1) We all heard it last year – the riff between Rex & that staff. 2) It was widely reported that Rex was changing the play. 3) Since the SEC is anything BUT Sand-lot Football, we have to assume that when Rex did change the play he changed it to something (in the Play Book) that had been practiced.> 4) Sunday, Caldwell was quoted on TBO.com as saying that the team practiced deep pass plays, but that they were never called during the game (and that the prayers were getting impatient b/c of that). 5) & OBTW do you remember what Brock said (in a pre-taped interview aired) during the scUM game? Something like “Rex was phenomenal! Leaving Florida and coming to Miami was just a business decision.” (or words to that effect.)
I see the decision to go with Leak as a HUGE positive step! Chris is phenomenal (but so was Rex.) But playing a phenomenal QB and then denying him the opportunity to do what he dose best, clearly will not guarantee team success. (We lost 5 games last year.) For the Gators to be successful I believe that we have to do three things beyond simply anointing Chris as the starter…
1) We do have a very young team. Everyone has room for improvement, and the staff has to provide the proper coaching to ensure that that happens. 2) We have to adopt a Game plan that (a) makes the maximum use of our players skills and talent, (b) takes maximum advantage of our opponents weaknesses, and (c) [most importantly] stretches our opponents defense to the Limit by Always posing a run threat and ALWAYS posing a deep passing threat. 3) And no matter what our “going in” Game Plan is (both O & D), we need to be perceptive enough to understand what our opponents are doing (that we didn’t anticipate) and flexible enough to adaptively change the plan During the Game.
It was pointed out yesterday that we have been outscored in the second half of 85% of our games vs. “real competition” under Coach Zook, and that we have been outscored almost 2:1 (112 – 212). Plus, in a season plus one game, we have had two home games where we have scored a total of 10 point or less! IF we are going to be successful we can’t let this kind of performance continue, and I believe that #2 and #3 above is the keys to changing that!
JmvHO & It’s Always Great to be a Florida GATOR!