Thoughts of the Day: Austin Armstrong

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

Detractors easily dismissed the efforts of Florida’s defense in the first two games. Utah was playing without its starting quarterback Cameron Rising. McNeese State was a D1AA team coming off a hosing at the hands of something called Tarleton State.

Photo Credit Chris Spears

There isn’t much the critics can say after Austin Armstrong’s defense put so many speed bumps in the path of Tennessee’s three plays a minute “Blur” offense that the Vols scored only 16 points and turned the ball over three times after failing to convert three critical second half fourth downs. Florida now ranks 10th nationally and first in the SEC in total defense (256.3 yards per game). The Gators rank 22nd in the country in rushing defense (83.67 yards per game, 2.92 per carry) and 25th in pass defense (177 yards per game). The Gators have allowed only 13 third down conversions in 38 attempts, which is 34.21 percent, a far cry from a year ago when the Gators were 129th out of 131 teams in the country, allowing opponents to convert nearly 50 percent of the time.

This is a different UF defense than the one that took the field a year ago. The Gators are much bigger across the front where transfers Cam Jackson and Caleb Banks are two-gap guys. Sophomore Shemar James and redshirt sophomore Scooby Williams have displaced older, more experienced guys at linebacker and there isn’t a single senior starting in the secondary.

The Gators are young but so is Armstrong, just 30 years old but obviously a rising star in the coaching profession. Against Tennessee, Armstrong had an excellent game plan that was so ingrained in his unit that mistakes were held to a bare minimum. So often it seemed as if the Gators knew in advance just what the Vols were about to run, evident in how quickly Florida defenders swarmed to the football to make critical stops.

“I thought we played with really good fundamentals,” HBC Billy Napier said. "We got the call in. We had our cleats on the ground. We strike blockers. We played well on the edges of the formations. We covered down the perimeter. We missed a few tackles, but for the most part when space tackles were presented we did our job.

“They got a few big plays but we survived a few. Ultimately, I mean, I think Austin’s done a great job since the day he’s been here. I think this game’s a reflection of that, much like Utah was, much like McNeese was.”

Although this is Armstrong’s first year on the job, he’s running the same system the Gators ran last year, which happens to be the same one Napier ran at Louisiana. So, Armstrong is quite familiar with it. Even though the Gators are one of the youngest, if not the youngest defensive unit in the SEC, so many of the players arrived at the same time as Napier.

“We have better personnel,” Napier said. “I think on all part of that side of the ball are in year two. Austin has done a good job of connecting with the players and connecting with the staff.”

Jackson, Castell earn SEC honors

Defensive tackle Cam Jackson and freshman safety Jordan Castell were honored by the Southeastern Conference for their efforts in Florida’s 29-16 win over Tennessee. Jackson was selected Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week while Castell was selected Freshman of the Week.

Jackson finished the game with six tackles and a pass breakup. Heading into the game, the Vols were leading the SEC in rushing, but they managed only 100 yards on 30 carries with Jackson plugging the gap on either side of the center.

Castell, starting only his second game as a collegian, had 10 tackles and a pass breakup.

Mazzccua, George and Zanders get first half suspensions vs. Charlotte

For their part in the end-of-game melee after Florida’s 29-16 win over Tennessee, left guard Micah Mazzccua, left tackle Damieon George Jr. and tight end Dante Zanders received suspensions for the first half of Saturday’s game with Charlotte. Their replacements in the starting lineup will likely be freshman Knijeah Harris at LG, Lyndell Hudson II at LT and Jonathan Odom at TE.

Regarding the melee, HBC Billy Napier said, “Look, football presents an opportunity to teach some of those things, right? It's not going to be the first time you're going to be in an altercation. Look, you make a decision like that, we had multiple players that screwed up. They compromised the entire team 'cause you may not be available in the future, whatever the case may be. No different than some guy calls you a name at the local bar on Friday night. Are you going to compromise your wife and kids, make a poor decision? These things are teachable moments. Ultimately hopefully we do enough on our part to teach 'em.”

Wyatt Langford promoted to AAA Round Rock Wyatt Langford’s stay in AA at Frisco was short, but highly productive. The Texas Rangers’ No. 1 draft pick, the fourth player selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, has been promoted to AAA Round Rock to finish out the season.

At Frisco, Langford hit .405 in 12 games with three doubles, four homers and 10 RBI. He began his pro career in the Arizona Rookie League and then played 24 games with the Rangers’ Sally League Hickory Crawdads. In 39 minor league games, Langford hit .359 with 14 doubles, two triples, 10 homers and 29 RBI. He had more walks (30) than strikeouts (28) and had an astounding .471 on base percentage to go with a .697 slugging percentage.

Expect Langford to be on the Rangers’ 40-man spring training roster.

SEC football

No. 13 Alabama (2-1, 0-0 SEC): In the never-ending soap opera that is Alabama’s quarterback, Nick Saban has selected Jalen Milroe to start against Ole Miss Saturday, saying Milroe has “earned the opportunity to be the quarterback.” … There was a players-only meeting from which offensive lineman Tyler Booker says all the players “got stuff off their chest.”

Arkansas (2-1, 0-0 SEC): Running back Rocket Sanders (knee) remains an uncertainty for the road trip to LSU. Sanders is one of the nation’s best running backs, but he hasn’t been the issue for the Hogs’ inconsistent running game. That problem has everything to do with the offensive line which hasn’t jelled. Sanders was seen dressed out at the Hogs’ practice Monday but it’s unknown if he actually participated.

Auburn (3-0, 0-0 SEC): Nickelback Keionte Sanders won’t be available for Saturday’s road trip to Texas A&M. HBC Hugh Freeze says Sanders is going to miss “considerable time” before he can play again … Backup quarterback Robby Ashford has been taking some reps at wide receiver.

No. 1 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC): Injured defensive back Javon Bullard (ankle) is listed day-to-day as the Bulldogs prep for UAB. HBC Kirby Smart says wide receiver Ladd McConkey (back) is “more than likely” out for the game … Tackle Amarius Mims is having tight rope surgery to repair a high ankle sprain. He’s out for awhile. Other injuries the Bulldogs are dealing with: Roderick Robinson (high ankle sprain), Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (foot), Lawson Luckie (ankle surgery), Austin Blaise (knee) … Center Sedrick Van Pran was selected SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Kentucky (3-0, 0-0 SEC): Center Jager Burton snapped two balls over the head of quarterback Devin Leary and had a holding call that negated a touchdown in the win over Akron, spurring speculation that he will be replaced in the starting lineup Saturday when the Wildcats travel to Vanderbilt … The Wildcats have given up only 213 rushing yards on 93 attempts through three games, an average of 71 yards per game and 2.2 per carry.

No. 12 LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC): Quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers were selected SEC Co-Offensive Players of the Week after their performances against Mississippi State. In that game, Daniels completed 30-34 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 64 yards and two more TDs. Nabers was on the receiving end of 13 of those passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns … Omar Speights, Mason Taylor and Ogie Oghoufu are all probable for Saturday’s game with Arkansas.

Mississippi State (2-1, 0-1 SEC): Quarterback Will Rogers led a players only meeting after the Bulldogs went down in flames to LSU, 41-14.

Missouri (3-0, 0-0 SEC): Harrison Mevis, who kicked a 61-yard field goal to beat then 15th-ranked Kansas State, was selected SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Mevis has kicked 11 field goals of 50 or more yards in his career and is tied for the most field goals in Mizzou history (66) … HBC Eli Drinkwitz is upset that fans booed QB Brady Cook prior to the win over K-State. All Cook did after that was throw for 356 yards and two touchdowns while running for another touchdown.

No. 15 Ole Miss (3-0, 0-0 SEC): Lane Kiffin says linebacker Suntarine Perkins is probably the only player on the Ole Miss roster that Saturday opponent Alabama actually recruited. Kiffin said, “They (Alabama) basically had 85 draft picks and we took what they didn’t want.” … Wide receiver Tre Harris and tight end Caden Preiskorn both practiced Monday and both are expected to play Saturday against Alabama … Safety Tre Washington was selected SEC Defensive Player of the Week after registering 10 tackles and forcing a fumble in the Rebels 48-23 win over Georgia Tech.

South Carolina (1-2, 0-1 SEC): Defensive tackle T.J. Sanders was selected SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week after registering two tackles, a sack and a pass breakup against Georgia.

No. 23 Tennessee (2-1, 0-1 SEC): Defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott was suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game with Texas-San Antonio for his role in the near brawl at the end of the Vols’ 29-16 loss to Florida … Omari Thomas, whose late hit on Graham Mertz actually caused the near brawl, says the Vols felt “disrespected” because Mertz tried to run out the clock rather than take a knee immediately at the end of the game.

Texas A&M (2-1, 0-0 SEC): Wide receivers Evan Stewart and Noah Thomas, who both missed the win over Louisiana-Monroe, are expected back Saturday when the Aggies host Auburn.

Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-0 SEC): Quarterback AJ Swann has already thrown for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns through four games. A year ago, Swann threw for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns in nine games.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: In a “60 Minutes” interview with Deion Sanders that aired Sunday night, Coach Prime made this rather astute observation: “I think truth is good for kids. We're so busy lyin', we don't even recognize the truth no more in society. We want everybody to feel good. That's not the way life is.”

Deion was talking about how so many coaches lie to kids and he’s right. It happens way too often. I’ve been around college sports for more than 50 years, long enough to have heard more coaches than I can count in just about any sport you can name take untold liberties with the truth. Name the lie and I’ve probably heard it.

On the recruiting trail the big lie is we’ll put you on the fast track to the NFL or I’ll treat you just like my own son. Of course, less than three percent of all college football players ever sniff the NFL. Do you think Kirby Smart would let his own son play football if he were caught driving under the influence?

Or how about this whopper. University presidents and athletic directors claiming they are committed to their 123-year-old conference only to bail first chance they get for a conference with a better media deal?

And then there’s the NCAA itself, which claims to be all about the student-athlete. They’ll let FSU and North Carolina skate on major cheating scandals but then tell us with a straight face that Tez Walker can’t play football at North Carolina because their silly rules exclude mental health.

I could go on and on. Right now college sports needs truth and lots of it. More importantlhy, the kids who play the games need more truth from coaches, administrators, college presidents and the NCAA.

Do I think we’ll see a truth revival in college sports any time soon? Donkeys might fly first.