Too Much Time On My Hands...

[DRU2012]

...Personally, I find myself thinking about things like this:
It keeps eating at me, the idea that we yet have no demonstrable proof that Driskel is, was EVER, ready for stardom at this level. He's running out of time, as is his head coach, and we're ALL running out of patience. Above all, there has been no evidence that he can throw the long ball with any kind of accuracy when it counts. Yeah, we've had receivers who've done nothing for him, sloppy route-running or outright dropping the ball when it IS catchable, but the UNcatchable overthrow has been the norm. We have GOT to have the long ball in our game plan to succeed on offense, no matter WHAT the offensive scheme--and especially the one our new OC favors. I'm afraid that, even with a solid running game and a return to the efficient, short-to-medium passing game JD has shown, even with what may well develop into one of the best defenses in the SEC, I believe it'll take a couple of big play scoring bombs per game, on average, not only to give us enough points, but keep opposing defenses honest throughout those games, to gain 9-plus wins (not to mention beat UGA and/or FSU). So this season's outcome (and probably whether our head coach keeps his job) probably depends on JD finally showing that his gaudy high school stats actually WERE predictive of his college potential.

 

[Leakfan12]

Remember John Brantley? He broke Tebow's HS records and we thought he would do well (I know I did) and well he didn't pan out along with Deonte "Butterfingers" Thompson, Jerimy Finch, John Brown, Torrey Davis, Justin Trattou, James Wilson, Duke Lemmens, and John Jones as all of the four and five stars that didn't do much for the Gators or other places after being recruited from high school. Only Thompson ended up on a NFL roster and winning a super bowl. Didn't put Cam Newton because of his Auburn success plus if he stayed the Gators would have been 2010 national champions. To be fair, there's was the Pouncey twins, Major Wright, Joe Haden, Chas Henry, and Ahmad Black that were successful and to some degree Brandon Hicks and Chris Rainey. I know so was that tight end but he ended up murdering people. Don't worry Dru, you're not the only one with too much time on my hands.

 

[Escambia94]

In defense of Jeff Driskel: he will have three offensive coordinators in four years (Weis, Pease, and Roper) in a different style of offense that he was recruited for (pro style versus spread-option), and ending in a new style of offense (spread). The first three years of his career he was in an offense that did not play to his strengths.

In defense of John Brantley IV: he played under three different offensive coordinators (Dan Mullen, Steve Addazio, Charlie Weis). The QB most likely to succeed Tim Tebow left the team--Cam Newton--and that set the Gators up to make a pro-style passer into a spread-option QB.

In defense of all Gator players recruited since 2007: the team has undergone too much turmoil over the past 7 years to really say anything bad about the Florida football program. Call me crazy, but if the Gators only win 9 games this season, we would be fools to call for Will Muschamp's head. That would exacerbate the problem. We cannot undo history, so we should live with what we have--a good coach that has been stuck with bad situations. Part of the bad situation is his fault--he wanted a totally different offense from his predecessor, and he was willing to dismiss kids from the program for mistakes that many schools would overlook.

Now that the Gators are going back to a spread offense (albeit a passing spread instead of a running spread), I think the Gators will be able to turn the program around. 2014-2015 may not be our year, but this may be the beginning of an era where we will be expected to win the SEC East and challenge for the SEC, unlike the past few years.

 

[Leakfan12]

SEC East is a strong possibly because is weak compare to the West. If that happens, I think Muschamp should get another season at least.

 

[DRU2012]

In defense of Jeff Driskel: he will have three offensive coordinators in four years (Weis, Pease, and Roper) in a different style of offense that he was recruited for (pro style versus spread-option), and ending in a new style of offense (spread). The first three years of his career he was in an offense that did not play to his strengths.

In defense of John Brantley IV: he played under three different offensive coordinators (Dan Mullen, Steve Addazio, Charlie Weis). The QB most likely to succeed Tim Tebow left the team--Cam Newton--and that set the Gators up to make a pro-style passer into a spread-option QB.

In defense of all Gator players recruited since 2007: the team has undergone too much turmoil over the past 7 years to really say anything bad about the Florida football program. Call me crazy, but if the Gators only win 9 games this season, we would be fools to call for Will Muschamp's head. That would exacerbate the problem. We cannot undo history, so we should live with what we have--a good coach that has been stuck with bad situations. Part of the bad situation is his fault--he wanted a totally different offense from his predecessor, and he was willing to dismiss kids from the program for mistakes that many schools would overlook.

Now that the Gators are going back to a spread offense (albeit a passing spread instead of a running spread), I think the Gators will be able to turn the program around. 2014-2015 may not be our year, but this may be the beginning of an era where we will be expected to win the SEC East and challenge for the SEC, unlike the past few years.

SEC East is a strong possibly because is weak compare to the West. If that happens, I think Muschamp should get another season at least.

Oh, I definitely agree, I don't think we should axe Coach M unless we see a healthy Gator team floundering--but the reality is that a majority of the fan base (hence affecting crowd size), not to mention influential boosters, will be howling for his head should we even post a mediocre WINNING record this season. The pressure on J. Foley may be too great, even with basic loyalty to, clear-eyed view and admiration of our Head Coach, to make a change there.
I understand your point(s) about Driskel having to readjust and learn a new system/play a different scheme every season he's been here (as did JB IV, with similar results), E-, not to mention his injuries. I absolutely dread the whole multi-year process that will necessarily result, too--with no guarantee of better results at the other end of it all. I'm hoping that Lf is right and that with a certain amount of better luck and finally-realized potential across-the-board, we can compete for, perhaps even dominate the East this season (in which case this year's Cocktail Party could decide a LOT of things).
Remember, my basic starting point here was that I have, maybe we ALL have, too much time on our hands right now, too much time to consider, even dwell on, the obvious things that have been happening, that could continue to screw with us and mess everything up once the season finally gets here. Yeah, a lot might have been, might now BE different if JD had stayed healthy AND maybe Roper had already had him here for 2 or 3 seasons...but, like Muschamp getting blamed for the sins of the OCs he turned the offense over to (as he always promised he would do, btw--and each choice seemed like a good one to most of us too, going in), then a wash-out season when his/our team was absolutely decimated by injuries, life--and that craziest of its public stages, college football--isn't fair. Our Head Coach, whose defenses have been everything we hoped he'd build and whom I admire as a leader of energy, grit and principle, being fired too soon because we only do "pretty well", rather than "worst-to-first", is just one more thing to worry about right now--'CAUSE I'VE GOT TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS.

 

[DRU2012]

PS No use grinding on what might-have-beens, a list topped by the " Big Bounce-Back" the season following Tebow's senior year (when Meyer's Prima Donnas' let TT and all of us down at the SEC Championship in Atlanta) we'd have likely experienced had Cam Newton not been such a horse's ass: I'm just so tired of waiting for someone from this parade of "amazing prep-QBs" to actually see that promise realized as Gators. In all likelihood, Muschamp and Roper getting a couple more years to get it right with Grier now depends on success with Driskel in there this year, though. In the event he were injured, having to get it done with an inexperienced QB would probably seal their fate here. Again: Not fair, but nonetheless the case I'm afraid.

 

[Leakfan12]

To be fair to Driskel, he's better than JB 4 and he has a year left.

 

[awebbf5]

You all are making me depressed thinking of how good we would have been in 2010 with cam lol. We would have probably got our undefeated season national championship. Damn I wish the kid would have just told me he needed a laptop.

 

[Leakfan12]

You all are making me depressed thinking of how good we would have been in 2010 with cam lol. We would have probably got our undefeated season national championship. Damn I wish the kid would have just told me he needed a laptop.

Wasn't there a story on ESPN that a stolen laptop wasn't the only thing wrong with Cam Newton in Florida?

 

[awebbf5]

Wasn't there a story on ESPN that a stolen laptop wasn't the only thing wrong with Cam Newton in Florida?

Not sure , what else was he doing?

 

[Escambia94]

Not sure , what else was he doing?

Cam Newton skipped class, was caught cheating in a few classes, has many parking tickets, and a couple moving violations. Honestly, Cam needed that experience at Blinn College to straighten him out. If Cam had better adult supervision in Gainesville, he may have turned out better.

 

[DRU2012]

You all are making me depressed thinking of how good we would have been in 2010 with cam lol. We would have probably got our undefeated season national championship. Damn I wish the kid would have just told me he needed a laptop.

(laughing) Well, yeah, he had a LOT of "issues" (not to mention a f'ed-up dad, which probably didn't help much)--but that doesn't make this comment any less funny...like, "funny, with a groan..."

 

[DRU2012]

...and btw, while we happen to be here at a thread called "Too much time on MY hands": Maybe that goes for our whole team and program? Just caught word of Joker Phillips sudden bail-out. Everything seemed "quietly determined", "no news is good news" back there in Gainesville for a change this year, leading up to the dog-days and what we're all hoping is a "shut up, buckle down and GET IT DONE" sorta run up to the 2014 season, but I guess it couldn't hold. News that Cris Leak is stepping in to succeed him as receivers coach is more than mollifying, but Joker's experience, stature, energy and above all recruiting acumen may well be missed...I wonder how much this will affect not just the momentum we appeared to be building in drawing prized recruits for upcoming classes, but whether there'll be added attrition among those already "committed"--bearing in mind of course the inevitable flips and no-shows you expect nowadays regardless (hence the quotation marks). Was sorta hoping these might be fewer next time or two around, but now who knows? Oh well, I never expected Joker to be around more than a coupla seasons in ANY event--He was bound to get some head coaching offers, sooner or later one that appealed to him. A shame if the rumors are true, this had to do with some technical recruiting violations, and he ended up "taking one for the team"--but if there are no further direct repercussions, maybe it won't knock us from what has more and more seemed a mounting head of steam for the team and the season ahead.

 

[DRU2012]

To be fair to Driskel, he's better than JB 4 and he has a year left.

I THINK you're right, have not lost ALL hope that we haven't seen anything like "the real Jeff Driskel" yet, but this is it. He's got to do more than just "manage" this offense: He's got to lead and thrive.
I am SO hoping JD does the most with this "one more chance" at leading his team to glory as a senior starting QB!

 

[Leakfan12]

Honestly, anybody disturbed with Muschamp's removal of Phillips? Nothing against Chris Leak he handled pressure better than most especially Sanchez (being ahead of Tebow) and Brantley (being a pocket passer in a spread offense especially considering Leak had months to learn Meyer's system, Brantley had three years and he still sucked). I'm sure he'll be a good coach but did Joker have to go? I understand Muschamp doesn't want to end up like Pell and Hall but force out a guy over something minor? That's a overreaction.

 

[Escambia94]

Honestly, anybody disturbed with Muschamp's removal of Phillips? Nothing against Chris Leak he handled pressure better than most especially Sanchez (being ahead of Tebow) and Brantley (being a pocket passer in a spread offense especially considering Leak had months to learn Meyer's system, Brantley had three years and he still sucked). I'm sure he'll be a good coach but did Joker have to go? I understand Muschamp doesn't want to end up like Pell and Hall but force out a guy over something minor? That's a overreaction.

Based on what little we know of the story, it could be over-reaction. Then again, it could be a sign that Phillips has been having other issues with secondary violations and this was the last straw. Just to reiterate: Florida tries very hard to keep a clean program, and there are many secondary violations that do not make headlines. It is possible that the firing was appropriate. This also points to the bigger problem: in the eyes of the NCAA, a Ponzi scheme at Miami and several secondary violations are the same, but Jameis Winston either raping girls or being around rapists is no big deal.

 

[DRU2012]

@Leakfan12, @Escambia94, et al
As I implied above, I suspect there's more going on here, stuff we haven't heard much (if any) of, that played into this. Obviously Joker himself is at the very least going along with it, whatever "it" is, taking himself out of the delicate equations E- refers to. I used the expression, "taking one for the team", and that may well be one way of interpreting the move. I also mentioned how this, his leaving, figured to happen--sooner rather than later, if I read things right with his hiring on and staying near, if not right in, center stage 'til the right head-offer came his way--and why he might be quick to fall on his dagger in some borderline scenario, for everyone's sake. Including his own, btw, for a whole bunch of reasons. If it all proceeds to fade from here, we may never know much more than we do right now--but it'll also more than hint at its complete success (also for "everyone's sake, including his own") as far as minimizing that damage.

 

[Escambia94]

The story gets worse. Starting this year, the NCAA has changed the rules regarding "primary" and "secondary" violations. Now, there are Tier 1, 2, 3, 4 breaches of conduct. UF had no choice but to fire Joker Phillips. Under the old rules, UF could have handled the punishment internally and reported themselves to NCAA. Under the new rules, no matter what, the head coach cannot allow any coach on his staff to allow himself to interact with recruits--on purpose or by accident--during the recruiting dead period. If Joker Phillips just happened to be at a McDonalds when he bumped into a recruit, it would have been his duty to deny requests for a photograph. Since he took a picture with a recruit during the dead period, he is automatically guilty of a Level 2 breach of conduct and at a minimum must be suspended for a year--and could get suspended by NCAA for up to five years! Will Muschamp is at least guilty of a Level 3 breach of conduct by not teaching his recruiting coordinator how to avoid interaction with recruits during the dead period, and he could get suspended from his head coaching duties for a couple games! Muschamp's firing of Phillips may help show the NCAA that he admits wrongdoing from Phillips, and is willing to do what it takes to effectively monitor his program for compliance.

In summary:

• Joker Phillips' breach of conduct (no matter how accidental the meeting was) warrants at a minimum of a one-year suspension.
• Will Muschamp must prove effective control of his program and an atmosphere of compliance in order to avoid lengthy suspensions himself. No word yet on what his minimum suspension will be--zero, one, or two games.

 

[DRU2012]

The story gets worse. Starting this year, the NCAA has changed the rules regarding "primary" and "secondary" violations. Now, there are Tier 1, 2, 3, 4 breaches of conduct. UF had no choice but to fire Joker Phillips. Under the old rules, UF could have handled the punishment internally and reported themselves to NCAA. Under the new rules, no matter what, the head coach cannot allow any coach on his staff to allow himself to interact with recruits--on purpose or by accident--during the recruiting dead period. If Joker Phillips just happened to be at a McDonalds when he bumped into a recruit, it would have been his duty to deny requests for a photograph. Since he took a picture with a recruit during the dead period, he is automatically guilty of a Level 2 breach of conduct and at a minimum must be suspended for a year--and could get suspended by NCAA for up to five years! Will Muschamp is at least guilty of a Level 3 breach of conduct by not teaching his recruiting coordinator how to avoid interaction with recruits during the dead period, and he could get suspended from his head coaching duties for a couple games! Muschamp's firing of Phillips may help show the NCAA that he admits wrongdoing from Phillips, and is willing to do what it takes to effectively monitor his program for compliance.

In summary:

• Joker Phillips' breach of conduct (no matter how accidental the meeting was) warrants at a minimum of a one-year suspension.
• Will Muschamp must prove effective control of his program and an atmosphere of compliance in order to avoid lengthy suspensions himself. No word yet on what his minimum suspension will be--zero, one, or two games.

That sucks. Big time. I mean, "oversight" and "control" are big-picture ideas that sound great in terms of ethics and leveling-the-playing field, but this kind of punitive inflexibility, in areas that are clearly subjectively-defined, is an invitation to vindictive witch-hunting, entrapment and, at the very least, miscarriages of justice--if that last word can even be included in such a discussion as described above by E-. If that's really how it did and is playing out, not only is it a travesty, but no matter what I think of it all personally, from a fairness standpoint we damn well better see a whole LOT of such absurdly arbitrary shake-ups throughout the major conferences. It may well be a complete mess for awhile, but any "fair" application of such standards of "violation and mandated punishment" MUST result in such chaos--or something's wrong with the whole (big surprise) uneven way any other result would indicate it is being applied. So easy to pick and choose, rat folks out, even set them up--and a gleeful cabal of officious power brokers and drooling media ghouls feasting on the bones of those not "in the club".

 

[Leakfan12]

The NCAA are @$$holes