Florida vs. Arkansas

[hail2mich]

Right now in the 4th quarter, Arkansas is leading #1 Florida 20-13. Ryan Mallett just threw a 75 yd TD to take the lead. Mallett and Arkansas are having another impressive game this year.

[gator]

Game has looked just like Ole Miss last year. Costly, costly turnovers. Four of them so far, two inside the redzone. Also gave up a huge 75 yard play on a 3rd and long, just like Ole Miss. FL is lucky to be tied at this point. I'll give more of my opinion after the conclusion. FL's offense has sucked today.

[gator]

Postgame (like anyone here really cares):

I thought that Arkansas outplayed FL for 3 qtrs, and Mallet is a specimen. Regardless, I still think the talent differential was obvious. FL was moving the ball at will and they pretty much shut down one of the best offenses in CFB. The problem was with FL's offense insided the redzone. Last year, FL was one of the best redzone offenses in the country - we get in the redzone, we score. This year, we become a tard hatch inside the twenty. I started to get concerned about it last week against LSU - we moved the ball so easily between the 20's but looked absolutely inept in the redzone. Didn't change much this week. My personal gripes are with the play calling. Inside the redzone I would like to see three things: 1) Moody inside, 2) Tebow on the ground (whether direct or on a delay, i.e., fake pass then QB sneak) , and 3) Demps outside (option or toss). Instead, we have been getting Brandon James (great KO and punt returner, but no business in backfield), who also had a reverse called last week and got stopped cold, and crazy reverses using Riley Cooper (like today). Not to mention the complete lack of focus we had inside the redzone today, with 2 turnovers in that part of the field.

That game today was eerily simialr to the Ole Miss last year - stupid ass turnovers (and many of them) and a huge play given up on 3rd and forever. I want to say that FL was lucky to come out of there with a victory (it could have certainly ended worse), but it wasn't like FL didn't try to help Ark out as much as possible (2 fumbles and a missed FG inside the redzone). Bottom line is FL better address some things before they face Alabama (assuming they do meet in the SEC CG): 1) FL better work on their pass protection (Tebow is getting pressured way too much, too early, and too often) 2) Tebow better readjust his internal clock to when the hell he needs to get rid of the ball, 3) Fl better pull another wide receiver threat out of their ass so they can spread the field better, and 4) they better work on that run D if they are going to stop Bama. I don't expect a trek to a championship to go smoothly so I hope it was just one of those games, but FL better get with the program if they don't want to get dropped like a bag of rocks.

P.S. Before LSU/FL last week, I commented on how rarely FL goes 6-0. All three of the cases I could recall ended with UF in the NC game, with 2 victories. In one of the championship efforts (2006), FL lost their 7th game to Auburn. Hence, I was worried about the LSU and Miss St. games the most, with little concern about Ark. Since most fans around here have been singling out the Ark game as a trap game since the beginning of the season, I thought we would be way too focused to play a close one. I'm not ashamed to admit I was wrong, but I just hope that was the usual mid-season loss and we happened to get away with a close win.

[amazinblue]

Gator,

I always enjoy reading your posts. I believe that Florida avoided a solid upset - primarily because of the Arkansas D - which is decidely weak. The good news is that Florida escaped with a W in a game that could have been a loss.

One thing I'd welcome your perspective about is something that hit the press - I believe it was a personal foul call called in the fourth quarter that Arkansas is bringing to the SEC officials attention. I didn't see the play - I assume you did - and I'm wondering what you thought about it.

Regarding Florida and facing Bama - the Gators better get things on track, since I think that Bama is playing as tough as any team in the NCAA. In fact, I think Bama is solidly the best team in the land, and everyone else is playing for second place. If the Gators don't "up" the attack and execution on both sides of the ball - especially, the O - the SEC CG could be a long night for the boys from Gainesville.