i still dont like JB's ability to throw down field
can't wait till brissett or driskel gets a shot to show what they can do
It's true, that is an area that is still to be addressed. It was SUPPOSED to be a Brantley-strength, the "canon arm" that would "stretch the field"; in my memory, we tried it something like twice or so early last year--to "Brickhands" Thompson, who dropped it both times, and hardly tried it since--and JB overthrew it when we took a shot later on. From what Weis said post game, they were dropping the safeties way back into double-double, so Brantley "made the right reads and check-offs" in flipping it instead to whichever "speed guy" was the "out" in the flats, which DID work out well for the offense. We didn't have all our weapons for the whole game (the tight end will be even MORE involved as the season goes on) and there ARE other ways to burn that double-double coverage, using TE's and the slot, that I'm sure we'll see later, but we didn't NEED 'em in this first game, so the jury's still out, right?
Still, I TOO look forward to the seeing what a full-on Gator offense with power and depth run by a multi-faceted, Weis-groomed and experienced QB (ideally that would work out Driskell first, then, barring injury, a redshirted Brissett following HIS junior and senior years)...however, I'm also now hoping that Brantley actually IS the confident, reinvigorated and experienced QB and field general he shows all signs of having (finally) grown into this year--that would be the best thing for THIS year's team and season, after all, and it will probably be the best for Driskell as well. Muschamp IS looking towards that future too, as well as considering the various "what-ifs" (one hit away from starting, after all), and he knows it is best to bring him along, get him real game action, but do it slowly, steadily--a luxury a healthy and efficient senior-Brantley gives him.
Now, as to SP and E's comments above: though it has of course contributed to it, that new found confidence in JB IV is only PART of what has changed for me. I realize now it was somehow growing in me in the weeks BEFORE the game, something that came across in a bunch of little ways, almost SUBconciously. Even with so little hard data, everything I DID hear and see, like the things you're both sharing now, filtered through as a kind of overall gut feeling...and the game crystalized it for me: no matter what, I'M ALL IN NOW. As far as I'm concerned, like Arnold/Terminator, we are BACK. It's OK that we're nowhere NEAR our goal yet: the journey there is the best part! I have caught that smiling confidence you guys are talking about having seen and FELT in the players and the Head Coach. Man, did Foley ever get it right THIS time.
Earlier today I was in a meeting with these producers concerning the rewrites I was hired to do on (what I consider) someone else's pretty mediocre script. As usual in such situations, I went in with the version I REALLY liked, had some pride in, that I threw several copies of on the table--and another one in my portfolio that was much safer, less radically changed from the original, one that experience had taught me was about as far as they could be moved from the crud they started with. Anyway, after a lot of at times acrimonious back-and-forth, red-lining and note-taking all over "version 1", I pulled out "version 2", much to their mostly chuckling relief when we reviewed it together to find that it had anticipated most of their arguments and left seemingly much less "adjustment" now (but also contained a number of improvements I almost certainly would have had to work much harder for, and likely wouldn't have gotten near as many of, had I STARTED there). All except one guy, a fellow I've butted heads with before, who once again seemed to argue sometimes just BECAUSE I was in favor of something...he wasn't the final arbiter here, though, the changes were finalized and signed off on and we were wrapping things up with the normal "pleasantries", when one man mentioned how he had a week's worth of work to clear off his desk in a day and a half so he could be home early Thurs. for that evening's Saints-Packers' game. I answered that THAT was how it was for me basically "any Saturday the Fightin' Gators play". Another producer says, "Oh, you're a Gator-fan?", and I said proudly, "Born and bred, lifelong, an ALUMNUS." The guy who has that evident personal "problem" with me said almost under his breath, "You're a Gator? Oh, I HATE the Gators..."--to which I replied, and this just came right out of me (and remember, this is Austin, TX):
"Well that's GOOD...it means we're doing things right, we're on the right track--the next couple of years there's gonna be a LOT of people hatin' us--with Muschamp as our coach? Oh YEAH. Remember:
'There's Gator Nation, and there's Gator Hate
So you're either a Gator, or you're Gator Bait.' "
...and I grinned and walked out. Now, it wasn't Artur Rimbaud, or anything, I know--but it was pretty good for spur-of-the-moment I figure, and I left happy and laughing to myself. Eat 'em up!!!
