Golson vs Driskel

[gatordee]

And 2013 is underway!

[bigharold58]

Originally Posted by mikehev

Looking forward to:

1. Our receivers being much better next year (we have gone from striking out in recruiting receivers for 2 years in a row (possible exception Pittman); to bringing in the best receiver class we have brought in since 2006).

2. Our O-line being much better next year (3 transfers, 2 of which could start almost anywhere to beef up the unit)

3. Our backfield being strong (Matt Jones, Kelvin Taylor, Adam Lane)

4. Offense having 2 years in the same system

5. Jeff's improvement



In Christ forever,
Mike
John 3:16

I agree, Mike. Once again, very good post .

[pcolafan]

Originally Posted by gatorteacher

This organization has not had a great offense since 2008 with Tebow, Murphy, Harvin, and ESPECIALLY Dan Mullen. That was the last time the Gators rocked on offense. Addazio was not a good choice for OC but he did it for 2 years - That alone set UF football back 5 years. Then UF had a year of Weis and a year of Pease.
You probably have never done it, but it is quite difficult to deal with turnover like that 2 years in a row. The verbage changes, the philosophy changes, the nuances of the leader change. Next, the OL and WRs were not top 10 material this year. How many of our linemen are being discussed as likely first or second round draft picks? How many of our WRs have not performed to the level of expectation at HS level.
Last year this team was 6-6 with a bowl victory for a 7-6 record. I do not think the Gators beat a single ranked team. This year, the Gators went 3-2 or 4-2 versus ranked opponents. They finished 11-2, and will be even better next year. Matt Jones is a true beast and will help the team out.
Does Driskel need to improve? Yes, but I bet if we watched your every performance we could pick your work apart also. That said, Driskel WAS NOT playing defense in the Sugar Bowl and Bridgewater ate the Gator D up in the first half. The Gators are tooooooo heavily penalized to be a pro style team. The coaches need to get some discipline brought to bear on that. So, before we go throwing Driskel under the bus, let's remember what coach the Gators played in the Sugar Bowl.
Charlie Strong knows Gator football. He is an awesome coach, has the inside line on players out of Miami, and he knows DEFENSE. Remember the 2006 and 2008 championship games -- 41-14 and 24-14 against top ranked offenses. The Gators made the buckeyes and sooners look very pedestrian. And Strong had a lot to do with that.
So, I will give Driskel the benefit of the doubt. If your RBs can rush for a combine 250 yards, then your QB can pass lights out. Get the running game going and then, we will see what happens - that is the idea of Muschamp football.

You are saying that "Charlie Strong knows Gator football", yet our QB doesn't because we've changed OC's so many times???? How would Charlie have better insight than our players?

[LightMan]

Originally Posted by Jonas

I don't really get why Driskel seemingly never steps up into the pocket. Is there a reason for that? That would give him an extra second-ish on some plays. I noticed in the Sugar Bowl, it seemed like our rush was about to get to Bridgewater, but he would step up into the pocket, buying himself a little more time to get the pass off.

Here is the list or reasons, at least this is what I'm told when I ask a similar question:
1: Our WRs suck
2: Our OLine sucks
3: First full year as a starter
4: First season with Pease

I have to say none of the above had changed from game one to the Sugar Bowl. I would think that Jeff would want to adapt to some form of pocket presence in order to keep from getting sacked as much as he did. Does he not watch film on himself? Does he not see the blitzes he missed and at least try to improve? It didn't seem that way in the Sugar Bowl.

Point is the four issues listed above have been issues all season and Jeff, knowing these issues first hand, has done nothing to try to improve what ever he can on his own. Timing, reads, pocket presence. Hell it was the third or fourth game of the season before he started throwing the ball away...

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I think blame can be equally shared among the WRs, the O-line and Driskel himself. But, as typically happens, the brunt of the blame falls directly on the QB.

[GatorLaw]

Have you considered the possibility that maybe he often makes the reads just fine but after making them he sees that there's nothing open? Or that maybe he often doesn't get the time any QB needs to make his reads (especially a first-year starting QB who's a true sophomore)? Or that maybe even when he has the time he doesn't make them because he's become gun-shy from all the missed blocks and failed blitz pickups?

I'm mildly disappointed that we didn't see more obvious improvement in JD's game after starting 12 games this year. But I also didn't see any great improvement in the play of our WRs or of our OL (which was o.k. when they were healthy but certainly not great).

I still see plenty of raw talent with Jeff and I'm optimistic that with experience and most importantly with the expected improvement in the play of our WRs and OL he'll be a very good QB. But whether that turns out to be true or not, I certainly don't blame him and him alone for any failures of our offense this past season.

[LightMan]

Originally Posted by GatorLaw

Have you considered the possibility that maybe he often makes the reads just fine but after making them he sees that there's nothing open? Or that maybe he often doesn't get the time any QB needs to make his reads (especially a first-year starting QB who's a true sophomore)? Or that maybe even when he has the time he doesn't make them because he's become gun-shy from all the missed blocks and failed blitz pickups?

I'm mildly disappointed that we didn't see more obvious improvement in JD's game after starting 12 games this year. But I also didn't see any great improvement in the play of our WRs or of our OL (which was o.k. when they were healthy but certainly not great).

I still see plenty of raw talent with Jeff and I'm optimistic that with experience and most importantly with the expected improvement in the play of our WRs and OL he'll be a very good QB. But whether that turns out to be true or not, I certainly don't blame him and him alone for any failures of our offense this past season.

That could certainly be the case and no, Jeff doesn't deserve all of the blame. I will leave it alone until the start of next season. I will be the first one to say I was wrong and I will do it with a smile. He has to get better at the mental aspect of the position though.

[OaktownGator]

Originally Posted by njgator11

I hate to say it but there is no comparison. It really depresses me to see almost every major program having a qb that is so far superior to ours. Team after team have qb's that can scan the field, anticipate the blitz, throw on the run, etc, etc. Think about next years top 10 (I assume we will be in it), who will have the biggest question mark at qb...no question but the Gators. Alabama, UGA, Oregon, OSU, Texas A&M, Louisville, Stamford, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Florida. The only thing holding us back is having a qb that can make the necessary reads to put our offense in a position to win and get our playmakers the ball. This is my biggest concern for next year and the more I see other qb's the more upsetting it becomes.

First off, I'll agree that we need better reads out of the QB position, but the rest of this and how it's framed, I couldn't disagree more. A few points:

1. You didn't actually watched the game last night, if you think Golston is way better than Driskel.
2. This year, I only saw two QBs in Driskel's class that were clearly superior to him... Bridgewater and Manziel. Bridgewater had a full year of playing time under his belt, and Manziel appears to be just a freak athlete. They are both way ahead of all of their peers at this age - not just JD.
3. Driskel is our guy per Muschamp. Chitting all over him isn't going to help him get better or help our team get better.
4. No doubt JD has areas to improve on, as does every position group on offense - especially OL and WR... which are pretty darn key to a successful pass game. This is still a team sport and QB is not "the only thing holding us back".

There is no denying JD has a load of raw physical talent... and a lot less coaching and high level competition in the HS ranks, so it's not surprising he is behind in areas like reading defenses, and getting the ball out to what the defense is giving. Of course, the other players on offense need to understand their roles and execute, too - consistently enough that they all trust each other.

Let's give him a chance to develop and let that physical talent come through. We should see significant improvement next year. If he doesn't take that next step in the mental side of the game, then I expect the coaches will look to other options. Muschamp wants championships more than any of us do.

[SavageGator]

This thread is as ignorant as it gets!

[ArtDeco]

What I've learned from this thread:
Jeff has an uncanny ability to progress through his reads all while seemingly staring a hole through the primary receiver. What peripheral vision.

Seriously, guys, we're good. Bashing a QB that most SEC schools would trade us for is terribly counterproductive.

[Matthanuf06]

Originally Posted by OaktownGator

First off, I'll agree that we need better reads out of the QB position, but the rest of this and how it's framed, I couldn't disagree more. A few points:

[*]You didn't actually watched the game last night, if you think Golston is way better than Driskel.[*]This year, I only saw two QBs in Driskel's class that were clearly superior to him... Bridgewater and Manziel. Bridgewater had a full year of playing time under his belt, and Manziel appears to be just a freak athlete. They are both way ahead of all of their peers at this age - not just JD.[*]Driskel is our guy per Muschamp. Chitting all over him isn't going to help him get better or help our team get better.[*]No doubt JD has areas to improve on, as does every position group on offense - especially OL and WR... which are pretty darn key to a successful pass game. This is still a team sport and QB is not "the only thing holding us back".

There is no denying JD has a load of raw physical talent... and a lot less coaching and high level competition in the HS ranks, so it's not surprising he is behind in areas like reading defenses, and getting the ball out to what the defense is giving. Of course, the other players on offense need to understand their roles and execute, too - consistently enough that they all trust each other.

Let's give him a chance to develop and let that physical talent come through. We should see significant improvement next year. If he doesn't take that next step in the mental side of the game, then I expect the coaches will look to other options. Muschamp wants championships more than any of us do.

Didn't Golson throw for more yards last night than Jeff has ever thrown?

I think it's clear Golson was the superior player in 2012 and right now, but Jeff has far more potential. Not a chance in hell Id swap them for the future.

[GatorLaw]

Originally Posted by GatorAvatar

I have asked this question before...no good answers. Gotta be coaching.

You really don't think it's occurred to any coach to talk to him about the benefits of stepping up in the pocket to buy time? I doubt that that's the case.

I think there's at least two reasons why he doesn't do it and neither involves poor coaching. First, some of the time there's no pocket to step up into. And second, he's not a "natural" pocket passer and he's having trouble breaking old habits. His first instinct when under a heavy rush seems to be to run. And that's something he has to learn to change when there's a pocket to step into.

[njgator11]

Originally Posted by Matthanuf06

I don't think anyone is saying he is great. He didn't play well, but his bowl performance was much, much, much, better than Driskels. Not even close. We should have much higher expectations for Jeff. He has all the talent. Both guys can learn and improve as this season is over.

Correct! Bridgewater is great, I was just suggesting that I don't think I would take our QB over any of the other top teams QB's and that is a significant weakness for us going forward, unless somehow we can teach JD football IQ and instincts.

[ovillegator]

I think JD will do fine. He will have much improvement around him, and another off-season to train up.

The only thing I really have missed from JD, and I missed it from Brantley as well, is LEADERSHIP.

I never saw either QB treat this team as HIS OWN. Take ownership. Lead them. It's a fact that players play harder and better for a leader who does that. Coaches do that, but once on the field, there needs to be someone in that huddle to take over -- and that's the QB.

I'm not saying JD didn't lead at all -- just that he didn't do it strongly enough. It's not an intangible -- it can be developed.

There are sports performance professionals who can help nurture that in him. Hope WM gets him someone to develop that. It will help JD and the team.

With the recruits coming in, and another year with a healthy JD, all signs point up for our Gators!

[njgator11]

Originally Posted by AndyGator

nope, though our offense did look better. Do any of you really think our qb play will markably improve nect year?? And if it doesn't, do we really have a chance for a NC??

LMAO. The same morons who were predicting a 6-loss this season are right back at it again. Get a life dweeb.

I won't lower myself to ream you, but I predicted 10-2 or 9-3. I am usually overly optimistic, but am a realist as well. If you don't like opinions find somewhere else to play. Love the guys who have no clue and just take personal shots...

[Dreamliner]

The problem with telling Driskel he he has three seconds to get rid of the ball is that that would have him throwing from a prone position every other play. And that would lead to lots of interceptions.

[luciaboy]

golson is better right now. it was jd's first year as a starter in an offense that does not use his strength which is running and obviously pease is no brian kelly. jd did not seem to improve his passing game during the season and the two games (uga and louisville) that he had more than a week to prepare were his worst. let's see if he improves next season before calling him a bust. i still say he is the perfect spread offense qb but unfortunately we do not run that anymore. i will be more than curious to watch his play next year as it will also be an indictment of pease's coaching ability as jd's performance.

[ofmgator]

NJ11 You need to drink a reality/positive drink asap. We finished 11-2. We played two bad games but a bunch of good ones. Obviously you haven't beed a Gator for very long otherwise you'd be enjoying a really good season. JD will be fine when we add a receiver or two.

[rounds]

Has anyone considered that there must be a very compelling reason the coaches won't allow Jeff to change from a run play when facing 10 in the box or why he ignores telegraphed blitzes?
Field vision, football IQ, and pocket presence are not learned in one off-season.

[OaktownGator]

Originally Posted by rounds

Has anyone considered that there must be a very compelling reason the coaches won't allow Jeff to change from a run play when facing 10 in the box or why he ignores telegraphed blitzes?
Field vision, football IQ, and pocket presence are not learned in one off-season.

Do you really think they would invest their future in a QB who they believe is incapable of improving in these areas?

I'm not saying we should expect him to come back as Manning or Brady, but it is reasonable to expect a young QB to improve with experience and coaching. Especially if we put a better OL in front of him and more reliable targets to throw to.