Ma'ake Kava

JJ was the co-offensive player of the game, IMO, along with Nate.

Ja’Quinden is just a class act, going back to last year with our RB depth issues. Proved his character in special teams, first.

If you ever get a chance to meet him, ask “Whataburger or In-and-Out?” You’ll probably get that million dollar smile and a hearty laugh.

It certainly appears we found our QB2, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Baylor game-planned for Barnes and then Nate threw them a curve. The 15 play drive in the 4th was the difference, made them pay for their energy expended in the first half.

Barnes wasn’t helped by receivers a few plays, not finding the opening – clearly miscommunication on…[Read more]

My hunch is it will be Vincent at the 2. Passpro is a must, and the rookies usually take some time picking that up.

If the offense establishes an air game and we get enough push up front, Charlie Vincent is probably behind Glover – experience.

The big question is which of the freshmen got pulled into prep when JJ was deemed doubtful? Randle and Stanley both looked good in camp, but did either have the edge?

I’m including the various pressure packages as part of the pass rush.

If you’re getting pressure with just DL, then zone vs man doesn’t matter as much.

If you need to pull guys out of coverage – safeties, LBs, the occasional CB or NB blitz – then the need for tight coverage goes way up.

Key difference – CC plays a lot of zone.

There are certainly times when it would be nice to be better polished at playing zone, but then we don’t have the flexibility to attack Mertz and force early / errant throws while not leave receivers open.

Happy for Isbell, but I like our scheme.

We thought UF would be vulnerable up front, and we took advantage. It was scheme, atmosphere, energy and depth. We brought it all night, especially in the 2nd half when they were trying to make a comeback. After we made them one dimensional, pressure came from every angle: 5 sacks, a lot of QB hurries.

But yeah, expect Baylor to be better…[Read more]

My thoughts on the game:

Offense:
* Couldn’t be happier with Lud’s decision to take a shot early. That was the play of the game, IMO.
* The offensive numbers were distorted by us getting up. BarnesJohnson had more to show, not really a need in this game.
* Gator D was cat-quick and disruptive.
* Vele throws a nice ball. Just a little more air…[Read more]

Really long interview with Nate on 700. Humble, engaging kid.

Mitchell welcomed him to the club of QBs who’ve mishandled the ball, and Nate said he did what they preach – have short term memory and move on to the next play.

It’s temporary, but through camp and last night this 2 headed QB system is doing well. The way the game unfolded we…[Read more]

Hot & humid is a serious cooling problem. Out here in the desert, low humidity helps to cool quickly.

The problem with elevation is oxygen: Hypoxia. It’s part of how people get tired during long aircraft flights – the cabin’s at 8000, more or less.

We’re used to 5000-7000 out here, but low-landers are prone to hypoxia more quickly. It’s mostly…[Read more]

From what we can piece together, if Cam plays it will be kind of like the Bo Nix peg-leg performance, at least in terms of avoiding contact and limiting explosive moves. That worked for the Ducks, but it was later in the season and their OL was fully dialed in. We’re in Game 1, a really big game, but OOC, with 10 other P5 games to go.

The…[Read more]

When Whitt says he still doesn’t know who will start, that implies doubts about Cam, increasing the bets on Florida, or potential bettors on Utah are getting cold feet.

According to OnlyU, Cam is closer, is getting his timing down and the knee is improving.

Whitt doesn’t give a damn what betting people think, of course. That’s the furthest…[Read more]

I expect both defenses to try and dictate the game. *If* we can generate pressure without blitzing, we can get them off the field. If we use pressure packages then there’s risk Mertz can get it to the RBs and WRs, who will be a handful one on one. The emphasis on tackling in camp is huge.

On the other side, if Nate’s at QB they’ll run blitz,…[Read more]

Mac

Notables:

* Pepa as the 2 behind Tafuna & Tanuvasa getting the start at right tackle.
* JT gets the start, Battle will play a lot of snaps
* Tao Johnson has a year over Smith Snowden at NB
* Johnathan Hall behind Vaki at SS. #10 on D is not an oversized Money Parks
* Pittman and Matthews in an “OR” situation at R-WR
* McClain behind Vele, hasn’t…[Read more]

Jordan Gross? (Good company to be in!)

With our culture and our depth, 2-deep charts aren’t 100% accurate, especially outside the lines. And this is the DN’s best guess, which makes this a little less valuable.

But I wonder how they pegged Pittman at PR? That seems like an informed guess, and if it’s true, it’s a great sign of what his hands are like.

I also wonder how Battle will…[Read more]

Nate seems to have the swagger needed to play QB. He would probably be starting if he switched positions, but he’s stuck it out at QB and by all accounts, has really closed the gap.

I’m fine with whoever plays, I trust Lud.

But if Nate holds it down, the upside is really high. He can bend defenses with his legs. Hell, *fake* the tuck and run…[Read more]

Barnes is a really good athlete – 11.5 / 100M

Cam’s a nice athlete, too, but he has that knack for knowing when to take off, reads blocks, etc. With the quantity of reps BB is getting with the 1s, hopefully he’s getting a better sense of that part of the game, but there’s no substitute for game snaps to get that feel.

Vaki is amazingly versatile and a freak of nature. 6-0/208, benches 400, 39″ vertical. He could be a NB or even an undersized LB, hits like a freight train. Comparisions to Marquise Blair, in terms of physicality.

If he’s playing Safety in our D, it means he has the defensive playbook down, which is far from being trivial.