Theater of Operations, Florida Vs. South Carolina: Reviewing The Gators' Offensive Performance
by FlaGators on Nov 13, 2011 10:30 AM EST
in Florida Football Analysis
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PrintTheater of Operations will be posted on Sunday and Monday this week instead of the usual Monday and Tuesday. Yeah, it's probably a good thing.
The loss to South Carolina felt like one of those games in which a team was in the game, but at the same time, wasn't. If that makes any sense, that is. Anyway, as we all know by now, the Gators lost 17-12 in what was largely a boring game. There just wasn't a lot of exciting play, by either team, for the vast majority of the game.
But not all is lost. The Gators, behind Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey, actually had a running game against a top 10 defense. It wasn't pretty at times, and even looked dreadful in parts, but over the course of the game, they actually moved the football and broke off a few long runs. Still, though, the offensive line play is atrocious, the receivers either aren't getting open or aren't being considered an option by John Brantley, and the list of offensive horrors goes on and on.
I've given up trying to figure out this team. Why doesn't Mike Gillislee ever play? I have no idea. Why is it, that every time we get off a few decent plays, the personnel is changed, thus damaging any momentum? Again, I have no idea. Let's just beat Furman, and then lose to Florida State and end this season already.
Well, actually, let's beat Furman and Florida State and then call it an end to the regular season.
Play No. 1: Chris Rainey's 19-yard run to the South Carolina 2.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Simple hand-off out of the shotgun formation in which Rainey (double yellow circle) with Hunter Joyer (yellow circle) is out in front as the lead blocker.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
After getting the hand-off cleanly, Rainey (double yellow circle) has a clean running lane to run through. Joyer (yellow circle) is still out in front, and Rainey has three other key blocks (yellow squares) that allow him to get beyond the linebackers.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Upon getting to the next level, Rainey (double yellow circle) is in the process of planting his lead foot to the outside and cutting back to the inside. This move causes the safety (green circle) to cut to the outside and end up out of position. Hunter Joyer (yellow circle) is still with him as the lead blocker.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
This is where geometry hurts the Gators. Rainey (yellow circle) has the speed advantage, but the South Carolina defense has the angles it needs.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
The South Carolina defense uses that geometrical advantage, and stops Rainey (yellow square) at the 2. This was a key tackle, as the Gators ended up having to settle for a field goal.
Play No. 2: Jordan Reed's 20-yard reception:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Jordan Reed (top yellow circle) runs a pretty simple 10-yard stop route here. He is going to be covered by the middle linebacker (top green circle) and that is a battle that Reed should win every single time.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
As Reed (yellow circle) begins the stop portion of his route, you can see that both the middle linebacker (top green circle) and outside linebacker (bottom green circle) are in no position to make a play on the ball at this point. The outside linebacker is focused on the receiver in the flat, and the middle linebacker is shading towards Reed, but hasn't quite moved far enough.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
As Brantley releases the ball, Reed (yellow circle) turns around at the perfect time. This allows him enough time to locate the ball and set his feet. The defenders (green circles) still aren't close enough to make a play on the ball.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Reed makes the catch with just enough room.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Reed ends up breaking past those two defenders (green square) that are pictured here and in the picture above this one (yellow square), before being tackled finally for a gain of 20 yards.
A timing play down the field actually worked! We are making progress! (It's the 10th game of the season!)
Play No. 3: Chris Rainey's 47-yard run:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Just the like the run profiled on play No. 1, this is just a simple hand-off to Rainey, who does a lot of the work on this run on his own.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Rainey (double yellow circle) has a lane here, but it is developing. There are two blocks (yellow squares) that are already in progress, but one (yellow and green circles) hasn't quite got started yet.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Rainey gets that block and will again get into the next level where he can take on the defensive backs.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Get past defender No. 1? Check.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Get past defender No. 2? Check.
Also, please take note of Quinton Dunbar's block (yellow square). This play probably ends right about here if Dunbar isn't making this block. I'm going to credit Dunbar with a 20-yard positive block.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Rainey ends up making it to the 2 again. Yeah, another red zone appearance for the Gators! Who among us thought yet another field goal was imminent? Well, that's what play No. 4 is all about.
Play No. 4: Jacoby Brissett's two-yard touchdown run:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
You know, I've watched this play about 20 times now, and I can't quite figure out what happens. All one can assume is that the coverage is great (CBS doesn't show it) in the end zone and, as a result, Brissett (yellow circle) has to make it happen by himself.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Check out the double yellow square. I'm not saying anything, but I'm just saying.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Well at this point, Brissett (yellow circle) has pretty much committed to trying to run it in for the touchdown.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Brissett actually makes a pretty decent move here to avoid the defender. He makes just a quick cut outside, but then bursts back inside. This allows him to get to the goal line, and, at that point, one has got to like Brissett's chances.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Touchdown, Gators.
You know, after a season in which the offense has underperformed in all areas (injuries aside), I'm kind of running low on things to say. It is what it is at this point in the year. We expect domination of lesser opponents, and an all-out struggle against any resemblance of a decent FBS team, and we have one of each left on the schedule.
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why did i know when rainy went down at the 2-3 yardline
that we would not get the td?
because we immediately take the risk of running wide needing 2 yards
where were joyer, burton, even gillissee?
in that situation with an offense that doesn’t score well
it seemed a td was essential
we hear complaints about not big backs, but we do have >200 lb guys
but don’t bring them in for such an obviously critical situation
this is where we lost the game
TLR is gone, long live the king
I agree. The north-south running backs are nowhere to be found.
Yeah, when Rainey was tackled at the 2-yard line, we scored a TD 50% of the time against Carolina. That’s gotta be a season record for us! The one time we did get that touchdown, it was with a quarterback.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Not a fan of brisset still. He missed at least one easy td throw and I’m pretty sure on his rushing td he missed another. Haven’t seen anything than short passes from him and he misses those. I know driskel hasn’t thrown it any better but at least he can run.
by GatorJustin on Nov 13, 2011 12:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions
You and I are in agreement. I’m in the Driskel club as well.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Easiest job on the team. Without question.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
Actually
Wouldn’t that be right? Back ups would be plural, and since it isn’t a pronoun, wouldn’t back up’s be proper possessive?
#postirrelevanttofootball
That easy TD throw he missed?
It was because Jordan Reed tripped over himself.
by Andy Hutchins on Nov 14, 2011 12:49 AM EST up reply actions
yep!
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
Only saw it live but it looked like reed tripped because he was backpedaling to catch an overthrown pass. Need to see it again though.
by GatorJustin on Nov 14, 2011 3:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Well, actually, let’s beat Furman and Florida State and then call it an end to the regular season.
That won’t happen. I don’t care if they are at home and the swamp and yadda yadda yadda. It won’t matter. FSU is going to beat us, then talk shit for another 365 days about how they own the series, forgetting what happened over the course of the previous 8 years. I’m just accepting it. There is no reason to get hyped for the game, only to be let down again. I know FSU at times hasn’t looked great, but at other times they have looked really really good, and I fully expect to get the really really good FSU. Look what FSU did to us last year….And this is pathetic to have to say this, but last years coaching staff was far better then this years coaching staff.
I know as an Editor here it’s hard for you to be to negative, especially when it comes to playing a rival. But you can’t honestly tell me off the record that we are going to beat FSU.
Coach Muschamp: Laying the Boom down on your a.....
Oh I agree, I’m just saying that to keep positive, etc. But I mean, yeah, as of right now, 30 on win-shares. At the most.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
I hope you're correct about losing to FSU.
But I’ve been saying since immediately after the LSU game that you’re exhibiting more pessimism than is warranted. Neither team is playing well, but I suspect they’ll both bring the A-game in the finale.
I hope so, but as of right now … I’m just not seeing it from the Gators.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
Yeah the Gators aren't looking too hot.
And the ‘Noles don’t work towards their strengths. I should be at the game, and hopefully it’ll be a memorable one. I would be in the student section, though… which I’m not looking forward to.
Both teams are misfiring…well, have fun.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
Ha, yeah, well … I kind of assumed that’s what you meant when you said “not working towards their strengths.”
We’ll have to call the UF-FSU game this year the “Ineptitude Bowl” or something like that.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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The Ineptitude Bowl does not reward the winner with a ring.
Rather, it punishes the loser with a dunce hat.
That’ll work.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
I won't be talking trash.
If FSU is fortunate enough to get the win, it’s still just the second in eight years. I’ll just say thanks for helping us salvage a disappointing season and be on my way. Our offense got shut down last night, though, by a D far less formidable than Florida’s.
by World Violation on Nov 13, 2011 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’ll just say thanks for helping us salvage a disappointing season and be on my way.
Yeah, we could say that as well. Which is just sad. For the both of us.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
WAKE UP!
Don’t ever post that crap about those ninnies at Free Shoes being guaranteed a win over our boys from Ole Florida. F-L-O-R-I-D-A! Down where the Gators play! Go Gators!
This is always a scenario where you throw out the record books. Plus FSU’s running game is suspect at best, which has been the only major area of ineptitude for our defense. The Tommy-whacks gave up a bunch of yards to the U, if the U doesn’t turn the game over to the headless then those thugs beat jack-wagons.
I give Florida a very solid 50-55% winning shot in this game. the extra 5% is my orange & blood blood, but the semi-tards are no where near the level of UGA, So Car, and especially not Bama and LSU. They are more between Vandy and So Car if ask me.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
you cant enjoy beating FSU 6 straight without suffering while losing ___ straight to them too - that is just how it works
all I’ll say is that is surprising how quick you all got bad – FSU had a slow decline over a decade – you all blew apart inside of 2 years
Can we run the Jordan Reed is our entire team gameplan?
Need a first down? Target Jordan Reed
Need a goalline TD? Let Jordan Reed Tebow it in (THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND I HATE WEIS FOR NOT TRYING IT).
Need a confidence inspiring completion for one of the mediocre QBs? Throw it at Jordan Reed
Need an onside kick caught? Put Jordan Reed out there
Need a linebacker to actually make a tackle at the line of scrimmage? Jordan Reed is probably big enough to do it.
Make Reed the #1 target for every pass, give him 20+ targets in a game and see if the WRs can finally break loose after the entire defense loads up on the TE. Also, hire me for Offensive Coordinator because I’m smart and drunk and stuff.
Weoejuwejhdjwe!
Twitter
by Chekhov's Spread Gun Option on Nov 13, 2011 6:47 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Sounds good to me. Give it a shot.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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We need to make this guy the OC ASAP
how do I subscribe to your newsletter???
by riverrock324 on Nov 14, 2011 12:05 AM EST up reply actions
This is actually a thing I don't get
Why is Trey Burton running the wildcat in short yardage when Reed is pretty fast, and substantially stronger and more powerful? I just don’t really get that. He seems like he’d be the perfect guy for a power wildcat.
Know what would be even smarter?
Using our fucking MONSTER FB Hunter Joyner or power RB Mike Gilly when we’re two yards out to jam it in the endzone. Weis is just getting too fucking cute for a “pro style” offense. He’s doing 15 things in every single situation when in some situations you only need 2-3 things done well to get the job done. The man doesn’t understand the concept of “Less is More”
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
It's like the Tebow curse or something
Ever since we had Tebow as our FB/QB and Meyer didn’t trust anyone else to run the ball it seems to have become some sort of curse.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Well maybe it's the faison curse?
Cause this problem really started once he left, and he was recruited by Spurrier and brought in with Zook.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
Did anyone hear Tim Brandos comment after Brissetts TD run? " a Tebowesque type of td run" I think were the exact words. And was anyone else pretty offended that it was even thought of let alone said on national TV?? Maybe it was just me.
by gatorempire127 on Nov 14, 2011 2:27 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I didn’t hear it. Mostly because the shock of a touchdown, I was celebrating.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
I blame this game on Brantley
John you sucked. Can’t tell me no one was open. You just played scared. How about man up for the next two games? That goes for the O-line as well, it was better, but it should’ve been even better than that.
And Cheeseburger, use your weapons correctly, or god help me I’ll come down there and injury your precious little fast backs myself.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
That's not fair
I thought Johnny played a damn good game. He did what was asked of him and put up a decent fight considering that fucking turnstile we start at Left Tackle. If you put Brantley behind Ablamblamma’s OL he’d be just as good as McCarron.
The pro style offense is supposed to be simple, power running, protect the ball. Johnny is definitely playing scared b/c he has no time to operate. He may have a deep(er) option or two on some plays but he always has a safety valve. Given no time to breathe because Nixon the traffic cone lets EVERY defender blow right by him, he takes the safety option before the play has the chance to develop.
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
While this is supposed to be a compliment to Brantley
But imagine a GOOD QB under Alabamas offense, because neither McCarron or Brantley are good.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Don't really *have* to be that good
Turn around: hand off ball
Turn around: hand off ball
Quick slant to TE
Occasionally * one * (for the love of god just ONE) deep pass that is to a WR that might be * lightly * covered (they don’t have to be wide open, Johnny. Sometimes you have to help make the play).
Alabama beats you with defense and an offense that doesn’t allow YOUR defense to win for you. Don’t make mistakes. That’s all that Johnny needs to do. Look at what South Carolina did to us – same thing Mullen did to us last year and same thing that’s been done to us all year – don’t give our defense a chance to beat you. No 5/7 step drops that might allow a devastating sack, not too many deep balls that might get picked. They know we don’t have the offensive fire power to win on our own, so don’t allow us to win. Look at our defensive performance in all our games (except LSU/Bama): 17, 24, 17 points. Those are not insurmountable offensive totals, yet we are opting to kick 2 yard FG’s when we need 7 to win.
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
I know
Thats what I am saying. Its not really a compliment to Brantley to say, " He would be just as good as McCarron if he play for Bama."is It just shows how mediocre he really is.
And it’s not like Weiss asks all that much of Brantley. Its the simple Weiss offense, west coast spread em out and find the mismatch. While i’ll admit, it does require the QB to be able to one- throw the ball accurately and two- think under pressure. It is no where near what Meyer expected of Brantley.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
by Hook85 on Nov 14, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
here here.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
That’s an insult to traffic cones, at least they ding your car.
by GatorJustin on Nov 14, 2011 3:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I just went back to read your recap
you did a good job of summarizing things. OL can’t pass block, but they run block exceptionally well.
Did anyone notice how terrible we are at WRAPPING UP tackles? There were 2, maybe 3 CRITICAL tackles missed where a defender was in position to make a play, had his hand(s) on his target, but came up clutching air. I can’t remember most of them, but the one that sticks out was on a 3rd and about 6, where we had great backfield penetration and Shaw threw a quick pass to (I think) Jeffrey in the flat, behind the LOS. Dont remember who was there but he had Jeffrey by the legs, and let him go to allow him to get to 4th and short. SC picked up the 4th down on the next play, and went on to score a TD on the possession. We HAVE to get that under control. Next season I mean…b/c this one’s fucking lost.
Beyond that, I think Brantley did everything asked of him and played a good game. RZ play calling needs a serious overhaul. We MUST HAVE a dedicated power runner to make this pro style offense work. Charlie also needs to simplify and stop trying to get so cute. 2 yards out from the goal line doesn’t require “Z trips 36, dive purple Y leg shaggy drop, waggle quack 11 B” it requires the guy with the strongest squat record on the team to take a handoff and blast thru the middle.
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
goddamnit. that last line sounded like it belonged on NDNation. maybe I need to step away from the computer for awhile.
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
And that’s typical of a young offensive line. Young OL’s typically block the run or the pass better, but seldom do both great.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
yeah, I think some of us are missing the lines portion in the redzone equation.
While I agree with all of the comments in favor of getting Joyer, or Gilly the ball when Florida is deep in the redzone, does anyone think that those players have a chance of not being contacted by the defense about 3-4 yards behind the LOS? The Oline has been pretty good at run blocking between the 20s, but it’s also easier to do that. It does seem like Weis gets too cute down there, and at this point I’d rather see Florida line it up, go right em and fail, than to continue to do this crap that is obviously not working.
contributing author - Alligator Army
Exactly.
I don’t know how to set up the right probability function, but what’s your probability of winning with 3 fucking cutesy offensive trickery plays and a FG, versus 2-3 power runs and maybe one mismatch play all attempting for a TD.
The inverse of this is LSU’s defense: they can give up a ton of yards between the 20’s b/c they stack the box and are focused on power & strength, but you back them up into their own endzone and you’ve got a shorter field to work with, you’re going to opt for a FG.
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Let alone what our odds are
if we turn it over on downs after trying 4 power runs from the 2. I’ll take our DL vs. Connor Shaw 5 yards deep in his own EZ all day.
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Totally agree.
Surprisingly though, we are 29th nationally in terms of Red Zone percentages. 31 possessions, 27 scores.
14 of them being touchdowns. Which is way low.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
Strongest squat record???
so you want us to handoff to a lineman???
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
Sure.
Fridge Perry, Warren Sapp and BJ Raji all say “points are points, motherfucker”
I'm not going to a country that confuses itself with poultry. Never.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 14, 2011 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
I'd love to have anyone of those guys
more so to play the position they primarily play. But I’d especially want Sapp. Imagine Sapp and Easely in a dance off … I chuckle just at the prospect
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
what ever happened to the old smashing of lines, followed by a running back over the top? I used to love watching the back leap from the 3 yard line over the defense and into the end zone! The linebacker really has to be unimpeded and have perfect timing to stop it.
Hopefully, we’ll have that soon.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
That play is exciting
Makes me a little too nervous though when the HB reaches the ball out there in the hopes of breaking the plane.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Yeah
that’s only the dumb ones. the smart ones know better.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
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