What We Need to See from John Brantley
September 28, 2009 by Mat Houchens
Filed under Football
Join the forum discussion on this post - (3) PostsIn Saturday’s game the entire Gator Nation simultaneously held their breath when their beloved Tim Tebow went to the ground and did not get right back up as he has done so many times in the past. At first it looked like his illness had gotten the best of him and he had the breath knocked out of him as many of his teammates thought.
Will John Brantley be ready next year?
It became apparent soon after that it wasn’t just a hit that knocked the wind out of him. Tim Tebow took a hard knee to the back of the head on the way down and obtained a concussion. John Brantley was called to finish the game which brings me to the point of this blog post. We need to see some serious improvement from John Brantley.
Urban Meyer has said he will get a lot of snaps this season but we haven’t seen him play on the big stage and the game definitely changed pace when Brantley came in. Florida was up 31 – 7 when John Brantley entered early into the 3rd quarter. The game ended with a final score of 41 – 7.
There is definitely a difference in our offense without Tim Tebow. We need to find an offense that doesn’t rely so heavy on Tim or otherwise we will be in a world of pain when we enter into next year’s season without him. Tim is great and arguably one of the best QB’s in college football history but he will be gone next year, there’s no going around that.
We need Brantley to move into this spot seamlessly and at the rate we’re looking right now, we won’t have that transition that will be needed. Urban Meyer has said that Brantley will get snaps this year but we haven’t seen him take snaps when the game mattered. And for that matter, we haven’t seen Tebow take snaps under center as Meyer stated either.
I know it’s about winning the game and getting back to the SEC Championship and ultimately National Championship, but let’s not forget about where we will be next year. Get our other QB ready to step in and win games for us.
|
About Mat: Mat is the owner and founder of Title Town FL. He brings his web admin experience from several previous popular sports websites. With a fresh take on how websites should have news available, he makes it a fresh read on every page. |
Related posts:
Gator Nation Worthy?
0 
0
Matt,
Not a bad article. I do agree that Brantley needs some more playing time, but this is the case every year when a team has a senior quarterback. I do want to counter one point though, the offense had not scored a point after the end of the 1st quarter until Brantley came onto the field. In reality, the Brantley led Gators beat Kentucky 10-7. He was efficient and helped the team score. Will we have a huge hole to fill when Tebow leaves? Yes. But, the offensive scheme is set up for Tebow to make reads and make plays with his feet. The Brantley led offense will have more of a 2006 feel to it. DOn’t write him off yet, he is a good quarterback!
Gator Nation Worthy?
0 
0
Nate -
Your point is valid and well took. I agree our offense with Brantley will look more like 2006. However, Steve Adazzio should have a different game plan for when Brantley takes the field. He should not be running QB Choice plays. Have him running plays that he’ll run next year, not what he would call if Tebow was in the game.
I can’t help but grit my teeth when Brantley is put in running same plays Tebow would have run… it just doesn’t work.
Gator Nation Worthy?
0 
0
I agree, we need more reps and trust in are players (other than Tebow) I think that with Brantley as QB we can go after the fun and gun offense a little more. Brantley brings a more accuerate arm that needs valuable 1st string reps to get timing down. Don’t take anything away from Tebow, He is the most competitve driven hard willed QB Florida has ever had. Its like if Emmit Smith played QB. But lets not be to hard on Brantley he is going to be a great QB and have a good chance to beat the passing TD record at Florida with all the young speedsters coming up through the ranks!!! the Future is bright, but I left my glasses at home so can we keep driving in the same direction.
Gator Nation Worthy?
0 
0
The only way Brantley will get better is with more gametime experience. We’ve been given a sneak preview of what he can do out there, and when his time comes to actually operate this offense I’m confident that he’ll step up and deliver.
Mat, IMO the reason we really don’t have the transition set up yet is due to the personnel issues we have at WR, for one. As much as coach Meyer and staff had a blueprint for what they wanted to do this season, circumstances beyond their control prop up which call for adjustments and changes to the “game plan”.
Should Tebow not be totally 100% in two weeks for LSU, I wonder if perhaps our staff may try a “two-QB system” by rotating both Tebow and Brantley in the lineup?
Gator Nation Worthy?
0 
0
I would love to see some dual QB games against some lower level opponents. Phase Brantley in when the game matters, not just when it’s a blow out.
I feel ya
Next Year? Who cares about next year? Next year? Don't talk about NEXT YEAR? You kiddin me? Next Year? (in my best Jim Mora voice). Look. I don't give a rat's rear end if we don't win a game next year. We are in the middle of THE most important year in Gator history. We have a chance to go undefeated for the first time in school history. We can win back to back titles in football AND basketball. No other school has ever done that. And we can do it in the same decade. We need Brantley to perform NOW! This year is IT! Go undefeated this year and we are forever one of THOSE schools. We are Notre Dame. We're USC. We're Oklahoma. We're Alabama. We are one of those schools that matter even when they suck. Because we are elite. We will have done it all. So next year? Who cares?