By David Parker
Thoughts of the Week – LSU Week (10-18-19)
Maybe this is easy to explain, since we were supposed to lose, and lose by a lot. Because we weren’t supposed to compete, really. This was the game where the Gators were going to get kicked to the curb and told that they don’t belong. They’re not back yet. Maybe, maybe not. For whatever reason, this may be the most “okay” I have ever been about a loss.
And it wasn’t for lack of expectations. I fully expected to win. And I BADLY wanted to win. But I also knew immediately that we were not in a position to win. When you know you have to get quarterback pressure, and you lose your two best defensive linemen and best pass rushers so early, you know your odds just started circling the drain.
If I had to nail it down, it’s not that we looked so great. Because defensively we were pure garbage. But even if we were at full strength, after the defense put forth such an emotionally draining game a week earlier against Auburn, completely dominating them flag to flag, there was no way they wouldn’t be tired and flat this week. And the 2019 LSU offense is not the offense against which you can be tired or flat.
And even without being tired, some pundits marveled at what a great game plan LSU had against the vaunted Gator D. Well, what none of them had the wits to realize (or mention) is that while Florida was going to war with Auburn, and two other SEC foes along with a top-10 ranked FCS team, LSU spent the last month coasting downhill against Northwestern State, Utah State and the worst Vanderbilt team in decades, along with a bye week. In other words, LSU got to spend the last five week – that’s FIVE weeks – preparing for nobody but Florida.
No, I’d have to say that it’s because we felt so good. It was visceral. Sure, it can be quantified: we’re at least a full year ahead of any reasonable rebuild schedule; we proved we can play with and beat anyone in the country, even at their place at night without multiple all-star players at crucial positions and even with a backup quarterback who has fewer starts than your average LSU fan has teeth; and counting back to the many seasons in which the Gators won an SEC and even national title, almost all of those championship teams lost a midseason game to an SEC West opponent. But it wasn’t empirical. It was spiritual. You could see into the future. You could see what this team can do when it has normal depth across the board. When it has a veteran offensive line. When it has equal footing for once with the team across the line of scrimmage.
Losing never feels good. But watching this Gator team, this Gator program, felt hella good Saturday night. And every time Florida scored to either tie LSU or take the lead, Death Valley became deathly silent. The looks on the LSU faces were very familiar. They know what’s coming. Very soon. And so do we. And that feels good.
Just to Make it Clear…
I felt a few of those eye rolls out there. I know Gator fans are terribly disappointed. I am too. But I can’t understand anyone complaining right now. And I think the reasoning for that needs to be crystal clear.
And I think it bears reminding ourselves. Sometimes I have complained since Dan Mullen returned, but quickly pull myself back to Earth. Because in all honesty, sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who remembers or realizes we’re only in year two of a total top-to-bottom, side-to-side program rebuild. A rebuild from a 7-year, brand-destroying dumpster inferno kind of rebuild.
People were complaining this weekend that we should be good enough to lose Greenard and Zuniga and not lose so much punch on defense. But friends, Romans, countrymen, lend your ears to my jive: There is sincerely NO way on Earth that we should or could ever be in the position just 2 years into this magnitude of a rebuild to be able to just plug in another two all-Americans after losing 2 AA-level defensive linemen, who also happen to be 2 of our best 3 players on defense. People were complaining that Mullen got “outcoached” by the cartoonish Ed Orgeron. I’m not sure how a 14-point underdog plays toe-to-toe for 3 quarters in their house at night, but got out-coached, but that’s not my nit to pick here. My issue with this complaint is that Orgeron is in year 4 of his program build. He’s had twice as long to build the team we faced Saturday than Dan has had to RE-build his. And that “RE-“ is very conspicuously missing from Orgeron’s program build, because he inherited a perennial 10-win program. Dan inherited a program that won only 4 games twice in 4 years before Dan got here. LSU fans are no doubt still drunk on Bourbon Street celebrating this win, but when they sober up, I bet a lot of them will ask how is it that their team didn’t dominate the Gator squad that is barely over ankle-deep in their rebuild and is operating a full-time MASH unit of their star players.
Instead of complaining, what Gator fans should be looking at is how amazing it is that we were just two bad plays/play calls away from going to overtime with what may be the best team in America at their house at night…AFTER losing our two best defensive linemen, and already being without our most electric playmaker on offense, as well as the little matter of losing our starting QB and vocal team leader.
And I will say this as well: if we played this game last week before playing Auburn, we likely win this game, too.
Enjoy it While it Lasts
Admit it. As much as we all want to be back on the top of the mountain, it was fun. Right? It was fun being the underdog the last two weeks. It was fun having something to prove. It was so satisfying watching us go out on the field two weeks in a row as underdogs who were completely written off by all the national pundits, and EARN the respect we deserve.
Well, enjoy it while it lasts. Because Florida is entering one of those long stretches again wherein they will very rarely ever be an underdog, and never be a significant underdog. In the second half of the Steve Spurrier era, the original Old Ball Coach (or “Head Ball Coach”, as he much prefers, would occasionally lament that he missed playing as an underdog. Now, part of that is the toilsome and tiresome role as the dominant program, always having to answer vapid questions like, “Why are you ONLY winning games by 30 points every week now?” But much of it no doubt is the one-of-a-kind experience of playing to win respect, and giving an opponent – and the media – a big comeuppance.
So enjoy this while it lasts. We may be an underdog once more this regular season, and possibly once more in the post-season (even twice in the post-season, if we win that regular season underdog game). Now, don’t get me wrong…Florida fans have known what it is like to play as an underdog WAAAAY too many times in the last 7 years. But I mean playing as a capable underdog. An underdog that is going somewhere. Not an underdog who has the status just because they’re no good. It’s a unique feeling to play as an underdog with the goods to win every time. And that never lasts long if you keep progressing.
Random Thoughts & Stats
When is he due back? When is he due back? When is he due back?
Kadarius Toney: the human library book.
Kids, ask your parents.
Saturday Trevon Grimes became the 10th different Gator to catch a touchdown pass. He was also the 15th Gator to score a touchdown either a rushing, receiving or returning. That leads the nation, 1 ahead of Ohio State.
Florida had 11 explosive plays on offense Saturday night. I don’t know when the last time a Florida offense had that many, but I bet Dan Mullen was the offensive coordinator.
Miami scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter against the Gators in Week Zero. It took Florida opponents six more games to score another. The Gators have now outscored their opponents only 64-14 in the final stanza. While their second half scoring defensive numbers are still amazing, LSU did manage to score more second half points (21) than Florida had given up in their first 6 games combined (17).
Florida beats Georgia and runs the table. LSU manages to get past Alabama and Auburn. Florida gets a second shot at the Tigers in Atlanta…this time with both of their star defensive ends healthy and playing. This time without being on the negative end of a vast discrepancy in rest and preparation for the game. This time on a neutral field. This time with a quarterback with 9 starts under his belt, not just 3. This time knowing they can beat them, not thinking we can. Think about it. I think there’s a stronger chance that rematch scenario plays out than doesn’t.
Chomps from the GC Staff & Columnists —
ANDREW SPIVEY
The battle for Ol Marcus Dumervil is between Florida and LSU and it’s neck and neck. The game last weekend didn’t tip the scale either way. They’ve both used official visits already so both schools are trying to get him on campus for an unofficial visit.
The battle for a running back still isn’t going anywhere as Florida is still trying to get both Henry Parrish and Jahmy Gibbs on campus. They haven’t given up on DeMarkcus Bowman but it’s unlikely he flips right now.
NICK DE LA TORRE
Some injury notes of notes.
Jabari Zuniga and Jon Greenard did not practice on Monday or Tuesday. I know Dan Mullen is saying that they are “game time decisions” but I’ve been told it’s a long shot for them to be available against South Carolina. That’s a big loss because of, obviously, their talent level but also because of South Carolina’s QB situation. If Ryan Hilinski plays he’s going to be a statue back there. You’d love to have your best pass rushers to get after him. If he can’t go Dakereon Joyner can’t throw. We’re talking early Treon Harris and Skyler Mornhinweg levels of can’t throw but he can scoot. You need to keep him in the pocket and Zuniga and Greenard are the best guys on the defensive line to do that. Florida needs big games from Jeremiah Moon and Khris Bogle on the outside, as well as the emergence of Zach Carter
I’m told that Dameon Pierce continues deal with some headaches and concussion symptoms but that he’s been practicing.
Here’s my quick take on the game.
South Carolina is riding high after Will Muschamp’s signature career win. Muschamp’s defense is legit. They will be coached up and Williams Bryce Stadium is a good atmosphere. With that being said, I learned a lot about Florida in a loss last week. The Gators are a legitimate top-10 team and I feel better about my preseason pick of UF winning the SEC East. Florida is better than South Carolina. They’re more talented. They’re deeper and they have a better staff and program. This is a win all day in my book. You just have to show up and take care of business.
DAVID WUNDERLICH
A graphic has been going around showing that Mark Richt and Kirby Smart have almost the same exact records at the same exact stages of their Georgia careers. Smart has one more game played because of differences in how scheduling worked, but the records are nearly identical. Smart does have a national championship game appearance that Richt did not have, but Richt went 13-1 in 2002. Urban Meyer won two titles with that seem record, but Richt had the bad luck of there being two undefeated teams and the BCS structure that year.
Richt faced his first big post-hire staffing test following his fourth season. DC Brian VanGorder left, and Richt promoted Willie Martinez from within. It went okay for a year but the defenses got progressively worse. Richt eventually had to fire Martinez to save his own job, and he replaced him with some NFL guy named Grantham.
Smart faced his first such test this past offseason with OC Jim Chaney leaving. He promoted James Coley from within, and it’s not even going okay for that first year. Anyone who followed Coley’s past work at FSU and Miami could’ve told you that he’s way more of a recruiter than a tactician, but Smart apparently didn’t ask anyone who knew that.
It’s way too early to predict the same pattern to happen again, with the UGA offense decaying for a few years and Smart having to kick Coley to the curb to save himself. Maybe it’ll happen; maybe it won’t. History almost never repeats itself, but sometimes it does rhyme.
ERIC FAWCETT
Florida is starting to get some serious respect on the basketball side and that was shown when they were picked to finish second in the SEC media poll. That wasn’t the only good news as Florida’s graduate transfer big man was picked as the preseason player of the year. Andrew Nembhard also got some love with a placement on the second team All-SEC. There is lots to love about the Gators this year and it’s great to see them getting some respect from media both locally and nationally.
They still should have been picked to win instead of Kentucky, though!
That’s all, folks!
All the best,
Your friends at Gator Country
…where it’s GREAT to be a FLORIDA GATOR!