November 7, 2024 • 16 mins
Former 5-star wideout Johntay Cook and the Texas Longhorns have "mutually parted ways" according to Steve Sarkisian.
Sark also spoke about what he learned about the team during the bye week, the status of Andrew Mukuba, and if Texas will tweak its pass protection for Florida.
Sark also spoke about what he learned about the team during the bye week, the status of Andrew Mukuba, and if Texas will tweak its pass protection for Florida.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome back to the Craigway Show and the Voice of
the Longhorns.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Craig Way.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Follow Craig on social media at Horn Voice.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
On a Thursday afternoon here on sports Radio AM thirteen
hundred Zone'm glad to have you with us this afternoon.
Let's go back to hearing from well before we do that,
before we go back to hearing from Longhorn's head coach,
Steve Sarkis, and I did want to mentioned there's a
couple of things. First of all, I mentioned about Billy Napier.
(00:45):
I said, reason to feel better being on the opposite sideline.
There was an open letter online at Florida Gators dot com.
I came on this morning when I was reading about
the Gators from Scott Strickland, their athletic director. I remember
when Scott Strickland was the sports information director at Baylor
(01:07):
and and but he always wanted to get into an
athletic administration role, and he went to I think he
went to Kentucky and was an associate ad there, then
got his first ad job Atsissippi State, and then on
the Florida But Scott had an open letter to Gator
(01:27):
fans and uh he h and He went right to
the point, because remember early in the year when Florida
was really this struggling. Early it seemed to be a
foregone conclusion that this was going to be it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
For him and he was going to be out.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I'll talked about being on the hot seat and all
this kind of stuff, But here it is dated today.
It says a letter from Scott Strickland to Gator Nation.
That's the way it's laid out on Florida Gators dot Com,
and it says Gater Nation. He didn't mess around. It
goes right to it. I wanted to let you know
that Billy Napier will continue as head coach head football
(02:11):
coach of the Florida Gators. As we've seen these past
several weeks, the young men on this team represent what
it means to be a Gator. The resolve, effort, and
execution are evident in their performance and growth each week,
building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond.
UF's commitment to excellence and a championship caliber program is unwavering,
(02:31):
and these times of change across college athletics, we are
dedicated to a disciplined, stable approach that it's focused on
long term sustained success for Gator athletes, recruits, and fans.
I'm confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
We will work alongside him to support any changes needed
to elevate Gator football as college athletics evolves. UF has
(02:54):
committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive
in the day's competitive Landscapeation has remained strong, showing up
game after game to stand with our team. This loyalty
creates an incredible environment that inspires our players to compete
with heart and determination. Now I call on all of
Gator Nation to continue standing behind Billy and his dedicated
(03:15):
team while we work together to build a championship program.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Go Gators.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That was so he I think just wanted to get
out in front of it and in any speculation before
Florida resumes its season, which of course, you know the
remaining games.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
In their season.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Include start with the game here on Saturday, and then
you talk about a tough closing stretch. Maybe this was
another reason why felt he had to do this. They
play LSU, they play Ole Miss, and then they're at
Florida State. So after the game here in aust On Saturday,
they have back to back home games with LSU and
(04:01):
All Miss. Then they finish in Tallahassee against Florida State,
and they have listed by the Way Football at SEC
Championship on the summer seventh.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
But I don't see them. Are they even mathematically Hey.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
According to the computer, everybody's still mathematically alive.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Right, I hadn't put that in.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
There, But eventually we can figure out a way that
Florida would get in there off of that, off of
that algorithm that you sent to me. Meantime, we know
the long runs are still very much in the thick
of the fight, and head coach Steve Sarkishan's trying to
get his team there.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yes, John Takecook is no longer with a football team.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
And I think it was Kirk Bowles who asked a
couple of questions of sark starting with was John Tay
dismissed or wasn't a mutual decision?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah? No, it was mutual between the two of us.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
So there was that, and then the h and he
wished him well and said nothing but respect for him,
but it was a mutual decision. And then he was
asked about what did he learn about his team. Bring
that open day during the bye week.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
You know, the thing, the thing about us that in
self scouting, we when we don't have negative plays, and
negative plays I mean, yes, a guy tackled for a
loss or a sack, but also when penalties occur offensively,
(05:22):
we are really efficient offensive football team. And so the
one thing that we've really been stressing this week is
to move the ball forward. And I know that sounds
really simple, but when we don't have those negative plays,
we are very efficient team. We play, we operate almost
in first down, second down, first down, second down mode,
(05:45):
and that's when we're at our best, that's when our
rhythm is at our best. And so that's been the
challenge this week. As aggressive as we want to call it,
as as much you know, formations, motion shifts we want
to do, we want to make sure that our players understand,
let's keep moving forward and let's minimize the late grabs
that our potential holds. Let's minimize the sacks that that
(06:08):
maybe we're taking waiting on a throw down the field
instead of maybe finding a checkdown. Let's minimize the runners,
you know, maybe trying to bounce something to look for
a run but let's let's move forward, because when we
do that, we're really efficient. And so I think that's
that's an area that that we've kind of looked at
and said, Okay, we can be better here. I think,
(06:30):
you know, in the end, I still think we've been
very efficient in the red area, which is something I've
been proud of the guys, the work.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
They've put in.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
You know, we did not have a very good third
down day two games ago against Georgia. I thought we
rebounded with Vanderbilt last week. So some things on the
offensive side of the ball I feel good about. I
think on special teams, one thing that we looked at
that we feel very comfortable with is we're playing more
young players and they're producing and they're they haven't been perfect.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
But they're producing.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
And so we're really trying to be aggressive with our
intent of playing more young players on special teams to
get them some experience.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
That that's been good.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
And I would really say the same for the defensive
side of the ball. You know, we've we saw Kobe
bat Black play more in the secondary. We've seen Julanie
McDonald playing more in the secondary, Jordan Johnson Rebell's really
coming along Alex January on the defensive front is really
coming along. I've touched on Sadir Mitchell, so I think
on the defensive side of the ball, continuing to build
(07:31):
our depth. We've been playing defense at a really high level.
I don't think you guys asked me enough about it.
I don't think I talk enough about our defense for
for how good they're playing defensive football right now. But
we also know, hey, we've we've been dealt to a
couple injuries, We've been dealt to guy getting suspended for
half of a game, and we're gonna have to rely
(07:51):
on other people and we got to keep developing those
guys because hopefully we were playing a lot more games
the rest of this way.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Okay, Next, he was asked about, since we were talking
about the defense, the pass rush and the type of
effect that could have on a game like this where
Florida we don't know the quarterback situation yet, although it's
expected that a Mourner will probably wind up starting, but
you could see DJ lagway and you know how different
(08:20):
might the preparation be and what kind of an impact
could his pass rush have.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Yeah, I think everything that that Florida does starts with
their run game.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
First of all, they're they're a very.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Big personnel motion shift operation. And I know that sounds
like something you hear me say. You know, coach Napier
and I work together in twenty sixteen at Alabama. He's
a very good football coach, and so a lot of
what he does is to cause you to not communicate well,
(08:52):
to not adjust to the formations, the unbalanced looks, the
late motions, the quick motions, and get you out of
your apps to run the ball downhill. They are a
physical offensive line. They have physical running backs, and then
when you over commit to it, they hurt you with
the play action pass, the bootlegs, the keepers, the wheel
routes that to create explosive plays. And so I think
(09:15):
the one thing that Florida does a good job with
and not to take anything away from their offensive line
because they're a big, physical group, is they don't get
into this world of where they're just dropping back to pass.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
You know, time and time and time again.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
You know they're committed to the run game, and you
that forces defensive linemen and pass rushers to defend the
run even then when the pass does come up. And
so they kind of neutralize a little bit of the
pass rush with.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Their run game.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
So hopefully, you know, we can do a great job
defending the run and then take advantage of our pass
rush opportunities when they present themselves.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
All Right, this next question, when't this the one that
Hardball Harj asked. Mike harr asked about the five to
one two boys. Yeah, he's been busy today. Hardball has
that and the media availability with Rodney Terry. There was
a zoom media and we'll hear the sound from Rtie
tomorrow in advance of the game tomorrow night. But our man,
(10:15):
Mike Hardball Harte is so valuable to us, and of
course you listen to him Monday through Friday morning along
with the world's strongest man, Mark Henry. There on the
morning kickoff seven to nine right here on Sports Radio
AM thirteen under the Zone, and Mike asked about an
update on Andrew mccouba and basically what the five to
(10:35):
one to two boys bring to the team. The five
one two boys obviously Andrew Kuba LBJ product who of
course started claims before transferring him. Jade Baron, six years
senior out of Conley High. There in the Flugervilleias D
and of course uh Mookie Taff Michael Taff from Westlake
(10:56):
all him out of the five to one to two
area code and asked about what the five to one
to two boys bring to the team and how mccuba's progressing.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yeah, I thought Andrew, first of all, had had a
really good practice today. You know, I think naturally, you know,
when you're out the goal for us as a coach
and a training staff is that you get better each day,
and we definitely saw that from him today and he
was really good spirits after practice, so that that was
a positive. But you know, I think those three guys, Taff, Macuba,
(11:25):
john A Bear and the one thing that that they
have is a lot of experience. And these guys have
played a lot of football. I know Drew, you know
obviously with his time at Clemson and then early on
in the season with US, john A his versatility playing
multiple positions for US, and Taff of just kind of
growing into the role that he's played.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
They're all playmakers.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
They've all made they don't just it's one thing to
be a veteran player and know what to do, but
then you don't make plays. All three of those guys
have been making big plays for us, you know, interceptions,
cause fumbles, fumble recoveries to go along with doing their
job really well. And I think that they provide a
real sense of confidence for the other guys in the
(12:07):
back end. Even when a Jelani McDonald's steps in, he's
surrounded by some really good players that are going to
communicate with him to a level of Okay, everybody's where
they're supposed to be, let me go play too, and
so you know, that's that's that's you know, a real
kind of we're fortunate to have that experience, but yet
that confidence and playmaking ability that all three of those
(12:29):
guys provide.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yeah, all right, So continuing on that line with the
defense and the secondary, what kind of look is Sark
expecting to get if DJ Lagway is able to play
or in the more likely scenario that he doesn't play
and a Mourner has to go, how do they attack
(12:51):
the quarterback? Based on who is playing quarterback for the Gators,
it kind.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Of varies, I guess, on how does the other quarterback looked,
you know, if if if you're going to play a
team with a quarterback who might be hobbled but if
he's not hobbled, man, he can run pretty good and
his backup can run really well, then your scheme is
is one way where it's like, Okay, we need to
(13:16):
be cognizant of this. But I think at the end
of the day, if you know guy's coming in and
he's he's got a hamstring and he may be healthy,
he may not be well, we have to we have
to monitor that in real time in game. But ultimately, yeah,
that does affect because if you think, man, we need
to have a spy in this game on third down,
that affects how you rush if the mobility doesn't look
(13:40):
great and the backup mobility is adequate.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
But maybe he's not an elite runner.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Maybe we can do some different things where we don't
have to spy, and that allows our guys to rush more.
And you know, I love when Colin and Trey and
Alfred and Vernon and all those guys are rushing Anthony
Hill are rushing the quarterback because that timing in the
passing game and allows our dbs to play a certain
way as well. So it does, but again, we don't
(14:06):
ever want to be one dimensional. And as I touched on,
I think That's one of the beauties of PK as
a play callers. The change up calls that he makes
in a game, I think does affect an offensive team.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Okay, and then one other thing here this hour, and
it's about the pass protection scheme. We know this offensive line,
which was you know, performing so well and so highly
talent going into the season, has had struggles of the
past couple of ball games, most notably obviously the loss
to Georgia, but even giving up sacks against Vanderbilt. So
(14:38):
did sart Philly needed to tweak the pass protection scheme
after the offensive line did surrender sacks in the past
two ballgames.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Yeah, I don't know necessarily that we tweaked it, you know,
schematically in a sense, I think the thing that we
really needed to drill down on is making sure our
communication and that we're all on the same pa. You know,
we've the last couple of weeks have had too many
times and one times too many. But if it's two
(15:08):
or three now where we have free rushers at the quarterback,
when the quarterback thinks he's protected predicated on the amount
of rushers that are coming and that can then in
turn spook a quarterback because it's like I thought I
was protected, now I'm getting hit, and so why is
that occurring?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
And so getting everybody dialed in on the same page.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
From from Jake Majors out on the offensive line, to
incorporating the running backs, to incorporating the tight ends that
we are operating in unison as one, I think has
probably been some of the biggest keys that that we've
had to work on this week as opposed to just
you know, coming up with I don't want to say
a new protection, but adjusting that protection. And so I
(15:51):
anticipate us being better. Florida's going to challenge us with that.
They're they're really well coached and they've got some elaborate
stuff that they do, exotic stuff that they do.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
But I think that's the key to the drill.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
And then when we're not when they have one more
than we have the block, or that the pressure is
coming from a side, whether the quarterback doesn't have his
protection right, that he can either change that protection or
he's got to get the ball out in kind of
a hot scenario.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, all right, there's some more from Sark.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
We'll hear more from him coming up during the next
hour as well. We've got some NFL notes and NBA
to get too when we continue here on sports Radio
AM thirteen under the zone of the iHeartRadio app.
Welcome back to the Craigway Show and the Voice of
the Longhorns.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Craig Way.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Follow Craig on social media at Horn Voice.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
On a Thursday afternoon here on sports Radio AM thirteen
hundred Zone'm glad to have you with us this afternoon.
Let's go back to hearing from well before we do that,
before we go back to hearing from Longhorn's head coach,
Steve Sarkis, and I did want to mentioned there's a
couple of things. First of all, I mentioned about Billy Napier.
(00:45):
I said, reason to feel better being on the opposite sideline.
There was an open letter online at Florida Gators dot com.
I came on this morning when I was reading about
the Gators from Scott Strickland, their athletic director. I remember
when Scott Strickland was the sports information director at Baylor
(01:07):
and and but he always wanted to get into an
athletic administration role, and he went to I think he
went to Kentucky and was an associate ad there, then
got his first ad job Atsissippi State, and then on
the Florida But Scott had an open letter to Gator
(01:27):
fans and uh he h and He went right to
the point, because remember early in the year when Florida
was really this struggling. Early it seemed to be a
foregone conclusion that this was going to be it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
For him and he was going to be out.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I'll talked about being on the hot seat and all
this kind of stuff, But here it is dated today.
It says a letter from Scott Strickland to Gator Nation.
That's the way it's laid out on Florida Gators dot Com,
and it says Gater Nation. He didn't mess around. It
goes right to it. I wanted to let you know
that Billy Napier will continue as head coach head football
(02:11):
coach of the Florida Gators. As we've seen these past
several weeks, the young men on this team represent what
it means to be a Gator. The resolve, effort, and
execution are evident in their performance and growth each week,
building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond.
UF's commitment to excellence and a championship caliber program is unwavering,
(02:31):
and these times of change across college athletics, we are
dedicated to a disciplined, stable approach that it's focused on
long term sustained success for Gator athletes, recruits, and fans.
I'm confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
We will work alongside him to support any changes needed
to elevate Gator football as college athletics evolves. UF has
(02:54):
committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive
in the day's competitive Landscapeation has remained strong, showing up
game after game to stand with our team. This loyalty
creates an incredible environment that inspires our players to compete
with heart and determination. Now I call on all of
Gator Nation to continue standing behind Billy and his dedicated
(03:15):
team while we work together to build a championship program.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Go Gators.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That was so he I think just wanted to get
out in front of it and in any speculation before
Florida resumes its season, which of course, you know the
remaining games.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
In their season.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Include start with the game here on Saturday, and then
you talk about a tough closing stretch. Maybe this was
another reason why felt he had to do this. They
play LSU, they play Ole Miss, and then they're at
Florida State. So after the game here in aust On Saturday,
they have back to back home games with LSU and
(04:01):
All Miss. Then they finish in Tallahassee against Florida State,
and they have listed by the Way Football at SEC
Championship on the summer seventh.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
But I don't see them. Are they even mathematically Hey.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
According to the computer, everybody's still mathematically alive.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Right, I hadn't put that in.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
There, But eventually we can figure out a way that
Florida would get in there off of that, off of
that algorithm that you sent to me. Meantime, we know
the long runs are still very much in the thick
of the fight, and head coach Steve Sarkishan's trying to
get his team there.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yes, John Takecook is no longer with a football team.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
And I think it was Kirk Bowles who asked a
couple of questions of sark starting with was John Tay
dismissed or wasn't a mutual decision?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah? No, it was mutual between the two of us.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
So there was that, and then the h and he
wished him well and said nothing but respect for him,
but it was a mutual decision. And then he was
asked about what did he learn about his team. Bring
that open day during the bye week.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
You know, the thing, the thing about us that in
self scouting, we when we don't have negative plays, and
negative plays I mean, yes, a guy tackled for a
loss or a sack, but also when penalties occur offensively,
(05:22):
we are really efficient offensive football team. And so the
one thing that we've really been stressing this week is
to move the ball forward. And I know that sounds
really simple, but when we don't have those negative plays,
we are very efficient team. We play, we operate almost
in first down, second down, first down, second down mode,
(05:45):
and that's when we're at our best, that's when our
rhythm is at our best. And so that's been the
challenge this week. As aggressive as we want to call it,
as as much you know, formations, motion shifts we want
to do, we want to make sure that our players understand,
let's keep moving forward and let's minimize the late grabs
that our potential holds. Let's minimize the sacks that that
(06:08):
maybe we're taking waiting on a throw down the field
instead of maybe finding a checkdown. Let's minimize the runners,
you know, maybe trying to bounce something to look for
a run but let's let's move forward, because when we
do that, we're really efficient. And so I think that's
that's an area that that we've kind of looked at
and said, Okay, we can be better here. I think,
(06:30):
you know, in the end, I still think we've been
very efficient in the red area, which is something I've
been proud of the guys, the work.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
They've put in.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
You know, we did not have a very good third
down day two games ago against Georgia. I thought we
rebounded with Vanderbilt last week. So some things on the
offensive side of the ball I feel good about. I
think on special teams, one thing that we looked at
that we feel very comfortable with is we're playing more
young players and they're producing and they're they haven't been perfect.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
But they're producing.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
And so we're really trying to be aggressive with our
intent of playing more young players on special teams to
get them some experience.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
That that's been good.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
And I would really say the same for the defensive
side of the ball. You know, we've we saw Kobe
bat Black play more in the secondary. We've seen Julanie
McDonald playing more in the secondary, Jordan Johnson Rebell's really
coming along Alex January on the defensive front is really
coming along. I've touched on Sadir Mitchell, so I think
on the defensive side of the ball, continuing to build
(07:31):
our depth. We've been playing defense at a really high level.
I don't think you guys asked me enough about it.
I don't think I talk enough about our defense for
for how good they're playing defensive football right now. But
we also know, hey, we've we've been dealt to a
couple injuries, We've been dealt to guy getting suspended for
half of a game, and we're gonna have to rely
(07:51):
on other people and we got to keep developing those
guys because hopefully we were playing a lot more games
the rest of this way.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Okay, Next, he was asked about, since we were talking
about the defense, the pass rush and the type of
effect that could have on a game like this where
Florida we don't know the quarterback situation yet, although it's
expected that a Mourner will probably wind up starting, but
you could see DJ lagway and you know how different
(08:20):
might the preparation be and what kind of an impact
could his pass rush have.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
Yeah, I think everything that that Florida does starts with
their run game.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
First of all, they're they're a very.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Big personnel motion shift operation. And I know that sounds
like something you hear me say. You know, coach Napier
and I work together in twenty sixteen at Alabama. He's
a very good football coach, and so a lot of
what he does is to cause you to not communicate well,
(08:52):
to not adjust to the formations, the unbalanced looks, the
late motions, the quick motions, and get you out of
your apps to run the ball downhill. They are a
physical offensive line. They have physical running backs, and then
when you over commit to it, they hurt you with
the play action pass, the bootlegs, the keepers, the wheel
routes that to create explosive plays. And so I think
(09:15):
the one thing that Florida does a good job with
and not to take anything away from their offensive line
because they're a big, physical group, is they don't get
into this world of where they're just dropping back to pass.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
You know, time and time and time again.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
You know they're committed to the run game, and you
that forces defensive linemen and pass rushers to defend the
run even then when the pass does come up. And
so they kind of neutralize a little bit of the
pass rush with.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Their run game.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
So hopefully, you know, we can do a great job
defending the run and then take advantage of our pass
rush opportunities when they present themselves.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
All Right, this next question, when't this the one that
Hardball Harj asked. Mike harr asked about the five to
one two boys. Yeah, he's been busy today. Hardball has
that and the media availability with Rodney Terry. There was
a zoom media and we'll hear the sound from Rtie
tomorrow in advance of the game tomorrow night. But our man,
(10:15):
Mike Hardball Harte is so valuable to us, and of
course you listen to him Monday through Friday morning along
with the world's strongest man, Mark Henry. There on the
morning kickoff seven to nine right here on Sports Radio
AM thirteen under the Zone, and Mike asked about an
update on Andrew mccouba and basically what the five to
(10:35):
one to two boys bring to the team. The five
one two boys obviously Andrew Kuba LBJ product who of
course started claims before transferring him. Jade Baron, six years
senior out of Conley High. There in the Flugervilleias D
and of course uh Mookie Taff Michael Taff from Westlake
(10:56):
all him out of the five to one to two
area code and asked about what the five to one
to two boys bring to the team and how mccuba's progressing.
Speaker 4 (11:02):
Yeah, I thought Andrew, first of all, had had a
really good practice today. You know, I think naturally, you know,
when you're out the goal for us as a coach
and a training staff is that you get better each day,
and we definitely saw that from him today and he
was really good spirits after practice, so that that was
a positive. But you know, I think those three guys, Taff, Macuba,
(11:25):
john A Bear and the one thing that that they
have is a lot of experience. And these guys have
played a lot of football. I know Drew, you know
obviously with his time at Clemson and then early on
in the season with US, john A his versatility playing
multiple positions for US, and Taff of just kind of
growing into the role that he's played.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
They're all playmakers.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
They've all made they don't just it's one thing to
be a veteran player and know what to do, but
then you don't make plays. All three of those guys
have been making big plays for us, you know, interceptions,
cause fumbles, fumble recoveries to go along with doing their
job really well. And I think that they provide a
real sense of confidence for the other guys in the
(12:07):
back end. Even when a Jelani McDonald's steps in, he's
surrounded by some really good players that are going to
communicate with him to a level of Okay, everybody's where
they're supposed to be, let me go play too, and
so you know, that's that's that's you know, a real
kind of we're fortunate to have that experience, but yet
that confidence and playmaking ability that all three of those
(12:29):
guys provide.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yeah, all right, So continuing on that line with the
defense and the secondary, what kind of look is Sark
expecting to get if DJ Lagway is able to play
or in the more likely scenario that he doesn't play
and a Mourner has to go, how do they attack
(12:51):
the quarterback? Based on who is playing quarterback for the Gators,
it kind.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
Of varies, I guess, on how does the other quarterback looked,
you know, if if if you're going to play a
team with a quarterback who might be hobbled but if
he's not hobbled, man, he can run pretty good and
his backup can run really well, then your scheme is
is one way where it's like, Okay, we need to
(13:16):
be cognizant of this. But I think at the end
of the day, if you know guy's coming in and
he's he's got a hamstring and he may be healthy,
he may not be well, we have to we have
to monitor that in real time in game. But ultimately, yeah,
that does affect because if you think, man, we need
to have a spy in this game on third down,
that affects how you rush if the mobility doesn't look
(13:40):
great and the backup mobility is adequate.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
But maybe he's not an elite runner.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Maybe we can do some different things where we don't
have to spy, and that allows our guys to rush more.
And you know, I love when Colin and Trey and
Alfred and Vernon and all those guys are rushing Anthony
Hill are rushing the quarterback because that timing in the
passing game and allows our dbs to play a certain
way as well. So it does, but again, we don't
(14:06):
ever want to be one dimensional. And as I touched on,
I think That's one of the beauties of PK as
a play callers. The change up calls that he makes
in a game, I think does affect an offensive team.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Okay, and then one other thing here this hour, and
it's about the pass protection scheme. We know this offensive line,
which was you know, performing so well and so highly
talent going into the season, has had struggles of the
past couple of ball games, most notably obviously the loss
to Georgia, but even giving up sacks against Vanderbilt. So
(14:38):
did sart Philly needed to tweak the pass protection scheme
after the offensive line did surrender sacks in the past
two ballgames.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Yeah, I don't know necessarily that we tweaked it, you know,
schematically in a sense, I think the thing that we
really needed to drill down on is making sure our
communication and that we're all on the same pa. You know,
we've the last couple of weeks have had too many
times and one times too many. But if it's two
(15:08):
or three now where we have free rushers at the quarterback,
when the quarterback thinks he's protected predicated on the amount
of rushers that are coming and that can then in
turn spook a quarterback because it's like I thought I
was protected, now I'm getting hit, and so why is
that occurring?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
And so getting everybody dialed in on the same page.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
From from Jake Majors out on the offensive line, to
incorporating the running backs, to incorporating the tight ends that
we are operating in unison as one, I think has
probably been some of the biggest keys that that we've
had to work on this week as opposed to just
you know, coming up with I don't want to say
a new protection, but adjusting that protection. And so I
(15:51):
anticipate us being better. Florida's going to challenge us with that.
They're they're really well coached and they've got some elaborate
stuff that they do, exotic stuff that they do.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
But I think that's the key to the drill.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
And then when we're not when they have one more
than we have the block, or that the pressure is
coming from a side, whether the quarterback doesn't have his
protection right, that he can either change that protection or
he's got to get the ball out in kind of
a hot scenario.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Yeah, all right, there's some more from Sark.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
We'll hear more from him coming up during the next
hour as well. We've got some NFL notes and NBA
to get too when we continue here on sports Radio
AM thirteen under the zone of the iHeartRadio app.
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