Gators are the top story on NCAAF tab on Espn.com

[Gator033]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/61710/gators-hope-the-offense-takes-flight-in-2013

http://espn.go.com/college-football/

[gatorr4life]

First link I didn't see anything gator. Second, yes.

[gatordee]

Cant argue with that.

[g8r925]

Pretty astute assessment.

[theghost]

Ed Aschoff does a very good job covering UF. Wish he was still at the G-Sun.

The article is spot on. If the offense improves next year, we should have a chance to win every game we play. Hopefully the new OL's (the transfers specifically) make the OL a better unit than it was last year....and we have some WR's step up.

[GatorLaw]

Driskel needs to improve, the OL needs to improve, and some WRs need to step up. Right.

[geauxgator1]

Driskel needs to improve, the OL needs to improve, and some WRs need to step up. Right.

I guess we could say that for every team that didn't win the NC.

[MtownGator]

He pretty much said what most of us think already. Good job.
IMO
Hope we can run the ball allll day next year

[elrongator]

It could happen.

[socraticsilence]

146 yards a game? When was the last time a Gator team averaged less than 150 yards a game passing? Emmitt's senior year?

[theghost]

146 yards a game? When was the last time a Gator team averaged less than 150 yards a game passing? Emmitt's senior year?

Emmitt never played his senior year...at UF.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I guess we could say that for every team that didn't win the NC.

Uh, no? Plenty of teams had the offense but lacked the defense and/or special teams.

[gatorich]

Uh, no? Plenty of teams had the offense but lacked the defense and/or special teams.

I think the point was that every team has it's weaknesses and things it needs to get better at to improve over last year. Bama got a huge gift in playing ND in the MNC and was outplayed more than once last year, I'm sure Satan would say they have things to work on too.

[pcolafan]

I guess we could say that for every team that didn't win the NC.

What? Our inept passing game has to improve. Not all teams are plagued by this issue. Just look back to our opponent in the bowl game to see a team that has the ability to pass the ball forward for starters.

[Claygator]

What? Our inept passing game has to improve. Not all teams are plagued by this issue. Just look back to our opponent in the bowl game to see a team that has the ability to pass the ball forward for starters.

We were dead last in the SEC in passing. That HAS to improve. And if it does, expect our running game to be even more effective. The fact that we ran the ball as well as we did last year given our anemic passing game is encouraging.

[OaktownGator]

2nd year in scheme, 2nd year starting for the QB, likely stronger receiving corp with an established successful WR coach.

The passing game will definitely improve... the question is how much, and will it be enough to be effective against strong defenses.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I think the point was that every team has it's weaknesses and things it needs to get better at to improve over last year. Bama got a huge gift in playing ND in the MNC and was outplayed more than once last year, I'm sure Satan would say they have things to work on too.

Then I don't understand the post. Yes, every team - even NC winners - have areas that could use improvement. The story was specifically talking about ours - which is offense.

[gatorgoat]

My major concerns are Receivers and Tight End... Reed is a BIG LOSS! Clay Burton drops a lot of passes. If our WRs can get in space and we have some semblence of downfield passing...watch out! That opens up draw plays, swing passes out of the backfield, and screens. I'm amazed at how well we did some of that last year without stretching the field. Imagine our running game if teams can't stack the box on defense. We don't have to hit a lot of 40 yard plays... just consistently popping some 12 to 15 yarders will make our offense very hard to defend!

[socraticsilence]

Emmitt never played his senior year...at UF.

You're right I was thinking his junior year- when it was Emmitt and no one else and we lost a ton of games but only we're outscored by like 30 points combined in those losses.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

1989: 148 ypg
2012: 146 ypg

[OaktownGator]

1989: 148 ypg
2012: 146 ypg

1990: 269 ypg
2013: ?

I don't expect anywhere near that leap. It's not Muschamp's MO even if JD and company could do it.

But if we could get in the 220ypg range passing, we'd be a damned tough offense... because we're probably also getting 230+ on the ground.

[theghost]

1990: 269 ypg
2013: ?

I don't expect anywhere near that leap. It's not Muschamp's MO even if JD and company could do it.

But if we could get in the 220ypg range passing, we'd be a damned tough offense... because we're probably also getting 230+ on the ground.

230 ypg on the ground? THAT would be a huge leap - from the 187 we averaged this year (especially after losing our leading rusher). I'd be happy if we get 187 again - which will mean we'll have a few of those 230+ yard games and a few low 100 games vs better defenses.

[OaktownGator]

230 ypg on the ground? THAT would be a huge leap - from the 187 we averaged this year (especially after losing our leading rusher). I'd be happy if we get 187 again - which will mean we'll have a few of those 230+ yard games and a few low 100 games vs better defenses.
You are correct that it is a big leap and perhaps overly optimistic.

But the 187 we averaged was a complete war against 8 and 9 man fronts.... with a very beat up OL for several games. Schedule looks a bit easier this year, and we look poised to take a good step up offensively.

With a deeper (and probably better) OL, a more mature passing game (2nd year for the QB and 2nd year in the offense), along with more legit threats in the pass game, I expect defenses will not be able to get away with stacking the box constantly. It will be much easier to get space at the LOS... and 187 will be an off day for us rather than average.

[Go2gtr]

My major concerns are Receivers and Tight End... Reed is a BIG LOSS! Clay Burton drops a lot of passes. If our WRs can get in space and we have some semblence of downfield passing...watch out! That opens up draw plays, swing passes out of the backfield, and screens. I'm amazed at how well we did some of that last year without stretching the field. Imagine our running game if teams can't stack the box on defense. We don't have to hit a lot of 40 yard plays... just consistently popping some 12 to 15 yarders will make our offense very hard to defend!
Reed was a stud athlete but had some flaws. He was so vitally important because no other receivers were dependable. If the receiving corps makes the big improvements they should, you will not miss him as much as you think.

[socraticsilence]

Reed was a stud athlete but had some flaws. He was so vitally important because no other receivers were dependable. If the receiving corps makes the big improvements they should, you will not miss him as much as you think.

I think this is true to an extent, one aspect of Reed's game is going to be really, really hard to replace- the sheer physical mismatch he posed-- those kinds of TEs or WRs are rare its why they get paid millions.

[socraticsilence]

You are correct that it is a big leap and perhaps overly optimistic.

But the 187 we averaged was a complete war against 8 and 9 man fronts.... with a very beat up OL for several games. Schedule looks a bit easier this year, and we look poised to take a good step up offensively.

With a deeper (and probably better) OL, a more mature passing game (2nd year for the QB and 2nd year in the offense), along with more legit threats in the pass game, I expect defenses will not be able to get away with stacking the box constantly. It will be much easier to get space at the LOS... and 187 will be an off day for us rather than average.

Us having a better rushing game (and passing game but that part is more obvious) is on Jeff-- if he can get defenses to respect his ability to beat them with his arm they'll back off, if not the second half of the year's offense especially the Louisville game is a good preview for 2013-- teams will stack the box with 8 and 9 men and blitz constantly because they know were not going to go deep and there's no real risk to counterbalance the benefit of sending 5 and 6 on every single passing down.

[OaktownGator]

Us having a better rushing game (and passing game but that part is more obvious) is on Jeff-- if he can get defenses to respect his ability to beat them with his arm they'll back off, if not the second half of the year's offense especially the Louisville game is a good preview for 2013-- teams will stack the box with 8 and 9 men and blitz constantly because they know were not going to go deep and there's no real risk to counterbalance the benefit of sending 5 and 6 on every single passing down.
Not just on JD - the OL, backs and receivers need to do their part too... but I agree with this assessment. If we don't make the other team pay for being overly aggressive at the LOS, they've got no reason to stop - I know I wouldn't.

[socraticsilence]

Not just on JD - the OL, backs and receivers need to do their part too... but I agree with this assessment. If we don't make the other team pay for being overly aggressive at the LOS, they've got no reason to stop - I know I wouldn't.

Honestly, I think this is why our offense struggled so much past the midway point-- people realized we weren't going to go deep and they if we did we'd miss the pass so the figured why waste a man covering it-- FSU is basically the only game during the second half of the season in which the opposing defense did just come hard with more ppl than we could block almost every play (that's not the Noles style at least not last year they liked to pressure with their line)-- line injuries hurt but teams just started bringing more than even a healthy line could block. If we don't back ppl off his year could actually be a step back offensively.

[rserina]

You're right I was thinking his junior year- when it was Emmitt and no one else and we lost a ton of games but only we're outscored by like 30 points combined in those losses.
As opposed to last season, when we won 11 regular season games and fairly well dominated several highly ranked teams (LSU, South Carolina, FSU).