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Execution plays a big part of the problems we are having on offense. We no longer have receivers who are fulfilling their blocking assignments, Offensive lineman are watching the plays as they happen around them and not finding someone to block and blocking by the fullbacks and running backs is spotty. You can send in the most creative play and if the players don’t execute it looks like a bad play. I think the inexperience of our players is in large part responsible for the foul-ups in execution. With a little patience and experience the Gators will be fine.
I agree with Bobby. Offensive play calling is too easy to predict….it is like giving defenses a gift. Unless we get more dynamic in how we approach the game, we have a tough road ahead of us.
he O-Line is one of our most experienced units, and should be a strength for our team. While I agree with the lack of execution comments, those that apply to the O-Line are a reflection on the position coach… who is also our O/C! I don’t know if there are enough hours in the day to do both these jobs with this team and these kids. I’m concerned we’ve put good folks in a position to fail, or at least flounder.
Stephen, I agree 100% about Addazio. I don’t think any one can do both O/L and O/C jobs effectively. He is a good coach and needs to concentrate on one or the other. I’ve been saying this since last year, if you remember the play calling at the beginning of the year was just as bad. We just had Tebow to bail us(him) out. Change needed quickly form the Head Coach.
I agree with Stephen. Also after all of spring, summer and 6 weeks into the season, we should have the experience on both the O-line and backs. plus this is n the first season for most of these positions. Execution is the key and the play calling does not have to be that creative, in fact sometimes I think we get too creative and gimmicky.
Seriously? Come on Gator fans, realizing we have had some personel changes in the staff but, these coaches have WON 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in 5 Years. Can’t we allow them a “Rebulding Year” where we win 11-12 games.
Tebow and good execution did help, but the lackluster play calling was still there during this time. At the end of last season part of our downfall was unimaginative calling. 3rd and short….Tebow up the middle. Was anything else ever run? Worked against so-so teams, but when we were playing in the big game at the end of the year this shut us down. You can’t always have the players and synergy we did in prior years, so coaching and getting the team to come together play an even bigger role. I have no problem with a rebuilding year, just wish we could see more effort to bring the team together and work off their strengths and calling plays that will help keep defenses off balance.
tend to agree with Mark here. We had tremendous success as of late. I will give the coaching staff a pass this year. I am sure in off season they will revist the situation and take the necessary actions.
Nobody is going to disagree with execution…without execution you have nothing. But trust me creativity and keeping defenses off balance is just as important. We are getting beat in the trenches no doubt but as a coach you have to give your players the best chance to succeed. I mean Tebow is superhuman but if you run the quarterback draw five times in a row, even the dumbest defense is going to figure something out Ex. Alabama last year, and they’re not dumb. We’re doing the same things as last year and expecting different results, it’s frustrating. I played football for 9 years of my life and running a power right is a great play if executed right but after running it 3 times in a row…someone is going to figure out they have to stack the line…please don’t run it a fourth time. And remember once you run unoriginal plays you put yourself in predictable positions. In other words you run that option with brantley twice where he hands it off to the running back up the middle, it gets stopped twice, guess what…now you HAVE to pass….and guess what…defensive coordinators know that. Then people say, see, the pass is not working…incorrect, you set yourself up to fail.
Oh, and the rebuilding year thing…we get the best recruiting classes in the country. How bout the coaches step it up and get these allstars to play and we’ll save our rebuilding year excuses for the end of the year…
Tebow’s talent and abilities covered up a number of flaws over the last few years. I have to laugh when we sit here and say that the play calling is suspect. First, none of us has any idea what plays were called, which ones were changes at the line and why they did or didn’t work. Unless you knew the playbook you would not have any idea what the call was. Then when a play is called, for it to work, everyone has to execute his role. When they do you see Demps rip off a long run or Carl Moore catch a third down pass. When they don’t it looks like the same old “dive ” play that goes nowhere or we don’t convert on third down because the receiver didn’t run a deep enough route. Steve Spurrier has always done a pretty good job as both head coach and offensive coordinator and Urban Meyer has always done a pretty good job as special teams coach and head coach.
agree with Stephen’s second comment – dual roles for 1 coach is too much.
Steve and Urban are top flight D-I head coaches, best of the best. Does anyone really think our current O/C can multi-task at the level that these guys can? Most great position coaches can’t – that’s why a great Headcoach pulls down the bucks that he does – it takes a rare bird.
Hammad, I’m not going to give the staff a pass this year, because the play calling was unimaginative last year too! We had Tebow and a full boat of talent that made up for it…almost. Bobby is correct in that the Gator program reloads not rebuilds. There shouldn’t be any excuses for lack of, our young talent. What is obvious to all of us it seems is- The O-line is not blocking well, the play calling is not just questionable but painfully predictable. There are other problems w/ dropped passes and QB-receiver lock, but it all leads back to coaching. They need to separate OL line and Off Cooridnator responsibilities. Get a new Off Coordinator. If you keep doing the same thing expecting different results, that’s stupid. If we can see it, why can’t they?
Folks, let’s face it … we all got spoiled with “Fun & Gun” years ago. Addazio is not Spurrier, or Dan Mullen, either. He is by all accounts one of the best coaches out there nonetheless; however, I worry that Addazio still thinks this is the Big 10 with huge linemen, huge running backs, and equally huge defensive players, where plays tend to go a little slower. In the SEC, everybody’s going much faster, holes and opportunities open and close quicker, and speed is the name of the game on offense and defense. It will take time — and we have the talent — but this is a team that will probably hit its stride next year, not this one. So we all have to be a little more patient. It’s painful to watch now, I’ll concede, but I still watch. Faithfully.
agree w/ comments about Addazio…guy is overwhelmed and likely will never be a good play caller. He’s on his 2nd yr now it’s not getting better…some could argue it’s worse. The bama game last yr (SEC) was also an example. You bring back an entire offense off a nat’l champ team and arguably the best player in history (Tebow) and you get blown out and put up 13pts. There’s only 1 reason for that and it’s coaching/play calling. Unfortunately the rumor is he’s close friends w/ meyer so don’t expect any changes for at least another frustrating year and maybe 2. Also, as gator fans we can’t get too greedy…we had one of best runs in history last few yrs and now it’s time to rebuild…few yrs when Brantley is gone we’ll be back in business.
Addazio needs to go. The Gator offense has suffered since he took over and Mullins left. Even under Tebow last year, we were not much of an offensive powerhouse. Poor play calling all around. This season has been painful to watch. If they keep this up, I’ll start rooting for the Ole ball Coach’s team. At least they are fun to watch.
You are looking too deep. The game is won or lost at the line of scrimmage. Check the sack stats, and then focus on the offensive line. Can you rebuild the O/L overnight?
A lot of colorful comments and obviously a sensitive subject for all of us. I think everyone knows and respects the coaching ability of the entire staff. However, I would like to shed some light on the subject. Play calling is prepared and executed by the entire offensive staff and is also scheduled out by down and distance situations long before the foot hits the ball. Secondly, it is very easy to knock specific position groups, but a team is a team, sure the O/L has had its problems, but the wide reciever corps has dropped its share of passes, the RBs have fumbled and the QBs have thrown interceptions – it happens, its football. Ultimately, if this team wants to win, the PLAYERS are going to have to take that step and get it done. Schemes are just schemes, the player is what electrifies the game – just think back, how many times do you get up and high five your buddy because of a good play call, you do that because a guy broke a tackle, made a guy miss and cruised down the field for 6. I have faith in the boys and coaches and am excited for the rest of the season. Theres no doubt in my mind this team will answer the call and be in Atlanta in December.
Also, in a general note, it was very disappointing to hear the boos last Saturday, I know people are angry, but hey, “we are the boys of ole florida” “through all kinds of weather we all stick together.” If you are a boo bird after 2 losses, I suspect you are not the type of fan UF needs.
Remember people, these are 18-22 year old boys who are still in school, mistakes will be made, last thing they need is their “fans” booing them.
Kyle is absolutely right. There’s no call for the booing. They are kids after all. And we’ve all seen much worse Gator teams.
I’m up here in Philadelphia now. The place that booed Santa Claus.
But our Gators deserve better treatment from the fans. They lost a close one on a trick play last week. Had we won that way we’d been ecstatic …
We have become spoiled. Does anybody remember 0-10-1 in 1979. Go Gators!
Jack of all trades, masters of nothing. Being OL Coach and Offensive Coordinator are both very complex technicians. I feel Steve Addazio is overwhelmed too, and the OL is so obviously out of sync, it affects the rest of the offense. The number one problem is Mike Pouncey is NOT a center, and he should never be a center, and just doesnt grasp the concept of snapping the ball safely before trying to pull, or guard a guy. He is not adept to recognizing blitzes and the rest of the inexperienced OL is not stepping up. He also lacks leadership and not humble enough to work on his new position.
The next problem is the lack of a dual threat QB.
John Brantley is not a good runner, so there isnt a true triple option, because the QB is not a respected running option. So blitzing and a nickel coverage really stops that 3rd and long, and with a weak OL. The field position contest is lost to the inability to extend past 3rd and long.
Trey Burton is an excellent runner, and provides and excellent triple option for our run game. But what he lacks is the ability to pass. We dont have a QB coach that can teach him the proper technique to throw a pass, when needed.
But guess what, John Brantley cant throw a pass either. I cant count how many times that Brantley threw to a receiver, where they are constantly adjusting to his poorly passed throw. It is either thrown out of reach, if the do catch it can not run after the catch. Or the pass makes the WR vulnerable for hits which will be replayed on ESPN.
Addazio doesnt have any pattern or gameplan to keep opponents off their toes. The reason we have won many games last year, was essentially the will of Tebow. If we had players of equal or worse than the rest of the SEC, then Addazio fails miserably against the other SEC defensive coaches, The closest thing to Meyer making play calls was Mullin and he is at Mississippi State for 2 years now.
I think we have the talent except for the QB, Burton is too young and unpolished in his passing game for him to be a full time starter. Brantley is the best QB option we have, but definately not good enough and with the play calling puts us in a disadvantage for the rest of our SEC foes, Still we are good enough to win 8 games and the bowl game. which in Vandy would deserve a 10 year contract extension, but at UF a forced retirement.
I agree w/ last comment about Tebow and last yr. Tebow being so good on field really helped mask Addazios play calling. Our offense last yr was still way down statisticall from 08 but Tebow kept us winning w/ predictable play calling from Addazio w/ sheer will and talent. Now we don’t have that and it’s obvious now. Also, a lot of issue w/ O/L is also lack of coaching from Addazio. They play great at times but are inconsistent which to me likely is lack of coaching as well as picking up blitzes, etc. There’s a reason most teams have a separate O-line coach which gators did before. One guy can’t do both effectively and were seeing that this yr. Also, often times coaching is downplayed and some say it’s all about excecution on field but I point to the ol ball coach who beat #1 bama last week w/ less talented players then gators get on a consistent basis and he does it w/ coaching and out scheming other coaches and that game last week was a perfect example. It is my belief that as long as he is O/C gators will not have championship seasons….
ots of good and valued comments – we without question have the talent in place but these young men are simply not playing to their potential on and off the field which goes to their mentors which is Coaching. I question if the staff (and well noted numerous are new) has the drive it once did and they are in so many ways and it has been reflected in the past 2 games being out-Coached. Addazio cannot manage both the O/L Coach as well as the O/C – it’s not working and the numbers show that. The play calling should be 100% on Meyer. One major issue that I have with the Coaches was in last weeks joke of a game vs LSU. How and please tell me how everyone on this Planet knew that Lesser Miles was going to fake the FG and allow him to kick his career long to tie (I repeat), tie the game. Worst case we overlook the fake, they get a 1st down (and the call on the field was correct – say what you want) and win the game – BINGO! This is where I question the Coaching staff. We are spoiled fans and must be (myself included) patient!
Watching the O-line trying to protect Brantley breaks my heart. Adelito said it – “Mike Pouncey is NOT a center”. There have been too many tackles for a loss on basic running plays and Brantley doesn’t have time to sneeze, let alone make his down field pass progressions. This looks very much like a player transitional year. Coach Meyer’s program has proven to be successful and I believe that it will continue to be successful.
I just wanted to comment that how soon people forget… Its been 20 years since we’ve had 2+loss seasons… Before that, it was literally HELL… Our fans and Athletic department has already ran off and so offended one of the best coaches in college football that he wouldn’t even consider coming back… don’t think they can’t do it to another…. Then we’ll be in the same boat as Notre Dame… Who can’t get an allstar and can barely win a game… Give the group a year to transition and find their way! Fans need to be supportive, alumni need to look at history and be thankful, the athletic department needs to defend and help the coaching staff, the coaching staff needs to not have to worry about a bunch of “what have you done for me lately” whining babies…
am humored by the comments on giving time to rebuild. We have a top 5 recruiting class every year at UF. Therefore, we should reload every year and shouldn’t need a year or two to rebuild. I have to agree with the previous comments regarding Addazio being expected to do too much. I have a lot of respect for Addazio and everything he has been asked to do over the last year because of Meyer’s health. He has taken it all on and handled it with class. However, there is no excuse for our offense to be ranked 96th in the country. Therefore, something has to change.
If anyone remembers, even with Tim Tebow, our play calling was really predictable, but no defense was able to stop him. Now, the players are not as dominant, so the lack of imagination on Addazio or Urbans part is more apparent. Anyone making excuses for Mike Pouncey needs to stop. His twin is starting center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so is the talent drop off that severe? I watched the LSU game in horror, as the tv announcer said watch for the fake field goal attempt! Then, before Urban and crew could react, a fake field goal attempt, with the luckiest bounce of a football EVER. Too much, GO GATORS!
We ran off the old ball coach, so let’s tread lightly for a while. Nobody wants to win more than Urban. I think he will figure out what needs to be done.
Recruiting class rankings are made up by “experts” who have never watched the recruits play,or even seen or talked to them. At best its a crap shoot. Right off the bat, thirty percent will never step foot on the field. That said, everybody keeps talking about last year being just as “bad as this year and blaming it on Addazio and the fact that Mullen left and Addazio became the Offensive Coordinator. I think we are forgetting the fact that at the same time we lost Percy Harvin who was 40% of the offense and just his presence on the field opened up a lot of other players to make plays and score. There are a lot of reasons for what is happening this year but to put it on Addazio is just wrong.
We didn’t run Spurrier off. My son was playing for him at the time. Spurrier lost interest and needed a change of scenery. He also had unfinished business with the NFL where he wanted to prove that he and his system could win there also.
am in full support of our team and don’t feel the booing was in anyway justified. I also do not want to run Meyer off as I think he is a very good coach. I just want to say that we need to adjust our offensive play calling and step up the execution from the players. I am here in Utah and was here when Urban coached out here.
One of the comments I heard then was how well Urban adjusted his system to the players he had instead of forcing the player to his system. I did not see that under Mullen and am not seeing that under Addazio, so it must be Urban. If this is the case, then he should play the players which fit his system, i.e. Burton, and let those who fit a different system go someplace where they can flourish. I would hate to see Brantley waste his potential like Leak did because they did not get coached in their position properly.
All good comments. I am wondering about Leadership !!
Without Tebow and Spikes, who are the leaders? I do not see anyone running out there with their head held high, Brantley is looking at the ground when he trots out for a series. Is this somehting that can be tought by Coaches? Who is going to get fired up and deliver the “Work Hard” speech from here out?
I am sure we have talent on coaching side and with players. We have no leadership in either.
F (Urban’s Felons) have zero leadership which should come from the top. Unless Urban changes things during this bye week (as we all can see it’s getting worse and time to make changes) – we will be lucky to finish 6-6. I live in NC and trust me, we cannot look over App State in a few weeks (remember MI don’t you)! Between now and our next game Urban and his staff can impress the heck out of me and strange as it sounds still make it to Atlanta but as of this writing we have more issues than we can all see on the field – trying to stay positive is causing a stress in my life. I try to maintain the faith week after week but it seems Urban knows all and runs a blinded course.
Go Gator’s and please, please, please stay out of jail during this bye week (thats all we need)!
Play calling is atrocious….I can’t believe they haven’t made that change yet. Brantley is not an option quarterback and is not a threat to run…which kinda defeats the term “option.” Burton can run it, but even then we need some creativity in play calling to keep people off balance. That is not happening right now.
I thought about this topic a lot before and after MSU – I think now there is an added need to “send a message” that there will be steps taken to right the ship. Let’s hope the bye-week is good to the Gators!
The potential leaders left because of the lack of opportunity. Do you all realize that 2 of the top candidates for the Heisman this year were potential starters at Florida. Think about Cam Newton wasn’t allowed to compete for the position so he left and Denard Robinson chose to go to Michigan due to the understanding that he couldn’t compete for the starting position. Really John Brantly over those 2? Unless these atheletes are given an opportunity to compete we will continue to have this issue every few years.
A rhetorical question I hope. Seriously, 6 points against Bama and 7 points against Miss. State and we’re even debating the issue?
I agree with Chad about not being too greedy. I was at UF 76-79 when we could hardley win anything even with 11 of our 22 starters going to the NFL in `78.We need to be cleaner in execution and avoid penalties. However, with injuries to Demps and Chris Reney on “sabatical” the play calling needs to be more creative using Burton as the “running” QB and NOT Brantley as a runner.
I agree with Ron. Plus this would also explain why so many of running backs are hurt. Running backs are only as good as their O-line, just look at Barry Sanders and Walter Peyton.
I’m jumping on the bandwagon, two coaches are needed. Let Addazio do what he does best, the offensive line, and let someone else call the plays. And while we’re at it, how do we let Les Miles – of all people get away with another faked field goal…that’s also coaching but like Spider Man says, “everybody gets one”! I hope our coaching staff learned from that one. That said, we all knew we would struggle on defense this year because of youth and even if the score doesn’t always reflect it, we are struggling to stop the run as Miss State so easily demonstrated. And when you can’t stop the run, you can’t stop the clock and our offense doesn’t get a whole of chances. So, this is and will be a trying year but as our teams grows up, we should get much better.
The Gators are in disarray. I haven’t seen the team be this bad since I was in school (’85-’89), and I think the accountability needs to start at the top. Urban needs to stop delegating so much, get on the stick, and make some changes so we can at least go to the Liberty Bowl!
When the chips are down, it’s natural to question leadership. But considering the accomplishments of our current coaching staff – perhaps we need to chill a little. There have been a lot of changes already – making more is not necessarily the recipe for improving performance. The truth is, we lost some great players and coaches – it takes time to get that chemistry back!
The offensive line is one of the biggest problems, Jack. I think Addazio just needs to go, period.
I do think that Brantley deserves some of the “blame,” too, though, as one of Tebow’s greatest strengths was his ability to provide cohesiveness, the proverbial glue that united the offense. Brantley needs to work on his leadership and inspirational skills a bit, and find a better way to work with what he has (which, unfortunately, is not a whole lot of awe-inspiring talent on the offensive side of the ball).
I think its safe to say that GATOR NATION has been spoiled over the last few years with Tebow-ism and winning 2 National Championships. Its important to point out that just like the Men’s Basketball championship years, rebuilding was the modus operandi afterwards and the same holds true for the football program.
You don’t lose experienced and talented personnel on both sides of the ball and maintain dominating the SEC…everything’s about balance now. Look at Auburn…hate to say it, but they took their lumps over the years after Campbell and Cadillac Williams left and now they’re back to where they were in some respects.
My only gripe is that play selection HAS to improve…my son’s Pop Warner team could stop the Gator’s offense right now because of its predictablilty. Meyer will need to do a much better job using both Brantley and Burton’s talents to get the most out of the offense.
On the counts of leadership and the offensive line, I couldn’t agree with you more. But I remember last year’s LSU game. We didn’t score a lot of points but our offensive line flat-out knocked LSU off the ball, much like LSU did to our defense this year. Last year, LSU hardly touched the ball in the second half, a lot like the Gators this year. I think Addazio can do it, but he needs to be one-dimensional – 100% of his focus needs to go to the offensive line and forget about play-calling, which is a huge weakness for us. In Brantley’s defense, I can’t imagine what it would be like to fill Tebow’s shoes – that’s a lose-lose proposition, but with maturity and more experience, maybe he’ll develop his own leadership identity. He has spent a fair amount of time on his back this year, which compromises the traditional, upright leadership position,
.
As an old football coach of mine who was very savy and successful, said to me several years ago, and this was when I played in Florida, “Grandma can run the football son if the blocking is there for her to run with it. I think this would also apply to our 2010 Gators and Coach Addazio!
he Offense needs much more creative imigation to it. You must have balance and it has to be consistent balance. You can be three and out or fumble most of your time of possesion and expect to win by relying on the Defense! The Florida Coaching Staff needs to act and perform like real Football Coaches and quit making Milk Toast excuses for their continued lack of leadership and failure. They all should know this is not High School, Middle School, or Midget Football. It the real deal SEC in your face every week! The Florida Coaches have the resourses and talent to be winning games instead of whinning every week and making lame excuses for their failure! Bring pride, and energy back to the Flordia Gator Football Team or step aside and let some come in who will.
Also, Moody is a bust!!! He came over from USC because of a crowded and talented backfield committee but what has he exactly done at UF. Meyers’ offense is not condusive for running backs…didn’t he see that beforehand???