More on the gator D

[BanditVol]

They were a pretty good group last year, and the DL in spite of losing two pretty good starters has 7/10 back.  But...LBs completely new, and all the good DBs (that we torched  ) from last year gone (3 all SEC/draft choices).  So the back  7 are pretty much a complete rework.

Michigan didn't seem to have too many issues with the gator D.

Given that Dormady seems to have settled in and and is at least a decent SEC QB, the OL is playing as well as I've seen it since Butch's first year, we seem deep and talented at RB and we at least have Calloway and a couple other WRs with experience, I feel like we can score on them.

Having said that, ISU was definitely not a test and I am not sure how much of one Ga Tech was, compared to this (weaker than last year) gator D. 

I do continue my opinion that the gator D is overhyped.  Think we will be okay. 

[Creek Walker]

I dunno. Michigan was pick-sixed twice by Florida's D.

With that said, UM fared only slightly better against Cincinnati than against Florida, and Cincy is no defensive juggernaut. I suspect that Florida's D will be very tough for us to move the ball on, but I would love to be wrong.

One area I will disagree is the OL. This unit played better the 2nd half vs. GaTech than the first half, but then regressed against Indiana State. IndSt had seven TFLs and put too much pressure on our QBs. Think about that...an FCS team that will wind up with a losing record -- middle of the road FCS team at best -- came into our house and had seven tackles for loss. That's simply inexcusable. I'm not impressed with the OL play thus far.

[Tnphil]

I dunno. Michigan was pick-sixed twice by Florida's D.

With that said, UM fared only slightly better against Cincinnati than against Florida, and Cincy is no defensive juggernaut. I suspect that Florida's D will be very tough for us to move the ball on, but I would love to be wrong.

One area I will disagree is the OL. This unit played better the 2nd half vs. GaTech than the first half, but then regressed against Indiana State. IndSt had seven TFLs and put too much pressure on our QBs. Think about that...an FCS team that will wind up with a losing record -- middle of the road FCS team at best -- came into our house and had seven tackles for loss. That's simply inexcusable. I'm not impressed with the OL play thus far.

Agree.....Our OL hasn't impressed me at all. Couple of players have played well but as a unit they have been average to below for the teams we've played.

[BanditVol]

I dunno. Michigan was pick-sixed twice by Florida's D.

With that said, UM fared only slightly better against Cincinnati than against Florida, and Cincy is no defensive juggernaut. I suspect that Florida's D will be very tough for us to move the ball on, but I would love to be wrong.

One area I will disagree is the OL. This unit played better the 2nd half vs. GaTech than the first half, but then regressed against Indiana State. IndSt had seven TFLs and put too much pressure on our QBs. Think about that...an FCS team that will wind up with a losing record -- middle of the road FCS team at best -- came into our house and had seven tackles for loss. That's simply inexcusable. I'm not impressed with the OL play thus far.

Some of the TFLs were from Guarantano holding the dam ball too long.  IMO.  

I also think we telegraphed a play or two that they knew was coming. Maybe not the best day for the OL, but we ran very well.  To me that's the bottom line.  Everything else is style points.

As for Saturday's game, I think our OL did fine against a very similar DL last year.  

And I'll take Kelly over Hurd any day.  We do miss Kamara, but we have a stable of running backs.  I think that's the first time since 2008, although I might allow for it in Kiffin's only year.

[BanditVol]

Agree.....Our OL hasn't impressed me at all. Couple of players have played well but as a unit they have been average to below for the teams we've played.

I'm not saying they are the greatest line I have ever seen.  I am saying that this is the most consistent I have seen them under Butch since his first year, when he inherited five who literally all made an NFL roster the next year (for how long IDK, but they did make it).

I just seem to recall Appy State and Ohio having more success than either of these teams, for instance. Both those squads obviously better than ISU but probably on par with Tech.

The hallmark of the Tennessee OL the last 2-3 years has been inconsistency.  I haven't seen nearly as much this year.

IMO the new OL coach has them playing better.  They will get more of a true test this Saturday, that's for sure.