The way you look at Florida is the way you would look at LSU if you were a fan of another SEC team. Florida last year had a very dominant D and special teams with a subpar offense. Hasn't that been the same story at LSU? Driskel reminds me of Mett, a QB with upside that hasn't materialized and may never do so. We're all excited because we have a top offensive coordinator coming in. Florida's already done that, first with Weis then with Brent Pease. Both failed to take all that Florida talent and produce a consistently respectable offense in their 1st year as OC. And like Florida had their struggles in games they won, so did we: W 12-10 v Auburn W 23-21 v SC W 24-19 v aTm W 41-35 v Ole Miss W 20-13 v Arkansas
Why do you think I compared us to them (e.g. "more painful to watch")? Not seeing the upside with Driskel. He seems like an option QB that still wouldn't be that great in that sort of system. Mett's at least got the measurables. This doesn't explain why they're preseason top-10 because we aren't, either.
Driskel was ranked the #1 QB recruit in the nation by all four recruiting services when he came out of high school, because he can do it all. Gary Danielson thinks he's like Troy Aikman This was published by the Miami Herald a few weeks ago: "Florida’s pedestrian passing attack has been well documented this offseason, but offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Driskel is perfectly capable of consistent 300-yard games.“He has the ability to do it,” Pease said. “He has the ability to do it in this system, to do it off his skills.” ... Florida has had just one 300-yard passing game since Tim Tebow graduated in 2009: John Brantley’s 329 yards versus Furman in a wild 52-34 win. D-LINE IMPRESSING UF’s revamped defensive line has wrecked havoc early in training camp, led by tackle Dominique Easley and pass-rushers Ronald Powell and Dante Fowler Jr. “They’ve got a lot of freaks,” (talented UF) receiver Trey Burton said. “Every position has good players, but the amount they (D-line) have there is incredible.”
That's all well and good, but I've watched the guy play in college, and have yet to be impressed. Well if his boss said it, then it must be true...
Mett has never thrown for 300. Neither did JJ or Lee. Last LSU QB to do it was Flynn who did it twice in 2007...vs Auburn (Doucet 93 yds, Byrd 89, Keiland Williams 46) and @ Alabama (Byrd 144 yds, Doucet 67, LaFell 43, Hester 33...Flynn even caught a pass from Doucet for 35 yards)
I've never said otherwise, although Mett came within 2yds of that mark against the supposed best D in the country last year. Has more to do with the calls/plays than ability, anyway.
Mett and Driskel struggle with hitting the deep ball accurately, that's one of the big concerns about both of them coming into the season. That has nothing to do with play-calling. Even in the Bama game (when Mett had the hot hand) Mett overthrew his man on the deep ball. Mett recently said: "There were a lot of chances [downfield] that we had last year that we missed," Mettenberger said. "You can trust me when I say that that's been one of our main priorities in getting better at this offseason."
Did I say that did? No. But QBs who throw over 300yds week-in and week-out generally play in a system that's more conducive to chucking it a lot more. When you have a great running game and a great defense, you don't need to risk throwing the ball that frequently, so you don't. Didn't Jamarcus only eclipse 300yds once (vs MooU)? Regardless, my point stands. Jeff Driskel doesn't scare me.
And Mett doesn't scare anybody either. Florida, LSU, and South Carolina are all in the same boat, great defenses with offenses that scare nobody. It will be interesting to see which of those three is the first to finally put together a good offense
one of ESPN's SEC analysts, Edward Aschoff, released his SEC power rankings today: 1. Bama 2. Texas A&M 3. Georgia 4. South Carolina 5. Florida 6. LSU 7. Vanderbilt 8. Ole Miss 9. Auburn 10. Mississippi State 11. Missouri 12. Tennessee 13. Arkansas 14. Kentucky West 1. Bama 2. Texas A&M 6. LSU 8. Ole Miss 9. Auburn 10. Mississippi State 13. Arkansas East 3. Georgia 4. South Carolina 5. Florida 7. Vanderbilt 11. Missouri 14. Kentucky
