Here are a few immediate thoughts about, and reactions to, Steve Sarkisian's Florida-week press conference coming off a bye week -- and a weekend in the SEC that saw Texas' path to the SEC championship become more clear thanks to a rotten egg laid by Mike Elko and the Aggies at South Carolina:
- Sark starts out by saying that the month of November is going to be challenging, but "the games in November are the games you remember." Sark says the last three games for UF, overtime versus Tennessee and really hung in versus UGA. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sark with another snappy saying kinda like "don't count your reps, make your reps count." A November to remember! It sounds like one of those commercials where a dude gives his wife a car with a bow during the November to Remember sales event.
- Ed Clements asked about the UF QB situation: "You prepare for the scheme," Sark said. Talk about formations and shifts, etc. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Not having Lagway is going to affect their scheme greatly. The backup Warner is not good at all, but they need to prepare for a dogfight as the defense can keep UF in games. Kirby Smart said, coming into this game last week, that UF is playing at as high a level as any team in the conference right now. The UGA/UF game might have had a different outcome if Lagway doesn't hurt his hammy.
- Chip Brown asked about curbing penalties: "18 penalties last two games, we really try to minimize the pre-snap stuff. Working on technique on things that happen in play. Hands inside on the OL, getting your head around in the secondary to make a play on the ball." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: If he's referencing Manny Muhammad's DPI, Manny is going to be fine, that was a completely uncharacteristic play from him.
- Anwar asked about Bond and Mukuba and what the team can improve on for the last four games: Both those guys practiced today and looked good. It was a good start. Sark says he wants to get his mojo back on offense is a way to improve. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sounds like Texas will have those guys back. As for the offense, Quinn needs to get his mojo back in order for the offense to.
- Thomas Jones asked about some of the younger guys that might get more playing time: Kobe Black continues to make strides. Gibson showed us alot last week. JJR and Filsaime are both on the come. I'll say this, Sydir Mitchell has had his best two weeks of work. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: well, well, well. ..... a Sydir Mitchell name drop.
- Kirk Bohls asked if they've lost confidence in losing mojo: "It's like anything, if you're a home run hitter or 3pt shooter, when you see them go in or go out of the park, you don't lose confidence, you just have to see one go out of the park." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I actually think that's a really astute illustration.
- Jeff Jones asked about Jahdae Barron's decision to come back. Sark was asked about this last week on the SEC media conference call and answered the same way by saying he wishes all players would go through the process like he did, and that he made himself a lot of money by coming back. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: On the SEC conference call by the way, he also mentioned Alfred Collins making his money as well which was an interesting thing to throw in. Collins has played fantastic the last two weeks.
- Eric Henry asked about the run game and if it can achieve his preseason goals: "We've been a work in progress .. the key is continuing to grow." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Talk about a guy who would help to get his "mojo" back - I'd love to see the early season Jaydon Blue return.
- Ced Golden asked about the logjam atop the SEC and any coaching tools from the ATM loss? "A lot of football to be played in November, the one thing I took away is the only thing we can control is us. One thing you learn from watching tough games, you wanna get up for each week and you just have to fight that dropoff." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: The SEC is something else, man. Even with a kinda "easy" remaining schedule, Texas has its hands full this month.
- On the SEC fake injury policy from last Friday: "We haven't felt it as much as some other teams have." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED YOUR BOY KIFFIN YET, COACH!
- On what about Liona Lefau allows Anthony to be himself: Liona can play multiple positions, communicates well and Anthony trusts him -- but on the flip side, when David has played on limited reps, his production has been really high. All three of those guys are benefitting. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Yes, plus it allows Hill to be used in ways that are more impactful.
- Brian Davis asked about Ewers and the idea of a starting script of plays. Sark said Quinn has had a good week. AS for the script. 1) gives us best success, 2) gives us hints as to how they'll defend us and 3) gives us some burn and some chalk on their sideline (???). ALEX'S THOUGHTS: For once, I don't know what Sark means when he said that.
- About the UF defensive line. "One of the best looking teams in our conference, big long and athletic." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Someone asked about Watson the NT Who I believe is the behemoth No.21. Yes, he is giant, but I watched back the UGA game today and he really can't move well. Their edge guys (34 and 94 especially) are good, though and they have other DLs who are very long. In the UGA game, between the INT DL and the edge guys they batted down 5 passes and Beck is not exactly short. Quinn is going to need to be on point and be ready for some hands getting thrown up. It's a point of emphasis on their defense.
- Josh Newman asked if the significance of the SEC championship is less if both teams can make the CFP: "Not around here, the SEC championship is our first goal." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Well, from a chronological standpoint it kinda has to be, but the biggest goal is of course a natty.
- On the offense "overtrying": Like the 3pt shooter or the HR hitter reference -- I don't want our guys to press. We didn't have a couple of great weeks, that's OK. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Interesting to hear Sark admit the last two weeks haven't been great. He never really expressed that post-Vandy. Seemed pleased with the win.
- Danny Davis asked about Broughton missing the first half due to targeting -- Great opportunity for Jermaine Lole. Norton, January, we're going to need more out of Savea, and Sydir has had his best two weeks here. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: There is a lot to unpack with this one: 1) Lole is clearly going to get the most run, we don't need Sark to tell us that. 2) Savea hasn't played at all in conference play and Sark only saying "we need more out of him" isn't the most inspiring; and 3) another Sydir Mitchell unsolicited reference????
Dare I say
- Sark starts out by saying that the month of November is going to be challenging, but "the games in November are the games you remember." Sark says the last three games for UF, overtime versus Tennessee and really hung in versus UGA. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sark with another snappy saying kinda like "don't count your reps, make your reps count." A November to remember! It sounds like one of those commercials where a dude gives his wife a car with a bow during the November to Remember sales event.
- Ed Clements asked about the UF QB situation: "You prepare for the scheme," Sark said. Talk about formations and shifts, etc. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Not having Lagway is going to affect their scheme greatly. The backup Warner is not good at all, but they need to prepare for a dogfight as the defense can keep UF in games. Kirby Smart said, coming into this game last week, that UF is playing at as high a level as any team in the conference right now. The UGA/UF game might have had a different outcome if Lagway doesn't hurt his hammy.
- Chip Brown asked about curbing penalties: "18 penalties last two games, we really try to minimize the pre-snap stuff. Working on technique on things that happen in play. Hands inside on the OL, getting your head around in the secondary to make a play on the ball." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: If he's referencing Manny Muhammad's DPI, Manny is going to be fine, that was a completely uncharacteristic play from him.
- Anwar asked about Bond and Mukuba and what the team can improve on for the last four games: Both those guys practiced today and looked good. It was a good start. Sark says he wants to get his mojo back on offense is a way to improve. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sounds like Texas will have those guys back. As for the offense, Quinn needs to get his mojo back in order for the offense to.
- Thomas Jones asked about some of the younger guys that might get more playing time: Kobe Black continues to make strides. Gibson showed us alot last week. JJR and Filsaime are both on the come. I'll say this, Sydir Mitchell has had his best two weeks of work. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: well, well, well. ..... a Sydir Mitchell name drop.
- Kirk Bohls asked if they've lost confidence in losing mojo: "It's like anything, if you're a home run hitter or 3pt shooter, when you see them go in or go out of the park, you don't lose confidence, you just have to see one go out of the park." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I actually think that's a really astute illustration.
- Jeff Jones asked about Jahdae Barron's decision to come back. Sark was asked about this last week on the SEC media conference call and answered the same way by saying he wishes all players would go through the process like he did, and that he made himself a lot of money by coming back. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: On the SEC conference call by the way, he also mentioned Alfred Collins making his money as well which was an interesting thing to throw in. Collins has played fantastic the last two weeks.
- Eric Henry asked about the run game and if it can achieve his preseason goals: "We've been a work in progress .. the key is continuing to grow." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Talk about a guy who would help to get his "mojo" back - I'd love to see the early season Jaydon Blue return.
- Ced Golden asked about the logjam atop the SEC and any coaching tools from the ATM loss? "A lot of football to be played in November, the one thing I took away is the only thing we can control is us. One thing you learn from watching tough games, you wanna get up for each week and you just have to fight that dropoff." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: The SEC is something else, man. Even with a kinda "easy" remaining schedule, Texas has its hands full this month.
- On the SEC fake injury policy from last Friday: "We haven't felt it as much as some other teams have." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED YOUR BOY KIFFIN YET, COACH!
- On what about Liona Lefau allows Anthony to be himself: Liona can play multiple positions, communicates well and Anthony trusts him -- but on the flip side, when David has played on limited reps, his production has been really high. All three of those guys are benefitting. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Yes, plus it allows Hill to be used in ways that are more impactful.
- Brian Davis asked about Ewers and the idea of a starting script of plays. Sark said Quinn has had a good week. AS for the script. 1) gives us best success, 2) gives us hints as to how they'll defend us and 3) gives us some burn and some chalk on their sideline (???). ALEX'S THOUGHTS: For once, I don't know what Sark means when he said that.
- About the UF defensive line. "One of the best looking teams in our conference, big long and athletic." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Someone asked about Watson the NT Who I believe is the behemoth No.21. Yes, he is giant, but I watched back the UGA game today and he really can't move well. Their edge guys (34 and 94 especially) are good, though and they have other DLs who are very long. In the UGA game, between the INT DL and the edge guys they batted down 5 passes and Beck is not exactly short. Quinn is going to need to be on point and be ready for some hands getting thrown up. It's a point of emphasis on their defense.
- Josh Newman asked if the significance of the SEC championship is less if both teams can make the CFP: "Not around here, the SEC championship is our first goal." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Well, from a chronological standpoint it kinda has to be, but the biggest goal is of course a natty.
- On the offense "overtrying": Like the 3pt shooter or the HR hitter reference -- I don't want our guys to press. We didn't have a couple of great weeks, that's OK. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Interesting to hear Sark admit the last two weeks haven't been great. He never really expressed that post-Vandy. Seemed pleased with the win.
- Danny Davis asked about Broughton missing the first half due to targeting -- Great opportunity for Jermaine Lole. Norton, January, we're going to need more out of Savea, and Sydir has had his best two weeks here. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: There is a lot to unpack with this one: 1) Lole is clearly going to get the most run, we don't need Sark to tell us that. 2) Savea hasn't played at all in conference play and Sark only saying "we need more out of him" isn't the most inspiring; and 3) another Sydir Mitchell unsolicited reference????
Dare I say
