Here We Go!

[DRU2012]

I was TEMPTED to post this on the "Looking Forward" thread, 'cause THAT is what I am in fact about to DO...
We are now on the verge of everything that comprises the SEC's, indeed all of major college football's season-ahead.
For us, that first means dealing with the contest immediately ahead:
It would SEEM that Auburn is a step or two beyond us in their ongoing growth and development...With Nix and the continued evolution of their downfield passing game in counterpoint to an improved running game AND strengthening defense, the "media experts" at least believe we are outclassed. Whereas there is some apparent basis for these views, it is NOT so pronounced or dominant as to confirm any kind of "certainty". The blossoming skills of a number of key Gator players, their pending return to the field, the depth and overall improvement that is promised as they practice together and continue to gel as parts of a UNIT all imply at the very least an opportunity: With an imaginative and creative coaching plan and just a break or two in our favor, the chance for a major impending upset is at least possible...THAT is what our Coaching staff is planning for, and are using our opponents' publicity- and scouting report-fed "expectations" to allow them to "set themselves UP" for their own downfall--at least that is the hope (if not quite "a confident expectation" of their own).

 

[Leakfan12]

These next four games are going to be interesting. I say two games are a toss-up: Auburn and Georgia, one is winnable though it's on the road (South Carolina) plus I want to beat Muschomp, and LSU is going to be difficult, I worry more for that game than the Georgia game.

 

[DRU2012]

These next four games are going to be interesting. I say two games are a toss-up: Auburn and Georgia, one is winnable though it's on the road (South Carolina) plus I want to beat Muschomp, and LSU is going to be difficult, I worry more for that game than the Georgia game.

"Interesting"...Yeah, that's fair, if somewhat neutral appraisal. Arguably quite an optimistic one. Me, I'm not sure of it all, and I have a feeling a good portion of committed Gators feel as I do:
What have we REALLY seen so far? An early, oft-injured Gator team keeps somehow calling on new guys to step in, step UP to the BIGS, Boys! And they DO: we turn out to be developing depth and level-headed cool all over the field--they and their first-team colleagues manage for the most part, to control play and win every game so far...The "experts" tend , like the older, more hidebound coaches, to dismiss it all as "flash and cheap tricks that only surprise once"--and hence we are somehow slowly SINKING through the top ten, even WITH us leading or near the top of some of the most important statistical lists that are kept and noted (in other instances, when convenient to do so) by those same "media experts"--you know, the ones who are ALSO so quick to note that "ANY win is a WIN...and any win in the SEC is a GOOD WIN!" But somehow such regular comments of late are distant, well-isolated in the broadcast stream from comments regarding Gator victories.
And the sad thing is, I've sort GONE ALONG with it...Have a good look, who and what we've done so far and who and what we have coming back now.
I/WE should be more optimistic, but the general mood among most Gator fans is a kind of "Downhearted DREAD".
MY HOPE is that Coach Dan and his staff somehow have this thing figured--Their ideas long since havimg coalesced into a cogent game plan--because THAT IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE...That and a tight, well-executed overall attack from a by now hopefully at least MOSTLY healthy team.
I think we have the talent, drive and planning power to beat this particular Auburn team. They have weaknesses that can be exploited--that much I am sure of. There are a coupla teams up there of whom I'm not so sure that can be said--but put our guys and a good game plan together set on beating them, properly executed and yes we CAN come out of this one as the PURVEYORS this time of that "October Surprise"!

 

[Escambia94]

I am by no means a sunshine pumper, but I will say that the Gators have performed pretty well despite the lack of 5-star talent and key injuries. The Gators are #1 or #2 in the country in terms of takeaways, #1 in "havoc", but are also #70 in pass defense and 3rd down defense. Put a healthy CJ Henderson back in, let a young Trey Dean learn from CJ, give a healthy Amari Burney the opportunity to go sideline to sideline, and give a healthy David Reese the opportunity to seal the edges, and that pass defense and the 3rd down defense will climb back up into a top-20 unit.

On offense, Hevesy needs to rotate Delance out, shift Bleich over, and work in more Gouraige. From there, mix in more Dameon Pierce, and this offense will be back firing on all cylinders.

This team is still not elite yet, as shown with the poor tackling and occasional blown gaps in the trenches, but it is good enough to be a top-10 to top-15 team.

 

[DRU2012]

I am by no means a sunshine pumper, but I will say that the Gators have performed pretty well despite the lack of 5-star talent and key injuries. The Gators are #1 or #2 in the country in terms of takeaways, #1 in "havoc", but are also #70 in pass defense and 3rd down defense. Put a healthy CJ Henderson back in, let a young Trey Dean learn from CJ, give a healthy Amari Burney the opportunity to go sideline to sideline, and give a healthy David Reese the opportunity to seal the edges, and that pass defense and the 3rd down defense will climb back up into a top-20 unit.

On offense, Hevesy needs to rotate Delance out, shift Bleich over, and work in more Gouraige. From there, mix in more Dameon Pierce, and this offense will be back firing on all cylinders.

This team is still not elite yet, as shown with the poor tackling and occasional blown gaps in the trenches, but it is good enough to be a top-10 to top-15 team.

Well said: I solidly agree.
Not sure what it means as far as THIS week's game is concerned--but I just have a FEELING that all things adding up pretty damn close to even, The Swamp tips the balance and we can win this in a close one. Or we lose just as close. I can hardly bear to look...