Author Archives: Ray

Gator’s Offense Plays “Mizz-erably” as Missouri Dominates

Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp was not shy when he expressed his disappointment with Saturday’s game against the Missouri Tigers (7-0, 3-0) in Columbia, MO.  At the post-game news conference, the fiery coach stated that the Gators are inept offensively. “This is not a very good football team, and certainly not today,” he said. “I am pretty disappointed that we have not made more positive strides offensively at this point of the season.” The Gators (4-3, 3-2) had a total offense of only 151 yards against Missouri, according to GatorZone, being the least since the 1999 SEC Championship game against Alabama where the Gators only mustered up 114 yards in a 34-7 loss. The Missouri Tiger’s defense definitely played a huge part in the Gator’s shortcomings offensively with three takeaways and six sacks on Florida QB Tyler Murphy.

Mizzou’s defense never let up on the whimpering Gator offense. Murphy only completed 15 of 29 passes for 92 yards and had an interception as he tried to elude the Missouri defense. “They did a good job covering, but we’re got to find ways to make plays. I have to find ways to get guys the ball,” Murphy said. Injuries on the Gators offense could be a part of the reason why the team is failing. Offensive lineman Chaz Green, running back Matt Jones, and starting quarterback Jeff Driskel are considerable losses leaving them scrambling to execute offensively. “We try and spread it out, we try and throw it, we can’t protect the quarterback,” Will Muschamp stated. “We try to grind it out, we’re not creating enough explosive runs. We need to find some answers and right now we’re not finding any.” Florida has a bye week and will face Georgia Nov. 2nd.

On the other hand, Mizzou back-up quarterback Maty Mauk threw for 295 yards in his first career start. Starting quarterback James Franklin injured his shoulder in last week’s 41-26 win against Georgia. Florida’s defense was no problem for the back-up, turning some skeptics wondering if he was ready into believers. Mauk started the game with only having thrown six passes in his career, three of those coming in the final quarter against Georgia after Franklin was injured. “Backup quarterback?” Missouri center Evan Boehm playfully asked. “Maty would be starting anywhere else.” Mauk proved that to be true by completing 18 of 36 passes Saturday including three of them for 37 yards or more down the sideline. Mizzou head coach Gary Pinkel said that Mauk was in the toughest situation he has ever had to put a quarterback in, especially against a Gators defense that had only allowed 235.3 yards a game but Mauk lessened the stress by completing a pass downfield on his opening play. “He looked like a seasoned veteran out there,” Pinkel said about his promising back-up. The Tigers put up 500 yards on the previously second ranked defense in the nation. After the notable wins over Georgia and Florida, the Missouri tigers are atop the SEC east and are seemingly headed to Atlanta in the SEC championship game in only their second season even being in the South Eastern Conference. Missouri’s next game is October 26th at home against South Carolina.

Information from MuTigers.com, GatorZone, and ESPN were used in this article.

James Franklin to miss at least 6 weeks

Missouri quarterback James Franklin will miss up to six weeks with a Grade 2 shoulder separation, according to CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman.

Franklin injured his shoulder during a four-yard run during the start of the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Maty Mauk took over with the Tigers leading 28-20. A trick pass from Bud Sasser to L’Damian Washington turned into a 40-yard touchdown that gave Missouri a comfortable 34-20 lead.

Franklin was having a pretty good day before getting injured. He completed 18 of 27 completions for 170 yards and one touchdown.

Missouri improved to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in SEC play, but their schedule remains tougher. Missouri has back-to-back home games against Florida next Saturday and South Carolina on Oct. 26.

The Tigers face Tennessee on Nov. 2, following a road trip to Kentucky on Nov. 9. They will also travel to Ole Miss on Nov. 23 after their bye week and will host Johnny Manziel and the Aggies on Nov. 30. If Franklin’s shoulder shows positive progression, he could possibly be back for the Ole Miss game.

LSU Makes Florida’s Offense Look Offensive

Six points. Six lousy points. That is all the Florida Gators could muster in four quarters of football against an LSU Tigers team that gave up 44 to the Georgia Bulldogs two weeks ago looked like the second coming of the Steel Curtain. Florida’s offensive line was just that. Offensive. The defense played well enough, holding a prolific LSU offense to 17 points. But with no time to throw, Gator quarterback Tyler Murphy was unable to put the Gators in the end zone.

This is really embarrassing for a school known for the high powered offenses of Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. There is no Fun-n-Gun in Gainesville anymore. There are big plays out there to be made if this team would give Murphy as little time. Trey Burton was running free in the secondary on one play, but Murphy had a Tiger defender grabbing his leg and had to flip a left-handed wobbler to a running back.

Florida fans have no complaints about the defense under Coach Will Muschamp. They are very good. But at some point this team needs to concentrate on getting the ball across the goal line. They have been terrible in the Red Zone now for four or five years. Thee has been two areas where this team has been bad in those years. Those are the offensive line and wide receivers. When you are bad at those positions, it makes it difficult to score on a good SEC defense.

Florida has to get better at those two spots. But when you have the reputation of being a 17-14 type team, understandably the best receivers and pass blockers are not too thrilled about playing at your school. So they need to get better with the guys they have. The problem is, without putting the ball up, it is tough to get better. Will Muschamp does not want to put the ball up, especially when he is winning. So there is the vicious circle that will stop the Gators from being a championship caliber team as long as Muschamp coaches them.

Missouri leads No. 7 Georgia at halftime

With two quarters already in the books, Missouri leads the struggling Bulldogs at half 28-10.

Iv read lots of comments and discussions throughout the game and everyone seems to blame the injuries for the reason why Georgia is down 18. Yes, injuries are a factor in today’s game but the Bulldogs are still killing themselves with turnovers. Aaron Murray had a pretty solid first half, completing 15 of 22 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown. Georgia isn’t having trouble finding open receivers and marching down the field but two lost fumbles are costly. Especially one scooped up and returned for a touchdown by Michael Sam.

Don’t count Missouri out. This young Missouri team has a bunch of talent. You can’t expect them to travel to Georgia’s turf without putting up a fight. James Franklin completed 12 of 18 completions for 135 yards and one touchdown. Running back Marcus Murphy is also showing out for Mizzo, rushing the ball 3 times for 51 yards and a touchdown.

If Georgia wants to save their rear end from picking up their first SEC loss, they need to tighten up. And fast. There is still a lot of ball left to play but in order for Georgia to compete this second half their defense needs to really pick it up. I think Georgia will make a little run and close up the gap but I don’t have any confidence in their defense. I have Missouri winning by 14.

Missouri at Georgia in Big SEC Game

If you didn’t have the Missouri Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs as the big SEC Game of Week 7, then don’t feel too badly. CBS didn’t either,. That is why they are showing the Florida Gators at the LSU Tigers tomorrow. When the schedule came out, the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Arkansas Razorbacks probably seemed like a bigger contest than Missouri-Georgia. Then there was also the Texas A&M Aggies at the Ole Miss Rebels game that really looked like a big one a couple of weeks ago.

With all the tough games the Bulldogs have already played this season, they likely were looking forward to the game with the Tigers as a breather. So much for that. Mizzou comes into the game ranked #25 and with a 5-0 record. This makes the third ranked team of Tigers the Dawgs have faced already this season. They lost to the Clemson Tigers in the season opener 38-35 and beat the LSU Tigers two weeks ago 44-41. This Tigers-Dawgs game has the potential to be another good one.

Georgia comes into the game wounded. Their fantastic tailback duo of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall has been reduced to a gimpy Gurley, who may not even play.  Mizzou’s schedule has been rather light so far, but perhaps not quite as light as previously thought. One of the teams they beat, the Indiana Hoosiers, walloped the Penn State Nittany Lions last week 44-24. They also put quite a beating on the Vanderbilt Commodores a week ago in Nashville.

Georgia barely escaped the Tennessee Volunteers in overtime a week ago. Missouri is surely as good as Tennessee. Georgia is an eight point faborite in this game. Do not be surprised if the Tigers not only beat the spread but also win the game.

Clowney’s Misstep

Jadeveon Clowney spoke to the media after the South Carolina Gamecocks’ practice Tuesday, and announced that he was questionable for Saturday’s game against Arkansas with a sprain near his ribs. Clowney told reporters that his last minute decision to sit out of the Gamecock’s game last Saturday was a “miscommunication” between the training staff, himself, and head coach Steve Spurrier. “I should’ve handled it different, but it was a miscommunication. They responded to me going back and telling them what was going on and they realized the injury was more serious than they thought,” Clowney stated. After his late decision to sit out right before kickoff, heaps of questions arose of if he was really injured or sitting our for personal reasons.

The South Carolina team’s best player insists that he will be back on the field when he is healthy and coach says it is alright. Head coach Steve Spurrier addressed the media and stated “I just want to clear the air that Jadeveon — all those No. 7 jerseys and all the money he has made for our school — he has been a tremendous, important player. Every Gamecock, including me, the coaches and everybody else, we need to be appreciative that he chose South Carolina. He could have gone anywhere in the country. He is a big reason we have had those seasons. He is trying to do all he can to get ready to play.” Spurrier stood up for his team’s best player and assured all Gamecock fans that Clowney will be back on the field as soon as he is healthy. As for the miscommunication before the Arkansas game head coach said that the staff and himself handled it poorly, “This was a situation that he had something that was really bothering him and hopefully it will be taken care of real soon…He is hurt. If he doesn’t play another down every Gamecock should be thankful he is here.”

This has not been the season for Jadeveon Clowney that anyone predicted. Clowney is coming off an impressive 2012 season recording 52 tackles, with 40 of them being solo, and 13 sacks. Last season he gained accolades for his hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl. The video of Clowney completely trucking the running back, forcing the fumble and keeping the game alive for the Gamecocks went viral. As a result of his notable season last year, Clowney began the season as one of the Heisman hopefuls, but has only recorded 12 tackles and 2 sacks according to Cfbstats. Clowney assures that all is well. “When I get back healthy, I’m going to play and do my job and take care of business on the field.”

Information from The Associated Press, ESPN, The Bleacher Report, USAtoday and sbnation was used in this article.

Gators Roast the Razorbacks

The Florida Gators improved to 4-1 overall for the season, and 3-0 in conference play with the 30-10 defeat of the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Gators have never lost to Arkansas in the Swamp (4-0) and sustained that record in the first night game of the season, last night, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The energy inside the stadium was immense as the first night game in two years brought a great victory for the Gators. Junior cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and senior wide receiver Soloman Patton were the key players in the Gator’s victory.

Florida’s offense struggled early in the game producing a punt and a blocked 44-yard field goal attempt. Arkansas had a 7-0 lead after freshman Jonathan Williams out ran the UF defense for a four-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. The Gators defense had a slow start as well until it adjusted to the Arkansas offense that put up 81 yards in the first quarter. The 7-0 hole that the Gators were in was dug out of by kicker Brad Phillip’s 28-yard chip shot field goal. Arkansas led 7-3 when Ken Hatcher was out on a flair route into the right flat when Purifoy read quarterback Brandon Allen and intercepted the ball ending with the Gators on top 10-7. It was moderately smooth sailing from there when the Gator’s defense clamped down on Arkansas’s run game.

The key players to the game were Patton and Purifoy. Soloman Patton turned a pair of short receptions into touchdowns for the Gators. Patton finished with six catches and a career-high 124 yards. According to gatorzone.com, Patton was the first wide receiver to accomplish two touchdown passes in a game since Andre Debose November 19th, 2011 vs. Furman. Loucheiz Purifoy forced his first fumble of this season. He also returned a pick-six 42 yards for the lead. Purifoy recorded 4 tackles, the first sack of his career, and three pass break-ups. Loucheiz Purifoy was named Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week. Also, Junior quarterback Tyler Murphy made his first home start since he replaced Jeff Driskel completing 16 of 22 passes for a career-high 240 yards.

The Razorback victory was Florida’s 10th straight home win and they remain tied with Georgia at the top of the SEC Eastern Division. The Razorbacks (3-3, 0-2) entered the game with an average of 237 yards per game on the ground, second-best in the SEC, but against the Gator’s second-best run defense in the nation, they only acquired 111 yards rushing on 29 attempts. The Gators move on to play LSU in Baton Rouge this Saturday.

Information from ESPN, GatorZone, and The Associated Press was used in this article.

SEC Week 6 Predictions

So we witnessed the best matchup of the season when Georgia beat LSU last weekend. Today presents six conference games and one non-conference matchup between Alabama and Georgia State.

Georgia State @ No. 1 Alabama

– This game is pretty much a no-brainer. I guess you can say today is pretty much a scrimmage game for the Crimson Tide and practice for the second and third string players. I don’t think Alabama will shut them out but it won’t be pretty. Alabama 45, Georgia State 7.

No. 6 Georgia @ Tennessee

– Even if Georgia misses Todd Gurley today, it won’t matter. Tennessee is down again this year and Georgia shouldn’t have any trouble. BUT, don’t count them out because Georgia has beaten themselves in the past. Georgia 38, Tennessee 17.

No. 24 Ole Miss @ Auburn

– This will be a close matchup today and also fast pace. I see Ole Miss bouncing back this week with a win after struggling to Alabama last week. Ole Miss 28, Auburn 21.

Arkansas @ No. 18 Florida

– The way the Gators have been playing with Tyler Murphy under snap and Matt Jones in the backfield, I believe Muschamp and the Gators handle business and it will be an exciting night game in the Swamp! Florida 28, Arkansas 17.

No. 10 LSU @ Mississippi State

– LSU’s defense went through a struggle last week against Georgia, so they should be able to bounce back today. However, its tough to play in Starkville. Dan Mullen won’t let his team go without a fight. LSU still wins, 35-21.

Missouri @ Vanderbilt.

– This is almost an even match up. Vanderbilt has the slight advantage since the game is in Nashville but its pretty much a tossup. I have Vanderbilt 28, Missouri 24.

Kentucky @ No. 13 South Carolina

– South Carolina will handle their business tonight over the Cats. Its a home game in Columbus and the Gamecocks are too dominant at home. Kentucky may run the ball but their passing game will be off. Look for a re-run just like the Florida/Kentucky game last weekend.

Alabama strength coach placed on leave

Alabama assistant strength and conditioning coach Corey Harris has been put on administrative leave after providing benefits to safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, ESPN confirmed on Thursday.

Clinton-Dix was given a loan less than $500 from Harris over the summer, which he repaid Harris before the season started. Head coach Nick Saban has suspended Clinton-Dix indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

The loan would constitute a violation of NCAA bylaw 16.11.2.2, which says, “an institutional employee or representative of the institution’s athletics interests may not provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services, including, but not limited to … a loan of money.”

Sources close to ESPN said Clinton-Dix was the only player who was involved.

Clinton-Dix will miss the upcoming game against Georgia State and is expected to return within the month.

“When guys get suspended, I never, ever say what it’s for, so I’m not going there, so don’t ask me,” Saban told reporters Wednesday. “It’s the way I’ve always handled this — every guy. They do right, they wouldn’t be getting suspended. And I don’t know for how long this will be, so don’t ask me that either.”

Now with Clinton-Dix gone, who will fill his shoes? It will either be Landon Collins or Geno Smith. Collins was a five-star safety coming out of high school and has seen a lot of action at cornerback this year. Smith hasn’t seen too much playing time this year due to being arrested for driving under the influence before the season started.

Saban is all about team discipline, he won’t put up with no crap. These kids have it made there at Alabama. They need to get their acts together and stay out of trouble if they want a shot at another title.

SEC Battle in the Swamp

The Gators return home to face Arkansas this Saturday after a 24-7 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky. Head coach Will Muschamp said, on Monday, that he was “pleased with the win. Offensively we were very workman-like, very efficient…Defensively I thought we handled the tempo very well.” The Gators Defense stepped up in their first game without defensive tackle Dominique Easley. Easley underwent a season-ending knee injury during practice last Tuesday. The Gators had to start Dante Fowler and Ronald Powell on the outside against the Wildcats and repositioned Jonathan Bullard inside beside defensive tackle Damien Jacobs. Even with the injuries the gators have sustained on defense, the two-deep rotation is solid but untested.

Arkansas(3-2, 0-1) and Florida(3-1, 2-0) have not played each other since 2009, when the ranked #1 Gators kicked a field goal in the closing nine seconds of the game propelling the Gators to a win with a score of 23-20. The Razorbacks are coming of an impressive game putting up 33 points against Texas A&M in Fayetteville, AR. Although they fell short losing 45-33, Arkansas stayed close in points throughout the game, boosted by the return of quarterback Brandon Allen. Allen left the game early against Southern Miss, and missed the following Rutgers game due to a sprained shoulder. Allen started against Texas A&M and threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns in the impressive effort.

Florida’s defensive tackle Damien Jacobs anticipates a very physical game with Arkansas’s offensive line. “They’re real physical,” Jacobs said to the Orlando Sentinel, “I think they’re a little chippy. They’re a little dirty. So we’re going to have to be ready for it all this week.” Arkansas has an average of 237 rushing yards a game, ranking second in the SEC. In contrast, Florida through the first three games had only relinquished 214 rushing yards. Florida has been the best team in the country at preventing the running game, only allowing 53.5 yards per game. Even without defensive tackle Dominic Easley Arkansas had coach Bret Bielema said that the gators are still dangerous. According to the Arkansas News website Bielema stated,  “Obviously, they lost a real good player in (Easley), But across the board up front, they use their hands well. They’re powerful. Their linebackers run.” In my opinion, the key to winning this game is to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. Let the games begin. The game will be on ESPN2 at 7pm on Saturday.

Information from The Associated Press, Sbnation, GatorZone, The Orlando Sentinel and The SEC Network was used in this article.