We’ll start off with a quote from contributor and frequent commenter One Eyed Willy, which puts an interesting perspective into the Steve Addazio–Dan Mullen dynamic and more than likely echoes the thoughts many Florida fans currently have.
“I feel like Addazio is Mullen’s little brother who he taught how to play basketball back in the day. Mullen taught him his signature sky hook and his behind the back dribble. Problem is that when Addazio tries to use those moves against Mullen, big brother is already two steps ahead. But maybe Addazio’s stupidity pays off. Maybe Mullen thinks ‘well, if they were smart they would run a play action pass here since they have been setting it up all day long.’ And since Addazio isn’t smart he runs an option to the short side of the field that happens to work because the entire defense is thinking play action pass. One can only wish.”
One of the biggest concerns heading into Florida’s matchup with Mississippi State is that Mullen knows the Gators. He was there. He helped create the offense and he is also aware of what can stop it. Addazio was the replacement. The next choice. He learned it from Mullen and very rarely does the student become the teacher.
Could the Bulldogs hold the upper hand because of what they know of the way the Gators play? It’s a valid possibility and one that has fans worried. They aren’t confident in Addazio’s abilities – just take a look at the quote again – and are hoping that sheer luck and Mullen overthinking is what saves the day for them and gives Florida the victory. Ah the ups and downs of being a Gator fan in 2010.
What pulls the whole thing together is how Willy ends it: “One can only wish.” That might as well be the theme for the rest of the season for Florida. No one is exactly sure what was expected out of the 2010 season, but for Gator fans whatever it was wasn’t enough. A step back due to a number of new players at key positions sounds fine and reasonable, but when it actually happens fans hit the panic button. Now Florida faces something it hasn’t had to deal with since 1999: back-to-back-to-back losses.
Breathe. It’s okay. Breathe. We’ll get through this together. That hasn’t happened yet and the Gators still have to be considered the favorites in this matchup. The Bulldogs are an improving team and have the Mullen factor going for them, but before you grab a paper bag and have to put your head between your knees look a little deeper.
MSU has looked great in three big wins against lesser opponents. In their last outing, they rushed for over 400 yards. They held the ball for 39:02 of the game. That’s scary good, especially when you consider the fact that the Gators haven’t played a linebacker for a single down for two straight games (okay, so that’s a little much, they’ve played, but they’ve been invisible). The Bulldogs have scored 47 or more against the likes of Memphis, Alcorn State, and a Case Keenum-less Houston team.
Now look at their SEC games. The games MSU is 1-2 in. In losses to Auburn and LSU, the Bulldog offense only managed one touchdown in each. In a win over Georgia, they put 24 points on the board. Not bad in that final game, but overall the offense is averaging 12.7 points per game against SEC opponents (yes, there was another TD in there against Auburn, but the defense scored it).
So what you really have to wonder is which MSU we’ll see. The one that is a well-oiled machine? Or the one that struggles to put points on the board? And then you have to ask the same question about Florida. Do we get the Gators who looked like they had put it all together against Kentucky? Or the Gators with a frustratingly confusing offense and a leave-the-middle-of-the-field-open defense?
If there ever was a trap game for Florida, this is it. You see, the Gators still control their destiny in the SEC East. Florida has two conference losses and the only teams without three already are South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Both have one SEC loss and both still face the Gators. But this is the game. The game where Florida can’t experience a letdown. It’s too hard to say if they’ll bounce back after losses to Alabama and LSU or if they’ll still experience the same issues they did for 120 minutes.
You’ve heard it a million times. This is a good football team. And that’s true. This team has as much talent as any team in the country. The problem is the utilization of that talent. Sure John Brantley doesn’t fit perfectly into the offense, but what happened to “we tailor our offense and play calling to the personnel we have?” Really? You do? Then why is Jeff Demps constantly running the ball inside the tackles and Emmanuel Moody is getting plays called that take him to the outside. And, oh yeah, screens only work if you set them up effectively. You can’t just keep going to them over and over and hope for them to eventually work. Well, maybe Urban Meyer and Steve Addazio can hope, but something is not clicking and it may have to do with that fact that Percy Harvin isn’t the one catching those screen passes anymore.
There are problems and MSU knows that. They have some of the same problems when it comes to facing the tougher teams. Because of that, this one could really go in either direction. The average fan doesn’t like to think a program like Florida could lose to one like Mississippi State, but the have-nots have closed the gap between them and the haves. They have athletes as well. Players that can step up in big moments. Florida may be nervous going into every game the rest of this season. They have to worry about this one first.
Get the play calling issues figured out (because if you think the yelling for Addazio’s head is loud now, just wait). Utilize the talent you have (PLEASE!). Occasionally simplify things (blocking schemes don’t always have to be this guy pulling here and this guy moving there, they can be just “block”). Stretch the field (the occasional incomplete deep pass is okay as long as you’re taking a shot). Pressure the opposing quarterback (and don’t stop). Get the linebackers involved (they can be great). Force turnovers (this is a big one).
It all seems awfully simple. On paper. In the past two games though, there have been issues with some or all of those things. If it’s not fixed against Mississippi State, it’s anyone’s guess what the rest of the season will bring. We’re only halfway through and I’m already out of “ughs.”
Who Do You Have?