How does Gatornation feel about QB Jeff Driskel?

[mikehev]

1st year starter, true sophmore QB. Not as dynamic of a receiving corp as those we have had in history, and a banged up O-line for a good portion of the season. He had a lot stacked against him and still made a lot of plays to lead the team to a 10-1 outing as the starter.

He's great and will only get better. He doesn't get rattled. His running brings an awesome dimension to the table. He will continue to improve in the passing game. Best true soph. QB in the SEC. Looking forward to him being one of the best QBs in the country before his career is over.

In Christ forever,
Mike
John 3:16

[trufloridagator]

[orangeblueorangeblue]

My only complaint is that he and Jacoby should have seen even *more* gametime last year. There was a lot of deference given to JB last year.

He'll be pretty spectacular next year.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I also think that anyone who believes Leak was too conservative with the ball didn't watch a lot of Gator football from 2003-2006.

Tebow did not throw a lot of passes to covered guys, either. He made good decisions and had great WRs. Grossman, meanwhile, was definitely a gunslinger and when he had really good WRs that's an easy thing to do. When you don't? Well ...

[mikehev]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

I also think that anyone who believes Leak was too conservative with the ball didn't watch a lot of Gator football from 2003-2006.

Tebow did not throw a lot of passes to covered guys, either. He made good decisions and had great WRs. Grossman, meanwhile, was definitely a gunslinger and when he had really good WRs that's an easy thing to do. When you don't? Well ...

Great points. I was also thrown off by the comments about Tebow. He was a great decision maker, and did not force passes.

Doug Johnson was probably the most, to use the OP of the comment's term, "fearless" when it came to throwing it to receivers that were covered. That came back to bite him a lot.

I am glad that JD is more cautious with the ball.

In Christ forever,
Mike
John 3:16

[FriendlyGator]

We are 11-1 with a true sophomore QB. He does exactly what the coaches have asked of him. He was one of our biggest playmakers--he ran for a whole bunch of important first downs this year.

I think anyone who isn't sure about him at this point is just looking for something different in a QB than our coaches. If you want a 3500 yard, 35 touchdown passing QB you will want to follow another team. Because that isn't the type of offense we run anymore.

[slayerxing]

Honestly, the current state of the ol and the offensive skill positionns at Florida makes it hard to fully evaluate Driskel. He did what the coaches asked him to do and made some big plays in big games. He only had one bad game all year and uf lost. That should tell you something. He was very important to uf this year.

[G8RNTN]

Good solid season in really year one. Will better much improved next year in Pease system. And our wr corps will be even better (improved from last year). Run game, oline and qb all will be better TOGETHER.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by Gatorbeck

I still see fear in driskel, and I haven't seen anyone ever improve on that symptom. The great ones have that confidence from day 1. That being said, driskel makes play and can be a solid starter. Heck, with the way our defense plays, maybe the super conservative approach isn't such a bad thing. He doesn't turn it over, and can run.

Driskel has the same ceiling as Leak IMO, which isn't bad. I don't see grossman or wuerrfel or Tebow though.

There isn't just one way to be "great." We aren't talking about pro prospects here. Did Vince Young throw into coverage? Matt Leinart? They were pretty phenomenal quarterbacks who took care of the ball and it resulted in low interception totals. Driskel can run, he can make throws to all three levels, and if he had offensive playmaing talent on par with Grossman, Tebow, or Wuerffel, his statistical productivity would look much better

Plus, I would argue that your characterization of Leak, Tebow, and Brantley could just as easily be reversed. Tebow had the lowest interception totals of the three, chiefly because he made good reads and didn't often put balls up for grab or throw ill-advised passes under duress. He was more likely to pull it down and run than he was to throw a contested ball against man under looks or brackets or whatever.

Similarly, Leak and Brantley had pretty high interception totals at times and often through into coverages where they should have run or checked down.

[fox]

Originally Posted by malscott

Hopefully we've all witnessed what was his youth and potential coming alive only to be refined and unleashed next year at an optimum level.

I'll go with this. And our coaches babied him in a good way. Didn't put too much pressure on him and he knew there was a capable backup if needed.

I had a cock fan ask me with a straight face the other day who our QB was going to be next year because he wasn't impressed with Jeff.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by rserina

Similarly, Leak and Brantley had pretty high interception totals at times and often through into coverages where they should have run or checked down.

I wouldn't qualify Leak as really having high interception totals. His worst year he through an INT every 28 passes. By contrast, in Rex's Heisman runner up year (ie his best) he through one every 32 passes. Very close.

Leak as a freshman through INTs as the same rate that Grossman did as a RS Junior.

He was certainly on par with Wuerffel & Grossman's rates.

Tebow was a total anomaly in that regard.

[GatorLaw]

Originally Posted by hgators

Are we serious?!

Best post in the thread

[gator7_5]

100000% behind him. Have more faith in him this upcoming yr. than all other qb's I've seen at UF behind Danny and Tim. Even Rex.

If Robinson flips, it will make a world of difference, as well.

[Go2gtr]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

I wouldn't qualify Leak as really having high interception totals. His worst year he through an INT every 28 passes. By contrast, in Rex's Heisman runner up year (ie his best) he through one every 32 passes. Very close.

Leak as a freshman through INTs as the same rate that Grossman did as a RS Junior.

He was certainly on par with Wuerffel & Grossman's rates.

Tebow was a total anomaly in that regard.

Threw, past tense of throw.

[ofmgator]

How can anyone have doubts about Driskel. Sure he doesn't have super passing stats but that happened for several reasons. 1. The Oline was beat up for most of the year.
2.He's a sophomore 3. Our WR's were not as good as we are used to. 4.We played a very tough schedule...some say the toughest in the country.
That said , we've won 11 games (the most we've ever won in a year...tied with our 2006 and 2008 teams. So hell yeah I like Jeff and can only see him getting better and better.

[SkyChimp]

I'm in the Frech Quarter today wearing the #6 Blue Driskel jersey. That's how I feel about him. :-)

[Go2gtr]

Driskel was told not to make plays throwing the ball except on an infrequent basis. The accuracy of his throws told me he could be a prolific passer in an opened up offense. The kid is oozing confidence right now.

[Gatorphenom]

Let's give him some receivers and then see how he fairs.

[gatorpa]

Time in the game will help greatly. Just stop taking a loss as your run out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage! Chuck it away!

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by Go2gtr

Threw, past tense of throw.

It was early.