OT: Malik Zaire and Florida's QB situation
Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated looks at the QB position at Florida (highlighting the ND transfer Malik Zaire):
https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/08/07/malik-zaire-florida-quar…
This take is 100% spot on IMO. It is going to be SO important to be sound in special teams and not give anything away in the 1st half. Giving up a defensive TD or special teams blunder could give the Florida O the kick in the butt and confidence they need.
Same goes the other way though if our D can create a turnover or make a play on special teams. Have a feeling that if a team is up 10-0 either way, it will be a long climb back.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
I also agree with ijohnb's take. The defenses should decide the game. Losing Harris was a huge blow for Florida in that regard.
I suppose it's possible that with relatively new offensive personnel on each side, one side might surprise the other. That could lead to a rather one-sided contest. I don't think that's as likely as a 24-20 slugfest, though.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
Looking at our projected starters in one of the other threads.... damn, we're a young, inexperienced team overall! A ton of talent, but lacking experience as team members who are trusting each other to know what to do individually on any play. We're going to see some missed assignments and missed tackles as the coaches rotate players in and out, looking to see who rises to the occasion in a live game situation.
So yeah, the defenses should dominate the Florida game, with the exception of one or two long plays on each side, where coverage or contain is completely blown. Our OL is talented but with several new starters it will be work in progress. Our WRs are very young and Speight's favorite targets are gone, so that will be a work in progress.
Florida destroyed Iowa 30-3 in their last game (Outback Bowl), so they will be confident and looking to avenge the prior bowl blowout to us. We will need to come out strong and focused.
has likely been working with receivers this summer, and has a month to gel with the newbies. They'll be ready IMO.
August 8th, 2017 at 11:16 AM ^
But none of those weapons, outside of Crawford and McDoom, have any real experience. And even these two got a small amount of real reps last year.
It's inexperience going up against inexperience.
My concern is that our young DBs get caught holding or too many pass interference penalties, trying to defend Calloway (their potential 1st round draft pick all american receiver)
Agreed. Both teams are pretty similiar in that the offenses are still trying to find identities (Florida moreso), both teams trying to replace quite a bit on defense (Michigan moreso), and while there's a lot of talent on both sides, a lot of it is just flat-out unproven.
Florida's defense is going to be tough to work against, but the difference between Florida's offense and Michigan's, in my opinion, is that Harbaugh will know how to better put his unit in a position to succeed than Nussmeier will with his. Florida's offense has been an unmitigated disaster ever since Tebow left. And luckily Michigan has a lot of experience at the most important position on that side of the ball. Speight has been in plenty of big games and has shown flashes of brilliance in several of those games. Can't say the same for any of Florida's QBs.
Keys to this game: take what Florida's defense gives you. Given Florida's own ineptitude on offense, there shouldn't be too much of a need to ever play hero ball and force anything. Special teams, like you said, is going to be crucial. If we can consistently pin Florida deep and force them to go the length of the field, I don't know that they'll consistently be able to do that. Defense, got to hope that Gary, Hurst, Mone and Winovich can generate plenty of pressure on an inexperienced QB. If they all play to their potential, Zaire could be running for his life all afternoon.
So if we're agreed that it's two young teams playing, the difference would be the coaching and preparation. I like our chances there.
Yep. I'll take my chances with the best QB coach in the game and one of the best DCs in the country.
Good analysis, but I believe our ground game is going to surprise some people, even us. I think and hope we will have more than a 1 touchdown lead by halftime as we assert our physicality.
He came enrolled at Florida in June, after the SEC changed its graduate transfer rule. The tweak allowed the Gators—who had been banned from taking a grad transfer because two such transfers in 2015 didn’t meet academic requirements while in Gainesville . . .
And people wonder why opposing conferences mock SEC "academics".
They make it so easy.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:40 AM ^
That plus the article that essentially stated the SEC cheats 4x worse than the average conference. 80% vs 20%.
August 8th, 2017 at 10:39 AM ^
Is our defense going to be really fast this year?
While over pursuits could be an issue if we're not disciplined. I could see Zaire uncomfortable and bailing with his legs and just getting annihilated repeatedly by maize and blue missiles in the open field until Franks is thrown in. That is of course if he can escape the dline.
August 8th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
Zaire is definitely not guaranteed to be the starting QB against us. Some Florida insider reports on the first few days of camp are saying the offense was....offensive. Basically not in sync at all, and that Zaire & Franks were splitting reps with the 1's. Granted, that was only the first day or two, and we all know it takes awhile for the offense to gel into a cohesive unit. So take it FWIW.
On top of that, their best O-Lineman Martez Ivey was sitting out due to a mystery injury (speculation was his knee). No solid news on whether that was just him being "dinged up" and sitting out as a precaution or whether he'll be up to 100% on against us.
Bottom line though, is evey day they're splitting the snaps between Ziare & Franks, I think it's good for us. Unless they're going w/ a two-headed monster approach, every day that goes by with them splitting snaps it means the true #1 starting QB will have that much less experience with the offense.
Only downside I see is it makes it a bit harder for Don Brown to prepare, since Ziare & Franks are two very different QBs.
August 8th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
I'm just not sure if Don Brown gives a rats ass who the QB is. He's going to unleash his DL and DBs against whoever happens to be standing back there. The rest of the defense can account for everyone else.
Normal SEC circle jerk
Thats cool, let them underestimate us.
Will NOT be the one in at the end of the game. There will be tears.
GO BLUE!!