• Welcome to Green Bay Packers NFL Football Forum & Community!
    Packer Forum is one of the largest online communities for the Green Bay Packers.

    You are currently viewing our community forums as a guest user.

    Sign Up or

    Having an account grants you additional privileges, such as creating and participating in discussions. Furthermore, we hide most of the ads once you register as a member! Furthermore, we hide most of the ads once you register as a member!

Postgame...

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
It's Sunday morn, I'm sipping my freshly-brewed and letting the various "POST postgame" highlights shows washover me--for us nowadays a lot of waiting out/wading THRU endless (uniformly faulty) analysis of ranked-teams' games and outcomes just to catch the passing gloss-overs of our win and missing insights into SEC-outcomes in general, and it hits me: I really AM just TIRED of it all. I am waiting in vain to hear SOMEONE acknowledge for the rest of "College Football America" what seems patently obvious to US:
(1) Whether they are "back" or (in truth) never "left" the scene, as a "league" the SEC is currently unmatched--the very best from "the rest" of the accepted "main conferences" are, individually at BEST MAYBE worthy of meeting the contenders at the top of our conference.
(2) NO one is, or looks to be approaching anytime soon, Alabama's level of play, or standard they continue to raise and strive for.
(3) Not that anyone particularly CARES bout li'l ol' US down in Gainesville, Fla, but btw: As our Head Coach promised coming in, and as he stresses each week, coming off field after win or loss, at Pressers and every time a microphone is shoved in his face, THIS TEAM IS PROGRESSING--learning, growing, improving play in SOME area at least.
That much is true--in fact, the truth of it is inherently both our problem and our HOPE: WHILE we clearly ARE "getting better" in SOME way or ways each week, from one game to the next noticeably (and NOTABLY) improving in SOME important area, we have neither uniformly held ONTO that improvement nor consistently yet "put it all together", whole areas of the individual PARTS our "improvements" have so far comprised.
Yes, we still have holes in our available talent (starters AND back-ups--GOTTA be able to rotate in comparable UNITS on defense, for example, in order to consistently field and finish a defensive effort like yesterday's, for eg), whole areas of talent that must be upgraded thru recruiting and conditioning. But the promised "progress and improvement" IS happening--and Mullens' continued focus on "CONSISTENCY" applies (I believe from his point-of-view) refers specifically not just to those PARTS of our overall game that SHOW improvement, but even more so to the aim and idea of "putting it all together", BEING consistently better AS A TEAM to PUT TOGETHER WHOLE GAMES, and doing so "consistently".
I don't normally care about, let alone ask anyone else to pay the slightest attention to, any other Coach's claims or comments to the media after games, let alone compare us in any way--but Look at/Listen TO Saban's attitude, by now pretty damn consistent, gruff pleas for the media he faces postgame to, if anything, talk about the FLAWS, the DIFFICULTIES his squad has faced and shown in the game just passed. His whole THING is to face flaws, get better, never get complacent.
In his own, albeit (towards the media, at least) more "relaxed and friendly" way, Mullens is trying to instill, in all of Gator Nation but ESPECIALLY his own team (and the greater "program" beyond) a similar dedication to, accept-nothing-less-THAN "committment to excellence".
So we're starting to SEE the (early, limited-by-lack in depth and talent) fruits of that approach--actual, tangible and observable improvement in PARTS of the whole out there from one gameday to the next--it's just that so far it is JUST "parts", while other parts (and PLAYERS--most noticeable of course at QB) seem to backslide, disappoint at the same time. But even there, I see net improvement overall: PARTS of his game continue to improve, at least "recover" as we continue to grow as a TEAM.
With a couple of at least "decent" recruiting classes we should be more and more on the fasttrack, "onward and upwards".
We appear to be heading in the right DIRECTION right NOW; With this "right ATTITUDE", our Coach I think is setting the RIGHT COURSE for the only acceptable standard for this program: Eventually, to be THE BEST--Nothing less. And still, ALWAYS trying to get BETTER, even then, no matter what.
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
One other thing, potentially huge for us and our chances next week against MSU:
The 1st string Vols QB had his leg rolled up on in the 2nd half by Cece Jefferson.
Looked pretty innocuous at time to me, but seems the Vols fans are putting the replay up everywhere and raising hell about it being "dirty hit", intentional etc.
Vols Coach Pruitt said to be "almost certain to" forward it to SEC Rules Committee for review; Jefferson, along with Reese and Gardner one of our best players on defense who has had a real impact on that side since getting back last coupla weeks.
We NEED him to keep getting better, have a fair chance NEXT Saturday against MSU.
Take a look at play: Am I such a "homer" that I just can't SEE any "purposeful intent to injure" there?
 

Escambia94

Aerospace Cubicle Engineer (ACE)
Moderator
There was no purposeful intent there. Jefferson actually fell and was on all fours by the time his fall carried him forward and he landed on the QB.
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Monday late-aft: Just tried to find if there's been any further word from SEC rules-committee office about this hit:
Not only no "ruling", but far as I can tell, so far no "appeal" (or whatever it is called in such a situation) from Pruitt, the UT Coach following up, inquiring about it.
Lots of discussion, Twitter etc. Plenty of complaints about officiating in genetal in that game (for eg, comparing with Franks' absorbing that helmet-to-helmet hit moments earlier, where no flag on play itself but "targeting ruling-on-field", overturned by replay officials "upstairs"...I thought "No Flag" on Jefferson's roll-up-the-QB's-legs play precluded him getting suspended later by a replay ruling--especially as it seems pretty clear that Cece was trying to pull up; slow mo from before til after hit clouds the "bang/bang" nature of it all, but DOES well-show context, effort to stop, and NO INTENT TO INJURE pretty clearly, I think).
Perhaps this will be a case of honesty, clear-eyed thinking, and proper use of technology leading to "let it go, play on..."
One more thing to appreciate about the college game, as opposed to the No Fun League and THEIR self-deterioration.
Anyone hears any further word on this one in any way, let us know here pronto, right?
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Just watched that play AGAIN, beginning to end, with isolated camera in slo-mo.
Despite the ignorant and (ongoing, throughout the 2nd half) strangely biased claims by that dumb-assed announcing team, there was no REASON to throw a flag there--Jefferson was on his knees behind the QB, FIGHTING his momentum by practically digging his palms and knees into ground, and their QB backed INTO him...yes, momentum WAS still carrying Jefferson's body inches forward, but the QB more or less awkwardly caused his own injury...No intent, and just unfortunate.
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
One thing I note but keep forgetting to mention, that keeps jumping back in my face with all the reviews I've made of this past one, in whole and in part(s):
We have got some SPEED on this team now--and it manifests in 2 or 3 guys who have some MOVES to go with that speed: Swane, Toney, Pierce...all 3 have shown flashes of Harvin-type sudden explosiveness. On that late run, for eg, Pierce suddenly showed he has that "extra gear" he can near-instantly slide into--started thru the hole, then was GONE: "A puff of smoke in the shape of a man" all that was left back at the line of scrimmage.
Now THAT bodes well for this offense.
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
I figure this is and WILL be the place to drop random thoughts and reactions "Postgame..." rest of the way...
Starting this time with:
Anyone else already as tired of Benny Snell as I am? I mean, OK OK he's a pretty fine runner, the spark AND the carrier of that offense--but "the most interesting man in CFB"??? (as per headline on ESPN+)...No, he is a good-natured loudmouth who makes easy copy/"just ask him some lazy dumb cliched q and turn on the camera" subject for the media in general. Defenses would have shut him down, shut KENTUCKY down by now if not for the emergence of an alt-threat RB back there in Rose, AND (more important) an actual DEFENSE to keep things close early until Snell and his O-line get untracked, then frustrate the opposition's O throughout. Fact remains, you can win in the SEC with meager offense (WE did it, to a certain extent, for YEARS post-Tebow--til it finally, thoroughly caught up to us... And the whole Conference was more or less defined by the idea for DECADES until Steve Spurrier returned to Florida as our Coach and made "hangin' half a hunnert" on opponents the way you won CHAMPIONSHIPS here), but nowadays you don't win anything in the SEC without SOME decent D...UK are looking good and sitting as high as they are because they have built a decent DEfense to go with that running game...
As for Snell, well, when it comes to television and ratings, it's a matter of "mass branding". Consider this:
A long time ago, back in the 1950's, studies were conducted with numerous focus groups in order to somehow measure the most effective means of gaining "name recognition" among the public for a particular brand or product. It was found that 2 methods of approach were most effective: Humor, and irritation--make 'em laugh, or bug the CRAP out of 'em.
While "humor" was determined the stronger, more effective of the two approaches, it was also the most difficult, more "hit or miss" at best--and wore OUT quickly thru time and repetition.
"Irritation", though, was easy--and gets EASIER: All ya gotta do is keep REPEATING it! And so, to this day, the very junk that gets under your skin and keeps coming, driving us to channel-surf ad infinitum (often from one stupid "who is this AIMED at?!" moment to another) is created for and driven BY its very "irritating stupidity"...and lets face it: THAT, the lazy certainty that "we" (well, the average college football fan switching around the dial) notice, recognize and follow the coverage that identifies itself with Snell's image right now...That's the current application of the "accepted wisdom", at any rate. So ya gotta consciously RESIST it; used to be this had limited effectiveness unless you yourself had a "Nielsen Box" installed in your home, or were invited to keep an "Arbitron Log"...and you signed confidentiality aggreements when you agreed to participate, etc, so it was hard to hack that system (trust me--I worked in local TV in LA early in my career, where we lived and died on those ratings each Monday morning)...but the internet, social apps, sophisticated "scientific analysis", "algorhythms" and all the rest have changed some things, and further entrenched others--like the "irritate the bumpkins" approach, by now having evolved into a whole technical philosophy
and METHOD: Grab a face (and implied whole PERSONALITY that individual is expected to embody, role he is to play--most are WILLING), and shove it in front of everyone ELSE'S face again and again, saying the same THINGS again and again and AGAIN--and that becomes "The Story". Lazy, dumb, IRRITATING--and, as a framing device, background to advertising, as (from the POV of the folks who PAY for it all) it is all designed and aimed to BE, EFFECTIVE. They want it to capture your attention--but NOT be so interesting and thought-provoking that it distracts from the ADVERTISING message.
So as soon as "they" get wind of the idea that viewers are starting to TURN OFF, switch AWAY the moment they see Snell's image on the screen, rather than STOP switching when they see him, only THAT will end it; they'll readily find and move on to something else.
As for UK, well, they aren't gonna go undefeated, they aren't gonna go to the Football Final Four, and THIS "Cinderella Story" will come up a bit short; the cameras will move on, the headlines will change, fade--and this "high water mark" will have to be enough: If their Coach stays, they can be a decent, solid mid-level SEC East program...which would make them by definition "one of the better programs in the nation", after all. The "Championship"-questing elite will have to prepare for them with respect and care, and from time to time they'll still have their "moments"--but they'll still be a "Basketball-school" (sort of the reverse of how it is for FLORIDA--even when we DO have the right combo of Coach and stars on the roundball-side).
So I figure they're on track for one of the New Years Day "Also-ran"-Bowls--if they don't collapse and blow THAT. And remember: Way things are, rest of the way THIS season they're success only helps our relative ranking...Personally, I don't give the slightest DAMN about any of that anymore: WE are about getting to that "ELITE"-level where CHAMPIONSHIPS are a real, a REALISTIC goal...so this season is about all the things that help us learn, grow, BE that "TEAM TO COME". We need to get a Bowl invite for the sake of the 6 extra weeks of practice; Then we look for enough wins and attention to maybe gain a "GOOD Bowl"--the more prestigious, the more attention on TV, the better for our recruiting profile and eventual prospects.
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Another thing:
One thing about NOT being any part of the "eventual Final Four" discussion is that once you see and accept that reality, you get a real objective perspective on what DRIVEL flows from the mouths of the media guys who discuss it--and the closer they are to the subject the more USELESS is what passes for "analysis"...It's all so self-referential to start with: Each begins with a "shot in the dark", stake-out-a-position program-choice early, then proceeds to support and further bolster it week by week from there, ignoring the actual trends and weaknesses revealed by real play in favor of whatever thin criteria they choose to highlight that further supports their original choices and arguments. So that ONLY when one of those (often after a STRING of NEAR "upsets") finally actually loses on the field to a team that HASN'T been on his or his colleagues' "me too"-lists of "accepted wisdom" choices since Week 1 is room made for someone who has been actually "getting it done" in PLAY--and even THAT is only a "maybe", lets face it: I certainly don't trust most of these blowhards to weigh with any kind of objective insight the relative strengths of "the same old group of high profile programs" they are USED to following and talking about, versus "young, hot outsiders" with decent young Coaches whose teams play similarly difficult schedules but may have their program "arriving" at their long-range-planned levels a season or more earlier than expected. It all encourages a reversion to the "bad ol' days" of the "beauty contest"-approach to fill the slot: Sooner or later this will likely mean someone CLEARLY undeserving, a team playing a schedule unworthy of being considered in the same way as you otherwise are comparing to a DOZEN or more schools playing MUCH tougher competition, getting in.
I'm old enough to remember the utter absurdity of a National Championship being voted to a namby-pamby BYU team ONLY because they were the only team, a weak WAC team for God's sake, anyone had heard of who went undefeated that year, 1984, when they played NO ONE--until beating a so-so Michigan team in DECEMBER in the HOLIDAY BOWL!!!--and then the few other unbeatens lost in THEIR Bowl games. There were at LEAST a dozen teams that could have CREAMED them that year (including our GATORS, BTW).
So far there seems awareness of, and a general antipathy TO the idea of this happening again, maybe with someone like UCF--but if they keep playing these (literally) "Mickey Mouse" schedules AND going undefeated, year after year complaining about how UNFAIR it all is, well, resolve will weaken, you'll see.
(Heaven forbid they actually make the effort to go out of conference, on the road if necessary to PROVE themselves--IF they really wanted that...No, easier to be a "big fish" in their little pond, and then COMPLAIN LOUDLY about it instead.)
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Sorry, everyone--but I suppose I have found my spot here to unload whatever little complaints, frustrations and "angry tangents" I'd otherwise normally just have to "leave by the wayside"...
It DOES feel kinda ok to just SAY this stuff and be DONE with it, though...
I invite y'all to do the same, if you're so inclined...Hell, I'll bet every ONE of our regs could unload a FINE rant about SOMETHING otherwise left buried, ignored or avoided.
Oh, I've got more--like this whole "targeting" business, at least how it is called (unevenly, and counter-to-its-intent I think)...and-- Alright alright I'll drop it here. For now.
 

DRU2012

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
It's great to be a Florida Gator! Enjoy the win and prepare for a tough LSU team .
You are CORRECT, sir!
...I MORE than agree--and do mean to "ENJOY the win...(etc)"...But that part is tough when we got guys like "Tom Hart" popping up all over "the ESPN family of sports networks", dissing us in particular and singling the GATORS out for its supposed "weaknesses across the board": He is leading the charge already this week (for eg., first thing Mon. morn on "SEC Morning", he came on as a guest and by now has them focusing on this in particular for specific discussion) with the lead in, "I'm not buying FLORIDA as 'much-improved', let alone a Top 25 one..." Of course, at the same time they seem baffled by MSU and their Coach Morris' "failure to live up" to their talent and opportunities; only HERE do the other guys finally jump in and note "well, you gotta give Mullens and his staff credit for out-COACHING the other guys..."
Now, I am COOL with them under-selling our progress--I actually AGREE with some of it (we ARE "less-talented" than we should, and NEED to be in the near future--as in next recruiting-cycle) and am GLAD for the rest of the bs for the sake of our current team's attitude and growth. The rest will take care of itself: Beat (or at the very least play TOUGH) a coupla the supposed "ELITE" teams ahead and we'll play in a high-profile enough Bowl to help satisfy our recruiting goals...But it is STILL hard to take, to just listen to.
So: "Tom Hart": KMA, my man. Kiss our collective "gluteous Gator maximii".
Oh--and "surprise" that the Gamecocks have little offense after all? A Muschamp- coached team screwing up a QB AND their running game BOTH, somehow??? I'm looking at you, Tony Barnhart. "Expert", indeed.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
20,339
Messages
90,513
Members
1,226
Latest member
GeorgeDuema
Top