|
23 October 2010
You're in luck Stadium Drives readers! We're one week removed from one of the most embarrassing losses in Florida football history, and no announcement has been made about replacing (or possibly dismembering) offensive coordinator Steve Addazio. Which means one thing...more complaining from me!!
You see, it appears the national perception is that Gator fans are merely being whiny and impatient as we watch this team stumble around looking clueless. Everyone from ESPN to Sports Illustrated has been mocking Gator Nation as having unrealistic expectations following two national titles in the last four years. As an example, Michael Wilbon, who I normally enjoy listening to, proclaimed that "...this is why college football fans are the absolute worst - grow up! Quit complaining!"
It's this exact sentiment that bothers me. Most reasonable fans entered this season with realistic expectations. We didn't expect a national title. We realized we lost a lot of talent off of last year's team - nine players drafted in the first five rounds of the NFL Draft, including three in the first round. We lost our defensive coordinator - Charlie Strong - to Louisville. We have four new assistant coaches this year. We had a head coach who dealt with health issues and had to force himself to take time off this offseason. We had a ton of young and/or inexperienced players taking over at the skill positions and trying to fill a leadership void. In short - we knew there could be some growing pains this season. You don't easily replace what Tim Tebow, Brandon Spikes, Brandon James and Joe Haden brought to the team - you just don't.
But with that being said...this is still Florida. We may not have been planning for 14-0 and another crystal football, but we certainly expect our players, no matter how young, to live up to their potential. We expect our coaches to have players prepared each week to give their best effort. And quite frankly, that hasn't happened.
Here's what I mean:
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have more than 26 yards of total offense through three quarters against Miami of Ohio.
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a center to be able to snap the ball to the quarterback with reasonable accuracy, even if he's not a natural center. Did they not practice this at all in the offseason?
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to score more than one touchdown at home against Mississippi State.
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect our quarterbacks - John Branley and Trey Burton - to have combined for more than six touchdown passes through seven games. Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden threw for that many in Week 3 alone.
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to score in the first quarter. Florida has scored in the first quarter in only one game this year - against Kentucky. Even more embarrassing - they've entered the half four times this year with seven or fewer points.
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to be better than 91st in yards per game (behind Louisiana-Lafayette, North Texas and Eastern Michigan), and 64th in points per game (behind Army, Northern Illinois and Central Florida).
- I don't think it's unreasonable to expect an offensive line that returned three starters and at least 10 guys who have seen game action to look so incredibly overmatched nearly every week, having given up 10 sacks through seven games, and only paving the way for only 142 yards rushing per game - good for 75th in the country,
- And finally, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a team with highly-compensated coaches to fix errors that continue to repeat themselves throughout the season, such as penalties (7.4 per game for almost 54 yards), field-goal kicking (4-9 on the year), or playcalling (approximately 47 dive plays every game).
From afar, I'm sure people may think Florida is struggling because they lost so much talent. They see a team that is 4-3, and think "well - they lost Tebow and all those guys - just struggling to get the new guys going a little. They'll be fine."
Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. The Gators may not have as much talent as last year, but they certainly have more than they've shown. Expecting a team to win a title every year is one thing - every fan base has a few morons who think this way. But expecting a team to play with effort and energy? I hardly think that's being an unrealistic fan.
Of course, Addazio apparently isn't aware there is a problem. Following the loss to LSU, Addazio said the offensive line graded out as well as they ever have. Perhaps he missed DT Drake Nevis taking up permanent residence in the Florida backfield, or the fact that the team put together only two offensive drives over 40 yards all night. He repeated this after the loss to Mississippi State. You know - the game in which they scored only one touchdown. I can't wait to hear what he says after Georgia puts Brantley on his back 15-20 times next weekend. Perhaps he'll explain how the Gators' offense is "still on schedule," falling back on his press conference catchphrase that makes me wonder if he has even been attending the games this year.
But while Addazio sticking around for the rest of the year may cause my blood pressure to rise and lead to me committing horrific acts of violence around my community, you loyal readers shouldn't despair. Instead, take solace in knowing that we still have five more weeks of this, and we've even decided to bring back Chris Rainey (minus his cell phone) to join in the fun! Which means a handful of "Fire Addazio" columns are still on the way this fall. And yes, each one will be worse than the last.
Just like Florida's games.
