Gators in the NFL: Thankful Through Tough Times
Being thankful this time of year is pretty trite. It’s a rote response we’re all guilty of, often without thinking about the why.
As football fans of the University of Florida, it’s hard right now to come up with reasons for gratitude. Up 12-0 with the ball late in the second quarter against our most hated rival, Saturday was devastating. The product in Gainesville is as bad as it has been in the lifetime of anyone reading this - three straight losing seasons for the first time since the 1940s.
On the professional level, there have been devastating injuries - Anthony Richardson, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, last week’s player of the week Keanu Neal - misused and miscast parts - Kyle Pitts, Dameon Pierce - and just outright poor performances - Jawaan Taylor.
But despite all that, I’m thankful to be a Florida Gator. Despite the rough times, I love the Gators and will always root for every single one of them. Despite the very few people who actually read these recaps every week, I’m thankful to write about Gators football.
I had a great conversation with my best friend this week. After Florida’s loss to Missouri, I asked him if he had been thinking - like I was - about how to quit Gators football? How to stop watching when it’s been an every week part of my life for the past 30 years?
His response was smart and optimistic - that’s him; I’m the dumb pessimist - and will stick with me for the rest of my life. He said he never thinks about giving up on the Gators.
He reminded me that we arrived in Gainesville just in time for Spurrier and SEC titles and the ‘96 natty. And shortly thereafter, we had another incredible run with Meyer and Tebow and two more national championships.
Before Spurrier as a coach, Florida football was a painful existence. And yet, the fan base showed up every year, every week, wearing orange and blue, singing “We are the Boys”, and doing it all through painful losses.
We now have the same obligation. It’s hard to see how Florida climbs from its current depths to ever challenge Georgia - let alone Alabama, LSU, or next year Texas and Oklahoma. But it’s our obligation to stand shoulder to shoulder singing Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” every week no matter what.
Happy Thanksgiving. And Go Gators. Through All Kinds of Weather. Always.
BEST PLAYER OF WEEK 11
Alex Anzalone had a career-high 15 tackles and a PFF grade over 90 in week 11. On Thanksgiving, though, he struggled.
BEST PLAY OF WEEK 11
This is why Kadarius Toney is so enticing.
But of course, just when he showed some signs of life, he hurt himself and was ruled out for this Sunday.
GAME TO WATCH IN WEEK 12
Saints at Falcons, Sunday, 1:00pm ET
Last week’s 1-on-1 matchup between D.J. Humphries and Jonathan Greenard was a good one. This week, how about another potential 1-v-1 with Kyle Pitts and Marcus Maye? Of course, that would entail Falcons coach Arthur Smith actually calling plays for Pitts.
RANKING WEEK 11 PERFORMANCES
1 - Alex Anzalone, LB, Detroit Lions
Week 11: 15 tackles,, 1 FR, 75 snaps (100%)
Season: 3.0 sacks, 81 tackles, 5 TFL, 8 QB hits, 5 PD, 1 FR
2 - Kadarius Toney, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11: 2 rec (2 targets), 12 yards, 2 rush, 14 yards, 6 PR, 9.7 avg, 22 snaps (28%)
Season: 22 rec, 139 yards, TD, 8 rush, 9 yards, 6 PR, 9.7 avg
3 - Brandon Powell, WR/PR, Minnesota Vikings
Week 11: 3 rec (4 targets), 32 yards, 3 PR, 9.0 avg, 44 snaps (59%)
Season: 22 rec, 224 yards, TD, 4 rush, 15 yards, 23 PR, 7.9 avg
4 - Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Houston Texans
Week 11: 1 tackle, 1 TFL, 44 snaps (72%)
Season: 7.0 sacks, 34 tackles, 11 TFL, 14 QB hits, 1 PD
5 - O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Buffalo Bills
Week 11: 76 snaps (100%)
Season: 11 G, 722 snaps (100%)
6 - Evan McPherson, K, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 11: 2/3 FG, Long 50, Missed 53, 2/2 XP
Season: 16/20 FG, Long 56, 22/22 XP
7 - Gervon Dexter, Sr., DT, Chicago Bears
Week 11: 1 tackle, 2 QB hits, 1 PD, 30 snaps (48%)
Season: 11 tackles, 6 QB hits, 2 PD
8 - Demarcus Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Week 11: 2 rec (2 targets), 24 yards, 7 snaps (10%), 4 ST snaps (15%)
Season: 3 rec, 39 yards, 1 KR, 20.0 avg
9 - D.J. Humphries, LT, Arizona Cardinals
Week 11: 61 snaps (100%)
Season: 10 G, 597 snaps
10 - Eddy Piñeiro, K, Carolina Panthers
Week 10: 1/1 FG, Long 42, 1/1 XP
Season: 17/20 FG, Long 56, 14/15 XP
11 - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Minnesota Vikings
Week 11: 1 tackle, 31 snaps (56%)
Season: 1.0 sack, 32 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 QB hit
12 - Jawaan Taylor, RT, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11: 79 snaps (100%)
Season: 10 G, 669 snaps
13 - Zach Carter, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 11: 1 tackle, 26 snaps (39%), 6 ST snaps (19%)
Season: 10 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 PD
14 - T.J. Slaton, NT, Green Bay Packers
Week 11: 1 tackle, 29 snaps (45%), 10 ST snaps (38%)
Season: 33 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 PD
15 - Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, Dallas Cowboys
Week 11: 15 snaps (25%)
Season: 2.0 sacks, 7 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 QB hits, 3 PD, 1 FF
16 - Tommy Townsend, P, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 11: 6 punts, 42.7 avg, 30.5 net
Season: 35 punts, 47.3 avg, 41.1 net
17 - Stone Forsythe, OT, Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: 12 snaps (18%), 5 ST snaps (19%)
Season: 10 G, 378 OFF snaps, 48 ST snaps
18 - Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Cleveland Browns
Week 11: 20 ST snaps (69%)
Season: 5 tackles
19 - Fred Johnson, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 11: 3 ST snaps (12%)
Season: 10 G, 50 ST snaps
20 - David Sharpe, OT, Carolina Panthers
Week 11: 2 ST snaps (7%)
Season: 3 G, 11 ST snaps
21 - Kyle Trask, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 11: Active but did not play
Season: 1 G, 1 rush, -1 yard
22 - Marco Wilson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Week 11: 6 tackles, 50 snaps (75%)
Season: 52 tackles, 4 PD
Wilson was beaten by C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell, and other receivers eight times for 145 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. The Cardinals picked off Stroud three times, but Wilson was never close to defending a pass. It was an awful game for him.
INACTIVE
C.J. Henderson, CB, Carolina Panthers
Concussion
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
Ankle
Amari Burney, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
Brenton Cox, Jr., OLB, Green Bay Packers
Marcus Maye, S, New Orleans Saints
Bye Week
Max Garcia, C, New Orleans Saints
Bye Week
Trent Brown, LT, New England Patriots
Bye Week
Kyle Pitts. TE, Atlanta Falcons
Bye Week
Van Jefferson, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Bye Week
Taven Bryan, DT, Indianapolis Colts
Bye Week
PRACTICE SQUAD
Malik Davis, RB, Dallas Cowboys
La’mical Perine, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Freddie Swain, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Trey Dean III, S, New York Jets
Jeff Driskel, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Richard Gouraige, OT, Buffalo Bills
Jeremiah Moon, OLB, Baltimore Ravens
INJURED RESERVE
Keanu Neal, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Placed on injured reserve last week with a rib injury and is out at least four games
Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DB, Detroit Lions
Kaiir Elam, CB, Buffalo Bills
James Houston IV, EDGE, Detroit Lions
Justin Shorter, WR, Buffalo Bills
Jarrad Davis, LB, New York Giants
Ventrell Miller, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars