reed was our only offense. Revisionist history on your part there. The defense was loaded. UF was broken and Meyer admitted himself.
Mac walked into the exact same problems. You can say WM had it easier due to 2 years earlier but he could recruit a little especially on defense. Mac can't even do that and his offense his first 2 years are worse than WMs first 2 years. His hires on the defensive staff are just as bad as recruiters than WM offensive staff.
2011 team
LINK
I don't see any tangible evidence that indicates Mac Will do better against the toughest schedule he will face in 2017 to date other than blind hope.
The offense was Not talented and the OL was average at best and had zero depth. Jordan Reed was our only offense. Revisionist history on your part there. The defense was loaded. UF was broken and Meyer admitted himself.
Mac walked into the exact same problems. You can say WM had it easier due to 2 years earlier but he could recruit a little especially on defense. Mac can't even do that and his offense his first 2 years are worse than WMs first 2 years. His hires on the defensive staff are just as bad as recruiters than WM offensive staff.
2011 team
LINK
I don't see any tangible evidence that indicates Mac Will do better against the toughest schedule he will face in 2017 to date other than blind hope.
This post was edited on 1/5/17 at 12:32 pm
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