...and STUNNING, CLUTCH Victory, at that--albeit at various points an unlikely, then impressively RALLYING one:
There are so many points, positive AND negative, hopeful AND worrisome, and then some in both directions, that are to me made, analyzed and learned from in the days and weeks ahead...
For example, right up top is this one:
While Dan Mullen may well BE the EXACT right Coach for us (I certainly think so), the one we in particular were fortunate to get, as has been the growing certainty among most Gator Faithful as the season has progressed, the same can NOT necessarily be said for Grantham, the Defensive Coordinator. Whereas I myself was a strong supporter who felt (and SAID) we were lucky to get him, hoped we'd KEEP him for awhile before he took some inevitable HEAD Coaching job eventually based on the way our defense was playing first third or so of the season, I'm not the ONLY person who no longer necessarily feels that way: Grantham has shown an inflexibility, even stubborness of approach and philosophy (both the kiss of DEATH in the SEC) in the way he sets up, runs and uniformly continues to CALL his defensive signals out there--the same calls in the same situations again and again and again...ALL with predictably deteriating patterns of outcome against top notch offensive minds who see, note and react accordingly. Where we started OUT with one of the best "take away"-stats in the league first few games, that all dried up as the SEC portion of our schedule moved in and on--until by the LAST 3 games, no Florida squad had allowed 31 points per game in a row, as we had, since 1917! Until they FINALLY came up with that INT on SC's last drive chance, we were back in this one DESPITE our Defensive play. I didn't think we could WIN that way, depending on the OFFENSE to keep pace, eventually take over and OUTPLAY THEIRS, basically outscore their 31 points!
That has GOT to change--meaning that Grantham HIMSELF will have to learn and become COMFORTABLE with "change", show HE can do it. Even the BEST keep learning, changing as necessary in pursuit of "perfection", impossible as that is to actually atain. You cannot WIN at this level without flexible adaptivity--something he can learn from his Head Coach, if he can and is willing...If neither, then best the Coach (and all of us) find out here and now the next few games to finish the season; otherwise, it MAY be time to look for an upgrade THERE, too.
As I say, I would have said differently 3 or 4 games in, but reality and experience have a way of cutting to the bone, stripping away illusion: The truth will out.
We welcome all YOUR observations and suggestions as to everything y'all see that need to be changed, at least "IMPROVED UPON" as the season moves towards its end: All the things we can already see and/or begin to suspect and believe we can find out for SURE about in these last few games.
It's as much about maximizing our opportunities to improve even further and FASTER POST-season and into NEXT year. If we indeed wanna be among the elite, annually competing for Championships once more, that's how we have to THINK.
There are so many points, positive AND negative, hopeful AND worrisome, and then some in both directions, that are to me made, analyzed and learned from in the days and weeks ahead...
For example, right up top is this one:
While Dan Mullen may well BE the EXACT right Coach for us (I certainly think so), the one we in particular were fortunate to get, as has been the growing certainty among most Gator Faithful as the season has progressed, the same can NOT necessarily be said for Grantham, the Defensive Coordinator. Whereas I myself was a strong supporter who felt (and SAID) we were lucky to get him, hoped we'd KEEP him for awhile before he took some inevitable HEAD Coaching job eventually based on the way our defense was playing first third or so of the season, I'm not the ONLY person who no longer necessarily feels that way: Grantham has shown an inflexibility, even stubborness of approach and philosophy (both the kiss of DEATH in the SEC) in the way he sets up, runs and uniformly continues to CALL his defensive signals out there--the same calls in the same situations again and again and again...ALL with predictably deteriating patterns of outcome against top notch offensive minds who see, note and react accordingly. Where we started OUT with one of the best "take away"-stats in the league first few games, that all dried up as the SEC portion of our schedule moved in and on--until by the LAST 3 games, no Florida squad had allowed 31 points per game in a row, as we had, since 1917! Until they FINALLY came up with that INT on SC's last drive chance, we were back in this one DESPITE our Defensive play. I didn't think we could WIN that way, depending on the OFFENSE to keep pace, eventually take over and OUTPLAY THEIRS, basically outscore their 31 points!
That has GOT to change--meaning that Grantham HIMSELF will have to learn and become COMFORTABLE with "change", show HE can do it. Even the BEST keep learning, changing as necessary in pursuit of "perfection", impossible as that is to actually atain. You cannot WIN at this level without flexible adaptivity--something he can learn from his Head Coach, if he can and is willing...If neither, then best the Coach (and all of us) find out here and now the next few games to finish the season; otherwise, it MAY be time to look for an upgrade THERE, too.
As I say, I would have said differently 3 or 4 games in, but reality and experience have a way of cutting to the bone, stripping away illusion: The truth will out.
We welcome all YOUR observations and suggestions as to everything y'all see that need to be changed, at least "IMPROVED UPON" as the season moves towards its end: All the things we can already see and/or begin to suspect and believe we can find out for SURE about in these last few games.
It's as much about maximizing our opportunities to improve even further and FASTER POST-season and into NEXT year. If we indeed wanna be among the elite, annually competing for Championships once more, that's how we have to THINK.