Changes by monday.

[DRU2012]

I just want to say that everyone here makes good points--and I find myself on the brink of utter hopelessness regarding our great and beloved program.
If I accept the likeliest scenario, that of continued stubbornness and inaction until this regime disintegrates under the weight of its own accelerating ineptitude, taking everything achieved over the last few years with it, I am close to turning my back on it all in self-protection.
By this view, Urban Meyer will end up leaving that program in almost exactly the condition he found it--minus the "full cupboard" of prize recruits Zook at least left HIM. Those of us who see this coming and REALLY CARE, who "bleed orange and blue" as the saying goes, are left to hunker down, monitor the situation objectively from afar, and hope it only lasts a couple of years before we're on the rise again.
I HATE that under these conditions, this regime seems intent on making the Haters right when they gleefully predicted just such a fall post-Tebow. It certainly didn't HAVE to be this way. We KNOW where the responsibility lies.

 

[The Zooker]

Loeffler will get the job done. I have faith in that. You will definitely see Brantley get used correctly. Despite what he looks like on Saturdays he is a very good quarterback. But he has to be in a system that works with him. Loeffler can put together that system. Loeffler was a quarterback in the 90's. Then he started coaching and sent multiple players to NFL. He will call plays that get Brantley into a rhythm where we can really see how good he is. He can actually call plays that complement each other as well. You know how you're supposed to use the run to set up the pass and vice versa, well Addazio doesn't do that. He just calls random plays. Loeffler is actually smart enough to mess with the defensive coordinator's head and get the players confused.

 

[GoGators01]

what makes you so sure that this will actually happen?

 

[The Zooker]

what makes you so sure that this will actually happen?

Meyer has demoted Addazio and promoted Loeffler before (albeit for one game). So we know what Meyer's backup plan is at the position. As far as it happening, I rely on my ability to decipher Meyer's press conferences and media quotes. He is rarely honest with what he says and even if he is telling the truth he is using it to cover up something else. But lately he seems to be getting closer and closer to blaming Addazio without actually doing it. He gave the hint that Loeffler might be moving up when he said something along the lines of "letting another coach give more input on playcalling." As far as what Loeffler would do with the position, I base that on him being a quarterback and then moving directly into coaching quarterbacks with great success. His track record at Michigan was as good as it gets for that amount of time. I think he knows what is wrong with Brantley and knows how to fix it. He just can't coach it from his current spot because the problem is with the playcalling, most importantly the bad flow and timing of everything. Brantley is ALL about rhythm. We could be seeing Heisman performances if Addazio was using Brantley properly. But instead Addazio has him wasting first downs, running options, et cetera. The opposing defenses start stacking the box hard and when Brantley has the opportunity to throw downfield, all those folks in the box crash our line and put too much pressure on Brantley. I think we would see a complete 180 if Addazio could focus on getting his O line better and Loeffler was given the ability to call the plays.

 

[Lifelong Gator]

It's time to either decide if the offense will run the option/spread or a more conventional or West Coast type offense. The coaches are going to ruin a good QB and cause dissension on the team by trying to force a round peg into a square hole. It is painfully apparent after last Saturdays performance that Brantley cannot run the option and Trey Burton can. So, either run an offense that Brantley can excel in or bench him before they snuff out any confidence he has left. Also, please explain to me why one the best offensive lineman in the college game is being used in a position that is obviously unnatural to him. Just don't get it.....

 

[DRU2012]

I'm afraid that "ruining" may have already begun; JB doesn't even TRY to look for the uncovered receiver to check off to anymore, and when it IS one of the primary choices in the play that is called he switches down to the outlet almost immediately. Even the normally oafish announcers caught this and began showing it in isolation shots between plays.
And Zooker: I KNOW you were hoping for more than having to "decipher Meyer's press conferences" after a loss at home to MSU--all we get is "a hint he'll let some other coach do the play calling"? C'mon, man, I know YOU know better. Pretty anemic reaction to the cold, hard reality of what we saw on the field. In fact, they say a team reflets the personality of its Head Coach, and "anemic" pretty well describes everything about the coaches and their product by now.

 

[Escambia94]

It's time to either decide if the offense will run the option/spread or a more conventional or West Coast type offense. The coaches are going to ruin a good QB and cause dissension on the team by trying to force a round peg into a square hole. It is painfully apparent after last Saturdays performance that Brantley cannot run the option and Trey Burton can. So, either run an offense that Brantley can excel in or bench him before they snuff out any confidence he has left. Also, please explain to me why one the best offensive lineman in the college game is being used in a position that is obviously unnatural to him. Just don't get it.....

We are at week 8 of the season. It's a little late to install a West Coast Offense. Either way, the crux of our problem is the offensive line. Whether we run a spread-option, a West Coast, a veer, or a trick play every down, we need that offensive line to block for Brantley, create a crease for Demps, blast a hole for Gilly (not Moooody), or push some fat guys around for Burton.

Now, the spread-option does have elements of the West Coast that could easily be used, but it still depends on the o-line or else there is no point in modifying the offense. If the line cannot improve in practice or is too banged up, then I would say the best options are as follows:

- Line up in the I-formation (like the West Coast), and bring in a real fullback to block. Stop trying to run the I out of the modified spread. Do this on a couple downs. Maybe consider moving Demps to receiver in this formation.

- Go back to the spread-option that we practice every day and tell the world that when we are in the spread, Burton is our QB. We won't lie to you and pretend that Brantley can run the spread-option. Do this on a couple downs.

- Alternate back and forth as the game play dictates.

- Those guys that have been disappointing us need to try helping out on special teams. Deonte Thompson is fast, but his brick hands are a liability. Moody is strong, but his brick hands and lack of field vision are a liability. Both can remain starters, just not on offense. Special teams or sit the bench.

- On defense, start more freshmen. Bench underperforming defensive players. Then again, same for offense. Whether we lose one more game or four more games, this season is about rebuilding, right? Let's give the youngsters experience for '11. We had the top recruiting class for '10, so let's put 'em in.

 

[SEC_Supreme]

Next week is a bye.

Yeah. I was just joking anyway. I'll never quit watching...

 

[SEC_Supreme]

Read this article on bleacher report. It actually sounds like this guy has been reading these forums and then carrying them over to his articles...except for the Brantley part.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/494881-florida-gators-must-play-the-blame-game-and-make-changes

 

[The Zooker]

Read this article on bleacher report. It actually sounds like this guy has been reading these forums and then carrying them over to his articles...except for the Brantley part.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/494881-florida-gators-must-play-the-blame-game-and-make-changes

I think he's wrong about Brantley. It's kind of hard to throw downfield when you are getting blitzed every down and your linemen/backs can't pick up a blitz. It's also hard to throw a ball long when you're banged up. He is getting hit and sacked by linemen all day and then he has to run an option and get nailed again right after it. Square peg in a round hole is still the perfect comparison. You can't take a kid completely out of his game and make him use him weaknesses instead of his strengths and then all of a sudden give him an opportunity to use his strengths and complain when it doesn't work that one time.

 

[Gators_56]

Was there a report that Stevie Wonder was knocked off playcalling for a game?

 

[Escambia94]

I agree with the above. JB cannot run a pro-style or a spread-option with this O-line. We have seen success with Burton running the spread-option, but imagine if we advertised to the world that we only have one play and one player, the dive plus Burton, and that was all we were going to run. It worked with Tebow, but Tebow would run that until the defense stacked the line and then he would throw. We don't know if Burton can do the same. In order to keep ourselves unpredictable we may want to keep JB as the 2nd QB, but only use him in the I. This is not a knock against JB; this is a knock against the man who decided to recruit and start a non-running QB in an offense that needs a running QB. Read Urban Meyer's Plan to Win and his notes on the spread option from Utah. It reads, and I paraphrase, "West Coast offenses had really great athletes at QB, but they were one-dimensional. Once they passed the ball they were no longer useful in the numbers game. If the QB is to be a playmaker and vital to the numbers game he needs to be a running QB."

Yes, start Burton over Brantley, at least if you are lined up in the spread. Let's stop kidding ourselves about Brantley--line him up in the I with a real fullback and some blockers. We tried it a few plays against Mississippi State, but not the right way. We assumed that we could come right out in that formation. I would start with our bread and butter with Burton running the spread-option until the defense keyed in on the run. Then we start working in JB under the I and either pound it in and let JB throw it over the top when he gained confidence to do so. After a couple drops by Deonte Thompson then we can go back to Burton and the spread-option or stick with JB and the I, as long as we do it with no huddle so the defense cannot switch out defenders.

 

[GainesvillebornNraised]

driskel for QB in 11

that kid can run faster and he cant suck anyworse then JB

 

[SEC_Supreme]

driskel for QB in 11

that kid can run faster and he cant suck anyworse then JB

At this point, if I'm Brantley, it's time to think about transferring. The kid has talent, but just can't show it here. He's more than likely going to be replaced next season by Burton or Driskell as the starter (we would have to assume at this point since plays are not being modified to fit his talents).

If he has any hope of going pro, he is going to have to go some where else. I hate if for him being such a Gator fan all his life, especially with his families history with the program, but at some point you have to do what's best for you and your future.

 

[The Zooker]

He'll get drafted once Loeffler clears things up this season and then showcases him next.

 

[The Zooker]

It'll help his draft stock going through this situation. Shows that he has character and is tough. He never threw his coach under the bus even though he has ever right to do it.

 

[Escambia94]

For the 10,327th time, I hope you are right Zooker. JB did everything we asked and more. I hope he gets drafted as a reward for roughing it for Florida.

Next year, I don't see JB coming back. Driskel might be too young to start--I don't know what Meyer thinks of starting freshmen. Maybe give Burton a shot at starting QB next year and let Driskel work his way up. If JB does come back, we had better beef up that o-line.

 

[The Zooker]

Brantley will be back and he'll be the starter. Driskel will get some Freshman Tebow package plays. Burton I'm not sure about. He may be moved to a permanent position by the beginning of next season. But it won't be quarterback. Mark my words, Burton will never be the starting quarterback for Florida. He may get some option package looks as a QB but he will never be the starter or get the bulk of the snaps. The coaching staff has already agreed that Loeffler shouldn't spend too much time working on his throwing issues because his delivery motion is unfixable. He simply doesn't have the arm to be a college quarterback. That's why he was a three star on the recruiting sites. Everyone saw what an amazing athlete he was and how he can run the ball and do crazy stuff but he just can't throw the ball well enough so he got dropped down to three stars despite being an elite level athlete.

 

[SEC_Supreme]

He'll get drafted once Loeffler clears things up this season and then showcases him next.

I, like everyone else here, hope that you're correct about Loeffler taking over soon and righting the ship.

 

[Escambia94]

Okay, I'll buy that. Burton has earned a place on this team. He needs to be RB or Harvin position or SOMETHING. Burton dreamed of being a Gator, he enrolled early, he learned whatever was thrown at him, and he did something even Saint Tebow did not.

Driskell is a legit dual threat. JB...I don't know what to say if Urban's Plan to Win does not accommodate a passing QB.