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) 

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 6

Week 4 Recap

Crying Albert
(Me last weekend.. I'm sure some of you can relate)

I understand that all things must come to an end at some point, but not like that. Words taken from a great philosopher, Markus Jiggetts of DeFuniak Springs, FL, had I been buried on Saturday, it would have been life coming full circle for me because the Florida Gators would have "let me down" one last time. That was one of the most mind blowing and frustrating games I can recall watching. UT beat UF 38-28... As Florida fans, we know frustration from essentially the entire Muschamp era, but this loss was different.

I have never seen Florida play the 'Tale of Two Halves' role and come out on the bad end of things like THAT. How do you blow a 21-0 lead (21-3 at half) with that defense on the field??? Poor, conservative play-calling by our coaches and a lack of execution and intensity by our players. We played with a "not lose" mindset, instead of playing to win. Maybe I'm harsh and you can call me a poor sport... But in a rivalry game on the road, you're up TWENTY-ONE points and you let up!? You don't put your foot on their throats while you have the chance!? I'm lost... WHY?? Why not keep your foot on the gas!? Instead of walking out of Neyland with 12 straight Ws, now you have opened the door for the rivalry to really return. Now they know they can beat us. That win was huge for their program psychologically going forward. Hats off to Tennessee for sticking in there and coming back, but I am beyond disappointed in how we literally gave that game away. The biggest takeaway from that loss is now UF has to win out in SEC play to have a shot at going to ATL, plus they need Tennessee to lose 2 SEC games (which I think they will vs. Texas A&M and Bama, but you can't count on that).

Week 5 Preview 

WR Brandon Powell vs Vandy in last years matchup

This week the Gators travel up to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. UF leads the all-time series 37-10-2. I'm going to take the optimistic approach and say Vandy should be worried this weekend because UF will come in looking to kill. They know they messed up last week and what's at stake going forward. I think they were humbled on Saturday and I am hoping that leads to a run reminiscent of that '08 team after the Ole Miss loss. Coach Mac said he saw a locker room that was truly hurt from that loss. GOOD! Get mad, go out and win... big.

After last week, it's not even worth breaking down both sides of the ball after they each collapsed in the second half. Both sides better come out with a renewed energy and focus. I thought QB Austin Appleby played pretty good last week when given the chance to throw, especially with the deep ball. I would say Del Rio is better with the short/intermediate game and overall, but Appleby definitely stretched the field in that first half against Tennessee and showed he can be a serviceable backup. Keep an eye out for WR Tyrie Cleveland this weekend, as he should be involved in the offense more now that he is healthy; He caught his first pass off of a 36 yard dot from Appleby. I would look for more deep shots this week with Cleveland and Callaway, plus a heavy dose of the run game. Our defense shouldn't struggle against Vandy's offense, so they should be able to get off the field and give us more opportunities to score.

Prediction: Florida 41, Vandy 10 

Enjoy the weekend. Go Gators! 

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol.5

Week 3 Recap

LB Jarrad Davis and team - Photo Cred: gatorcountry.com

I have to start off this week's post with saluting our defense. Those boys held North Texas to 53 yards in the ENTIRE game. I don't care who you're playing... you hold a team to 53 total yards in a game, that is pretty impressive. That unit played with their hair on fire and ended up with 7 sacks in the 32-0 win. Number 1 defense in the country? It certainly appears that way, but there is a lot of ball left to play and we need to stay healthy to make that a reality at the end of the season. LBs Alex Anzalone and Jarrad Davis were all over the field making tackles. We often talk about having the best CB tandem in the country, but we could be overlooking the LBs. Anzalone and Davis are first round talents making a decisive impact on games and it's fun to watch.

The offense played decent, but nothing spectacular, with most of the shine coming from the talented running back group. Each of our big 4 scored TDs and played very well. I still favor Jordan Scarlett as my go-to guy and my second back would be Lamichal Perine. All are very capable of getting the job done, but for my preference of runner, the two aforementioned would match more of what I am looking for consistently on offense.

Of course the downer of the game came when our starting QB Luke Del Rio went down on what looked to be a season ending injury. I just knew his season was over when I saw that hit, but thankfully he didn't tear anything or require surgery so he should be back for the LSU game in a couple of weeks. The OL still is not where I think they should be. They showed flashes of greatness, but also blew tons of assignments and did not keep a clean pocket for the QBs a good portion of the game. I'll reemphasize as always... without them, this team won't win. They have to continue to get better.

Week 4 Preview

WR Antonio Callaway headed for the game winning TD in last
year's matchup - Photo Cred: miamiherald.com

The week most of us had circled is finally here. It's Tennessee week so I am extra hyped about this one... I once thought of them to be a "rival", but after losing 11 straight, I think it's kind of hard to use that term. "Divisional foe" would seem more appropriate to me, but that's neither here nor there. Florida leads the all-time series 26-19. At this point I am just tired of the Tennessee hype. Predicted SEC East Champion, possible CFB Playoff Contender, blah, blah, blah... I have said from day 1 that they are overrated and I would say they have proved me to be correct with how they have played the first few weeks of the season. We own them and have won the last few years with sub-par, backup quarterbacks. As a fan on either side of the "rivalry", what would make you think anything different is going to happen this year? After what happened last week to Luke and how coach Mac defended his players, this Gators team is ready to go "run through a wall" as LB Jarrad Davis said earlier in the week. CBs Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson have not held back either, by basically guaranteeing a win this weekend in candid comments they have had in interviews this week. Normally I would not agree with trash talking the opponent before the game and guaranteeing wins, but I think this week, this team, and this Tennessee is different. Exceptions can be made and I fully expect UF to come out and bust UT's head this weekend in Knoxville.

It's pretty obvious that all of the attention will be on backup QB Austin Appleby as he replaces the injured Luke Del Rio. Hopefully he gets good protection up front and makes some solid decisions to go along with accurate throws. He brings a running threat that Luke didn't have, so that should bode well for us if he needs to get out of the pocket. Expect a heavy dose of the run game with our four headed monster as well. WR Antonio Callaway is questionable for the game with that quad injury, but something tells me he will be on the field Saturday.

The defense, as I mentioned earlier, is ready to go. It will be fun to see them try and shutdown this Tennessee offense after they let them run all over them last year. That, plus the trash talk among the fans and players, reminds me of that year UGA stomped the field on us in 2007. I feel that type of disrespect and I'm sure you remember what happened to UGA the following year as well... 49-10 UF :) The key here will be staying disciplined against their run-option game. If we shutdown UT's run game and force them to throw, you might as well go ahead and get the celebratory shots ready because that's the ballgame. Pass rush situations equals our D-line eating all day long and I'm here for it.

Prediction: Florida over Tennessee (4-0).... Again... Make that 12 in a row. I just talked a lot of trash so I hope the Gators don't let me down lol 

Enjoy the weekend. Go Gators! 

Chompin' at the Bit - Vol. 4

By: Blair McLendon

WR Freddie Swain celebates his TD with his OL - Photo Cred: gatorcountry.com

Week 2 Recap

Wow! What a good game, right!? The way the Gators played on Saturday versus Kentucky exemplified what Florida Football should look like. I thought this was the most complete game on both sides of the ball that we have seen since the Urban-era. I went into the game expecting to win, but not like that. Florida dominated from the jump and came out with their first victory in conference play, beating UK 45-7.

Offensively, the game ball had to go to QB Luke Del Rio who was 19/32 for 320 yards 4TDs and 1 INT. He spread the ball around nicely and showed off a cannon that I doubt anyone knew he had when he connected on a 78 yard dime to WR Antonio Callaway, who finished with 129 yards on 5 catches. That lethal backfield I've been raving about made me proud as well. The star of the running game was freshman RB Lamical Perine, who finished with 1 TD and 133 total yards. The Gators backfield finished the game with 244 yards on the ground, pushing the total yardage to 564. Wait, wait, wait.... I know. You're probably thinking I made a typo with 564 yards, right? Nah, you read it right. That offensive line I've been praying for finally stepped up to keep the pocket clean and created some nice running lanes. Good job, guys!

It was almost laughable at how much our defense dominated Kentucky. DBU lived up to their moniker and held Kentucky's starting QB to 2/10 for 10 yards with 3 INTs. The return of CB Teez Tabor was very much welcomed, as he recorded his first pick of the season on an incredible read to jump an attempted screen pass. CB Quincy Wilson had the nastiest pick of the weekend in my opinion. Of course he got no love on ESPN, but take a look below at this absolute filth so you can see what I'm talking about. The front seven played amazing as well, recording 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble while holding UK to 149 total yards.

 

Week 3 Preview - North Texas vs. Florida

 

This week the Gators take on the North Texas Mean Green. This will be the second meeting between the schools, with North Texas winning the only matchup 20-12 in 1947.

Offense 
I think I speak for everyone when I say that I want to see an encore of last week's performance. I would hope that the team comes out with the same aggressive, kill-all mentality they had last week and have another blowout. This should be another confidence booster as they gear up for the much anticipated matchup with "rival" Tennessee next week. With everything I have seen behind the scenes, as well as what they have shown on the field, I feel like this is really just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come with Mac's offense. But what is that old saying? "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." I've been fooled enough, so I'm praying for another solid outing so we can finally shed this lifeless offensive shadow we have lived in, for what seems like, forever. The key is the same as last week's; if the offensive line keeps Del Rio clean, expect points! The running game should be solid again. WR Antonio Callaway is doubtful for the game and starting RG Tyler Jordan is out.

Defense
This defense is too hungry and too stingy to come out and lay an egg. As a unit, they have bailed this team out more times than we can count so don't expect anything less this week. They come into this game as the #2 defense in the country and want to prove that they are the best. They will come to play as always. Hopefully we can get a big lead and give our vets some rest while we also give the younger guys some time to develop.

Final Prediction: Florida over North Texas (3-0) (If I see another competent offense this weekend, I will pick a score next week. Just trying to save face here...)

Enjoy the weekend. Go Gators!