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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 16:55:08 GMT -5
Pat Dooley's SEC Rankings Are Screwed UP Per Normal:
SEC Power Ratings - Week 7 By Pat Dooley Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 7:51 p.m.
1. Alabama: Nick Saban's team has a bye week, also known as Kentucky.
2. Georgia: If Missouri game is like the rest of them this year for the Dawgs, it will be must-see TV.
3. LSU: Tigers are at home for a game they have to win to keep their goals alive.
4. Texas A&M: Who needs a defense when you are averaging just this side of 50 points a game?
5. Florida: Gators made it through last three games, but now it's time for the games that matter.
6. Missouri: Verdict still isn't in on the Tigers, but they certainly are showing a much-improved offense.
7. South Carolina: Gamecocks have a lot of drama going on, but still have a shot at a big season.
8. Auburn: The Tigers got a big win over Ole Miss, and Gus Malzahn is singing praises of quarterback Nick Marshall.
9. Ole Miss: It has been a tough couple of weeks for Hugh Freeze's team in state of Alabama.
10. Tennessee: Is it possible the Vols found out something about themselves against Georgia?
11. Arkansas: The Razorbacks helped out the Florida defense with a ton of dropped passes.
12. Mississippi State: Bulldogs hung in there with LSU, but fourth quarter was a 28-0 disaster.
13. Vanderbilt: James Franklin had things going in right direction, but it appears to have taken a U-turn.
14. Kentucky: Wildcats rallied against South Carolina, but they just don't have the athletes to get over the hump.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 17:04:25 GMT -5
Billy D's got to find the answer to freezing up at the end of games. It became apparent that it was an issue last season, but this has reared its ugly head several times in the last 3 or 4 seasons:
Hoops Scoop Yeguete: Gators ‘freeze up’ in close games Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 5:44 by Kevin Brockway
Florida’s struggles in close games of late have been well documented.
Last season, the Gators were 0-6 in games by 6 points or less. And over the last two seasons, Florida is 2-9 in games decided by five points or less. Late meltdowns on the road against Arizona, Missouri and Kentucky cost Florida a chance for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season. Instead, the Gators were a No. 3 seed and ousted by eventual national runner-up Michigan in the Elite Eight.
“We have to look at our games down the stretch … maybe be more focused and together, especially when it’s hard and tough,” Florida senior forward Will Yeguete said. “Sometimes I think we freeze up, because we don’t play connected as much when it gets tough.”
Nobody likes to hear the freeze word because it implies fear in a competitive situation. But Yeguete, a Bordeaux, France native whose second language is English, may have been implying something else. Playing down the stretch with shot-hounds Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton in recent seasons, Florida’s offense often deteriorated into 1-on-5 in late game situations, with the other four players on the court standing around and waiting for an off-balanced 3-pointer to fall.
Or, maybe it’s playing with lack of poise. Take your pick. But Florida must solve those close game woes with a tough non-conference slate upcoming that includes Wisconsin, Florida State, Connecticut, Kansas and Memphis.
Yeguete said that he feels like his right knee is healing well and no longer has pain after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage. The 6-foot-7 senior sat out February with knee woes before returning in March and serving as a defensive stopper off the bench during UF’s Elite Eight run.
“It feels better as far as running and everything, cutting and stuff like that.” Yeguete said. “I don’t think ready I’m for contact yet .. but I should be ready for the start of the season.”
After biding his time for two years behind Erik Murphy, Yeguete has a chance to win the starting power forward job for the Gators this season.
“I do think I’m mature enough and I’ve been through the process and I’m ready,” Yeguete said. “But obviously I’m not ready physically. I think when my time comes and I’m full to go I think I can talk about getting the starting job. I have to work for it and prove that I have my health back. I don’t think it’s going to be given to me. We’ll see. I have to keep working hard.”
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 17:32:04 GMT -5
UF vs LSU At A Glance:
Series Record: Florida leads 31-25-3 In Baton Rouge: Florida leads 16-14
FLORIDA Record: 4-1 overall, 3-0 SEC Head Coach: Will Muschamp, 3rd season Record: 22-9 (.710) - career and UF Rankings: 17 Associated Press 17 USA Today Last Week: W 30-10 vs. Arkansas
LSU Record: 5-1 overall, 2-1 SEC Head Coach: Les Miles, 13th overall season (9th at LSU) Record: 118-43 (.733) - career; 90-22 (.804) at LSU Rankings: 10 Associated Press 11 USA Today Last Week: W 59-26 at Mississippi St.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 17:44:00 GMT -5
Written by Andrew Spivey, October 10, 2013
Recruiting is just like the weather in Oklahoma. If you don’t like it, wait five minutes because it will change. In recruiting today’s news can be old news in five minutes, but in this world of who’s hot and who’s not, Gator Country takes a look at the latest from the recruiting trail.
FLORIDA GATOR RECRUITING
RB: 1 committed (Dalvin Cook), 1 more is wanted but not needed.
98%.
While Bo Scarbrough is keeping things solid to Alabama in the public, behind the scenes he is talking to Florida a lot and his cousin C’yontai Lewis feels very confident that he will become a Gator on NSD or possibly January if he early enrolls.
WR: 1 committed (Ermon Lane), 1-2 more needed
85%.
News broke on Monday that JUCO receiver Eric Lauderdale had decommitted from Tennessee and while that wasn’t a surprise, the surprise is the amount of excitement he has about Florida without ever stepping foot on campus. I expect that to change soon, possibly as early as the Vanderbilt week.
TE: 1 committed (C’yontai Lewis), 1-2 more needed
85%.
California tight end Bryce Dixon visited this past weekend and while he says Florida is at or near the top, I don’t buy that. I expect Dixon to stay out west but with things up in the air at USC, UCLA appears to be the biggest competition.
Deandre Goolsby is the other name to keep an eye on. The Kansas native visited Ohio State two weeks ago but the visit didn’t go well and I’ve been told his Oklahoma visit didn’t go well either. There is some connection to the Arkansas receiver coach and Goolsby will visit the Razorbacks this weekend. This one is shaping up to be a Arkansas/Florida battle.
OL: 3 committed (Nolan Kelleher, Travaris Dorsey and Dontae Angus), 2 more needed
80%.
David Sharpe had a good visit to Florida this past weekend but Sharpe’s father didn’t seem like he had as good of a time as David. Right now Florida’s biggest hurdle is Sharpe’s father but the Gators will have one or two more times to impress him.
The other hot name lately has been Jordan Sims but the Alabama native has yet to visit Florida and has been scheduled to visit the last games but cancelled so until he shows up things can’t move forward.
DL: 3 committed (Khairi Clark, Justus Reed and Taven Bryan) 1-2 more needed.
85%.
Lorenzo Featherston visited Florida this past weekend and things went well but right now Featherston is in wait and see mode as the Gators would like to land Lorenzo Carter before moving on Featherston.
Florida had been hard after Louisiana defensive end Davon Godchaux who is committed to LSU but things have cooled off and the Gators have moved on.
LB: 0 committed, 1 wanted not needed.
95%.
The linebacker position is the biggest question mark of all positions and right now none of Florida’s targets have the Gators at the top. Clifton Garrett has already visited Florida but he looks LSU-bound barring something dramatic. Raekwon McMillan is another prospect on the board and while he right now appears to be leaning towards Alabama and Ohio State, the Gators do get the last official visit. Tre Williams, who is committed to Auburn, is a prospect who has been in touch with Florida a lot and with the state of the Tigers program, Williams could look elsewhere.
SPIVEY MOMENT
One thing that stands out to me is how tight the numbers truly are. The Gators will have to be smart about who they allow to commit moving forward.
NEWS, NOTES AND GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE SEC
Alabama: Once Florida target now South Carolina commit Abu Lamin is rumored to be setting up a visit to the Crimson Tide … News broke last Friday night that Alabama is trying to get Florida commit Duke Dawson in town for an official.
Arkansas: Linebacker coach Randy Shannon pulled his South Florida magic last week by getting Ravian Pierce to commit to Arkansas from South Plantation … Shannon has now succeeded in getting Florida commit Dalvin Cook to officially visit Arkansas in November.
Auburn: The Tigers are having a decent season on the field but not enough to keep several commitments from looking elsewhere such as linebacker Tre Williams … Auburn also lost a major battle with Alabama in losing in-state safety Ronnie Clark to the Tide last week.
Georgia: Mark Richt and his staff have turned up the heat on recent South Carolina cornerback decommit Wesley Green lately this one will be a battle between the two sides.
Kentucky: The Wildcats haven’t had the season they had hoped for and with that their recruiting momentum has come to almost halt recently … One piece of good news they have is they still lead for instate defensive lineman Matt Elam.
LSU: LSU received good news this past week when Florida target Adoree’ Jackson decided he would officially visit LSU for the Florida game this weekend … The Tigers also have to feel good that Speedy Noil and Gerald Willis didn’t visit Florida this past weekend.
Mississippi: Ole Miss will get the chance this weekend to impress Florida target Jamal Adams but the Rebels must pull out the red carpet to have a chance … Illinois linebacker Nyles Morgan also set up an official to the Rebels which is good news for Ole Miss.
Mississippi State: With Florida and Tennessee both looking like they have pulled out of the Cory Thomas camp the Bulldogs have the clear lead for the Alabama native.
Missouri: The Tigers are having a great season but this weekend against Georgia is huge for the Tigers if they ever want to get into the state of Georgia in recruiting purposes.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks are trying their best to beat Georgia for cornerback Wesley Green and the Atlanta native visited Columbia last weekend … South Carolina is also making a move on cornerback D.J. Smith who is considered a heavy Clemson lean.
Tennessee: The Vols picked up a huge JUCO prospect in Dontavious Blair this past weekend and that should help on the offensive line next year… With all good news come some bad news and the Vols lost receiver Eric Lauderdale this past week.
Texas A&M: The Aggies much like LSU feel like they have a great shot at landing Gerald Willis and Speedy Noil after their official visits…
Vanderbilt: Vandy received good news this past week when Illinois linebacker Nyles Morgan decided to visit Nashville.
OUR FINE FRIENDS IN TALLAHASSEE AND DOWN SOUTH
Florida State: The Noles truly believe they have a shot at Hoover cornerback Marlon Humphrey who is an Alabama legacy … FSU is also trying to get in the mix with linebacker Tre Williams much like Florida.
Miami: The Canes were successful in getting Florida commit J.C. Jackson to visit last weekend but there isn’t much to that. Miami is also trying to get in the mix with Florida commit Davonte Phillips of Miami Central.
SHOTS ACROSS THE BOW
As much Florida fans don’t want to hear it I think Hoover cornerback Marlon Humphrey is a better fit at Florida State than Alabama because of the track program and plus Nick Saban didn’t offer his brother.
I’m waiting to see the reaction Alabama fans have to when Bo Scarbrough actually shows up at Florida for a visit and see the meltdown. Bama fans are so full of themselves that they just refuse to believe that t believe Will Muschamp could ever beat Nick Saban for a kid.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 21:30:10 GMT -5
Muschamp and the Gators have returned to get revenge for the Baton Rouge Death March:
Thursday October 10, 2013
Back to Baton Rouge: Gators Have Made Big Strides Since 2011 Defeat in Death Valley
Scott Carter By SCOTT CARTER GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- LSU coach Les Miles is not a fan of playing Florida every season. Miles has made it known he wouldn't mind seeing the Gators, LSU's permanent rival from the SEC East, disappear once in a while.
That's sort of the way the Gators felt about LSU two years ago.
In Will Muschamp's first season, the Gators rolled through September with four consecutive wins. And then the calendar flipped to October and Alabama visited Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The carnage was sizeable: a 38-10 loss, starting quarterback John Brantley injured and his backup, Jeff Driskel, suffering an ankle injury late in the second half.
As if all that wasn't enough, the Gators walked off the field that night knowing a trip to No. 1-ranked LSU was on tap the following week.
Brantley watched from the sideline at packed Tiger Stadium in an ankle boot. Driskel was out. True freshman Jacoby Brissett started, becoming the first freshman quarterback in UF history to make his first appearance as the starter. The backup that day was a redshirt freshman named Tyler Murphy, who did not play.
Final score: LSU 41, Florida 11.
"It was definitely a low point in most of our careers here," Gators senior defensive back Jaylen Watkins said. "It was definitely a bad taste in our mouth."
The Gators hope Saturday's return to Baton Rouge serves as a gigantic bottle of Listerine. The 17th-ranked Gators (4-1, 3-0) face 10th-ranked LSU at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
Jaylen Watkins
"It was tough. We really had a good week of practice, and we felt very confident,'' Murphy said. "To come out with a loss, it hurt. Especially after losing to Alabama. I thought we gave a great effort. We probably didn’t execute the way we should have. But I thought we played hard. That’s something where all you can ask for from a team is just to play hard and give everything you have."
The loss remains the worst for the Gators under Muschamp, who was LSU's defensive coordinator a decade ago when the Tigers won the national championship.
That 2003 LSU team is being honored at Saturday's game. Muschamp will say hello to some of his former players and colleagues, but his main focus is spoiling their day.
The Florida-LSU game has been a huge momentum turn for Florida in each of Muschamp's first two seasons. The loss two years ago sent the Gators spiraling deeper into the abyss. They went 0-4 in October, the program's first four-game losing streak since 1988.
A year ago at The Swamp, the Gators rose to the occasion to defeat the No. 4-ranked Tigers 14-6. The victory boosted a young team's confidence and launched the Gators to an 11-1 regular season that saw them climb all the way to No. 2 in the polls.
Which way will the Gators go this season? The final score Saturday could end up a road sign.
If the 30-point loss two years ago provides extra motivation for the Gators, Muschamp will take it.
"I think everybody is motivated differently, but if it motivates them, then certainly it should if you're a competitor,'' he said. "I know we have a bunch of competitive guys in the locker room. "Most of the guys I've been around certainly will use that. I will."
The Gators mustered just 213 yards of total offense at LSU in 2011. The game got so out of hand that former Tigers punter Brad Wing had a 52-yard touchdown run nullified on a fake punt for taunting. Wing held the ball out toward a Gators defender as he raced into the end zone.
Brissett, who transferred to N.C. State after last season, finished 8 of 14 for 94 yards. He threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Andre Debose but also tossed a pair of interceptions.
The Gators never had a chance after walking past caged LSU mascot Mike the Tiger on their way toward the field.
However, Murphy's play since replacing the injured Driskel three games ago and Florida's SEC-leading defense cast a different tone over Saturday's matchup. The Gators are 3-0 in the SEC and Murphy has thrown five touchdowns and only one interception, stabilizing a position that was never the same two years ago after Brantley went down against Alabama.
LSU is favored but the talent gap between the programs is not nearly as wide in 2011.
"Baton Rouge is a very lively place,'' Murphy said. "It’ll be a very hostile environment. As a team, we’ll have to focus on ourselves and not get caught up in the hype and all that stuff. Just treat it as another game ... execute like we’ve been doing.”
LSU's offense versus Florida's defense is the matchup most are talking about.
The Tigers are ranked 23rd nationally in total offense (488.8 yards per game) and senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger (1,738 yards, 15 touchdowns) has blossomed under the direction of first-year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
Meanwhile, Florida's defense has a deep secondary and the Gators lead the league in pass defense (152 yards a game) and pass defense efficiency (81.2 percent).
Watkins is ready to get another crack at LSU in Tiger Stadium.
"We get a chance to go back and try to redeem ourselves,'' he said.
Teammate Darious Cummings wasn't with the Gators during their last trip to LSU. But he had heard enough from his coaches and teammates to understand what to expect.
He is ready.
"It's going to be loud. It's going to be intense,'' Cummings said. "It's something to look forward to."
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 21:39:34 GMT -5
This is a conspiracy by scUM to get Ermon Lane in trouble to try to convince him to flip to the candy canes:
zachabolverdi: Per @cgreensdnl, Ermon Lane was involved in a scrum and allegedly punched a player who was down. Lane argued he was going for the ball. zachabolverdi: #Gators commit Ermon Lane allegedly threw a punch at his game tonight and was ejected. FHSAA could suspend him up to six games for fighting.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2013 22:07:12 GMT -5
I've seen this drill before. Jarvis Landry won't be 100% by Saturday. It's clearly not a high ankle sprain as he wouldn't be practicing at all, but I'm guessing 80% at best. That won't work well against UF's NFL caliber corners. I smell a pick 6 rather than a corndog:
LSU WR Jarvis Landry expected to play against Florida
By Chase Goodbread College Football 24/7 writer Published: Oct. 10, 2013 at 02:43 p.m. Updated: Oct. 10, 2013 at 03:27 p.m. Those wondering how effective LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger would be without one of his two dynamic receivers just may get a glimpse of that Saturday when the Tigers play host to Florida. Junior receiver Jarvis Landry has been hobbled in practice this week with an ankle sprain, and though coach Les Miles expects him to play, it remains to be seen whether he'll be at his normal effectiveness against the Gators, who likely have the nation's best set of cornerbacks.
"Jarvis practiced a little bit today," Miles said Wednesday, according to nola.com. "We're being moderate in our approach. I think he'll practice full (Thursday) and do a little something Friday. Rest him a little bit and get ready for the game."
Mettenberger's newfound success this season relied very heavily on the receiving of Landry and junior Odell Beckham.
Of Mettenberger's 107 completions, Landry and Beckham have combined for 77 of them, and the next option has been running back Jeremy Hill with just seven catches. Of Mettenberger's 1,738 yards, Beckham and Landry have hogged 1,302 of those. The duo represents 72 percent of the senior quarterback's completions and 75 percent of his yardage.
"That tells me he's not had to find a third receiver, but it also tells me a lot about what they're doing on offense, using play action to push the ball vertically up the field with their outside guys," said NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout.
Mettenberger's toughest challenge to date this season would be to have one of them unhealthy, unable to get open, or both. Worst case for LSU, if Landry is a step slow with his ankle, and Beckham is locked down by one of the Gators' three vastly skilled cornerbacks, Mettenberger will be forced to distribute the football far more evenly than he's had to all season, and find targets he's barely looked to.
Jeremiah said that challenge would be as much or more offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's as Mettenberger's.
"I don't predict (Mettenberger) will get exposed, but I predict we'll find something out," Jeremiah said. "Cameron will have to do something creatively to work around those cornerbacks. ... Mettenberger can make such tough throws and fit balls into tight windows, it will be a challenge, but it may also be a showcase for him."
And perhaps, more than ever, it will be a chance for a third receiver to emerge.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 8:12:22 GMT -5
Gary Danielson on Tim Brando radio show talking about Florida vs LSU: www.cbssports.com/video/player/collegefootball/53431875766/0/gary-danielson-talks-florida-lsuI like that Gary points out that you can't play the offense like the defense is going to hold the other team to 14. I hope Muschamp and Pease call a game more in line with Gary's thinking. Gary further states that Tyler Murphy is getting more of the offensive package than Jeff Driskel because he's a better and quicker decision maker and the light just never came on for Jeff Driskel.
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Now THIS here...is a member
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Post by canefan on Oct 11, 2013 8:25:37 GMT -5
This is a conspiracy by scUM to get Ermon Lane in trouble to try to convince him to flip to the candy canes: zachabolverdi: Per @cgreensdnl, Ermon Lane was involved in a scrum and allegedly punched a player who was down. Lane argued he was going for the ball. zachabolverdi: #Gators commit Ermon Lane allegedly threw a punch at his game tonight and was ejected. FHSAA could suspend him up to six games for fighting. What is going on with Lane this year. His stats are way down and he isn't even in the top 30 for the Miami area in receiving. Way too talented to only have 14 catches at this point in the season.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 8:59:34 GMT -5
This is a conspiracy by scUM to get Ermon Lane in trouble to try to convince him to flip to the candy canes: zachabolverdi: Per @cgreensdnl, Ermon Lane was involved in a scrum and allegedly punched a player who was down. Lane argued he was going for the ball. zachabolverdi: #Gators commit Ermon Lane allegedly threw a punch at his game tonight and was ejected. FHSAA could suspend him up to six games for fighting. What is going on with Lane this year. His stats are way down and he isn't even in the top 30 for the Miami area in receiving. Way too talented to only have 14 catches at this point in the season. I really don't know. I don't follow high school stats. The FHSAA could end his season with a 6 game suspension if he punched a player.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 9:19:15 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 9:25:50 GMT -5
By SCOTT CARTER GatorZone.com Senior Writer
The Opening Kickoff
No. 17 Florida at No. 10 LSU
#UFvsLSU Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Tiger Stadium
Broadcast Info | Game Notes
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The LSU-Florida game is never boring.
In Gators coach Will Muschamp's first two seasons, Florida's annual showdown against its SEC West rival played out as differently as Metallica and Barry Manilow go about making music.
Florida suffered a 41-11 loss at LSU in Muschamp's first season in 2011; a year ago in Gainesville, the Gators pounded their way to a 14-6 victory, running the ball 25 consecutive times to close out a signature win for Muschamp.
On paper, Saturday's matchup at Tiger Stadium is an intriguing one.
The Gators come in with three consecutive SEC wins since quarterback Tyler Murphy took over. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger suddenly looks like Drew Brees.
If you listen to the pundits, the difference in this one could be Florida's defense. Mettenberger has yet to face a defense like the Gators, who lead the SEC in every major statistical category.
"I don't think anybody in the country is playing better defense than we are," Florida defensive tackle Darious Cummings said. "We haven't even reached our max yet, so I feel we just have that relentless effort and we're not taking no for an answer. We get challenged week in and week out to be the best."
They will certainly be challenged on Saturday.
While LSU's offense is executing at a high level, you always know Tigers coach Les Miles has a trick or two up his sleeve.
Miles has seen enough of Florida's defense to offer at least one reason for the Gators' success.
"They don't give up big plays,'' he said.
Big plays have been Mettenberger's best friend. He has thrown 15 touchdown passes and eight of those strikes are for 15 or more yards.
Florida's defense versus LSU's offense is a matchup everyone will watch closely Saturday. But if history has taught us anything, it's that the LSU-Florida game is always full of surprises.
We'll find out what they are here on Saturday afternoon.
For now, let's take a look at the LSU-Florida matchup with The Opening Kickoff:
Five Storylines to Watch •The Gators are tied with Georgia atop the SEC East and need a win to keep pace. Florida is in much better position to challenge the Tigers than their last trip to Baton Rouge. Murphy has made a smooth transition since replacing the injured Jeff Driskel, and Florida's SEC-leading defense has not allowed more than 275 yards in a game this season. •LSU is averaging 45.5 points per game under first-year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who was head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2007. Quarterback Mettenbergerleads the SEC with 1,738 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Mettenberger versus Florida's talented and deep secondary could determine the outcome. •An interesting backdrop to Saturday's game is that LSU is honoring its 2003 national championship team coached by Nick Saban. Muschamp was the defensive coordinator and was contacted about joining the festivities. He declined and would like nothing more than to quiet the celebration with a victory. •In two games since the loss of starting defensive tackle Dominique Easley, the Gators have held up strong in the middle. The foursome of Jonathan Bullard, Leon Orr, Damien Jacobs and Darious Cummings has prevented Easley's loss from becoming a major storyline. That likely will need to continue for the Gators to come out with a win against LSU's potent run game. •A lot is being made of LSU's offensive resurgence under Cameron and rightly so. However, the Tigers defense, consistently among the nation's best the past several years, is seventh in the league. LSU is surrendering 367 yards per game and is not as experienced as recent years, which could provide Murphy and Co. some shots at big plays.
Cast of Characters •How will Murphy react to what is certain to be a rabid and hostile crowd at Tiger Stadium? The redshirt junior has completed 72 percent of his passes and thrown for five touchdowns and only one interception since taking over for Driskel. If Murphy needs any advice on what to expect, he can check in with offensive graduate assistant Chris Leak, who dealt LSU its only loss in 2003 with a 19-7 win at Tiger Stadium. •Hello Loucheiz Purifoy. Florida's junior cornerback had perhaps the best game of his career in Florida's 30-10 win over Arkansas. Purifoy gave the Gators a lead with a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown, and prior to that, he recorded a sack, forced fumble and pass breakup. Purifoy will play a factor Saturday as much as LSU likes to throw the ball. •Mettenberger's success is not by accident. He is throwing to one of the nation's top receiving tandems in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Beckham is averaging 114.3 yards receiving per game with six touchdowns; Landry is averaging 102.7 yards per game and has caught seven touchdowns. •LSU tailback Jeremy Hill had a tumultuous offseason but that has not hurt his production on the field. Hill is second in the league in rushing with 594 yards and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry with nine touchdowns. Hill and reserves Alfred Blue, Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee will test Florida's run defense. •If the game is close and Florida needs a field goal, well, Muschamp might face a difficult decision. Kicker Austin Hardin has struggled (4 of 8) and was benched in favor of Brad Phillips after a blocked field goal against Arkansas. Phillips made his first field-goal attempt but later missed an extra point.
The Quote File •"We’re capable of scoring whatever we have to. That’s what we’ve got to have the mentality of. Our kids will rise to the occasion. It’s not like we can’t or shouldn’t do it." -- Gators offensive coordinator Brent Pease on potential of an offensive shootout •"What he’s doing is facilitating victory. So some days throwing for 250 is not enough. You’re going to have to throw for 300. It’s based on what’s needed for victory.'' -- Miles on Mettenberger's play •"I know we all want it now. We all want it to happen when they’re freshmen in their first game, but that’s not always the way it happens. Solomon Patton is a great example of that. Tyler Murphy is a great example of that. Guys when they get their opportunity, they cash in and play well.'' -- Muschamp on Florida's quick-strike duo •"The challenge is they're all talented. When you watch cut-ups from the tape, it's not like the offense is changing much when they're in there. They're running their offense because all those guys can do it.'' -- Gators defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin on LSU's four-man tailback rotation •"I love these games. I’m tired of all these spread teams. I love these games where you just react instead of doing all the thinking." -- Gators linebacker Antonio Morrison on facing LSU's pro-style, two-back offense
10 Quick Hitters •Gators cornerback Marcus Roberson, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, is "full speed" and will play according to Muschamp. He added that freshman linebacker Alex Anzalone (ankle) is out. •Gators linebacker/defensive lineman Ronald Powell played early in the 2011 loss at LSU but was injured and watched most of the game from the sideline. "It still bothers me today,'' he said. Powell has started all five games and is third on the team with four tackles-for-loss. •Despite the challenges that come with playing at Tiger Stadium, the Gators are 16-14 all-time on the road against LSU; UF leads the all-time series 31-25-3. •Since the start of the 2012 season, the Gators are 10-1 in the SEC, their only loss coming last season to Georgia. •Florida has dominated the middle portion of games. The Gators have outscored opponents 79-12 in the second and third quarters, including a 55-3 advantage in the second quarter. •Beckham Jr. leads the nation in all-purpose yards, averaging 228.2 yards per game. Beckham Jr. did not want to talk about it this week, declining to speak to the media in the lead-up to the Florida game. •Landry missed practice time this week due to an ankle sprain he suffered late in LSU's 59-26 win over Mississippi State last week. Miles sounded optimistic that Landry will play. "We're being moderate in our approach,'' he said. •Since taking over at LSU in 2005, Miles is 18-9 against SEC East teams. Four of those losses have come to Florida. •Gators freshman cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is tied with Ole Miss' Cody Prewitt for the SEC lead in passes defended with 1.60 per game. Hargreaves has five pass breakups and three interceptions in his first five games. •This is the 10th consecutive season that both Florida and LSU are ranked in the Top 25 at the time of their annual meeting.
The Bottom Line
An overmatched Florida team had little chance against No. 1-ranked LSU two years ago. Florida was scrambling in Muschamp's first season and the 41-11 loss was the second in a four-game losing streak for the Gators.
This one has a totally different feel. While the Tigers are favored, the Gators have responded well to the loss of Driskel. Murphy has played well, receivers Trey Burton, Solomon Patton and Quinton Dunbar are playing well, and the defense has been a rock.
The Gators will need a complete game Saturday -- including production from the run game -- to knock off the Tigers, but the task does not seem nearly as remote as two years ago in Baton Rouge.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 9:26:53 GMT -5
Bucknuts suck. Just wanted to get that off my chest.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 9:30:24 GMT -5
Written by Franz Beard, October 11, 2013
CAN THE GATORS RUN THE FOOTBALL?
On paper, it would seem that LSU is going to pound Florida’s vaunted defense into submission Saturday in Baton Rouge. The Gators are only giving up 65 yards a game (second in the NCAA) but LSU has four running backs who will all play someday in the NFL, led by stud Jeremy Hill, who comes into the game with 594 rushing yards, nine touchdowns and a gaudy 7.5 yards per carry. LSU’s ability to throw the ball (Tigers are averaging 291.5 yards per game) makes it nearly impossible to load up the box to stop the run, so the perception is that LSU has a hefty advantage over the Gators. In this game, however, the perceptions might be a bit deceiving. LSU gives up 159.5 rushing yards per game, which means that the Gators could have some success on the ground.
CAN THE GATORS RUN THE FOOTBALL, PART II?
Last year, the Gators ran the ball 26 consecutive times as they pounded out a 14-6 win over the Tigers in Gainesville. Florida’s ability to run the ball allowed Will Muschamp to play defense with his offense. Figure he will try to employ the same strategy this year because Zach Mettenberger can’t throw touchdown passes and Hill can’t shred Florida’s defense if they are on the sideline. For Florida to win this game, Matt Jones and Mack Brown (a) have to come up big in the running game and (b) have to hold onto the football. Florida and LSU are 5-5 in the last 10 meetings. The team that has run for the most yardage has won without fail. Don’t expect anything different this year.
FLORIDA-LSU FLASHBACK: 2006
Most fans remember this game for Tim Tebow’s exploits – one rushing touchdown and two touchdown passes including the jump pass to Tate Casey, who caught the ball falling down in the back of the end zone – but the real story in #5 Florida’s 23-10 win over #9 LSU was defense and special teams. Florida’s defense picked off three JaMarcus Russell passes while the special teams forced two fumbles, one of which resulted in a safety, blocked a punt that led to a touchdown and forced a shank on another punt that gave the Gators a shot at a field goal.
FLORIDA-LSU FLASHBACK: 2006, PART II
Ryan Smith picked off two passes and broke up two others. Reggie Nelson blocked a punt and created an interception for Smith when he gave Brandon LaFell an all expenses trip to never never land. Brandon Siler came up with a Russell fumble at the Florida one with the score tied at 7-7 in the second quarter. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Riley Cooper jarred the ball loose from Trindon Holliday, who picked it back up only to be nailed in the end zone by Jermaine McCollum for a safety. Lutrell Alford hustled down under an Eric Wilbur punt to recover a fumble by Chevis Jackson. People still rave about the game Tebow had, but the real story that day was defense and special teams.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2013 9:39:55 GMT -5
Dandy Don: 10/11/13 5:55 am CT Good morning, Tiger Fans, The LSU football team is busy finalizing its game plan for the Florida Gators while many Tiger Fans are making pans to attend what is sure to be an outstanding game in Tiger Stadium. The weather in the Baton Rouge area is forecast to be very nice with mostly sunny skies and a high temperature in the mid-80s for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff. I hope that many of you will load up the kiddos and head out to Tiger Stadium to enjoy the day's activities and cheer on the Tigers for a full four quarters. Three weeks ago when LSU took on Auburn in Tiger Stadium, the stands were practically empty before the end of the 3rd quarter, and not only did that look awful on national TV it also was disrespectful to the team who sure could have used the crowd’s support for a full 60 minutes. I'll cut the fans a little slack for that one considering the wet conditions and persistent “wind-driven dew,” but there will be no such excuses tomorrow, and the team will need your full support the entire game. I encourage you to arrive early, cheer loudly, and remind everyone in attendance or watching on CBS why Tiger Stadium is considered by many to be the best venue in the world to experience a college football game. Here's a list of Times of Interest for the game, including things like when the players, band and Mike the Tigers will walk down “victory hill,” and here are advisories and parking updates issued by LSUSports.net. And if you’re still looking for tickets to the game, be sure to check out our Ticket Exchange page. Yesterday I took a quick look at both teams’ stats and made the following chart. Of course, stat comparisons like these never tell the whole story, but in this instance they do confirm this week’s ever-present storyline of this contest pitting one of the nation’s most explosive and prolific offenses against one of the country’s stingiest defense. By the way, Florida is 4-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play with wins over Toledo (24-6), Tennessee (31-17), Kentucky (24-7) and Arkansas (30-10). There one loss came at Miami by a score of 21-16. What's interesting to note is that Florida’s opponents, with the exception of Miami, have been relatively weak in offense with ratings of 65th 90th, 84th and 83rd. Miami’s offense is ranked 24th. LSU-Florida Football Stats 2013 www.dandydon.com/images/stats_LSU_Florida.gifBelow are my predictions for a few of this weekend’s games. Last week I went 9-1 and on the season my record is 62-10 (.861). Here we go... LSU 30 Florida 24Alabama 38 Kentucky 7 Georgia 41 Mizzou 38 Texas A&M 42 Ole Miss 33 Mississippi State 34 Bowling Green 20 Auburn 41 West Carolina 10 Arkansas 28 South Carolina 24 UL-Lafayette 31 WKU 24 (Tuesday) Texas State 31 UL-Monroe 30 Tulane 24 East Carolina 23 Nicholls 33 Northwestern State 24
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