Did Coach Mullen Take the O with him to Miss St.

Seven games into the 2009 season and the sputtering offense is the hot topic. It seems to be the question that Coach Meyer is asked week in and week out now. Last week leading into the Mississippi State game he had this to say about the offense:

“I remember one time, someone said, ‘Coach Mullen is going to catch a lot of heat’ or something like that and I responded, ‘The only person he would get heat from is me’ and no he is fine.  We are just maneuvering through a difficult part of the schedule and trying to get some things worked out.  Anytime there is transition and changes in staff, I’m very pleased with the job Coach Addazio has done.  The wrist above the elbow was a problem.  Chris Rainey probably scores after the unbelievable move he put on the guy.  It wasn’t a freak fumble, it was a great play.  We’re going to be nuts about taking care of the football in practice this week.  We made a film for the guys to watch.  It wasn’t just the balls on the ground.  The catch Deonte Thompson made was holding the ball like this [extends arms and holds them out].  Old habits tend to show up.  That’s coaching.  That was the number one thing we will work on; and red zone production.  We didn’t get stopped, we fumbled the ball.  Over the past few years, we have been very good in those two areas and it did not look that way.  I think we’re leading the SEC in offense; total yards, pass efficiency, third down and all that stuff.  Turnovers in the red zone are critical.”

After the Mississippi State game Coach Meyer continued his message, “I know people are going to take shots,” Meyer said. “I think we’re pressing like crazy. I think the head coach wants to score so #@$% bad. We’re not used to this.”

The Gators problems on offense has even fueled hope for Georgia. UGA has three wins since 1990 in this match up, but them Dawgs could be one of the last major test before the SEC Championship game. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party could still play a role in deciding the SEC East. Coach Meyer addressed the upcoming game at his Monday press conference:

“Georgia has great receivers, including one of the best in the nation.  He has the ability to go up and over us, like he did last year.  We have to find a way defend him and not be so concerned about him [that] they can run the ball.  Offensively, we will need to do a better job in some areas.  We were not good on third downs and red zone production.  We will spend time on those things early this week.”

Also on the mind of SEC Football fans has been the role of the refs in games this year. There is a good chance Coach Dan Mullen is going to get a letter from the SEC regarding his criticism of the refs. “I don’t even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they’re not going to utilize it,” Mullen said Sunday.

Does he have a point? You be the judge.

Coach Mullen is not the only SEC coach in trouble for his comments on the refs. Lane Kiffin once again gets on the bad side of Mike Slive. Slive said “further violations of SEC policies by Kiffin will subject the coach to additional penalties, including suspension.”

Tim Tebow was able to tie Herschel Walker’s SEC rushing TD record of 49 against Mississippi State. The first thing that many were to point out is Herschel Walker set the record in three years. Tebow tied the record in three and a half years, and oh by the way he is a Quarterback. Mark Bradley over at the AJC still says that Herschel Walker is the best ever (he makes some great points) , but in pointing out “Tebow has demonstrably more talent around him” there is no mention of the “demonstrably” better defense Tebow or any player in the SEC faces now verses the early 80’s.

With his sub-Tebow preferences since the UK game, Tim has now dropped behind  Mark Ingram in ESPN’s latest Heisman watch. Everyone has seen that Tim has held onto the ball longer than he should have when there is no one open, but it seems to me that Tebow’s throwing motion has gotten longer and at times slower than in years past. Two of his fumbles this year have come from defenders knocking the ball out when the ball is as the back of his throwing motion. (looking for photos)

Also a big thanks for the RTs, comments, and general discussion during the game goes to @Pattric, @HankatMarlows, @whitegatorz, @osgators, @LisaHorne, @ThatGuyBama, @deann16, @SirGQHollyWood, @ fuddmain, @DJBobbyV32, @kjhurst15, @AndyR24, @EricMcDonald, @thechodog, @edsbs, @Matti09, @ObiSun, @JrCoram, @Gatrbate, @SwamiG8R, @Sara6590, @guiltyofcraving, @theNFLguy, @GulfCoastGold, @gatormiami, @pixie1212, @1996Gator, @KyleHagler, @wealthdocintl, @rickydee1955, @donwb, @_karthik, @brianjsmith, @Umlat, @_CReX_, @CTiffany24, @dreamscometrue_, @Bgator13, @GOPMichael, @DALLASHALL. Sorry to anyone I missed.

GatorsNow is spanning the internet to see what the reactions were after the Charleston Southern game. The Gators were able to kick their 2009 season off and try and answer some of the questions facing the team.

A lot of them were answered in a short period of time. First the running game is legit, the Gators were able to rush for 369 yard with a lot of big plays from Rainey, Demps, and Moody. The Gators did show some of their quick strike offense after a 68 yard pass to Cooper then a quick snap for a 9 yard TD by Jeff Demps.

Cooper looked great hauling in 5 passes for 105 yards, and at one point catching 3 in a row. Deonte Thompson and Brandon James did drop what would have been 2 TD passes by Tebow. The Gators need the WR to step up and show they are SEC ready.

The Gators defense played a lot of base D and didn’t show a lot of blitzs. At times CSU was able to move the ball with quick passes, and hit a couple deep balls over Wondy Pierre-Louis who was filling in for Janoris Jenkins. Jenkins was sitting from his summer fight and run in with the law. Also Jermaine Cunningham did not play. Coach Meyer would only say, “He wasn’t ready to play.”

ESPN/AP reported:

Although Florida opened its most anticipated season in school history with a near-perfect performance, it came against an overmatched team from the Football Championship Subdivision.

“It’s hard to evaluate that game,” coach Urban Meyer said.

Florida, an overwhelming favorite to repeat as national champs, accomplished everything it wanted to in the opener, though. The Gators unveiled some new wrinkles, won the game in convincing fashion and avoided any major injuries.

Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel had these nuggets from the game:

On Riley Cooper, who had five catches for 105 yards, “Riley played like he practiced. He’s playing as good as he’s ever played. I know it’s been one game, but the way he practiced, I knew he was ready for a breakout game.”

John Brantley had a solid outing, going 8-of-12 for 67 yards with 2 TDs. He also ran six times for 44 yards. “It was fun watching him and being able to encourage him,” Tebow said.

LG Carl Johnson injured his knee, but Meyer said he was hoping it was just a bruise and listed the player as probable for next week.

Pat Dooley Grades the Gators:

OVERALL: A-

Not much opposition but the usual stars showed their stuff in the blowout victory for the Gators.

Read more for the full box score of the game.

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Here is the news all Gators fans were wanting to hear–Chris Rainey has put on 12 pounds, is learning the offense better, and teammates are beginning to see him becoming a more complete Running Back. In my opinion, Rainey has the best chance of any player on the team to fill the “Percy Position.” He has the same quick step with more top end speed but won’t be able to run between the tackles like Percy could. Gator fans everywphere hope he keeps developing and is  a full time contributor on this year’s team instead of a role player.

Randy Shannon spins to da U of Coral Gables when going after new recruits. I like how he just uses the stats for Coral Gables, a town about 4 times smaller than Gainesville, for his crime rates. If you use the same site Shannon used for his reports for the Miami area you get these numbers: Murders: 70,Rapes: 432, Robberies: 2341, Assaults: 6420, Burglaries: 9381, Thefts: 33802, and Auto thefts: 7025. As a friend told me “Anyone who’d fall for this is too stupid to be admitted to UF anyway.”

There is a Battle at Safety everyday at practice. Coach Meyer breaks it down like this, “The safeties battle is pretty tight right now because we have four guys who can play like starters here.” Will Hill say his goal is to start this season. “If I want to get that job, then I have to be better than the next guy in every little last thing.”

Florida coach Urban Meyer admits he’ll take No. 1 any time. Us Gator Fans will take the #1 ranking anytime as long as the Gators are in the same spot at the end of the season.

“Someone asked me that question and I heard someone say I hope we’re never ranked No. 1,” Meyer said. “I hope we’re ranked No. 1 every year for the next 10. I’ll take it right now. That means we’re really good and we’ve got really good players. That’s obviously not going to happen because of recruiting and who’s going to leave early and all that. We don’t really pay much attention to it, but if someone asks me would you rather be 114 or No. 1, I’ll take No. 1 because that means you have really, really  good players.”

In his blog Pat Dooley wonders about Sitting Tebow. With all the talk about Joe Haden playing QB, and John Brantley getting more snaps what is Tebow going to do? Last year all we heard were questions of  Tebow’s ability to make tit hrough a season without getting hurt. This yearthe question has become one of his  getting enough snaps to put up the stats to be in the running for a second Heisman?

Tim Tebow, Gators welcomes the “haters” - “There are going to be haters, but you know what?” Tebow said. “I don’t really care.” Tim, we don’t either. Nobody hates on you unless you are on the top.

Every since Percy announced he was going pro on January 15, the buzz surrounding the Gators has been about who is going to replace Harvin.

I’ve read many different opinions on how to replace Percy, but I would like to put all that to rest. The Gators will not replace Percy Harvin next year, and we may never see an athlete like him lace up the Nikes for the Gators again.

Percy Harvin Will Be Missed

Percy was a one of a kind athlete that is seldom seen in any program. During his career, he averaged more than a first down every time he touched the ball and had 32 touchdowns over three years.

The biggest thing that will be hard to replace is his big play threat. Harvin had 24 receptions of 10 yards or more and 10 catches of 20 yards or more.

Don’t get me wrong—the Gators have a bunch of guys with blazing speed, but there is not that one player who can line up both in the backfield or out at wideout and strike the same fear in defensive coordinators.

What we have to see from the Gators is a playbook change to remove the “Percy position” and divide the plays up to showcase the talent on the roster. We saw in the Alabama game that there is not a single player that can be plugged to replace Percy.

Brandon James has been the player that the Gators have gone to when Harvin was out with injury, but James needs more open space that Harvin did and he is not going to be able to take the ball between the tackles. The offense has to evolve this year to showcase the weapons we do have.

Due to injuries, I don’t think we were able to get a true indication of what the Gators’ offense will look like in 2009.

We have to get the three biggest weapons we have on the field at the same time to keep the other teams guessing where the Gators are going to strike from.

Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Aaron Hernandez must have packages where they are on the field at the same time. With Hernandez creating matchup nightmares in the middle of the field and the threat of a quick swing pass to Demps or Rainey in the open field, this offense could even rack up bigger numbers than last year if there is a clean No. 1 receiver.

I’ve written about it before, but that one X factor needed for the Gators offense to be elite is going to hinge on a wide receiver stepping up. This spring there were flashes from Deonte Thompson and Frankie Hammond, Jr., but none of the wide-outs were consistent day in and day out.

The Gator Nation has been blessed to have Percy Harvin for three years, and we will always dream about seeing another playing in The Swamp with as quick of a first step as Percy.

We’ll be doing this just the same way that USC hopes for another Reggie Bush, Notre Dame tries to figure out how they got Rocket Ismail in the first place, UGA wants to make every back the next Herschel Walker, and Auburn—you can exhale, there will never be another Bo Jackson.

Oh wait there is this kid Andre Debose…

Highlights from the 2008 season of the Florida Gators