Orange and Blue Hue » Facing the Giants…Or a D-line like Theirs

Grrrr. Got some stuff that’s bugging me today…

*These language lab computers won’t let me upload images.

*It just dawned on me that I graduated from former FSU quarterback Danny Kanell’s high school - the same DK who coordinated the Noles to the infamous “Choke at Doak” tie.

*I’m getting rumors that Tim Tebow is getting pressured by defensive backs in practice. Oh wait, that happens in real football games all the time.

But the latest press leaks have Florida’s front four pressuring Superman even more so than last year.

Has the man lost his touch? I doubt it, given that he’s had to masterfully evade pressure in the past. C’mon Vince, he’s doesn’t just turn into a college football flop overnight.

Or maybe the big uglies on D have gotten their act together? Why not? The Gators had a bumper crop of youth and inexperience last year; the underclassmen MUST have packed in some extra pounds.

Either way, a major leap in the football learning curve has just taken place on both sides of the ball. Tebow’s going to have to learn how to evade all the blitz packages defensive coordinators throw at him. And it’s not like he can just, ahem, walk out of the situation, shall we say? This will also be a good test for the lucky every-down halfback chosen to start for the Gators.

On defense, they’re starting to crank it up. Granted, the blitz can only compensate for the secondary so much, but getting better is what it is. I wouldn’t be surprised if the improvement in the rushing attack was complemented by growth in the linebacking corps.

Which brings us to a significant wildcard: the offensive line. Are they going to play up to their potential? I hope so; there’s only so many hits mere mortals like #15 can take. With Trautwein coming back, Maurkice Pouncey guaranteed a starting role *somewhere*, and Mike Pouncey (or whoever it is) snapping the ball at center, I think they’re just fine. If the sack numbers start to drop, as I think they will, then everybody will be A O.K.

Let’s just hope that the cornerbacks will learn from all this…

4 Comments so far

#15 is a MORTAL?

Surely you jest…

He did suffer a shoulder injury before the Georgia game, remember?

Okay, so he’s immortalized in college football. I’ll spot him that much.

Isn’t it the other way around–Maurkice is going to play center, Mike somewhere else?

I don’t know; I haven’t kept fully on track with practice.

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