Munson mentioned to CMR we ran the ball well but were losing players about every
20 minutes or so. CMR agreed and noted that on their last drive, we had them
backed up on the 16 but they made the plays.
Until our skill people make plays like they’re able, we’re going to have to
grind out 12-14 play drives like we had to in this game.
Gotta give Leak credit - he didn’t do anything to hurt his team and made several
key plays throwing.
We’re about out of DB subs – Jennings and Bailey did some outstanding things
but there was some inconsistency as well. But everyone did their share of good
and bad things.
Right now,
Florida had a bit more depth going into this game. That game was
about as evenly matched as could be. It came down to who made the plays at the
end.
We have to wait to read the MRI on Gerald Anderson before we know anything.
As physical as this game was,
Auburn is even more physical because of the way
they like to run downhill. We need the rest to get ready for that thing.
How many frosh have been used? CMR not sure, but they’re good freshmen players.
Anytime you have to use them, you’re increasing depth for when everyone comes
back.
What about injured players traveling? Sometimes you’ll take a senior for leadership
ability but normally you can’t take all of them. Decory just wasn’t ready to
travel yet.
On kickoff coverage – you have lots of players who might be best for that unit
but they may be fatigued late in a game, so backups get that role late in a
game. We’re short on LB/safety types for that duty. Even backup TB/FBs can help.
What about an open date before Florida? CMR says that’s a possibility. We could
have had one this time. We might could have placed UAB earlier (when Tulane
backed off the schedule) but that would have meant playing a lot of weeks
in a row just to get off weeks on either side of the Florida game. We thought
we’d try to space out our open dates over the course of the season.
The polls may have been the first good news for us this weekend, but does that
help cure the mood of gloom & despair following yet another loss in Jacksonville?
CMR: The emotion of a team after a hard fought battle .. they spent themselves;
everyone can and should be proud of how hard this team fights to the end. There’s
not a problem with guys who’ll lay it on the line.
CMR said the national ranking of #9 lifted his spirits and shows respect many
have for our program. It should also be a lift for the players. If we do end
up in this three-way tie, CMR says he thinks ADs might want to not bother with
politics and just vote to send the highest-ranked team.
We had to use the TEs to block a lot last night. We had one or two shots to
throw to Watson and probably could have used the TEs better than we did.
Jeremy Thomas did a great job of keeping that last pass away from the Florida
players, and CMR said he thinks that with momentum, Thomas might have gotten
it into the endzone.
When we got the ball after their last FG, we had to find a way to throw the
ball past the chains. We were able to do that one time. CMR thinks the clock
was run fine. Sometimes, if a WR makes a catch on the sidelines and was deemed
to have been knocked out, it is ruled inbounds and the clock continues to run.
We did go after one punt and didn’t get it – that’s unusual, since we usually
get those when we go after them. But you have to be careful to avoid roughing
the kicker.
It is easy to think we need to run outside inside the 20, but sometimes we may
start a play outside and it may cut in. People sometimes think we’re not going
outside just because we don’t toss the ball but run a stretch play instead.
One caller was upset at a Gibson quote regarding not getting down over dropped
passes. CMR reminded the caller Gibson wants to beat Florida probably as much
as anyone, had been hurt for a couple of weeks and was sucking it up to play
in this game. It’s not always easy to say the exact right thing when a mic gets
stuck in your face. CMR said Gibson probably said the best thing he could under
the circumstances. And remember, these are young people and they will make mistakes.
One caller questioned why we threw the ball on the four-yard line .. CMR understands
the frustration, but figures it's hard to run it in from the four on 3rd
down. Maybe if we got in the shotgun and had a run/pass check that could have
worked. We did something like that against
Tennessee on 3rd & 8 or 9. Greene
saw UT doubling the WRs so we checked to the run. Just blindly calling a run
would’ve been a tough get either way.
Is Bennett suffering from some kind of injury since he seems to miss a FG every
game? CMR said Bennett and Leach (the UF kicker) are basically tied
for second in the SEC in kicking accuracy.
Why does our guy always get a flag for stuff and other teams’ guys don’t? Overall,
CMR thinks they do a good job .. but they probably could have called things
against them and us that might have made a difference.
Austin in Blackshear wants to know just what it will take to beat Florida!?
CMR says when you’ve got a game where you have some history, you’ve got to knock
them out. They’ve been resilient and not willing to give up the reign of terror
they’ve had over us.
Jeremy from Memphis was concerned about offensive efficiency in general. CMR:
We’ve got to do a good job of stepping up in the pocket .. make sure Greene
is taking the proper drop. The OTs are taught to block the guys outside. On
the one Greene got drilled where Max blocked inside, the RB was lined up wrong
but a junior QB like Greene could have noticed that and re-positioned him. Also,
the WR position has to step up and make plays. If we had experienced players
doing these things, CMR would be worried. But these are second-year players
who are fighting every game and will be outstanding players.
Regarding Greene’s lack of mobility .. his knee is still bothering him to a
certain degree. Perhaps we could put in some roll outs for him, but what Greene
does best is sit in the pocket and put the ball where it needs to be. We hope
Greene will be out of the brace in time for the Auburn game.
What about killer instinct? CMR agrees; part of that is making the play when
it is presented. We’ve gotten into big-game situations and not made them. Until
we do we’re going to have to battle for every inch. When we start making those
plays we’ll really be something special.
Mike from Watkinsville wonders about a three-game rotation with each campus
and Jax every third year. Going over it, CMR mentions the game is in their state;
we fly and they drive. There’s also a chance the weather is warmer there while
it may be cooler here. But none of that seemed to matter yesterday. The only
problem CMR had is that we lost. Munson told CMR both schools share a lot of
money. CMR said it’s a great event and the only problem is we haven’t beaten
them. We start winning that game and the complaints will stop.
If Leak crossed into the neutral zone giving signals to his team, maybe that
should’ve been a penalty. A caller asked about it and Munson said he saw it
twice.
Closing note – Bulldog Hotline at 7:06 next week (one hour early).
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