Florida Gators 2012 -- Week #2

 This will be relatively short since it is Wednesday and my memory can barely be relied on as I'm already looking forward to the next road test @Tennessee (6:00 PM ESPN).

I feel that the offense actually looked a little better in scoring fewer points this week. The offensive line was a little more consistent on run plays which allowed for a few dominating, time-consuming drives. Initially Texas A&M came out on fire, ready to prove they belong in the SEC. The Aggies' first drive (which would have been a 3-and-out but for a personal foul penalty) went 14 plays over 4:26 and 66 yards for a field goal. The Gators, led by the offensive line, answered with a 13 play, 6:43 drive that covered 75 yards and led to a touchdown! Nine of those plays were rushes. I believe that is the kind of powerful football Coach Muschamp is looking for on offense.

The problem then became the defense. Texas A&M's answer to the Gators answer was a 13 play, 5:12 drive that went 81 yards for a touchdown! The defense was simply picked apart by a very athletic redshirt freshman quarterback, Johnny Manziel. That guy is going to cause some serious problems for some teams. Especially ones who are too aggressive in their pass rush (see First Half versus the Gators). After a quick 5 play drive for the Gators, which saw 3 sacks, they punted back to Texas A&M who, in turn, shredded the defense for 10 plays in just 3:31 for 79 yards and another touchdown. 17-7 and not looking very good.

At this point, points of some kind were essential for the Gators. The team did respond with a 9 play drive for just over five minutes, 37 yards and a field goal. After three drives for each team, the score was 17-10, Texas A&M, I with just 1:49 left in the half. Again, the freshman quarterback was impressive with a 9 play drive that luckily ended with time expiring for the half. There was a key sack in the series by backup linebacker Michael Taylor that pushed Texas A&M back to the Gators' 41 yard line.

Halftime was essential for making defensive adjustments to contain Johnny Manziel. It also felt essential that Florida put some points on the board with their first drive since it felt like a shoot out was coming and they were lucky to be down only one score.

Florida came out and did get 3 points after yet another 10 play drive. After that, the story really became the defense. Texas A&M had 6 drives in the second half. 4 of the first 5 were 3 plays and out for a grand total of 21 yards. The other drive went 4 plays for 6 yards. A&M's final drive went 7 plays but only 22 yards. That's right, 49 yards of second-half offense! Florida's offense wasn't much better after that opening drive field goal, but they were able to put together a quick 4 play drive that took 1:14 and covered 62 yards for a touchdown. That drive was highlighted by a 39 yard pass to Omarius Hines that took the ball from the Gators own 43 yard line deep into Aggies' territory at the 18. That touchdown put the Gators on top, 20-17, with 14:19 left in the game and as I mentioned, the defense made that lead stick.

This was definitely a battle worthy of a conference matchup. Texas A&M took their best shot in the first half which, in some years past might have broken a Gators team. But I do believe some of the toughness that the head coach is trying to instill is actually sticking.

This week might be an even tougher matchup on the road against a would-be rival (if Tennessee had won more games in the past two decades or so), Tennessee. They're young quarterback, Tyler Bray, is the real deal. The defense will have to be both, strong against the run and strong -- possibly stronger -- against the pass. I think Tennessee will score into the 20s which means I'd like to see the Gators get into the 30s. Something like 31-23 ought to suffice. I know, I know... "what makes you think the Gators can score 31 points?" I feel like the coaching staff will expect to NEED more points this week so they may open up a little more aggressively on offense with some play action passing. Fingers crossed!


Just Joe