We don't really know how good Florida was

[gamalielkid]

I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Kentucky and see the Florida game last week. I have been predicting a big year for UK and I thought UK would beat Florida. Here is what I felt after getting back home and thinking about the game. UK is very, very young and inexperienced. Florida's defense was experienced, big d line and very fast defensive backs. This was Hargraves first game this year. Florida had a top twenty plus defense last year. Their new coach is much, much better than Muschamp - who has proved - at least so far this year - to be over rated as a defensive genius.

The bottomline is we could have just played a top 10 team or maybe we didn't. I think our defense has improved tremendously and we will keep improving. People now seem to be running for cover and saying this team will go bowling, but not be very good. I still think we win 9 games and surprise people. Every game is the next test for this young team. But we are playing an unbeaten, top 20 rated and two time defending division champion this weekend. If we beat them - then everyone should really fee comfortable - because one thing people need to realize - we will only have three teams rated above us to left to play. I think we will beat Mississippi State - my reasoning is purely emotional - because I still remember how Coach Stoops and the team had the game stolen from them two years ago at Miss. State. I really believe Coach will have the team prepared to do battle and win this one. I say again, IF, we can beat Missouri - we will 9 games!

Let's keep being positive and supporting the continued growth of our football program and team.

And finally..................

Go Big Blue!

 

[fballcats76]

I've watched Florida play for 25 years, and that was the worst Florida team I've seen in those years

 

[Nuke99m]

We will find out this week when UT plays Fla this week and Ole Miss plays Fla. next week.

 

[jnewc2]

I think Fla is probably a fringe top-25 team..nothing close to the Urban Meyer years, but still a solid team. It's hard to judge how good they are because their strengths seemed to be our weaknesses (namely their d-line matched up against our o-line).

Being field level at the game it was shocking to see the difference between their d-line and our o-line. That being said, there is no way we should've given up 6 sacks. If we could put up almost 500 yards of offense against them last year in the swamp, there's absolutely no way in the world we shouldn't have done a little better on offense Sat night using some screens and draws, etc to slow down the pass rush.

 

[gamalielkid]

I've watched Florida play for 25 years, and that was the worst Florida team I've seen in those years

Did you watch them last year? I was at the game at the swamp, and they didn't look or play near as well as they did this past Saturday night against us.

Go Big Blue!

 

[TBCat]

Florida was worse last year no question. Still the worst in last 25 years statement while not correct is probably closer than you might think. Most of those years they were a clear top 10 team. This Florida team isn't close to top10 level. They still lack play makers on offense. They are a borderline top 25 team.

 

[gamalielkid]

Florida was worse last year no question. Still the worst in last 25 years statement while not correct is probably closer than you might think. Most of those years they were a clear top 10 team. This Florida team isn't close to top10 level. They still lack play makers on offense. They are a borderline top 25 team.

You are probably correct - as several of us have said we will find out more about both teams the next few weeks. One thing I can say this year is most of the teams expected to be good are faltering - is that parity or what? At this moment I don't think anyone past the first 6 or 7 are actually legit. I feel UK is a top 25 - 30 team - even with all of our issues.

Go Big Blue!

 

[dyersburgcatfan]

UF is a better team this year because they are better coached. Last year we outplayed them because we out-coached them and UK also executed most of its plays. This year UK was outplayed and outcoached. I sure hope our coaches can learn as the season goes on. We have a lot of talent on this team, but we played into the Florida strength rather than playing into ours. Yes, there were plays we should have made but didn't execute (like the dropped pass in the end zone), but I think a lot of the blame in last Saturday's game has to go to the game plan and the failure to adjust it when it was obvious that adjustment was needed. We seemed prepared on defense, but the offensive strategy killed us.

 

[gamalielkid]

UF is a better team this year because they are better coached. Last year we outplayed them because we out-coached them and UK also executed most of its plays. This year UK was outplayed and outcoached. I sure hope our coaches can learn as the season goes on. We have a lot of talent on this team, but we played into the Florida strength rather than playing into ours. Yes, there were plays we should have made but didn't execute (like the dropped pass in the end zone), but I think a lot of the blame in last Saturday's game has to go to the game plan and the failure to adjust it when it was obvious that adjustment was needed. We seemed prepared on defense, but the offensive strategy killed us.

Agree with you about Florida being coached better. However, I will disagree about a couple of things. The coaches can't catch the ball nor be on the field. Their quarterback Grier, was very nimble, but he shouldn't have made that 4th down touchdown - and he made it by two inches or so. Take that back we get the ball and they have 7 less points. Also, when Towles broke loose he inexpicably cut back to the middle of the field and Florida tacklers - had he stayed going down the sideline would have probably scored - he had three blockers with him, but he cut away from them. That is just two plays that go slightly different and we win. I know it didn't happen, but we were only inches away on at least a half dozen plays from winning that game. If you are saying Florida is really no good - maybe so - but I think we are better than many think.

Go Big Blue!

 

[mrschwump]

The vast majority of teams are unknown at this point. Key will be how guys develop, how injuries are absorbed, etc. A lot can happen during the course of the year. Come back in a month and we'll see who is a contender and who is a pretender.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I will believe FL loses to UT when I see it. That said, UT seems to be better on paper. Ole Miss will destroy FL. FL is not a good team right now. I do not even think the pollsters tendency to overrate SEC teams at times can make FL a top 10 or even top 20 team this year.

 

[Ineverplayedthegame]

FL is better coached than last year. Their QB is better than last year (and ours). Other than TE, their skill people are mediocre by FL standards. Why do you think we all got excited that this was our big chance to end the streak?

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Kentucky and see the Florida game last week. I have been predicting a big year for UK and I thought UK would beat Florida. Here is what I felt after getting back home and thinking about the game. UK is very, very young and inexperienced. Florida's defense was experienced, big d line and very fast defensive backs. This was Hargraves first game this year. Florida had a top twenty plus defense last year. Their new coach is much, much better than Muschamp - who has proved - at least so far this year - to be over rated as a defensive genius.

The bottomline is we could have just played a top 10 team or maybe we didn't. I think our defense has improved tremendously and we will keep improving. People now seem to be running for cover and saying this team will go bowling, but not be very good. I still think we win 9 games and surprise people. Every game is the next test for this young team. But we are playing an unbeaten, top 20 rated and two time defending division champion this weekend. If we beat them - then everyone should really fee comfortable - because one thing people need to realize - we will only have three teams rated above us to left to play. I think we will beat Mississippi State - my reasoning is purely emotional - because I still remember how Coach Stoops and the team had the game stolen from them two years ago at Miss. State. I really believe Coach will have the team prepared to do battle and win this one. I say again, IF, we can beat Missouri - we will 9 games!

Let's keep being positive and supporting the continued growth of our football program and team.

And finally..................

Go Big Blue!

I think the key for UK is how well the OL can protect the QB. In the first game Towles was on fire until LL made some adjustments which included getting after him. USC was more of the same, and against UF they came after him hard from the start. Towles didn't have his best game, but he did enough for UK to win if UF scores on 14 points, all he can do is hit the receiver. Who are the teams who have a reputation of getting pressure on the qb left on the schedule. No DBs are very good without pressure on the qb and that includes UF's. AU hasn't shown the ability to get much pressure, neither has State, surprisingly Vandy got much more pressure on our qb than USC did, UT has a couple of guys who get good pressure. Outside of that I don't know who else UK plays with a DL that can give UK's OL a lot of problems.

We will find out this week when UT plays Fla this week and Ole Miss plays Fla. next week.

Pressure is all on UT this year. Jones has been selling the building brick by brick for 3 years and has yet to have a big win. His seat will start to feel some heat if he loses to UF, UT wins, but UF is in their heads a little, just like they are with UK and UGA. But a UF win will be a huge negative for UT.

 

[BlueRaider22]

"And we let them off the hook....."

In all honesty, I think Florida's defense is easily a top-25 defense. However, they may not be rated as such b/c their offense is so bad that other teams are going to have plenty of chances to score, gain yds, etc.

Overall Florida is a top 30-40 team. If we didn't shoot ourselves in the foot, we could've won that game. Catch a sure TD pass.......don't deflect a pass for a pick-six......don't make dumb penalties......hit the open guy with a good pass......throw the ball away if you are getting pressured.....open the darn playbook, etc. Our defense played amazing.....and we let them off the hook.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Based on 247's team composite rankings of talent, Florida is the 12th ranked team (based on recruiting ranking talent), South Carolina was 22nd (which shows how wrong the rankings can be) and UK was 39th. Mizzou came in at 37, so we should be right there with them talent wise this weekend.

 

[kyisinmyblood]

I can agree with the OP.. He is only saying we don't know how good Florida really is and that is true.
IDK about you guys, but I saw a lot of NFL caliber prospects on Floridas defense. Their offense looked awful but it was Griers first ever start, and their first SEC road game with a new head coach. Maybe our defense is better than we all think as well. Stoops defenses do normally get dramatically better in year 3.
IDK how good they will be but I could see them being a 9 win football team and top 15 team by years end.. I think this is more likely than them being out of the top 25 all together.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Kentucky and see the Florida game last week. I have been predicting a big year for UK and I thought UK would beat Florida. Here is what I felt after getting back home and thinking about the game. UK is very, very young and inexperienced. Florida's defense was experienced, big d line and very fast defensive backs. This was Hargraves first game this year. Florida had a top twenty plus defense last year. Their new coach is much, much better than Muschamp - who has proved - at least so far this year - to be over rated as a defensive genius.

The bottomline is we could have just played a top 10 team or maybe we didn't. I think our defense has improved tremendously and we will keep improving. People now seem to be running for cover and saying this team will go bowling, but not be very good. I still think we win 9 games and surprise people. Every game is the next test for this young team. But we are playing an unbeaten, top 20 rated and two time defending division champion this weekend. If we beat them - then everyone should really fee comfortable - because one thing people need to realize - we will only have three teams rated above us to left to play. I think we will beat Mississippi State - my reasoning is purely emotional - because I still remember how Coach Stoops and the team had the game stolen from them two years ago at Miss. State. I really believe Coach will have the team prepared to do battle and win this one. I say again, IF, we can beat Missouri - we will 9 games!

Let's keep being positive and supporting the continued growth of our football program and team.

And finally..................

Go Big Blue!

This Mizzou game is huge. We have to find a way to win this game to gain momentum for the season.

Florida looked very well-coached, great defense, and they have a great Freshman QB in Grier. They are a good team.

As far as winning 9 games, I find it very unlikely. Mainly, our QB and O-line are subpar so we can't get any kind of passing attack. SEC defenses will stack the box on us to rattle Towles. As long as Towles can't develop some kind of quick, short passing game, we will win 6-7 games IMO.