Official Game Thread Week 6: Florida Gators vs Missouri Tigers 10/8/2022

[Escambia94]

For Homecoming, the University of Florida will be honoring this year's Gators Athletics Hall of Fame inductees:

Jeff Demps (football, track & field)
Conor Dwyer (swimming)
Joe Haden (football)
Michelle Moultrie (softball)
Chandler Parsons (basketball)
Christian Taylor (track & field)
Mike Zunino (baseball)

Former Athletic Director Jeremy Foley will receive an honorary varsity letter.

 

[DRU2012]

It's Homecoming...and RIDICULOUS how much is riding on this one--at least as far as the rest of THIS season is concerned.
I've got a big lump in my gut for it. Glad it kicks off early.

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1578386412147298304

 

[Escambia94]

The last time the Florida Gators won an SEC game was one year ago, against Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is the only team with a longer streak of consecutive SEC losses.
2021:
#1 Alabama 31, #11 Florida 29
#11 Florida 38, Tennessee 14
Kentucky 30, #10 Florida 13
#20 Florida 42, Vanderbilt 0
LSU 49, #20 Florida 42
#1 Georgia 34, Florida 7
South Carolina 40, Florida 17
Missouri 24, Florida 23 OT

2022:
#20 Kentucky 26, #12 Florida 16
#11 Tennessee 38, #20 Florida 33

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1578397958915121153

 

[Escambia94]

Injury report:

• QB Jack Miller III (upper body/thumb) - questionable
• TE Nick Elksnis (upper body) - out
• TE Arlis Boardingham (upper body) - questionable
• OT Michael Tarquin (lower body) - out
• LB Diwun Black (lower body) - out
• LS Marco Ortiz (upper body) - out
• Walk-on LB Kenny Anyaehie (lower body) - out

 

[Escambia94]

Visitor list for the Missouri game:
Jaden Robinson/LB 2023 National: 385, LB: 32, FL: 72 Florida Commit
Jordan Castell/S 2023 National: 200, S: 13, FL: 40 Florida Commit
Treyaun Webb/RB 2023 National: 217, RB: 9, FL: 44 Florida Commit
Aidan Mizell/WR 2023 National: 77, WR: 14, FL: 16 Florida Commit
Gavin Hill/DL 2023 National: 274, DL: 39, FL: 54 Florida Commit
Creed Whittemore/ATH 2023 National: 415, ATH: 31, FL: 82 Florida Commit
Bryce Lovett/OT 2023 National: 627, OT: 50, FL: 105 Florida Commit
Tyree Patterson/WR 2023 National: 861, WR: 115, FL: 123 Florida Commit
Myles Graham/LB 2024 National: 53, LB: 3, GA: 11 Florida Commit
Kamal Bonner/S 2023 National: 1252, S: 104, GA: 116 Georgia Tech Commit
Kayden McDonald/DL 2023 National: 302, DL: 44, GA: 27 247: 100% Clemson/ On3: Clemson 61.7%
Jayvant Brown/LB 2023 National: 293, LB: 21, FL: 58 247: 100% Michigan / On3: Miami 25.8%
Caden Jones/OT 2023 National: 416, OT: 34, LA: 19 247: No CB / On3: Texas A&M 92.3%
Andrew Hines/LB 2024 National: 308, LB: 20, GA: 42 247: No CB / On3: Duke 25.4%
Kendall Jackson/DL 2024 National: 426, DL: 36, FL: 71 247: 100% UF / On3: 99.3% UF
Elyjah Thurmon/IOL 2024 N/A N/A 247: No CB / On3: 90.3% UF
Bobby Engstler/K 2024 N/A #7 Kicker/ #2 Punter 247: No CB / 100.0% South Carolina
Tramell Jones Jr/QB 2025 N/A N/A 247: No CB / On3: 64.4% UF

Rumors:
- Cormani McClain/CB 2023 is skipping his OV to Alabama.
- Sharif Denson/CB 2023 is skipping his OV to Alabama
- Dijon Johnson/CB 2023 will announce his decision soon.

 

[DRU2012]

I longtime got used to not seeing "5 Star prospects" among our pending visitors, especially during the Mullen years...
But I admit that though (for whatever reasons) I came to place less and less stock in such things, I would sure like to see some of those coming OUR way among such columns--and not simply dominating those of Alabama, Georgia and a few others here and there (Clemsen's rise somehow seemed to coincide with THEIR suddenly appearing on such lists for a couple of years just PRIOR to that "rise", after all).

 

[DRU2012]

As for THIS game, I must reiterate my own feelings--and similar trepidation voiced here by
@Escambia94, :
Whatever goals are still attainable THIS season for this Gator squad now rest on our playing up to and OVER our current potential and observed level-of-achievement this far in order not to let ourselves and the fans down with a sloppy performance. We play with discipline and calm determination, and we WIN this one going away.
OR, we publicly embarrass ourselves once again and fade away completely, at least for the remainder of this season and calendar year.
It is time to at the very least begin to win the games we SHOULD win, anyway.
Play with PRIDE, boys.
GO GATORS! Eat 'em UP!!!

 

[Escambia94]

Missouri has quietly accumulated a decent amount of talent under Eli Drinkwitz, including the first 5-star recruit that I can recall, 2022 WR L. Burden. The 2022 class is their first top-20 class in recent memory.
2022: #18 2-3 (0-2 SEC) (week 5)
2021: #30 6–7 (3–5 SEC)
2020: #49 5-5 (5-5 SEC)

Barry Odom left in 2019 as Missouri was banned from postseason for NCAA violations.
2019: #34 6-6 (3-5)

 

[DRU2012]

"I have a bad feeling about this..."
...and it all goes back to our defense--specifically our defense AGAINST THE RUN!
We better start taking the right angles and then actually WRAPPING UP the runner, applying proper technique in TACKLING them.
It seems we forgot how to DO that a few years back, and STILL haven't remembered how.
Either we get it back NOW, or we kiss this season goodbye right here, right now.
Every Gator can see it coming from MILES AWAY:
TACKLE, or DIE...simple as that. No amount of "improved offense" is likely to fix things if THAT doesn't happen. It is time to AT LEAST (the VERY least) get defensive TECHNIQUE down properly: See to it that our players finally start finishing their tackles right!
That alone could turn a close loss into a big win right THERE!

 

[Escambia94]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1578473636994121728

 

[DRU2012]

I am so nerved UP.
I am just gonna TRY to shut up and let this play out.

 

[DRU2012]

At least they are taking another look at that "favorable spot". Otherwise, this is going EXACTLY the wrong way.

 

[DRU2012]

Our defense HAS to play better than this.

 

[DRU2012]

Gonna take some big plays by the D.

 

[DRU2012]

Another 3rd down.

 

[DRU2012]

Finally. A stop.

 

[Escambia94]

Here we go Gators, here we go!

 

[Escambia94]

Justin Shorter, 22 yards.

 

[DRU2012]

Not surexI like this series.