2013 FB Kennard Swanson of Lake Gibson going JUCO

[MadduxFanII]

I'm sorry, but I just see that situation differently. I really think we have options at the Buck position. We return Powell, I think Fowler played a bit overweight last year and may knock a few pounds off, and we have two excellent prospects in Cox and McCallister at the position. I would almost say that Sherit projects to see time at that position as well, because he's a lot smaller than what we like up front. At least at the moment he is.

So, while I'm not necessarily trying to minimize the loss of a guy like Daniel, I think losing Swannson hurts a bit more. If you go back and look at just how many key blocks Joyer threw last year to spring some big runs, you have to wonder about:
A) replacing him in a couple of years, and
B) what happens if he goes down?

Well, I'd certainly rather have Swanson than not have him, especially since it doesn't like we're facing a scholarship crunch any time soon. But I think the way I do because:

1. Of those names you've listed at the BUCK side, you've got a guy with one decently productive season coming off a major knee injury that required a second surgery to correct (Powell), two redshirt freshmen who were among our lowest-ranked recruits in 2011 (Cox and McCallister, and to be clear, I'm actually pretty stoked about the latter) and a soon-to-be true freshman with a torn ACL (Sherit). And you've got Fowler, from whom I also expect big things.

So you're not looking at a stacked depth chart of proven talent there.

2. You can be more flexible with the fullback position. You can minimize the role if you don't have a great fullback. You can move guys there from other positions, since it's not really a position that requires much complexity. Walk-ons can fill in there if required; see both Billy Latsko and Eric Rutledge. A freshman can have an impact there; Joyer got plenty of playing time in 2011.

"BUCK" may be something we can work around, but you always need pass rushers.

3. On a related note, and put quite simply, pass rushers are more important than fullbacks. That's not to denigrate the importance of a good fullback, but a good pass rush is the best thing you can have on defense. It makes every other position look better. All else equal, you almost always need a pass rusher more than a fullback.

[MadduxFanII]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

No, I'm referring to the fact that I never remembered our last coach ever telling a kid he was dumb as s**t.
I'm also giddy with delight we no longer have players using dead girls' credit cards, either...

If Will Muschamp told Swanson he was "dumb as shit," he's...well, dumb as shit. Fortunately, he's not, so he didn't.

And Muschamp certainly didn't go out of his way to tell Phillips he wasn't wanted. Hell, Fowler and Bullard only qualified by the skin of their teeth.

By the way, you might want to look up Meyer's record with academic disqualifications. He lost a guy (a tight end, I think) in his first class, then lost Dee Finley four or five years later. Between those two periods every player we signed qualified.

[ArtDeco]

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

By the way, you might want to look up Meyer's record with academic disqualifications. He lost a guy (a tight end, I think) in his first class, then lost Dee Finley four or five years later. Between those two periods every player we signed qualified.

All 17 a year- haha
You might want to look up who was coach when Phillips committed.
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/coll...missions-to-uf
From the article:
Phillips originally committed to Urban Meyer's Gators and became the second commitment of Florida's 2012 class on Oct. 25, 2010.

I can understand why a Gator would criticize a lying coach who left them up a creek ala Tommy Tuberville, but why on Earth would a true Gator take shots at our current coach in order to defend the Ohio State coach? smh

[MadduxFanII]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

All 17 a year- haha
You might want to look up who was coach when Phillips committed.
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/coll...missions-to-uf
From the article:
Phillips originally committed to Urban Meyer's Gators and became the second commitment of Florida's 2012 class on Oct. 25, 2010.

I can understand why a Gator would criticize a lying coach who left them up a creek ala Tommy Tuberville, but why on Earth would a true Gator take shots at our current coach in order to defend the Ohio State coach? smh

This means Muschamp had a year and a half to tell Phillips, and I quote, "he's dumb as shit." He did not. He signed Phillips. He was happy about signing Phillips. At no point did he say to Phillips, "Sorry kid, your grades aren't good enough." It turned out Phillips' grades weren't good enough.

Which, you seem to have trouble understanding, is not a criticism of Muschamp. Sometimes kids don't qualify. It's not the coach's fault.

As for the rest, I don't respond to nonsensical ad hominem attacks.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

MFII,

I think it really comes down to a "prove it" factor for some. I get where you're coming from, but I just like options we have to get after the passer. Cox and McCallister are the type(s) of guys a coaching staff like ours can develop into becoming really good players. Project-types, with a lot of physical ability and upside. I trust the staff to develop at least one of them, and I think Sherit is an interesting player to keep an eye on down the road.

I'll agree that "pass rushers" play a bigger role in a team's overall success, but a good fullback can be an asset to any offense. We only have one true option and, while it's true that you can minimize the role of a fullback with poor personnel at the position, Joyer threw a lot of key blocks to spring some big plays for an offense that...wasn't really known for being explosive. Most of our big plays came against worn down front sevens (second half of games against LSU and FSU), and Joyer was a big piece of that freight train. What happens if he goes down in the heat of the SEC grind?

I, like others, like the sound of DRob, Fulwood, Debose, Kent Taylor, and Bailey. On paper it sounds good. But, like you have questions about the pass rushing situation, there's no proven production among those guys. Our running game is still what we're banking on. That's who we are right now.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by Jupgator

I just can't feel sorry for a kid like this unless he is really dumb, in which case he likely couldn't pick up more complex football plays anyway. Bottom line is if he wanted it, he should have prepared himself by actually learning something in HS.

Agreed. It's not like high school is that difficult.

[socraticsilence]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

All 17 a year- haha
You might want to look up who was coach when Phillips committed.
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/coll...missions-to-uf
From the article:
Phillips originally committed to Urban Meyer's Gators and became the second commitment of Florida's 2012 class on Oct. 25, 2010.

I can understand why a Gator would criticize a lying coach who left them up a creek ala Tommy Tuberville, but why on Earth would a true Gator take shots at our current coach in order to defend the Ohio State coach? smh

Meyer's classes seemed to do all right on the field, this is the make it or break it year for Boom.

[UFFL]

Originally Posted by socraticsilence

Meyer's classes seemed to do all right on the field, this is the make it or break it year for Boom.

Uhhhh I think he already proved himself this past year, going 11-2 with an anemic offense (and that's putting it nicely). If this next year is going to make or break it for Boom in your eyes, well, that's fine, but don't expect that to actually be a realistic assessment of Boom's job status

[ArtDeco]

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

This means Muschamp had a year and a half to tell Phillips, and I quote, "he's dumb as shit." He did not.

Actually, back on point, the Dante affair was rather complicated. He was actually cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse, had a good transcript, the problem was something to do with his virtual school courses or something like that.
Hardly the type of thing you should be "not criticizing" our new coach over the head with.

I suspect having been burned once, Champ is now not playing around with kids that are high risk for grades. It's a welcome change from past regimes. Maybe we're actually looking into character, too, boy that would really be refreshing.

BTW,I hear Urban's looking into extra eligibility for Rickerson and Hornsby at OSU.

[superman2318]

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

This means Muschamp had a year and a half to tell Phillips, and I quote, "he's dumb as shit." He did not. He signed Phillips. He was happy about signing Phillips. At no point did he say to Phillips, "Sorry kid, your grades aren't good enough." It turned out Phillips' grades weren't good enough.

Which, you seem to have trouble understanding, is not a criticism of Muschamp. Sometimes kids don't qualify. It's not the coach's fault.

As for the rest, I don't respond to nonsensical ad hominem attacks.

D.P. was not one of the "Dumb as shits" as you so elegantly put it. He was one class away from being an EE. His issue came from the UF admissions office, who has a limit on how many credits can come from Online classes. Thats why he had no trouble getting in somewhere else.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by socraticsilence

Meyer's classes seemed to do all right on the field, this is the make it or break it year for Boom.

lol....I was about to ask if this post was serious then I saw who typed it. I think you should be happy that the admissions office doesn't qualify Gator Country posters. I'm afraid you'd be left out.

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by Tebowism0823

lol....I was about to ask if this post was serious then I saw who typed it. I think you should be happy that the admissions office doesn't qualify Gator Country posters. I'm afraid you'd be left out.

[Ahab]

Calling ANY recruit "dumb as shit" on a recruiting messageboard is dumb as shit.

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by Ahab

Calling ANY recruit "dumb as shit" on a recruiting messageboard is dumb as shit.

I agree.

[PSGator66]

Let him do the JC route and transfer in when he gets his grades in order.