Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 13

Week 11 Recap

LSU's QB getttig ROCKED by LB Vosean Joseph at the goal line

A-T-L HEAUX!!! I hoped and prayed that the Gators would pull it out in Baton Rouge and they did just that! UF beat LSU on the road 16-10 in a gutsy performance. Anyone that has ever been around me during a Gator game knows my go-to phrase is, "Let's Goooooooo!!!!!!", and you know I let off a few during/after that game. UF left everything they had out there on the field and walked out as SEC East Champions for back-to-back years. With all of the drama and buildup to this game, this is definitely my favorite Gators win in the last 7-8 years. This team showed so much grit and determination during that LSU game, you can't help but smile when you think about what they just did. With the key guys that we were missing and how they kept LSU's run game in-check was nothing short of amazing. It's always great to be a Florida Gator, but Saturday I was a little more proud than I have been in a long time. It is so hard being patient, but I know that Coach Mac has this program headed back to the promise land.

How about my guy Jordan Scarlett!? That guy is a 'DOG' as my boys would say! Keep feeding him and he will only get stronger! He has clearly separated himself as 'The Guy' in the running back rotation, backed by Lamical Perine. I am glad that Mac has listened to my suggestions :) And how about Tyrie Cleveland!? He and Callaway are going to be too trill next year. I know for a fact they are going to come out slinging it next year so it should be fun to watch. As I have said countless times, there is so much young talent on this team it is hard not to get excited for the future and when they struggle it is frustrating because I know what they are capable of doing. Heck of a win in the bayou, fellas!

Week 12 Recap 

The FSU game.... I can't take watching any more of the offensive struggles due to the lack of a competent quarterback. I'm hurt... I'm sick of losing. I'm sick of losing to FSU even more so. I hate giving any credit whatsoever to FSU, but Dalvin Cook is the truth. Still salty about him not being a Gator so that is the last you will hear me mention anything about him being raw. "IF" we had a QB, that game would have turned out a lot different. But so would the other 3 loses we have had to them recently as well.... What a disappointing way to end the regular season, just as I thought we were starting to show signs of life after LSU.

This will be my last blog of the regular season. It is hard to believe that the season came and went so fast, but I am ready to put this season in rice and get to 2017. Definitely not optimistic about playing Alabama in the SEC Championship, but I will be in Atlanta to cheer on the ol' Gators. I saw the point spread was at 24, but I was thinking that was a little low. As I said last year, "I'm just happy to be here." I appreciate everyone who was with me on this rollercoaster of a season. Be on the lookout for more Gator posts from me! Pray that we get this QB situation fixed in the offseason and that we see some points in 2017.

As always... Go Gators!

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 12

Week 10 Recap

Photo Credit: gatorcountry.com

I apologize for my hiatus last week, but let's just put that whole game against Arkansas in rice... That was embarrassing. Luckily, the Gators rebounded in moderately impressive fashion against South Carolina this past weekend. The offense moved the ball pretty good with QB Austin Appleby, but left a solid 25 points on the field. The game should have easily been 45-7 UF (Actual score: 20-7). Red-zone struggles continue to plague an offense that is desperate for points. Turnovers killed awesome drives by the offense against South Carolina, yet with stellar defensive play and a nice running day from Jordan Scarlett we were able to pull out another win. I was really impressed with the way our young guys played, along with vets WR Ahmad Fullwood and DB Marcel Harris. The two aforementioned Seniors played their best games as Gators in my opinion. The offensive line played a really solid game as well. I think Martez Ivey should be the starting LT going forward. The line seemed to gel well with him at tackle so hopefully they keep him there.

Side-note: We really have a kicking game. Arguably the best punter in America in Johnny Townsend and then you have Eddy drilling 55 yarders!!! What a turnaround from that crap we saw the last few years. Now if we can just get the QBs up to par like this and we really will be working with something..

Week 11 Preview

'One Call Away' Callaway doggin' LSU last year - Photo Cred: miamiherald.com

LSU... Lord, I pray we beat the brakes off of them this weekend. In Baton Rouge. No, not in Gainesville as originally planned, but in Louisiana because the LSU administration wanted to cry and pout like heauxs about them losing a home game as if we wouldn't be losing TWO. As much as I despise FSU and how much that game means to me, I think I am at the point where if I had to pick one game to win left THIS season, I would rather UF win this weekend. I lost every ounce of respect I had for LSU this year, so all that SEC brethren love is out of the window. They're dead to me. With all that being said, I am worried lol... I feel like UF has a chance to win for sure, but with all of the injuries to key players over the past few weeks it will take a pissed-off, focused, well-executed effort on BOTH sides of the ball from a lot of unproven players.

Obviously the offense has to score if we hope to have a chance at winning this game. We can't afford to go three-and-out or commit any turnovers, or this game will be over quickly and we will be sitting there with the crying Jordan face. The offense has to give the defense time to breathe, because you can bet LSU is going to try and run it down our throats. If we don't stop the run game and force them to throw, that's the ballgame. This game will be a true test for our young linebackers. Lowkey, I am crying internally thinking about not having Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone this weekend against Fournette and Guice. You have to think the game plan would be to load the box and trust the secondary to show who the real DBU is, right?

Prediction: I hope I'm wrong... LSU 24, UF 13 :'( 

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 11

Week 8 Recap

RB Jordan Scarlett finished with 93 yards and a TD - Photo Cred: gatorcountry.com

For Gator fans, Saturday would be what you call a "Perfect Saturday", when all of your rivals take Ls. The Gators emerged out of Jax with the win over the Pups 24-10 behind a suffocating defensive performance. The D held UGA to 164 total yards (21 rushing)... That's ridiculous lol.. UGA's best, and really only, productive plays came off of broken coverages after the pocket had collapsed and their QB scrambled around and made a play. You would think that DB Duke Dawson and LB Jarrad Davis should get the game ball for their performances. Dawson played unbelievable considering how much he was targeted and made some huge plays that ended up sealing the game. Nothing can be said about how gutsy of a game JD played. That man is a BEAST. You can't help but to root for a guy like him. He is truly the heart and soul of that team too.

To say our offense isn't the prettiest is an understatement, but they are doing enough to get by for now, so I really can't complain too much when we are sitting at 6-1 and #11 in the Playoff rankings. My boy Scarlett proved that he can tote the load for us at running back, carrying it for a career-high 26 times. He and Perine are going to be a problem as that O-line continues to develop and improve. I will say that they did play a lot better than they had in past games, so my fingers are crossed that each week they continue trending upward. TE C'yontai Lewis played a heck of a game for us in the passing game, coming down with a huge catch on the sideline that was the play of the game in my opinion. After that play, it seemed as if the momentum was in the Gators favor the rest of the game. He also converted a huge 3rd down for a 19 yard TD, which helped put our first points on the board. After that, it was murder she wrote. 3 straight at The World's Largest Cocktail Party for the Gators! 21-6 vs UGA since I have been alive, I might add :)

Sidenote: For everyone I ran into in Jax, it was good to see you all! Glad to see and hear about everyone doing big things post-grad. Go Gators!

Week 9 Preview

And so the gauntlet begins... starting with the Arkansas Razorbacks this week on the road in Fayetteville. This will definitely be a challenge for our boys and they better come ready to play. Arkansas always plays super physical and has the size to match up with us, but IF we play how we are supposed to, our speed and talent should prevail. I really do not see how Arkansas QB Austin Allen will have time to throw considering how much pressure he has been under (who is also coming back off of a knee injury). Auburn and Alabama's defenses had a field day with Arkansas, so with Jarrad Davis back at linebacker along with a somewhat healthy D-line, I can't see how they are going to run on us either. As Kirby Smart said last week, "it's hard to win a game when they make you zero dimensional". I expect the defense to show up like they always do and if we can manage to put a few points on the board, we should be fine. I just want to see UF come out and make a statement early. Stone them on defense and put some points up, then put your foot on their throat and blow them out like Auburn did. The Gator Nation is waiting for that type of dominant outburst.

Prediction: UF 27, Arkansas 10 (7-1, 5-1 SEC) 

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 10

Week 8 Preview

It's Florida-Georgia week! This game will be forever known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" to me, no matter how many times they try and water the name down. After living in Georgia for a few years, you start to understand very quickly why the hatred for UGA runs deep like it does with Gator fans. Some of my dearest friends are UGA Alum, but outside of them I can't say too many nice things about the puppies. Without going on a tangent and to be as concise as possible, UF BETTER WIN THIS GAME! Outside of playing FSU, this is the game I look forward to the most every year. You won't find a better atmosphere in college football, than this rivalry in Jacksonville. If you like tailgating and a good time, this is something you need to experience at least once. I will warn you that mental and physical preparation is needed if you plan on partaking in the extra-curriculars (refer to the title of the game at the beginning if you're lost). Stay hydrated, my friends!

Our team is pretty banged up on the injury front and the bye week couldn't have been more clutch for some of our key guys to rehab. DE Bryan Cox and LB Jarrad Davis are questionable for the game and losing them would be a huge blow to our run defense. If we can stop UGA's run game, they are in for a lonnnng day :) You already know our defense plays angry and that chip they carry on their shoulder just got bigger. The biggest slap in the face I've seen in a while came this week when DBs Maye, Tabor, and Wilson got snubbed from the Thorpe Award Semifinalist List week. The voters at The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame are a joke... not sure what football they have been watching to leave those three off that list, especially Teez and Q with how they have played this year.

Is this going to be Luke's coming out party at his dad's old stomping grounds as Jags head coach? I HOPE SO! I told you I would give him a mulligan for the Mizzou performance, but that's only because I am confident he will come out much sharper this game and will get this W. It would be nice to see a 3+ touchdown performance from ol' Luke this weekend. In all actuality, I just want us to blow them out and make a statement. I am praying for a heavy dose of Scarlett and Perine in the run game as well, but I think Mac is stuck on going running back by committee. I feel good about the overall outcome of this game and just hope we play how I know we can play. O-line... show up and do your job!

Prediction: UF 34, UGA 10 (6-1, 4-1 SEC) 

Have a good weekend. Go Gators!

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 9

Week 7 Recap

Quincy Wilson & Teez Tabor - Photo Cred: floridagators.com

Overall, what a great Saturday from a win-loss perspective! Florida WON, Tennessee got BLOWN OUT, and Georgia LOST! Ice Cube would probably say, "that's a good day" for the Gators. Now for the critical part... Yeah, we won. But as always, it was same story, different week. I thought we played like trash on offense, especially in the first half. We couldn't finish a drive with 7 to save our lives. Just stating the obvious, and the reason for most of our struggles, our offensive line sucks. How do you have 8 false starts in a game!? That's a lack of focus and again, is a reflection of coaching in my opinion. Coach Summers, what's up bruh? He needs to make something shake or Mac needs to be looking for his successor. I will admit, Summers has brought them strides from where they were under Muschamp, but there is no reason a line with that caliber of players should be that bad. QB play was atrocious as well. Luke has shown he can be better than that, so I won't write him off just yet. Show up next week for UGA and I'll give you a mulligan for this game.

Although I was not happy with how we played overall, with the lack of execution in the redzone and all the stupid mistakes, there were some bright spots. I told y'all to watch out for No. 89 against Mizzou and my guys at RB. 89, who is WR Tyrie Cleveland and my guys at RB (Scarlett and Perine) all BALLED! Cleveland grabbed the first TD of his career along with another bomb, and both running backs went over 100 yards on the ground. I really don't even have to say much about that defense, other than thank you and we love you... They are who we thought they were, holding Mizzou to 98 yards passing. Keep in mind, Mizzou was leading the SEC in passing coming in to this game. Back-to-back pick 6s by Teez and Q gave the team and fans the spark that they needed. Those two plays changed the entirety of the game. Beating Mizzou 40-14 (5-1 Overall, 3-1 SEC)  is not indicative of how bad we actually looked when you take away those interceptions and Antonio Callaway's onside kick recovery for a TD at the end. That's 21 points right there, leaving you with 19 points via offense (2 offensive TDs and 2 field goals). A win is a win though, right? Sure, I will gladly take it. We have to clean it up and do better though. It just pisses me off because I know what we are capable of and you can't play like that and expect to beat great teams.

Sidenote: Florida is in 1st place and now controls their destiny in the SEC East with those two Tennessee losses. But honestly, with how we are playing and with the injuries we have, you are sick if you think we would have a chance to win in Atlanta. Bama would beat the brakes off us just like they are doing everyone else. Have you seen the juggernaut that Saban has in Tuscaloosa? We are not ready for those problems. Give us a couple more years :(

Week 8 Preview 

Bye Week - Florida is off (next game vs. UGA in Jacksonville)

Prediction: We all win because we don't have to see an anemic offense this week. Let's just pray they get healthy and get these mistakes corrected in practice, because next week is Georgia hate week!

Have a good week. Go Gators! 

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 8

Week 6 Recap

The Swamp - Photo: Blair McLendon

As you know, the LSU game was cancelled due to the weather and has been rescheduled for November 19th. But get this, not at the Swamp as originally scheduled, it's now AT LSU... -_- The way LSU handled this entire situation made me lose every ounce of respect I had for them. This is the SEC. This is supposed to be a brotherhood. You care more about playing a game than the well-being of the people of our home state? Nah, that doesn't fly with me. *Inserts explicit comment about LSU* You would think they would be considerate of our fans and player's families that were affected since natural disasters have affected them in recent history as well, right? Guess not... I hope we come out and busts their head in Louisiana on November 19th. Gators, y'all better get up for that game too... You should already have all the motivation you need. Don't lay an egg.

On a lighter note, the Gators are somewhat back in the SEC Championship hunt without playing last week. Tennessee lost to Texas A&M last weekend and they play Bama this weekend. Hopefully that equates to their second conference loss, putting us back in the drivers seat in the SEC East. Prayers up and fingers crossed for a Tennessee loss this weekend! Amen.

Week 7 Preview

Photo: http://cdn.fansided.com/

This week the Gators take on the Missouri Tigers for Homecoming. The Gators are tied in the all-time series 2-2. The Gators won on the road last year at Mizzou 21-3. This season, Mizzou comes in with one of the more explosive passing offenses in the SEC so it should be a nice test for our secondary. I expect Teez and Quincy to have a good day, holding it down for us on the outside. Let's see if DBU lives up to their name again.

QB Luke Del Rio is back in the starting lineup so I am hoping the offense will get back into a rhythm and praying they put up some points. Coach Mac, again... please stop the running back carousel. Scarlett and Perine are the backs most likely to hit a home run, so why not create a thunder and lighting duo with them? I guarantee you it's more effective than what we have been doing too. Word is WR Tyrie Cleveland has earned more P.T. so I am excited to see what he does this week; keep an eye out for 89.

Prediction: Mizzou 13,  UF 27 (5-1, 3-1 SEC)

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 7

Week 5 Recap 

Jalen Tabor with his 3rd INT of the year Photo: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Welp... UF outlasted Vandy 13-7 (4-1). Another lackluster performance by our offense, but yet another win. It didn't really feel like we won with how we played though. I have to say I'm sick of watching boring old Florida football. I love my Alma Mater too much to not watch them, but it's getting to the point where you already know what to expect before the game even starts and it's frustrating. You know you will see a stout defense that constantly bails us out until they are worn out from being on the field all game long, a below average offense that struggles to put points up and constantly goes 3 and out, a fragile O-Line, and mediocre special teams. Think about this... When is the last time you saw UF block a punt or a field goal? Run a punt or kick back? Yeah, Callaway has had a few nice returns here and there, but if he's out who do we go to? The Gators used to be known for all three phases of the game and our special teams play was huge, especially during the Urban-era. You take our All-American caliber punter out of the equation along with Odell Kick'em and our special teams is trash. How is that? I have been and am still high on Coach Mac, but these position coaches I can't say the same.

O-Line play needs to be addressed immediately. Those kids have played enough football and play against an elite defense in practice... There is no excuse for how bad they are. Is it coaching? I know there are dozens of teams across the country with much lower rated linemen that play better than us. That's embarrassing. You really can't even think about the QB position or RB position right now and what they "should" be doing because our line sucks so bad. And to piggy back off that, this 'running back committee' needs to stop. Pick two backs and let them go. As I said from Day 1, Scarlett is THE guy. I would have Perine as our number 2 back and ride with that rotation. Scarlett clearly had the hot hand in Vandy, yet had 12 carries.... WHAT? Why not keep feeding him? I don't understand it. Another thing I don't understand is why we didn't take any shots down field when we had so much success the week before. It was check down after check down and missed read after missed read. I'm sick of watching it.

Week 6 Preview 

This is the week many had circled on their calendars... It's LSU week, the battle of the self-proclaimed DBU's (Defensive Back University). We all know who the real DBU is and they reside in Gainesville. UF leads the all-time series 31-28-3.

Scene from the last time UF beat LSU, in 2012

QB Luke Del Rio is expected be back in the starting role this week, so I am hoping that results in a better performing offense. Again... O-Line, do your job! Normally, I am optimistic to a fault and I always think we have a shot at winning, but I have to admit that I really don't think we are going to win this weekend. LSU came out and beat Mizzou like they stole something last weekend and you know they are going to be geeked to play us. I'm not confident in us at all right now. Not to mention, our injuries are through the roof right now and it's definitely being felt in our run defense. Our entire starting defensive line is out this weekend due to injuries. We probably wouldn't have as many players hurt if the offense could stay on the field a little longer, just saying.

Only thing I can say about this weekend is, we'll see...

Prediction: LSU 34, UF 24 (4-2, 2-2 SEC)