Random Thoughts on Florida, vis-a-vis LSU's Chances (long post) THOUGHT # 1: Both defenses are fairly evenly matched. Although LSU's defense has better stats in most areas (really, all but interceptions), consider the following facts: Florida's opponents average 31 ppg. Florida has held them to 17. Or, 55% LSU's opponents average 25 ppg. LSU has held them to 12. Or, Or, 48% Florida's opponents average 384 ypg. Florida has held them to 291. Or, 76% LSU's opponents average 356 ypg. LSU has held them to 246. Or, 69% Lower % is better performance in those examples. The Tigers hold the advantages, but for the 6th game of the season, those are pretty similar outcomes. THOUGHT #2: Florida's offense is struggling a bit, but not as badly as LSU's. The difference is mainly in Florida's ability to score a bit more than LSU. Florida's opponents allow 21 ppg. Florida averages 31. Or, 148%. LSU's opponents allow 21 ppg. LSU averages 24. Or, 114%. Florida's opponents allow 319 ypg. Florida averages 340. Or, 106%. LSU's opponents allow 331 ypg. LSU averages 327. Or, 99%. The yards per game stats are similar. But the scoring is very different and reflects LSU's particularly heinous penalty and turnover habits so far this season. THOUGHT #3: Florida has potentially significant limitations on offense for this game. QB Brantley's ribs were injured bad enough for him to have someone else throw the football for him during practice this week. Meyer says he's good to go now. That probably just means he's not in pain ALL the time. Brantley's backups are both freshmen. RB Jeff Demps is still struggling with an injured foot. Meyer says Demps will play, but Demps himself says his foot still bothers him. SB Chris Rainey is still not playing football after his legal troubles. OL Matt Patchan is still not playing. This is not a huge deal, since Florida's OL is pretty stout without Patchan. But it could be part of the reason Florida hasn't been able to establish a strong running game this season. Those factors may be enough to negate Florida's advantage in scoring. THOUGHT #4: This is not a new idea, but it fits with the flow of this post. LSU has not done well in the Swamp in recent history. However, there was an established conventional wisdom about the home team in the Auburn/LSU matchup until recently. LSU broke that string. This one is doomed to be broken as well. I'm just not sure this LSU offense can get it done. THOUGHT #5: Both teams have killed themselves with penalties and turnovers. Both teams have offenses that are clearly better than their stats show, because both teams have killed scoring drives with mistakes, often within the red zone. Bottom Line: Based purely on averages, Florida should win 15-13. Which obviously means these are two very evenly matched teams. (This is the point where all the haters whine about how much of an idiot Miles is and how much of a well-tanned genius Meyer is. :hihi The game will boil down to coaching, home field advantage, special teams, and luck. Two of those four (coaching, home field) favor the Gators right now. Special teams are even - Meyer always has very good special teams. But Les Miles is, according to the haters, the luckiest coach who has ever lived. Wonder if he'll be lucky enough. :geaux:
Very nice indeed, but Matt Patchan doesn't mean shyt to their o-line. They are talking about moving Pouncey to guard. Demps hasn't really practiced all week and Brantley has 2 badly bruised or cracked ribs (The DRAKE) time. This game is winnable and I mean it should be a pick'em
If Brantley is ineffective or has to come out because we gave him a "remember me hit", then all bets are off. There is no way that kid Burton is leading this team to victory, unless we implode worse than we normally do on offense. At that point, I would really consider running the ball every down and take your chances with special teams and defense. And I am one to NEVER say something like that. But it may actually work in this case.
That's what scares me. Everyone is JL this and JL that, and are forgetting their is a pass defense on the other side of that ball that is pretty dang good, in fact one of the best in the country. We're gonna have to pick and choose our battles out there. Obviously we need to have a balanced offense, but that's easier said than done. What I fear most is our QB and O-line play in that hostile environment. I could easily see us getting 5 or 6 false starts.
exactly, I hope we worked the wr screen and hitch to perfection this week in practice, because Jenkins and Brown will snuff out a WR slant like its nobodys business. This is the type of game for R. Shepard, Blue, and Randle. Getting the ball to the playmakers in space is the key to this game seriously. If we get a lead, its on the defense and Ridely to secure the win. Put this game on either QB and its lights out.
And those are the kinds of passes our QBs "should" be able to complete. We need to get their confidence up (broken record, I know) and take these high percentage shots. Then set up for an over the top pass that hopefully has 1 on 1 coverage. I think the shots will be there. It's up to us to connect on them. Bad part is we may get the pass there, but the receiver could easily drop a touchdown throw. So there's 2 demons we're fighting.
except Randle and yes thats always a worry, but I have confidence in Lee on those types of throws. Lee is like Tiger Woods right now, his short game is horrible, but the accuracy on the deep ball is a thing of beauty.
