So now what, Charlie Weis?

by car.full.of.midgets on Oct 3, 2011 5:48 PM EDT

Going into this season, I wasn't sure what to expect from the Gator offense. Like many of you, I mocked our corpulent coordinator mercilessly while he was trying unsuccessfully to resuscitate the Notre Dame program, but I've always respected his playcalling prowess, if only begrudgingly at times. I have been pleasantly surprised at the production that Weis has managed to elicit from the mismatched pieces he inherited from the previous staff, but his most impressive accomplishment for the Orange and Blue thus far has been the reconstruction of John Brantley. Under Weis's tutelage, Brantley went from one man horrorshow to cool, competent game manager in just one offseason.

The story could have ended there, and ended happily, but the Fates had other ideas. In the course of one play, Brantley's saga changed from a tale of redemption to an ironic parable about the capriciousness inherent in existence, and the Florida Gators season went from hopeful to hapless. Brantley 2.0 was gone, and in stepped wide-eyed, all-everything freshman Jeff Driskel.

Driskel played about as well as one could reasonably expect to see from a true freshman pressed into service trailing against the best defense in college football; that is, he played tentatively at times, and largely appeared bewildered by the defense. I don't mean to bash our young QB at all, as I think his problems are directly related to inexperience and that he will eventually live up to his billing, but it is clear that he needs some help if he is to lead this team through the meat of its SEC schedule.

My question to you, Alligator Army readers, is how do you think Coach Weis will tweak the offense to give Driskel a fighting chance? Do you foresee an increase in Wildcat plays for Chris Rainey and Trey Burton? Do you think Weis will roll the pocket out to buy more time against aggressive defensive fronts? Hand-offs and screens to build confidence and bring Driskel along slowly? Or does he scrap it all and go single wing?

Please be kind and use good grammar.

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I’m not sure what’s left. He said he was going to throw the kitchen sink at Alabama’s defense. From the looks of things, they just caught it, and threw it back at us.

I don’t know how well versed Charlie is in a quasi-option offense, but I can think of worse things. But yeah, I foresee a lot of screens, quick outs, to get Driskel going and hopefully build some confidence.

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by FlaGators on Oct 3, 2011 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

The Offense was built for Driskel

Without Brantley we cant beat the elite teams, I still think we can win the SEC EAST without him though. If Driskel can throw dump passes and run the option, as well as not turn the ball over, Charlie can build up his confidence just like he did Johnnys. But that is alot of “ifs” for a true freshman qb i guess

by JDUVAL911 on Oct 4, 2011 5:25 AM EDT reply actions

Even if we run the table in the east

but can’t get it done against Auburn we won’t make it to Atlanta. Don’t see USC or UGA with 3 SEC losses.

I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.

by Bourbon_Meyer on Oct 4, 2011 7:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly.

Pretty safe to write off our chances in Baton Rouge this weekend, so Auburn becomes a must-win game if this team wants the SEC East title. I worry about night games at Jordan-Hare and the accompanying horribad officiating, but then I remember Ted Roof is the WarTigerPlainsman DC.

My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11

by car.full.of.midgets on Oct 4, 2011 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I easily see one or the other with 3 losses...

But BOTH having 3 losses is another matter…

His name was Nick Bloomfield.
Also Not You

by The Commenter Formerly Known as Not You on Oct 7, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

LSU is winnable. We just have to completely overhaul the offense this week, which could actually work out to our advantage – the element of surprise, right? Our D matches up, if they don’t get away with holding on every play (cough, Bama, cough). Hopefully we’re not forgetting to prepare for Jefferson to play QB as well as Lee.

by Andrew Nordine on Oct 4, 2011 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

Best prep for Jefferson

would be hands drills for the defense.

My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11

by car.full.of.midgets on Oct 4, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Or chasing a car full of midgets.

by Andrew Nordine on Oct 4, 2011 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Our offense must block!

If we do not keep the D off of the QB we are in trouble. I hope Driskel does not get hurt Saturday night. I really like the kid! We need guys with a little more size. I think Rainey is awsome but, we must feed these guys some protein shakes.
Lets play bigger boys.
37 Ben Sams RB 5’ 11" 210 SO
8 Trey Burton RB 6’ 3" 229 SO
82 Omarius Hines WR 6’ 2" 220 RJR
89 Stephen Alli WR 6’ 6" 222 RSO
11 Jordan Reed TE 6’ 3" 239 RSO

What do ya’ll think?

by GATORSALWAYS on Oct 6, 2011 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

I'd like to see Hunter Joyer

play with an Owen Schmitt attitude. Schmitt laid nasty lead blocks for Slaton and Devine at WVU, and when he got the ball in his hands, he usually made the tackling defender pay. Look up his highlights on youtube sometime; he plays with the kind of mean streak you usually see in free safeties and middle linebackers. Honestly, I think Rainey’s big play potential means he needs to be in the game as much as possible, but I would like to see a big complementary back out there with him.

If they can get Burton to run with a lower pad level, I think he can be a very effective power runner. Right now, he’s a little too upright, resulting in a higher center of gravity, which makes him easier to bring down. I love his effort and energy though. He is the kind of player you want in your program. I’m glad we got his brother too.

Hines continues to be an enigma. He’s been hampered by injury and splitting time between positions so far this year, but hopefully he works past that as the season goes on. The ball that so infamously hit him in the facemask in the endzone was tipped, and I would hate for that to be the enduring impression of his contribution to this team.

I’m glad Reed is back, and I think he is a nightmare matchup as a receiver. He’s shown great hands and a willingness to go get the ball over the middle of the field. He still needs work as a blocker, but that criticism extends to Leonard and Christian as well at the TE spot.

Alli is more of a mystery than even Hines. He was a guy we took on potential more than anything else, and he’s still a bit of a project, but with his height, you can’t help but envision him grabbing a jump ball in the endzone. I hope we get to see that as some point in his Gator career.

My anti-drug is football, because sometimes it is a better hallucinogen than anything you can get at Burning Man. - Spencer Hall 9/28/11

by car.full.of.midgets on Oct 7, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions