When Gator football is gone for a week, something just seems missing. Sure you can sit around watching other teams play and maybe even catch a huge SEC upset (LSU at Kentucky).It doesn’t matter though. In fact, that game just made the anticipation that much greater for the Gators to get back on the field and redeem themselves. You know Coach Meyer did too, as he called many of his players when that game finally finished. That’s what you love as a Gator fan. No matter how passionate you are about your team, you always get a sense that your team’s head coach is a step ahead of you.
22-2.
That was the statistic that made me feel comfortable not only in the two weeks before the Kentucky game, but even back when I saw people calling it a trap game for the Gators.
Outside of the first drive by both Florida and Kentucky, I took quite a few positives from this game. Without a doubt the pass rush looked much improved at times. I’m not surprised by a combination of an improved pass rush and Torrey Davis being in the game. Right now, I believe Davis and Estopinan are our best options as starting defensive tackles.
Coach Meyer talked about Davis’ conditioning being an issue at Monday’s media gathering. He said how Coach Mattison is running him hard after practice and the hard work is beginning to show pay off.
Conditioning is about the only reason I understand for Davis not being on the field for many snaps. The combination of size and burst Davis has is ideal at his defensive tackle position. His big body aids well in run support, but I watched him quite a bit during Saturday’s game, and his obvious strength is in pressuring the quarterback.
It’s strange to think about, but could a true freshman be the key to this defense? When interior offensive linemen are forced to focus on our interior defensive linemen, it gives Derrick Harvey and Jermaine Cunningham the ability to beat their tackles with ease.
Speaking of Jermaine Cunningham, he looked outstanding during Saturday’s game, gaining SEC Lineman of the Week honors. He is one good defensive tackle away from becoming close to the terror Jarvis Moss provided opposing offensive lines.
I could get ripped for posing this question, but is this year’s group of linebackers better than last year’s? Brandon Spikes is living up to his nickname “The Predator” and has been a monster all season long. Dustin Doe is going under the radar a little bit, but he has big time playmaking abilities. AJ Jones has been decent, and as far as I’ve seen hasn’t made any huge mistakes.
Compare that to last year’s group. Brandon Siler had a good year last season, as did Earl Everett. Brian Crum filled in well as the third linebacker to round the group out. Am I crazy to think our two sophomores and one red-shirt freshman are better?
I don’t mean to take anything away from Siler, Everett and Crum, because what those three did for this program last season was immeasurable. When you are looking for “playmakers” as Meyer is on defense, I still believe our current group has more of those.
I was a little surprised we didn’t see more Moses Jenkins this weekend. When an injury to Pierre-Louis strikes an already thin group of cornerbacks, I was a little surprised Rickerson came in over Jenkins.
Jenkins saw some playing time against Auburn and I saw him on the field a few plays at LSU. Meyer said after the bye week that he continued to be impressed by what Jenkins brought to the table. Of course it’s easy to speculate after Rickerson got beat multiple times, but I thought Jenkins would be the first called in to service.
On offense, what can you say? The explosiveness that was hyped all offseason has been a reality most of the season. Then for Meyer to say that Riley Cooper, a key weapon, broke his finger and didn’t play after the injury occurred? It’s just scary.
I think Tim Tebow may have solidified his trip to New York this weekend as well, baring a huge meltdown. In an article I read by ESPN’s Pat Forde, he spoke of how Tebow already has been a part of more touchdowns this season than the past six Heisman winning quarterbacks were at this point in the season. It is truly a special season.
Now onto Georgia week, which was my favorite game I experienced last season. Coach Meyer has already hit on it, but seeing the stadium split down the middle between orange-blue and red-black is truly something that only sinks in when you see it live.