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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 8:31:32 GMT -5
Jarrad Davis, the heart and soul of Gator D and future NFLer wasn't good enough to get a poodle offer even though he is from Georgia, but he showed what he is made of fighting through injury yesterday to close his career with a 3-1 record and 3 straight wins over the poodles. I remember when Jarrad Davis flipped from Auburn to UF fairly late in the recruiting process, but I didn't think much about it as he was a 3 star prospect. He has developed into one of the best MLBs in the nation. I don't recall seeing David Reese yesterday and Reese is pretty dang good coming in as a 3 star prospect as he has shown in his PT as a true freshman:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s Jarrad Davis said he truly didn’t know a day earlier whether he was going to play Saturday against Georgia. He knew he wanted to — that was never in question — but as for his ability to fight through a bad ankle injury and take on his middle linebacker duties in a rivalry clash with Georgia, there was some legitimate doubt. “There definitely was. It was one of those real-deal, game-time situations,” Davis said. But after going through pregame warmups, Davis had made his decision and let Florida coach Jim McElwain know he’d be out there for the first defensive snap. As well as the last and most in between. “I looked him in his eyes and just, he knew, he felt I was ready,” Davis said. It wasn’t just that Davis played two weeks after writhing on the field in pain and having to be helped off against Missouri — it was how he played. The senior led Florida with 7 tackles and 2.5 tackles for losses and effectively sealed a 24-10 win by tracking down Georgia receiver Natrez Patrick for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-3. “I was really surprised, to be honest. But like I said, it’s just hard to count a guy like that out,” McElwain said. “Just the way he’s built, the way his mindset is. You know, I’m not surprised he made plays. Him playing that effectively … pretty shocking.”
Redshirt junior linebacker Alex Anzalone added that he was “not that confident” he’d see Davis out there Saturday. So, when he watched Davis chase down Patrick after a quick reception on a crossing pass, making that final stop to cap a highly impressive individual and team defensive performance, Anzalone wasted no time finding his fellow linebacker to celebrate. “I was excited for him. I ran all the way over because I was all the way on the other hash, and I jumped on him,” he said. “You’ll see it if you see pictures. I just mauled him. I was excited for him.” Anzalone referred to Davis as Florida’s “emotional leader.” McElwain called him the “heart and soul” of the Gators. “I can’t say enough. Like I said, he practiced Wednesday and not great. He got beat up by a tackling dummy on one play. But then he was there Thursday and obviously full walk-through Friday. He came back in after warm-ups and said, ‘Coach, I’m playing.’ And like I said, that was totally up to him,” McElwain said. Davis said he essentially lived in the training room this week, leaving for class and lunch and returning for extra treatment after each. As a native of Kingsland, Ga., he wanted to do everything he could to not miss his final Florida-Georgia game. He didn’t come back to Florida for his senior season to sit out one of the Gators’ biggest games, he said. But that said, even he wondered if he could physically push through the injury and be effective. “I talked with my mom a lot this weekend. You know, it was a very emotional week. It was hard, man. I didn’t want to miss this game,” Davis said. “As much as it might have been a smart decision to just sit out and stuff like that, but I mean it’s football, man. At the end of the day, you’ve got to play this game. A lot of people don’t get that, but if I would have sat out, I mean that makes me question myself and what I actually do this for, you know? Those guys, the time we put in this summer, the time we put in throughout this season, the energy, the blood, the sweat and tears we’ve shed. What I’m about wouldn’t have showed up if I would have sat this game?” Nobody can question what Davis is about — even if he hadn’t played. But especially now. There are a lot of stars on this Florida defense, many key contributors to the second-ranked defensive unit in the country and one that held Georgia to 164 yards and 8 first downs Saturday. It’s hard to say anyone means more to the Gators from a leadership standpoint than Davis, though. He said he was frustrated at halftime, feeling there were plays he missed in the first half because he was a step slow due to the ankle. He had a chat with Florida linebackers coach Randy Shannon and “we got it right.” Four of Davis’ tackles and 2 of his tackles for losses came in the second half as he rode that wave of adrenaline. And, again, the final one, that tackle for loss near the sideline on what would end up being Georgia’s last offensive play, was just perfectly fitting. “I saw the formation before the play and I kind of knew what was coming. I took a really good educated guess and I guessed right,” Davis said. “To make that play, it meant a lot. It’s fourth down, get the ball back to our offense so we can run the clock out and get back out of here. It meant a lot to end the game like that, my last Florida-Georgia experience.” One he’ll never forget.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 9:32:51 GMT -5
I hope the classic home uniforms are now a permanent feature of the WLOCP:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2016 12:58:49 GMT -5
Zach A. at SEC Country grades the Gators performance against the poodles. I can't find anything I disagree with:
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Here are the grades from Florida’s 24-10 win over Georgia on Saturday. Offense: C- The Gators had less than half of the yards (season-low 231) they gained in their last game, but in some ways their offensive performance was better than the 523-yard outing against Missouri. They scored 3 touchdowns in the red zone, had just 1 turnover on the game’s opening drive and committed zero penalties in the second half. Florida had one of its best touchdown drives this year in the third quarter, but the offense did not sustain enough drives throughout the game and finished with 4 three-and-outs. Quarterback Luke Del Rio had his least productive game of the season, but made some clutch throws on third down. Jordan Scarlett did well as the featured back. His three first-down runs in the fourth quarter sealed the game. Defense: A Jacob Eason was the latest SEC quarterback to fall victim to this Florida defense, which pitched a shutout in the second half and allowed just 47 yards. Eason completed less than 50 percent of his pass attempts and was hurried 16 times. He hit one deep ball on a scramble, but made few plays other than that. The Gators held UGA to 21 yards rushing, the fewest by a team in the history of this rivalry. The front seven received a big boost with the return of linebacker Jarrad Davis and the three injured starters on the defensive line, though Jabari Zuniga stood out once again in his first career start at end. Seven of Georgia’s 13 offensive drives resulted in three-and-outs, and two others ended on downs. Forcing UGA to settle for a field goal after Del Rio’s pick was also huge. Special teams: B Eddy Pineiro missed a kick under 35 yards for the second consecutive game, but he gave the Gators a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter with his 38-yard field goal. Johnny Townsend punted well and UF did a good job against UGA returner Isaiah McKenzie. Florida’s Chris Thompson returned two kicks for 55 yards, but Antonio Callaway fumbled on a punt return. Coaching: B+ Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins had a great game plan for Georgia. Florida’s defense continues to thrive in his scheme. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier called a good game for the most part. The Bulldogs clearly wanted to take away the run game, but Del Rio was not able to make them pay. He looked for the home-run pass too much and did not see other open receivers, and he missed several of them Saturday. Overall: B Gators coach Jim McElwain believes the Gators can win the SEC with defense, and it’s understandable why. Florida’s offense still needs to improve, but the unit did enough to beat the Bulldogs and moved the chains when it had to. Now the Gators are two conference wins away from an SEC East title.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 11:15:08 GMT -5
As I suspected, UF came out of the UGALY game physically in good shape. When Mac says Justus Reed may be back too, you know things are looking good on the injury front.
Mark Thompson served his 1 game Mary J suspension and is back for at Arkansas.
Jordan Cronkrite is not back with the team by his choice. It looks like Cronkrite has quit the team and will be a transfer. Good riddance if this holds up through the week.
Mac's Monday presser as reported by SEC Country:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Jim McElwain is holding his regular Monday news conference to reflect on the Gators’ win over Georgia and look ahead to their trip to Arkansas this week.
Follow along here for live updates from his comments:
“It seemed like forever that we had played a game and I just can’t tell you, our guys I felt came out with the right mindset, the right attitude. They played the game and they didn’t really what was going on other than focusing on trying to win that play.”
“We’ve got a bunch of guys that we’re banged up. You talk about Sherit and Ivie and Cox, Mark Herndon, guys that were banged up enough to say, ‘You know what, maybe not,’ older guys, and yet they did everything they could (to play). I just think that speaks volumes of this football team and how much they care about the Gators.”
“This was a game I felt all three phases had a lot to do with our success. After throwing the first interception on the over route … we didn’t panic, and I think the defense coming out and holding them to a field goal right there was huge.”
“Offensively, taking control of the time of possession, keeping our defense off the field and really those last two drives, I think were a statement for our guys.”
“No doubt about it, guys, that was a good football team we played. They’ve got good personnel, and we all know what that game means to both (sides).”
“I think it’s something to build on. That game’s over. We learned a lot about ourselves and how to prepare, and we’ll see how it carries over.”
On playing at Arkansas this week: “Man, it’s cool. Them running out of that hog pen. Bret’s done an outstanding job with that program, and what they’ve done as a program in November, take a look at that. They have finished and really closed every year that he’s been there. For our guys going into that environment, I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to our guys experiencing that. That’s what playing at a place like Florida is all about, for those opportunities to go in and match yourself in an uncomfortable place.”
On Arkansas: “Everybody points to what happened in the Auburn game. I think that was an anomaly a little bit. It got out of hand … and took them out of their normal game. But I will say this, they’re physical. They understand what they want to do and how to do it. They’ve very sound on both sides of the football, and for us we have to be right.”
Injuries: “Actually pretty good. Herndon’s still banged up. Kylan Johnson is one we’ll have to relook at during the week. He was doing some really good things for us on special teams. … Jarrad Davis, obviously, he felt OK after the game, which is good. … (DeAndre) Goolsby played some reps with a messed up hand, and that’s good to see. … We should get Justus Reed back.”
On how Arkansas benefits from bye last week: “Coach Shannon having been there a little bit gives us a perspective on what their mindset was during a bye week. … They’ll come in with the mindset of ‘We’re going to take this to them.’ They worked hard on their turnover circuit and all those things. Their bye probably came at a good time, and I know the pride they have in their organization to prove that was one of those one-hit deals that happened. At the same time, I’m really more concerned about us.”
On Tennessee loss to South Carolina giving Florida breathing room: “It’s not just the way the Florida Gators are and where we’re at, but more so any time you become comfortable or you start to look ahead and not take care of the now, that’s when you get in trouble. That’s why I think this is a great opportunity to define kind of what we’re all about. You hear the cliches and that kind of stuff, but it really does, I like where this team’s at. And yet, here’s this next step that we need to take to solidify where our program is a little bit.”
On Mark Thompson’s status and whether the Gators will go back to a running back committee: “We’ll go back. Mark will be back and ready to go.”
On whether Florida is getting enough national respect: “I don’t think going into it anybody really thought much of us anyway. As I told our guys, it’s just a matter of going out and proving it each week. If you take care of business on Saturday, people will notice.”
On lessons from last year and avoiding a letdown: “There are. There’s things that we studied in the offseason to try to figure some of that out. I think what it comes down to is a want and a care to (define) who you are.”
On the offensive line: “They’re starting to see the importance of playing with a sense of urgency, a pad level and a finish. That’s where we’re trying to get and we will get.”
On returning to the top-10: “Great. I mean, I guess. Somebody did point out to me, though, this is kind of interesting. With Louisville and us both being in the top-10, you’ve got two guys from the state of Montana in the top 10. Pretty cool.”
On punter Johnny Townsend: “This guy, I don’t think, gets the credit. Not only that, but his operation time getting the ball off. They did some things (to disrupt that) and he didn’t flinch. … He’s been pinning guys inside the 10 time and time again. He really works at it. The guy’s going to be a next-level punter. He can do everything.”
On RB Jordan Cronkrite: “He wasn’t with the team in Jacksonville. He’s been dealing with some injury things and it’s his choice.”
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2016 21:34:21 GMT -5
UF Depth Chart for at Arkansas - Jordan Cronkrite is listed at RB, but I think it likely that he is done as a Gator unless he has a change of heart and attitude:
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Now THIS here...is a member
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Post by lz2112 on Oct 31, 2016 22:28:15 GMT -5
UF Depth Chart for at Arkansas - Jordan Cronkrite is listed at RB, but I think it likely that he is done as a Gator unless he has a change of heart and attitude: View AttachmentMaybe the backlash Hurd is getting will make him rethink things. If he truly is a "me" player, I hope he does well elsewhere, but often those are just immature thoughts kids have.
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Gator Bait!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 8:58:54 GMT -5
UF Depth Chart for at Arkansas - Jordan Cronkrite is listed at RB, but I think it likely that he is done as a Gator unless he has a change of heart and attitude: Maybe the backlash Hurd is getting will make him rethink things. If he truly is a "me" player, I hope he does well elsewhere, but often those are just immature thoughts kids have. I'd agree with the immature thoughts of a kid wanting to touch the ball more while Mac wants to have a stable for a backfield, but unfortunately his father is pushing the quit and transfer situation too far out to be recoverable. Mac says it's Cronkrite's decision to want to come back and play. However, at some point Mac will have to cut the rope to keep a cancer off what has become a very tight team. You don't mess with that kind of chemistry for one selfish player who makes bad decisions. Special seasons can be achieved by teams with good chemistry and good talent. The most talented team doesn't always win. The 2016 Gators are headed in that direction.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 9:00:10 GMT -5
Gators playing through injury is character building - This from SEC Country:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Linebacker Jarrad Davis’ gritty performance was the most compelling storyline from Florida’s win over Georgia, but the totality of players pushing themselves to play through pain impressed Gators coach Jim McElwain. The return of defensive end Jordan Sherit (knee) and nose tackle Joey Ivie (thumb) after two-game absences buoyed the Florida defense. In addition, defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. returned after missing just one game with a broken hand. “I just think that really speaks volumes for this football team in not only how much they care about the team, but about the Gators,” McElwain said. “They all had excuses and reasons maybe not to play and yet, because of who they are and their makeup, they chose to play. I just can’t say enough about that.”
Sherit, who had his knee scoped after the Vanderbilt game, notched 2 tackles in his return; Ivie, who played with a cast or wrap on his hand/thumb, had 1 tackle and 1 quarterback hurry; and Cox, who played with a large club on his broken hand, had a quarterback hurry. All three started when healthy through the first part of the season. The Gators rotated young players through the defensive line, and the return of those veteran players belied the stats, McElwain said. It represented an attitude and identity for the team. “You looked out there, there were all freshmen on the defensive line at times. But I think what it did is those guys are kind of elevating the play of a Cox, of a Sherit, of a Ivie that are saying, ‘You know what, these guys are hungry. Maybe I can go in there and do it.’ I think that has a lot to do with it,” McElwain said. As for Cox, there may never be any clarity as to how exactly he broke his hand in pregame warmups prior to the game with Missouri.
McElwain and defensive line coach Chris Rumph both expressed their surprise at the injury, and Cox had no more insight on it Monday while meeting with reporters for the first time since the fluke setback. “I really don’t even have an exact explanation of what happened,” he said. “It’s just some freak accident kind of happened and I broke my hand.” After the injury, McElwain had indicated he wasn’t sure if Cox would play the rest of the season. “It was pretty serious in the moment, but as we developed a plan with the training staff and stuff like that, we figured out that I could play if I clubbed my hand up,” Cox said. “So, I just decided to go with that and give it a try and it worked out pretty well.” He was asked if he’s ever seen anybody wear a bigger cast-like contraption on their hand in a game? “No, man, mine trumps all,” he said. It allowed him to play, but it didn’t shield him from the pain. “A lot. A lot. I don’t know if anybody here has ever had a broken hand, but it definitely is not pleasant,” Cox said. As for the latest injury report, McElwain said Davis “felt OK after the game, which was good.” Other Gators playing through pain Redshirt senior Mark Herndon, who mostly plays on special teams, is “still banged up” with an unspecified injury. Linebacker Kylan Johnson also is hurt with an undisclosed injury and the team will evaluate him this week. Tight end DeAndre Goolsby also played through pain Saturday after fracturing a finger against Missouri. He had only 1 catch for 1 yard as C’yontai Lewis took over more of the pass-catching tight end duties, but like the other guys mentioned, he was on the field for the Gators. That presence matters to Cox and the rest of the Gators. “I think it’s a big deal, just being there for the team,” he said. “That’s the main thing, that they see us pushing through our injuries — you know, I’ve got a broken hand, I’m sitting here with a cast on my hand and I’m sitting here still trying to play and fight for my team. You know, that means something to the coaching staff, that means something to all the players that us older guys, we’re taking the initiative to try to win.”
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 14:28:15 GMT -5
Preview of Arkansas game from floridagators.com:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Before joining Jim McElwain's first-year Florida staff in 2015, Randy Shannon coached linebackers two seasons at Arkansas and therefore has a window into the mind of Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema and, with that, the mindset of the program's locker room.
Shannon's voice figures to be a prominent one this week, what with the 10th-ranked Gators (6-1, 4-1), winners of three straight, heading to the Southeastern Conference West Division to face the Hogs (5-3, 1-3) Saturday at 3:30 at Reynolds Stadium. UF, with a clear win-and-in path to the East Division title, would be wise to put more credence into what Shannon says versus what tape of Arkansas' most recent game — a 56-3 debacle defeat at Auburn on Oct. 22 — might suggest.
"With Coach Shannon having been there it gives us a little bit of a perspective on what their mindset was during a bye week, how they go about their preparation during that week and obviously the old back-to-basics thing — they'll come in with that mindset of, 'Look, we're going to take this to 'em,' " McElwain said Monday. "Their bye probably came at a good time. I know what kind of pride they have in their program and their organization to come back and prove that was one of those one-hit deals that happened."
And what a "hit" it was. The Hogs are a wounded bunch, mentally. That makes them dangerous. So for the Gators, this week will be about focusing less on the opponent and more on the task at hand.
"It's another step and an opportunity to define a little bit about who we are and what we're all about," McElwain said. "I look at it as a definition."
The Razorbacks likely will see it as a chance for redefining.
Since arriving at Arkansas in 2013, Bielema has looked to mold the program into the kind of physically dominant teams he rolled out during a tremendous seven-year run at Wisconsin. That means running the football. His 2016 team is not there, not by a long shot, but the Hogs' track record the last two seasons has been one of strong finishes; seven wins in their last eight games in '14; three of the last four in '15.
In '16, though, the Razorbacks check in 13th in rushing in league play at just 104.5 yards per game. In that disaster of two weeks ago, Arkansas went to Auburn and got trampled for 543 rushing yards — surrendering touchdown runs of 78, 20, 23, 31 and 51 yards — while gaining just 25 on the ground via 31 carries (that's 0.8 per attempt).
"I really don't take that into perspective too much, because I feel like we're the Florida Gators and everybody gives us their best shot no matter what," said UF senior defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. "So you can't really take their last game as what we're going to see, because we're going to see something completely different."
Maybe they'll get the version of the Hogs that cranked out 473 yards of offense, plus 25 first downs, against No. 1 Alabama in a 49-30 loss on Oct. 8. In that one, quarterback Austin Allen passed for 400 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted three times and sacked six times.
Allen ranks third in the SEC in passing at 256 yards per game, due in great part to the high-scoring nature of Arkansas games. They have to pass to keep pace — and pass they will, with McElwain praising the Razorbacks' creativity and efficiency in play-action.
Defensively, the Hogs give up 31.4 points per outing (next-to-last in the league), compared to a league-best 11.7 for the Gators, and ranked 12th in total defense, surrendering 428 yards per game. That's not to say, however, UF is going to go up and down the field in Fayetteville. The Gators may have done so against Missouri and Kentucky, who rate near the bottom of the league in total defense at 10th and last, respectively. Florida, though, managed just 231 yards against Georgia and gained only 100 yards on the ground. That turned out to be plenty, thanks to another terrific defensive display.
"We know that we're not going to see a whole lot of defenses that are that much better than ours," Florida quarterback Luke Del Rio said. "Those guys are unbelievable."
The Gators gave up 164 yards to the Bulldogs and limited a very capable rushing attack to just 21 yards on 19 carries.
But regardless of what the Arkansas-Auburn tape may show, UF has to hit the road this weekend knowing the Razorbacks not only are going to hit back, but are capable of it.
"It's an SEC game," junior center Cam Dillard said. "We have to take care of us. We have to take care of now and all those things down the road will take care of themselves, if we [concentrate] on what we have to win on right now."
The Gators figure to be a week healthier, with no additions to the injury report out of the Georgia game. They'll get running back Mark Thompson back from a one-game suspension over an off-field issue, but the status of tailback Jordan Cronkrite remains uncertain as the sophomore contemplates if he wants to play football.
The game will mark UF's first trip to Arkansas since 2008 and just the second since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992. It also be Florida's first game as a top-10 team since the Gators went to LSU in Week 7 last season.
"I'm looking forward to it," McElwain said. "Everybody points at what happened in the Auburn game, but I think that was an anomaly. It got out of hand, maybe became a little uncomfortable in what they wanted to do offensively, and they got thundered early. Took them out of their normal game. But they're physical. They understand what they want to do and how to do it, they're sound on both sides of the ball — and, for us, we've got to be right."
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 15:46:07 GMT -5
I hope a cancer doesn't develop, but Jordan Cronkrite is back with the team and was at practice on Tuesday. I'm hoping for the best, but time will tell the tale.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 9:19:16 GMT -5
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators must do some work to crack the top four, but they have a solid starting point from which to begin.
Florida is No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, announced on Tuesday night on ESPN.
The Gators (6-1, 4-1) lead the SEC East and play at Arkansas on Saturday. If the Gators defeat the Razorbacks, they can clinch their second consecutive SEC East title on Nov. 12 at home against South Carolina.
Florida's ranking in the CFB Playoff poll is not a surprise. The Gators moved up four spots in this week's AP Top 25 to No. 10. The highest the Gators have ever been ranked in the CFB Playoff poll is No. 8 a year ago prior to facing Florida Atlantic.
Meanwhile, no one is surprised at who is No. 1: Alabama.
The defending national champion Crimson Tide opened atop the rankings, followed by No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Texas A&M. The Aggies' position was the biggest surprise. Texas A&M's only loss is to Alabama but many expected undefeated Washington to be ranked fourth.
The top four teams in the final CFB Playoff rankings advance to the national semifinals.
Florida still has road games at LSU (No. 13) and Florida State (No. 22) prior to a potential return trip to Atlanta.
While the playoff rankings are sure to spark much debate in the coming weeks, the Gators have but one task to be in the conversation at the end: keep winning.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 9:20:11 GMT -5
The UF D held the poodles to 21 rushing yards:
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 13:58:39 GMT -5
The UF O line is accepting the challenge - This from Gator Country:
Written by Nick de la Torre, November 2, 2016
It seems that, no matter what team they’re rooting for, every fan thinks they have the worst offensive line in the country. You could probably find Troy fans that don’t like their offensive line, a unit that has given up one sack in seven games. Every play starts up front with the offensive line but, for the most part, it’s a thankless job. “They ask me about an award Tez got, so somebody said thank you,” Florida Gators offensive line coach Mike Summers joked. Martez Ivey was named the Southeastern Conference offensive lineman of the week for his performance against Georgia last Saturday. The SEC is a line of scrimmage league with some of the biggest, fastest, big men in the country playing on the offensive and defensive lines in the SEC. The league has 300-pound defensive linemen that move like linebackers in other conferences while being able to bench press your car. The Gators went into the 2015 season with one player that had started a game for the team previously. That led to a SEC worst 45 sacks allowed during the season. “We basically started over last year with a whole new group,” Summers said. “This year we’ve added a couple guys to that but watching them develop, that’s the pride that you have as a coach, seeing that group of guys come together and kind of lock arms and become the protectors for the team.” The Gators returned starters all across the line in 2016 but their production wasn’t consistent to start the season. The line, even after it’s best two-game performance against Missouri and Georgia, still catches flack for their perceived lack of performance. “I think what happens is it’s human nature when you watch a football game to follow the ball and jump up and down when the ball crossing the goal line,” Summers said. “Most people couldn’t tell you how the guy crossed the goal line other than to watch the guy carry it or catch it across there. But they can all tell you when he doesn’t cross the goal line what happened. All right. The offensive line didn’t do what they were supposed to or we would have crossed the goal line.” Whether our not they get the credit, the Gators offensive line is playing better this season. They’ve allowed just nine sacks through seven games — 12th best in the country, 2nd in the SEC — and they’re peaking at the right time. “The room feels great,” center Cam Dillard said. “Everybody feels like we’re coming together and we’re doing what we’re capable of, and there’s so much more left out there for us to continue grow on.” Florida faces a critical stretch this month. The Gators will travel to Arkansas this week before hosting South Carolina. Florida is on a three-game winning streak and if they push it to five over the next two weeks they’ll punch a ticket to Atlanta and the SEC Championship game. That’s the ultimate goal every season but coming in No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff Ranking leaves Florida with a chance to make a run at a National Championship. If The Gators win out they’re in. It’s that simple. That task will be tall with additional games at LSU, at Florida State and a likely date with Alabama in Atlanta, but it begins up front with the offensive line, a role they want to take on their shoulders. “You want the responsibility of being the engine that drives the offense. Certainly I think that’s where you want to get,” Summers said. “Really good, dominant elite teams have an offensive line that’s able to do that. Not every game in this conference are you going to out and just knock people back. But I think controlling the line of scrimmage is certainly something that you have to be able to do if you’re going to win conference championships. We assume that responsibility.”
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 14:12:00 GMT -5
Arkansas' best LB to miss both UF and LSU:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas sophomore linebacker Dre Greenlaw will miss at least the Razorbacks’ next two games, coach Bret Bielema said during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. Greenlaw suffered a foot injury in the first quarter of the Hogs’ Oct. 8 home loss to Alabama and had surgery the following Monday. He started the first six games of the season for Arkansas. As a true freshman in 2015, Greenlaw finished second on the team with 95 tackles. The linebacker positions are among the thinnest on Arkansas’ roster. Junior Dwayne Eugene and true freshman De’Jon Harris have played in Greenlaw’s place. Despite missing the last 11 quarters of action, Greenlaw is tied for third on the team this season with 36 tackles. Based on the tentative timeline Bielema laid out Wednesday, Greenlaw will miss Arkansas’ final two home games of the season, scheduled for the next two weeks against No. 11 Florida and No. 13 LSU. Bielema said Greenlaw’s status after that remains unclear. The Razorbacks wrap up the 2016 regular season with trips to Mississippi State and Missouri.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2016 14:17:22 GMT -5
From behind enemy lines - a not so flattering view of the piggies O and D lines - This from SEC Country:
Hogs for Breakfast: SEC games are won in trenches and Arkansas doesn’t have the hosses Eric Bolin Arkansas Beat Reporter Hogs for Breakfast: Bielema didn’t exactly say what fans wanted to hear Not right now, anyway. It only feels like everyone in the SEC has gone to the spread offense. They haven’t. Games in this conference are still won with the boys up front. Arkansas has struggled, however, against teams that prefer a faster playing style, regardless of what they do personnel-wise. As far as Florida, the team’s opponent this weekend, goes, the Gators will slow things down. Common thinking suggests that’s a good thing for a Razorbacks team that has had its issues with the spread-it-and-go offenses that prevail throughout college football. I don’t wholly subscribe to that theory, though. SEC football still is a game won along the offensive and defensive lines. That, more than spread offenses, has had the biggest effect on the Razorbacks’ season so far. Alabama pushed around Arkansas up front on both sides. So did Auburn. Texas A&M less so and Ole Miss hardly at all. Four different teams with four different offenses; the only one of those teams that runs a spread — the Rebels — Arkansas beat. It isn’t the style of the offense that matters to Arkansas, no matter how it’s been in recent seasons. What matters are the gentlemen up front. And in both lines, offensive and defensive, Arkansas needs some help. In fact, both units are likely to see changes ahead of and during Saturday. One thing coach Bret Bielema hinted was moving freshman McTelvin Agim to end and pairing him with Jeremiah Ledbetter on the interior. Agim has largely been Ledbetter’s backup at 3-technique at defensive tackle. His athleticism is something only bested, perhaps, by Ledbetter and Deatrich Wise Jr. up front. Such a look is something I suggested last week with Game On’s Wess Moore that could provide more of an Arkansas pass rush, as the Razorbacks have just 3 sacks in four SEC games. “I think one of the biggest things we’re looking for is who gives us the most-productive combination in there,” defensive line coach Rory Segrest said. “It’s been an opportunity this bye week to be able to move some guys around, give some looks there. It’s still a work in progress and we’re taking a look at it. But we have some options there.” Offensively, Brian Wallace may or may not go at right tackle. Colton Jackson, who started the first two games of the season, would likely get the lion’s share of the snaps if Wallace can’t. Hjalte Froholdt at left guard is an option to come out of the lineup, too, as offensive coordinator Dan Enos plainly said Monday that the first-year offensive lineman probably should play a reserve role. Problem is, who can go in? Bielema admitted that his team doesn’t have many options behind the five who are currently starting. Jackson is one, and he’s tried at guard, but the staff seems to feel most comfortable with him at tackle. Zach Rogers is more of a center than a guard. No one else gets any mention anymore. Not Jalen Merrick, not Johnny Gibson, not Paul Ramirez. Nobody. One might have to, though, if Florida annihilates the Arkansas front five the way most others have. The Razorbacks have allowed 21 sacks (13th in SEC) and 52 tackles-for-losses (12th) this year. Still, the problems are well-documented. Changing personnel seems to be last-ditch. At this point, not a lot can be done about the issues otherwise. If Arkansas wins Saturday, though, bowl eligibility is locked up and a semblance of momentum will have returned. After that, who knows?
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