Post GAME/Post (even MODEST) DREAM

[DRU2012]

(FOLLOW UP ON TRASK INJURY)
Well, I don't like to bug my friend who has worked in the UF Athletic Dept for some years now--and had already pushed things a bit this week...but I did just get off the phone with him again after calling about Trask...and he wasn't surprised I was calling: He says that they'll have a more detailed picture and will release information regarding the injury in the morning--but they FEAR it is "a serious injury that will keep him out the rest of the season". In other words, things don't look good for him finally getting a proper chance to lead the Gator offense. In addition to our woes, you just have to feel badly for the young man: it happened during a non-contact drill, too.
It means that Mullens' choices are now reduced to two: Either it is essentially back to Franks alone, or Jones moves up to "backup" for REAL.
Now, "Next man up..." can reasonably be applied, even expected to some extent at other positions, but given the particular realities of OUR situation, the plans vs the NEEDS we have at QB now, and in the wider, "Big Picture" sense regarding our program's future, all make this a touchy decision--even more than usual here.
I doubt Jones gets thrown into the "alternating QBs"/potential "2-headed Monster scheme that appeared at least to have been considered, perhaps even PLANNED for Trask to be a part of this Saturday. At best, he'll be subbed in sparingly for certain situations and/or maybe certain situations to run a particular set or pre-planned series of plays...Gotta figure we're mainly back to depending on Franks to get in there and have the kind of COMPLETE game he HASN'T had thus far. Ever.
In short, as much as anything, it is again back on Grantham's Defense to go out and have a game like they did back against LSU. The other team can't win if they just don't score...but can WE win if that defense (or special teams) don't do some scoring for us here, even so???
Yes, I am down, and it is affecting my (nonexistent) hope and optimism.
To say the least.

 

[Leakfan12]

So much for Trask playing again this season (is it a season-ending injury?). Well, Franks looked good (I know it's Idaho) just hope he doesn't turn into Santa Claus again against FSU like he last season. Their D scored three touchdowns that game. I know FSU have their own problems.

 

[DRU2012]

So much for Trask playing again this season (is it a season-ending injury?). Well, Franks looked good (I know it's Idaho) just hope he doesn't turn into Santa Claus again against FSU like he last season. Their D scored three touchdowns that game. I know FSU have their own problems.

I have my OWN thoughts about that: Was GOING to start a new thread starting right there--but now that you mention it, LF, I spose this is as good a spot as any...
First, lets address YOUR points on approach:
Yep, the unlucky young Mr Trask BROKE HIS FOOT--in practice, week before last in a non-contact run-through of a trick play, no less! And yes, that was the end of HIS season. Not ours, though...So once we were up all those scores today it was finally time we got a look at our putative "future" in Emory Jones. And he did not disappoint. We saw his skills, the clear and stark promise of everything our Mullen-designed and inspired offense will eventually be--and now I think "eventually" will not be so far off after all. We also saw the bumpy road he, Mullen and all of us will have to travel with him while GETTING "there": That evolving bubble of "eventually", always pursuing perfection. But it won't take that long: we can just "pull the bandaid": Pull it fast, we'll be a runaway freight train by the time the pain fades...
'Cause we also got some glimpse of the upcoming freshman talent already here that will be a part of that eventual, well, "juggernaut" is the word that kept creeping into my amazed mind.
Interestingly enough, even on his best day, in his best game of the season, probably his CAREER here at Florida, we saw Franks' unshakeable limitations as a quarterback highlighted, and those very weaknesses dwarfed, SOLVED in the actual existence of this, his replacement.
For that is what Emory Jones is, what he MUST be now: Never mind for a moment that THAT is the whole idea for having, GETTING "the right Coach", and the constant search for the most talented and "RIGHT" players, for "his kind of guys".
Emory MUST be groomed to take over asap BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN HIM NOW, IN THAT ROLE. We have had a look at what he already is, glimpsed what he, and us along with him, can BE.
He can only play in one of the two remaining games if he is to retain his redshirt--and for whatever reasons (whether you agree with them, whether they indeed will apply, or not), that is Mullen's clear and stated intent: Unless Fillipe is seriously hurt, I doubt we see Jones again until whatever Bowl game we end up in.
Whatever way he is used from then on will be, MUST be in the service of "bringing him along", building his evolving readiness to fully take over the QB starting job. Soon. As in, "the sooner the better"--as soon as Mullen deems we CAN. We SAW OURSELVES how different we will look; even in primitive, even raw/pre-evolved form it is a startling contrast.
But that still now leaves us facing next weekend's climactic final game, against an FSU team that will need to win to get a Bowl bid, at THEIR place, with Franks our QB. STILL, we are BETTER than them, not so much "more talented", theoretically, but "better coached", I think. I look for Mullen to play to his strengths and return to hiding (or at least minimizing) his weaknesses in his game plan and his "if this, then that" reactive adaptibility. And Fillipe by now CAN run Mullen's limited-by but also designed-FOR-HIM offense. We did see that once he finally got mad, stood up and took OVER managing and DIRECTING the offense late in the 3rd against South Carolina...and once HE saw it, DID it there, he has evidently made it part of his game--brought it with him to today's game. He still can't throw the long ball over the top with ANY accuracy. It's weird, too, seemingly not a matter of anything inherently SKILL-related but rather IN HIS HEAD--which I finally am thus sure he NEVER WILL be able to fix; same with the fade, anything requiring "touch": I could break it all down in detail for y'all now, why and how etc but it is beside the point HERE...Suffice it to say, at least half of the Mullen playbook's passing game is necessarily cut away entirely, has been all along--and our Coach now KNOWS it will stay that way with Franks in there.
It is TIME for a way out. A WAY UP. But this is our situation. We wanna WIN, beat FSU, and Franks will be our QB, at least for this one. ONE MORE GAME, then we'll see. Go from there--wherever "there" is then.