Inconsistent O-line

[gator996]

Nixon hasn't improved since his 1st year either.

[geauxgator1]

Yep. It will be interesting to see what WM does with the next year's group. Our OL has been bad since 2009. TT was able to cover for it, but Brantley and Driskel couldn't.

[nastyreptile]

Originally Posted by Ahab

Our OL has been good at run blocking but lacking in pass protection all year. I expect next year's OL to be better.

Can't be much worse...I hope...

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by co_gator89

Nixon's performance tonight was simply stunning. Halapio too. Also saw Jordan Reed have a nice whiff that got Matt Jones buried in the backfield.

Yeah Nixon was....well.....sad.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by socraticsilence

I think the line would look a bit better, if we had a QB who could move in the pocket (not run, there's a difference) or recognize pressure.

In all fairness he had to run. Moving in the pocket would've got him killed tonight.

[jhbyrd]

I am looking forward to see who Nixon's replacement will be next year.

[UFFL]

Nixon dances with the defender. When pass blocking, he allows too much separation between himself and the DE.

[mac4lyfe]

You guys have been blaming the Oline and WR's for 3 years now but the main culprit ALWAYS points to the QB. Go look back at the game. Do you think Bridgewater had time to throw? He had about 1.5 seconds on each snap. The difference is that he let the ball go accurately to a spot. UL kept calling the same 2/3 passing plays across the middle and he put the ball in the right spot after taking huge shots in the pocket. Driskel holds onto the ball like it's attached to his arm where he's not going to throw it. He's not very accurate and to add he doesn't seem very smart. This kid is not made for this offense. He needs to be in a spread offense or one with very little progressions because he stinks when he thinks.

I have to question Driskels football IQ, he doesn't have a keen sense of what's around him. He runs right into pressure instead of away from it. Go back to the first play of the game pick 6. He stares down his receiver for about 4 seconds. The receiver still was open for some reason but the defenders finally bit on the pass because he was staring and pumping his arm forever. By the time he threw it 2 defenders converged and since it was an awful pass it got picked. As a QB you never just stare forever and ever then throw where your staring. If he had football sense he should have seen that he could have ran for a huge run to the right on that play. It was wide open but he doesn't understand pocket mechanics and where people are on the field.

2 point conversion. You have to get 2 points. Guys run a route to the front of the endzone but he pumps again instead of throwing the ball to the inside of our receiver and takes a stupid sack. Sure blame the Oline. You have about 2 seconds to drop back 3 steps and pass the ball. He thinks he has 5 seconds.

Look at the Bronco's. The past few years they kept blaming the offensive line and a lack of WR's. Peyton comes in and they can't be stopped. WR's having the best stats of their lives. Offense one of the top in the league. They had Orton and Tebow before Manning. I'm sorry but it's all on the QB. You have got to have a good QB to move the football. This season told me all I need to know about Driskel. He doesn't have the football IQ to win a national title. He didn't improve after an entire season under his belt. He's John Brantley with legs. I love all my Gator boys but I'm convinced of his limitations. You can put Andre Johnson and Megatron in our receiving corp and Driskel will still take ridiculous SMH sacks and negative plays.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

You guys have been blaming the Oline and WR's for 3 years now but the main culprit ALWAYS points to the QB. Go look back at the game. Do you think Bridgewater had time to throw? He had about 1.5 seconds on each snap. The difference is that he let the ball go accurately to a spot. UL kept calling the same 2/3 passing plays across the middle and he put the ball in the right spot after taking huge shots in the pocket. Driskel holds onto the ball like it's attached to his arm where he's not going to throw it. He's not very accurate and to add he doesn't seem very smart. This kid is not made for this offense. He needs to be in a spread offense or one with very little progressions because he stinks when he thinks.

I have to question Driskels football IQ, he doesn't have a keen sense of what's around him. He runs right into pressure instead of away from it. Go back to the first play of the game pick 6. He stares down his receiver for about 4 seconds. The receiver still was open for some reason but the defenders finally bit on the pass because he was staring and pumping his arm forever. By the time he threw it 2 defenders converged and since it was an awful pass it got picked. As a QB you never just stare forever and ever then throw where your staring. If he had football sense he should have seen that he could have ran for a huge run to the right on that play. It was wide open but he doesn't understand pocket mechanics and where people are on the field.

2 point conversion. You have to get 2 points. Guys run a route to the front of the endzone but he pumps again instead of throwing the ball to the inside of our receiver and takes a stupid sack. Sure blame the Oline. You have about 2 seconds to drop back 3 steps and pass the ball. He thinks he has 5 seconds.

Look at the Bronco's. The past few years they kept blaming the offensive line and a lack of WR's. Peyton comes in and they can't be stopped. WR's having the best stats of their lives. Offense one of the top in the league. They had Orton and Tebow before Manning. I'm sorry but it's all on the QB. You have got to have a good QB to move the football. This season told me all I need to know about Driskel. He doesn't have the football IQ to win a national title. He didn't improve after an entire season under his belt. He's John Brantley with legs. I love all my Gator boys but I'm convinced of his limitations. You can put Andre Johnson and Megatron in our receiving corp and Driskel will still take ridiculous SMH sacks and negative plays.

Somebody needs to teach him to step up into the pocket. There were many occasions a player was open but Driskel held onto the ball for too long. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that.

On one occasion, Burton was wide open on a wheel route and Driskel didn't see him and only threw the ball into the flat for minimal gain. In another instance UL defense blitzed but there were three players WIDE open for a screen pass and Driskel was late with the ball and ended up throwing into the turf. There was also that 3rd and long where #85 was wide open in the middle and Driskel underthrew him.

How about the first pass of the game, Driskel missed the receiver, throwing behind him leading to a tip-drill interception.

People can blame the oline all they like because its easy to do that but the tape tells a different story. Go back watch the game with a DVR and you'll see that with better QB play we had many chances to complete passes.

[mac4lyfe]

I lurked at 4 other boards and they all had numerous posters saying the same thing... Driskel was awful. Most were shocked to see that UF had such poor QB play. Not one comment made about the Oline nor receivers...

[toddsevans]

Bottom line. Amen

[MaceoP]

Driskel has alot of potential.. Our D applied plenty of pressure to Bridgewater, as Driskel also had pressure applied to him.

Bridgewater made some outstanding throws, on time and accurate while facing immense heat. Driskel didn't make the throws, or made them late.

Driskel had a sub-par game, Bridgewater shined. Thats the reality of the situation.

You can say our O line played poorly, however our QB didn't overcome the pressure.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by MaceoP

Driskel has alot of potential.. Our D applied plenty of pressure to Bridgewater, as Driskel also had pressure applied to him.

Bridgewater made some outstanding throws, on time and accurate while facing immense heat. Driskel didn't make the throws, or made them late.

Driskel had a sub-par game, Bridgewater shined. Thats the reality of the situation.

You can say our O line played poorly, however our QB didn't overcome the pressure.

Yet another smart and rationale man.

[gatorntuscaloosa]

While its true that some have got it and some dont, football smarts that is, and JD may not have

[gatorntuscaloosa]

As i was tyring to state before i accidentally hit the post button, JD may not have the "it" factor. But considering that since he has been there, all he has ever gotten the chance to practice was running for his life. He stands behind that oline n faces our defense in practice. Then he gets in games to stand behind the same oline and run for his life there. Not exactly the best opportunity to grow into and "practice" developing what "it" he may have.

[SmootyGator]

Originally Posted by gatorntuscaloosa

But considering that since he has been there, all he has ever gotten the chance to practice was running for his life..

I disagree with this. I think we use this as an excuse. I've seen too many times when Driskel has had ample time and then he doesn't make the throw. I'm not saying that our O-line isn't a problem, just that a lot of the blame has to go to the QB as well.

The one thing that really made me wake up last night was two plays: both corner blitzes, one against Bridgewater and one against Driskel. The one against Driskel, Driskel didn't even see, gets hit and turns over the football. The one against Bridgewater, Bridgewater recognizes and throws right to where the blitz came from and picks up about 10 yards. I'm sure the game was full of comparisons like this, but this one stood out to me. Driskel has all of the tools, but I don't think he gets it as a QB. Not in this system anyway.

[gatorchamp27]

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

You guys have been blaming the Oline and WR's for 3 years now but the main culprit ALWAYS points to the QB. Go look back at the game. Do you think Bridgewater had time to throw? He had about 1.5 seconds on each snap. The difference is that he let the ball go accurately to a spot. UL kept calling the same 2/3 passing plays across the middle and he put the ball in the right spot after taking huge shots in the pocket. Driskel holds onto the ball like it's attached to his arm where he's not going to throw it. He's not very accurate and to add he doesn't seem very smart. This kid is not made for this offense. He needs to be in a spread offense or one with very little progressions because he stinks when he thinks.

I have to question Driskels football IQ, he doesn't have a keen sense of what's around him. He runs right into pressure instead of away from it. Go back to the first play of the game pick 6. He stares down his receiver for about 4 seconds. The receiver still was open for some reason but the defenders finally bit on the pass because he was staring and pumping his arm forever. By the time he threw it 2 defenders converged and since it was an awful pass it got picked. As a QB you never just stare forever and ever then throw where your staring. If he had football sense he should have seen that he could have ran for a huge run to the right on that play. It was wide open but he doesn't understand pocket mechanics and where people are on the field.

2 point conversion. You have to get 2 points. Guys run a route to the front of the endzone but he pumps again instead of throwing the ball to the inside of our receiver and takes a stupid sack. Sure blame the Oline. You have about 2 seconds to drop back 3 steps and pass the ball. He thinks he has 5 seconds.

Look at the Bronco's. The past few years they kept blaming the offensive line and a lack of WR's. Peyton comes in and they can't be stopped. WR's having the best stats of their lives. Offense one of the top in the league. They had Orton and Tebow before Manning. I'm sorry but it's all on the QB. You have got to have a good QB to move the football. This season told me all I need to know about Driskel. He doesn't have the football IQ to win a national title. He didn't improve after an entire season under his belt. He's John Brantley with legs. I love all my Gator boys but I'm convinced of his limitations. You can put Andre Johnson and Megatron in our receiving corp and Driskel will still take ridiculous SMH sacks and negative plays.

It may just be me, but Driskel always seems like some wide-eyed rookie. Like the stage is to big and the lights are to bright. I mean all night he looked like a dear trapped in headlghts. However, this was a combination of poor play all around. How many times did our O-line get beat to the punch on run plays, this wasnt one group anymore than the others. It was a collective stinker. We didnt look motivated or coached all game on offense. Then we got shocked when we figured out Louisville wasnt going to roll over and stayed shocked all night.

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by SmootyGator

I disagree with this. I think we use this as an excuse. I've seen too many times when Driskel has had ample time and then he doesn't make the throw. I'm not saying that our O-line isn't a problem, just that a lot of the blame has to go to the QB as well.

The one thing that really made me wake up last night was two plays: both corner blitzes, one against Bridgewater and one against Driskel. The one against Driskel, Driskel didn't even see, gets hit and turns over the football. The one against Bridgewater, Bridgewater recognizes and throws right to where the blitz came from and picks up about 10 yards. I'm sure the game was full of comparisons like this, but this one stood out to me. Driskel has all of the tools, but I don't think he gets it as a QB. Not in this system anyway.

Hope some of our posters learn from this post.

[gator07]

Originally Posted by SmootyGator

I disagree with this. I think we use this as an excuse. I've seen too many times when Driskel has had ample time and then he doesn't make the throw. I'm not saying that our O-line isn't a problem, just that a lot of the blame has to go to the QB as well.

The one thing that really made me wake up last night was two plays: both corner blitzes, one against Bridgewater and one against Driskel. The one against Driskel, Driskel didn't even see, gets hit and turns over the football. The one against Bridgewater, Bridgewater recognizes and throws right to where the blitz came from and picks up about 10 yards. I'm sure the game was full of comparisons like this, but this one stood out to me. Driskel has all of the tools, but I don't think he gets it as a QB. Not in this system anyway.

Agree. Ive been a big Driskel supporter this entire season. Our OL has been terrible in pass protection but there were still plenty of opportunities in that game for JD to make a play or at least show something. Id still move forward with him next year, but there were enough indicators in this game to show that he just hasnt made the kind of progress that he should have over the course of this season which is very disappointing.

Youre right. Bridgewater knew exactly what to do to beat the blitz. Driskel looked like he didnt even know what a blitz is.

[Jonas]

OL is def average at best, but I really think Driskel makes them look worse. No pocket presence, still holds on to the ball, and sometimes runs into pressure instead of away from it.

I feel like he never steps up into the pocket because if the play. Reams down, he wants to use his speed to run backwards and then get the edge. But I feel several times if he stepped up into the pocket, he would have avoided the sack. There was a night and day difference between him and Bridgewater and how they use their mobility to buy time.

Another issue is that Driskel seems to lack anticipation. Our receivers always catch the ball when stationary. Driskel rarely throws the ball to a spot. So this requires more time in the pocket, which he just doesn't have. It's mind blowing because he has done it in the past like against Tenn, but we haven't seen it much since then.