How did the same coach who revamped his offense to fit Chris Leak's abilities fare so poorly with Brantley?
-Zeb On Oct 5, 2011, at 11:06 AM, Shane Ford wrote: > > October 5th, 2011 09:49am > Brantley arrives, then gone > by Robbie Andreu > > > There are many differing opinions out there about John Brantley, but I think > there is one thing we can all agree on. He is one of the most star-crossed > players in the history of Florida football. > This life-long Gator redshirted his freshman year and then sat patiently > behind Tim Tebow for two years waiting for his chance to fulfill his dream of > being the Florida quarterback. When he finally got his chance last season, he > found himself stuck in an offensive quagmire. He was asked to do things in > the spread-option offense that he couldn’t do, like run the option. And he > never had the chance to do the things that he can do well, like throw the > football down the field. > As a result, he was ripped and ridiculed throughout the 2010 season. His > smile and his confidence disappeared. He thought about leaving. > Then, a Godsend. Charlie Weis. > When Will Muschamp hired the highly regarded offensive coordinator and > quarterback fixer, it gave Brantley new life — and one last chance to become > the quarterback we all thought he could be when he signed with Florida five > years ago. > On Saturday night in The Swamp, we saw that quarterback. He was poised, in > command, confidently making his check downs, throwing the ball down the field > and leading the Gators up and down the field against the nation’s strongest > defense. > Then, of course, another cruel blow for Brantley. He sustained a high ankle > sprain when he was sacked in the final minute of the first half. Now, best > case scenario, Brantley will have only precious few chances (three, maybe > four games) to repeat what he did in that first half Saturday night. > Listen to Weis talking about Brantley’s performance and how far he’s come as > a quarterback: > “With the exception of the interception, where he didn’t even see the guy, > he played great. He was trying to throw the check down to Trey Burton and > should not have thrown it, because he could not really see Trey, either. > Think about it. He throws 16 passes, he completes 11 and he has three dropped > balls. That’s 14 of 16 against that defense. > “He’s stepping up in the pocket. That’s what real quarterbacks look like, > stepping up in the pocket, shuffling a little to the left, shuffling a little > to the right, making the big throw down the field that everyone said he > couldn’t make. Stepping up and hitting a crossing route to Deonte Thompson, > which was his fourth read. Boom, boom, boom and he hits him out of the back > end. He was playing. > “He’d like that interception back. One thing I like the most about him is > when that happened, I said three words to him: short-term memory. And he came > back and we went on that two-minute drive down to the 14 before the > back-to-back sacks. I mean, never fazed him, never lost his cool. I look into > peoples’ eyes. It was pretty easy to see he expected to play a good game. > It’s unfortunate that he got injured.” > It is. But hopefully, Brantley will show the toughness and resiliency he has > throughout his career and bounce back one more time — show us again the stuff > he showed us last Saturday night. > He deserves that. I think we can all agree on that. > > Comments > 2 Comments > > October 5th, 2011 10:39 am > Couldn’t agree more with your assessment Robbie. On Saturday Brantley showed > why he was recruited to play at UF. Hopefully he will be able to return soon > with full confidence. > > by txgator71 > > October 5th, 2011 10:51 am > JB has never disappointed me, as a Gator, or as a person. He’s been patient, > and loyal to the team and the Gator nation. I was/am much more disappointed > in the “former administration” who placed him a bad/illogical scheme for his > talents and those of the surrounding cast. > I wish him the best in whatever he pursues in the future, and would be > thrilled if he gets a chance to get the reception he deserves when/if he gets > a chance to finish his career as the special person/Gator that he is. > > by Ditch Gator > > > > > > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions > 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions > 2008 National Football Champions | > Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), > Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
