Thoughts of the Day: October 26, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

MULLEN DOESN’T TIP HIS HAND ABOUT QB FOR GEORGIA

Maybe you were thinking Dan Mullen would announce that Anthony Richardson will be starting at quarterback for Saturday’s encounter with No. 1 Georgia (7-0, 5-0 SEC) in Jacksonville. If you saw the LSU game, then you’re quite aware that the Florida offense played better in the second half with Richardson at QB than it was when Emory Jones was the main man in the first half. Maybe in your mind that settles things, but Mullen said Monday the reps in practice are being evenly split and that he plans to use both quarterbacks when the Gators (4-3, 2-3 SEC) face Georgia.

“We’re going to keep playing them the same way,” Mullen said. “We plan on playing both of the guys like we have.”

If you’re upset with that, then ask yourself this question: Why would Dan Mullen give any hint to Georgia what he’s planning to do? Georgia has three defensive coordinators working on the game plan against the Gators – HBC Kirby Smart, DC Dan Lanning and Will Muschamp, who is technically the special teams coordinator, but do you think for a New York minute that Muschamp isn’t fully involved in the defensive game plan? Some folks have hinted that Muschamp, in fact, is the biggest reason that Georgia’s defense has gone from extremely good to borderline legendary this year.

Having three excellent defensive minds working on the Gators only helps so much and there are only so many practice hours allowed. While there is some similarity in the skill sets of both Jones and Richardson, they are different enough that it will take a different game plan for each one. Think back to 2014 if you will. Jeff Driskel was the starting QB through the first six games, but he was benched in favor of Treon Harris during a blowout loss to Missouri. Georgia had to plan as if Driskel would start and had only limited reps of Harris to work with so the bye week and game week prior to Florida were spent prepping for both quarterbacks. Florida started Harris, came out committed to run the football, threw sparingly and won the game 38-20 while running for 418 yards.

Besides the obvious, which is to avoid tipping his hand to give Georgia any kind of edge, the injury factor is one more reason to have both Jones and Richardson getting plenty of reps. Georgia’s front seven is thought by many to be the best the SEC has seen since 2011 Alabama. They lead the nation in total defense (209.1 yards per game) and the SEC in sacks (25). They are nasty and they beat up on opposing QBs.

“The quarterbacks, we try to keep them pretty evened out so they’re both ready to play,” Mullen said. “You’re a snap away from those guys getting on the field …”

Thinking out loud: I believe that both quarterbacks will play against Georgia, but I am of the opinion – and I think Mullen is too – that if the Gators are going to beat Georgia, Anthony Richardson has to play the bigger role. From what I have seen so far this season, it takes big play capabilities to beat Georgia’s aggressive defense. You can’t nickel and dime the Bulldogs and expect to win. With Richardson, there is big play potential both running the ball and through the air. Jones can see a 5-yard opening and run for 15 yards. Richardson can see that same opening and go 30 or more. When it comes to throwing the football, I’ve seen too many instances when Jones didn’t see the receiver open 15 yards downfield, instead taking the safe, 5-yard throw. I’m not sure anyone is going to wear out the Georgia defense that way. Richardson showed me everything I need to know about his arm with that TD throw to Jacob Copeland against UF when he rolled left, flicked his wrist and it was a strike 40 yards down the field.

OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC

Alabama (7-1, 4-1 SEC): Not that anything he says is ever relevant, but ESPN radio’s Danny Kannell isn’t happy that Alabama moved ahead of unbeaten Oklahoma in the AP poll. Kanell said, “Nobody gets more free passes than Bama.” Maybe Kannell should check the record and see that Alabama has six national championships just since 2009.

Arkansas (5-3, 1-3 SEC): Sam Pittman on Arkansas needing one win to become bowl-eligible: “I don’t think we have a kid on our team that’s ever played in a bowl game … Our team, we want to go to postseason play and we want to earn it.”

Auburn (5-2, 2-1 SEC): Defensive tackle Jeremiah Wright has not progressed enough in his rehab from a torn ACL in the spring to play this season. Wright has been cleared to start running again.

Georgia (7-0, 5-0 SEC): Kirby Smart on who starts at QB vs. Florida, JT Daniels or Stetson Bennett: “I think it all depends on where JT is and where Stetson is and what gives us the best chance to win.” If Kirby doesn’t start Bennett then he’s not so smart.

Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC): Asked about his name being mentioned as a possibility for the Miami job if Manny Diaz is fired, Mark Stoops replied, “I’m not getting into that.”

LSU (4-4, 2-3 SEC): Baylor coach Dave Aranda on rumors linking him to the LSU job: “I love it here. My family loves it here. Baylor has been everything that I thought it would be. Coming here has been an opportunity to grow.”

Mississippi State (4-3, 2-2 SEC): Redshirt freshman linebacker Rocky Groce is no longer with the team.

Missouri (3-4, 0-3 SEC): Linebacker Jamie Pettway has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal.

Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1 SEC): Lane Kiffin on Ole Miss problems with penalties (10.2 per game; 128th in Division I): “I told them today, guys, we don’t just lead the NCAA in penalties. We lead little league, junior high.”

South Carolina (4-4, 1-4 SEC): The Gamecocks were only 3-13 on third down conversions and 0-1 on fourth down in their loss to Texas A&M.

Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC): Tennessee fans have every right to be upset with SEC officiating after the zebras missed a blatant launch and helmet-to-helmet collision by an Alabama DB with Hendon Hooker last Saturday.

Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2 SEC): The Aggies scored on eight consecutive drives in their win over South Carolina.

Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-4 SEC): Vanderbilt allowed 10-16 third down conversions against Mississippi State and 87 offensive snaps.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: WEEK SEVEN The Extinct Species List got an unexpected addition Monday when Texas Tech fired Matt Wells, who was 5-3 this season but 13-17 since taking the job and only 7-16 in Big 12 games. Texas Tech blew a 14-point lead and lost 25-24 to Kansas State back on Saturday. Expect former TTU quarterback and Southern Cal offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, UT-San Antonio HBC Jeff Traylor and Arkansas OC Kendal Briles on AD Kirby Hocutt’s list. Extinct Species List Les Miles, Kansas Randy Edsall, UConn Clay Helton, Southern Cal Chad Lunsford, Georgia Southern

Ed Orgeron, LSU

Nick Rolovich, Washington State

Matt Wells, Texas Tech

On Life Support Walt Bell, UMass: The Minutemen are 1-6, about to be 1-7 after Liberty unleashes Malik Willis on them Saturday. Three of the last four – Rhode Island and Maine from D1AA and New Mexico State – are winnable. Two out of three might save Bell’s job.

Tom Arth, Akron: The key number is 34. When Akron scores more than 34 (35 against Bryant and Bowling Green) it’s a win. When the Zips give up at least 34 (the other six games) they lose. A 2-7 record is likely after this week’s expected beatdown by Ball State.

Butch Davis, Florida International: When he looks in the mirror he must ask himself, “Why? Why God, did I leave Miami?” He was 51-20 and had recruited the team of the century which he left behind for Larry Coker. He lost in the NFL, put North Carolina on probation and now he’s going to get fired at FIU.

Marcus Arroyo, UNLV: He’s ohfer 13 in his collegiate coaching career but at least he’s not getting his doors blown off every game. UNLV is 0-7 this year. Five of the losses are by a combined 28 points. Close is progress, right?

Scott Frost, Nebraska: What’s the difference between 3-5 and 8-0? In the case of the Fighting Frosts, one play in five games. No team in college football knows what it takes to lose a winnable game better than the Fighting Frosts, 0-5 in one possession games this year, 5-17 since 2018. If Scott Frost is the coach next year it’s because of the $20 million buyout.

Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech: Three straight losses have the VaTech people thinking this will never get better. The last five games are winnable. Anything less than 4-1 to finish probably gets a pink slip.

Endangered Species List Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green: Getting hosed by 31 by Northern Ill will offset the win over Minnesota and three close call losses that could have been wins. One more blowout loss and he’s On Life Support.

Dino Babers, Syracuse: Syracuse could be 8-0 right now. The four losses are by a combined 19 points including a stretch of three straight, all lost by a field goal. Two more wins and the Cuse is bowl eligible which will end the debate whether Dino comes back for another year.

Chip Kelly, UCLA: He should have beaten Oregon but let it get away. He’s 5-3 and needs to go 3-1 the rest of the way to make people happy. The $9 million buyout is formidable.

Seth Littrell, North Texas: Six straight losses have people asking why he’s making $1.9 million. A bad loss to Rice this week probably seals that he’ll be gone at season’s end.

Phil Montgomery, Tulsa: The Phighting Phils can win their third straight Saturday against Navy. Two Lane and Shirley Temple are still on the schedule so it’s possible the Phils could go bowling.

Steve Addazio, Colorado State: Colorado State went brain dead in the last 11 seconds to botch a game-winning field goal, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Utah State. Colorado State is 3-4 this season and should be no worse than 5-2.

Justin Wilcox, California: He’s 2-5 with four of the losses by a combined 19 points. The beatdown of Colorado (26-3 win) helped but he needs at least three wins in the last five to feel comfortable.

Manny Diaz, Miami: Miami is 3-4, should be 5-2. The win over North Carolina State helped but if the Hurricanes get clocked by Pitt this week, the heat will ratchet up. The $8 million buyout is formidable but works in Manny’s favor for one more year.

Jeff Scott, South Florida: Beware of the Bulls. USF has a 1-game win streak after kicking Shirley Temple to the curb. Has anyone noticed that since Scott left Clemson where he was co-offensive coordinator that the Clemson offense has been dropping like a rock (now 117th nationally)?

Checking for a pulse Ken Niumatalolo, Navy: He is safe for this year. A win over Army would lower the heat.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Now that UAB, Rice, North Texas, Florida Atlantic and Charlotte have accepted invitations to join the American Athletic Conference, look for a scramble between Conference USA and the Sun Belt for the remnants. Conference USA is expected to try to lure Liberty and James Madison while the Sun Belt is expecting to offer Southern Miss, Marshall, Old Dominion and James Madison. If you think the Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten are just twiddling their thumbs, think again. Consider this like the undercard of a heavyweight bout. The big guys are just getting warmed up.