That was a great game in Death Valley against LSU. Florida gave the Tigers all they wanted and more, and were in a position to tie or win late in the game despite a few egregious mistakes.  This team has really developed well so far, and credit must be given to both the players and the coaching staff.

The offensive staff did a great job of scheming plays to score upon in the red zone, especially the 2 TD throws to Jake McGee, possibly the offensive MVP up to now.  They did a decent job of designing some rollouts for Treon Harris to get him outside the pocket so he could see the field better and possibly run.  However, the inability of the O-Line to generate any movement in running game finally cost the team, as the offense really had no balance the entire night.  Kelvin Taylor rarely had any running room, and that allowed LSU to simply pressure Harris and blitz when they wanted to.  Harris played well considering the circumstances, but his flaws were on display against a good defense.  He is painfully inaccurate on short throws, often short-arming or trying to guide them.  He struggles to check down if his first option is not available.  Finally, his situational awareness has to improve – taking sacks and not getting rid of the ball to avoid negative plays really cost the offense, especially in the 4th quarter.  The staff has to find a way to get these thoughts into his head going forward.

Antonio Callaway is still far from a polished WR, but continues to make big plays. His catch along the sideline late in the 2nd quarter leading the Florida’s second TD exhibited great concentration, and his punt return to tie the game late in the 3rd quarter was a thing of beauty.  He’s not a blazer, but seems to have the kind of game speed that makes him just fast enough to break long plays.  Not having Will Grier definitely hurts the intermediate and deep passing game, though.  Demarcus Robinson was double-covered most of the night, and Brandon Powell is not a true WR – he still looks like a former RB who now plays in the slot, and is not enough of a threat to help the other WRs gain some room.

So much for all the talk of DBU.  The secondary essentially lost the game.  Keanu Neal and Vernon Hargreaves were beaten by the flea-flicker play, and Marcus Maye simply lost the ball at the end of the 2nd quarter – the play that pretty much gave LSU the margin it needed to win.  Even Quincy Wilson misplayed the fade route that LSU scored on 3rd down in the second quarter.  This group needs to eat some humble pie and re-focus, because they let the entire team down.  I will give some props to Neal, though, as he played well in run support, racking up 14 tackles.

The front seven played a decent game against LSU’s running game, but still had some lapses in playing their gaps which were exploited by Leonard Fournette.  That guy is a load – definitely the best RB in the SEC in many years.  The lack of LB depth really showed itself, as Jarrad Davis and Tank Morrison were gassed by the 3rd quarter, and missed some tackles they usually make.

I do have some criticism for the staff.  When will Coach Mac ever challenge a dubious call by the officials?  Bryan Cox’ fumble recovery looked legit, and Callaway’s sideline catch late in the 1st quarter was in bounds.  Coach Mac made a huge tactical error not punting late in the game, eventually guaranteeing the offense would have to go 90 yards with no time outs and only 90 seconds left.  You simply have to punt the ball away in that situation, lean on the defense to get a stop, and try and obtain decent field position for a possible last drive.  Finally, I simply could not believe the staff was not ready for the fake FG that gave LSU it’s winning TD.  Les Miles has screwed over many teams during his stay in Baton Rouge, especially Florida.  Plus, a lot of the current Gator staff has coached in the SEC, and should know what to expect.  Just play a “safe” scheme on the edges, and at worst you’re only losing by a FG.  That came home to roost late in the game, as the Gators drove inside the 30, but were down 7.  Perhaps Mac was spooked by Jorge Powell’s injury, leaving only Austin Hardin as a PK, but at least Hardin made his extra points, and kicked the ball off consistently into the end zone – a pleasant surprise for coming off of a hip injury.

Florida now has a week off to rest, recuperate, and prepare for a huge game against Georgia that will likely decide the East Division winner.  It will be interesting to see how the young guys use this time.  Will they continue to work hard to improve?  Will they become too full of themselves after a very good start to the season?  The coaching staff will be out recruiting for much of the off week, but has another challenge ahead in preparing the Gators for the annual trip to Jacksonville.

I’ll be back next week with my Georgia preview.  Go Gators!

Another challenge, and another step forward for the Florida Gators.  Going on the road to face a tough defense with a target on your back for the first time in 3 years is no small task, and the Gators responded with a terrific defensive effort to shut down Missouri, and never allow them any real momentum.  The Gator D-Line was in the backfield all night, getting sacks and lots of pressure on the freshman QB.  The secondary allowed a few plays on the Tiger’s first drive, then settled in and closed the door.  Jalen Tabor recorded his second pick six, while Vernon Hargreaves, Quincy Wilson, and Brian Poole all made life miserable for the WRs.  Jarrad Davis and Antonio Morrison continue to fly around at LB and clean up plays.  This was the first time Missouri was held without a TD at home in 10 seasons – a nice way to send the message that the past 2 seasons are the exception, not the rule.

The start of the game was everything you could hope for, as the offense put together 2 long scoring drives to quiet the crowd and give the defense the leverage it needed to crush Mizzou – finally getting some payback for the past two dreadful games against them.  The O-Line did a solid job of opening enough running lanes to allow Kelvin Taylor to gash the Tigers early, and take pressure off of Will Grier and the passing game.  Again, that’s been the formula for success this season – establishing just enough running game and balance to give the passing game the chance to make some plays.

After the first quarter, the rest of the game became the ugly affair I thought it might be – 2 strong defenses making things difficult on two offenses still searching for their identity.  Fortunately, Florida’s offense was led by the better QB and a game plan that was good enough.  Once the Gators took the lead, it appeared the staff was content to play things very safe and allow the defense to choke the life out of the Tigers – which they did to great effect.

So much for the good news……

Instead of a Saturday night showdown with LSU in Death Valley between two Top 10 teams preparing to rumble, all the talk is about Florida losing Will Grier for the rest of the season due to an NCAA suspension for violating the PED rules.  Apparently he failed a drug test by taking a supplement that contained a banned substance.  Grier fell on his sword and admitted he didn’t tell the nutritional staff about it so it could be vetted, and now he’s paying a terrible price.  Discussing Grier’s decision-making and it’s ramifications on this will have to wait for another time, as that is an entire subject of it’s own.

What a bitter pill to swallow after a magical run so far.

I am confident that the coaching staff will handle things as well as possible in getting the team ready.  But there is a dearth of upperclassmen leadership on this team, and this could have a devastating effect if the offense struggles like it did last year.  Treon Harris is the default starter now, and has to find a way to shake off the disappointment of losing the starting job and lead the offense.  Unfortunately there’s no time for a slow acclimation, as I can already smell the corn dogs in the parking lot outside Tiger Stadium – those crazed, drunken Cajuns all excited about a night game, against a team that has to be distracted.  This will be another level of intensity that the Gators have not experienced yet, and the coaching staff has another huge challenge ahead in preparing the team to play fast and efficiently, despite the noise and adversity it will face.

Harris hasn’t been the QB during the positive development of the offense the past month.  He is behind in practice reps, and became the backup for a reason – the staff determined Grier was better.  Harris did show occasionally last year he could throw a decent deep ball, but really struggled with short and intermediate throws.  He also simply doesn’t not read coverages as well as Grier.  Look for a painfully-reduced playcall sheet this Saturday, with maybe the occasional surprise schemed up to hopefully make a big play.  The O-Line has struggled in establishing a consistent running game all season, and now defenses will start to crowd the box like the past 2 seasons until Florida proves it can pass downfield effectively with Harris at QB.  Kelvin Taylor is gonna need some Advil, as he will take a lot of punishment going forward trying to keep the offense somewhat balanced.  Jordan Cronkrite is not getting too many touches in a backup role, and Jordan Scarlett is in the doghouse and may not play again this week.  There’s no way Taylor makes it through the rest of the season healthy with his current workload.

It’s time to really try and take advantage of Demarcus Robinson on fade routes, deep balls, and jump balls to try and get a few big plays in the passing game.  The staff needs to get Brandon Powell and Antonio Callaway more involved.  The TEs, led by Jake McGee, have to find a way to get open and help take some pressure off of Harris.  If the running game is stuffed, that really hurts the screen game as well, as the defense will crowd the LOS, daring the Gators to go deep.  Florida has to try and utilize the middle of the field in the passing game to try and loosen up what should be a crowded box to start the game.

The Gator defense will have to play even better than it has going forward…..and that’s saying something.  The real test will be the players not trying to do too much, and overpursuing and taking bad angles on tackles.  That would be death going against LSU’s running game, which is centered around Leonard Fournette, the likely Heisman frontrunner and a once-in-a-generation talent at RB.  He has size, speed, and power, and can even do damage as a receiver.  No matter how the Tigers may scheme up some trick plays or break tendencies early to try for some big plays, their attack will eventually be focused on getting Fournette 25-30 touches.  He’s good enough that even if he is stopped often, he will likely break a long run for a TD no matter how good the defense is.  Of course, the best way to neutralize Fournette is to either have a strong offense of your own that can eat the clock to shorten the game, or get a big early lead to force LSU to try and win with it’s passing game.  That would be a real advantage for Florida, as Brandon Harris is simply not a quality passer, and can make mistakes if forced to make plays on his own.  The Gator secondary can’t sleep on WRs Travin Dural or Malachi Dupree – those guys are very talented and were recruited by every major program.  They just haven’t had the QBs to help them make more big plays than they have so far – I can only hope that continues for another week.

It’s been a wonderful rise back to prominence for Florida, and I do believe this staff can develop a game plan good enough to win in such a tough environment.  However, I simply don’t see enough consistency and balance on offense to score enough points, or see the Gator O-Line doing enough to allow Harris and the WRs the chance to win the game.  The great equalizer can be turnovers or a few big returns by the special teams.  The defense is capable of generating those turnovers, but they are less likely when the opponent can play a more conservative game knowing the Gator offense is struggling.  Also, there has been no evidence to date that Florida has the return game to either flip the field or get some momentum-changing scores.  It is really tough to predict what will happen with so much sudden change, but it’s even harder to think that a special season could become only a good one.

Prediction:  LSU 27        Florida 17

Things are rocky indeed in Knoxville, as the Gators stole a 28-27 soul-crushing win at the Swamp that won’t be forgotten by either team or fan base for many years to come.  So much for all the talk from the Inbreds,  Just when they had the chance to end a 10-game losing streak to Florida, they collapsed in the clutch – again – and have to slink back to Rocky Top and take that stupid song with them.  It’s all they really know anymore……that song, and losing to the Gators.  For icing on the cake, watching those dumbass players and head coach Butch Jones run onto the field thinking the FG was good was priceless.  So much for that rabble……back to reality.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, and Florida didn’t make it easy on itself with it’s worst tackling performance in years, on top of allowing 2 trick plays that led to 10 points for the Inbreds.  Tennessee, er Elevenessee, threw the trailer sink at Florida from the start, and a lot of it worked.  Hard to believe that the Gator defense allowed over 250 yards rushing, two 100 yard rushers including QB Josh Dobbs, a double-pass for a TD, and a jump pass to extend another drive for a FG……and yet kept fighting until the end and found a way to win.  Despite a lot of negative plays, the defense never really set the edge, allowing multiple long runs by Dobbs, with the help of horrendous tackling.  Back to basics – wrap up the ball carrier, and stop trying to tackle the ball and strip it so much.  Jon Bullard continues to play at an all-SEC level on the DL, but the lack of numbers in the LB corps is being exploited.  DC Geoff Collins really has little choice other than to play mostly nickel and dime defenses, even against run-heavy teams.  Jarrad Davis and Tank Morrison have to somehow hold up through the year.

The Gator offense still wasn’t efficient, but it was opportunistic, and quite frankly, lucky to succeed on all 5 4th down attempts to stay alive.  While it’s nice to see the execution in the clutch, there’s a lot of work to do to stay out of those situations to begin with.  Will Grier showed a lot of guts and moxie, coming up with enough big plays despite taking a beating most of the afternoon.  The OL is going to struggle against better defenses all season, but at least it held up during the last 10 minutes of the game, allowing Grier and the WRs the time to make just enough plays.  Kelvin Taylor was able to provide some balance by gaining 102 yards and scoring 2 TDs, but half of those yards came on one play, and the running game is still a work in progress.  At least Grier had the steadying influence of solid TE play from Jake McGee.  Demarcus Robinson remains an afterthought at WR, and underutilized on longer throws.  Brandon Powell was used as he should be – on short drag routes, quick slants, and as a check-down to utilize his quickness and elusiveness in space.  Finally, Antonio Calloway made the biggest play of the season, turning the last 4th down conversion into the 63-yard TD that won the game.  He’s still a raw talent as a true freshman, but will only improve and be an important target for the next few years.

Now it’s time to shift the focus to the Ole Miss rebels, who come to the Swamp ranked in the top 5 and are looking to win the SEC West and reach their first SEC Championship Game.  They won’t be intimidated after playing at Bama and LSU each season, but perhaps there’s enough unfamiliarity and some disregard for Florida based on it’s struggles the past few seasons that may allow the Gators to surprise them.

Florida’s defense will be tested by perhaps the best offense it will face all season.  QB Chad Kelly (a transfer from Clemson), RB Jaylen Walton, and WR Laquon Treadwell are all capable of making big plays at any time, and coach Hugh Freeze runs a fast-tempo offense that can be hard to stop.  Fortunately, Florida has the talent in the secondary to allow the front seven to focus on slowing down the running game and forcing some bad throws, which Kelly has shown a propensity for.  The Rebel OL is in flux, suffering some injuries and the season-long holding out of OT Laremy Tunsil while under NCAA investigation – here’s hoping that he’s held out at least one more week.  This could be a huge deal in allowing the Gators the chance to disrupt the timing of the passing game and hopefully do a better job at stopping the run this week.  The Gator DL has done a good job so far of generating negative plays and getting penetration into the backfield, despite continued holding by opposing O-Lines.

The Rebel defense is led by DT Robert Nkemdiche, one of the best in the country, with great size and speed.  The Gator OL will have to account for him every down, which puts that much more stress on a shaky unit.  Their secondary can be beaten if Grier is given time to throw – I just hope he doesn’t have to take the same punishment he’s suffered the past 2 weeks, or he won’t survive the season.  Treon Harris is back from suspension, and something tells me he will get at least some snaps Saturday night – hopefully in situations set up for something special.  Maybe it’s finally time that Robinson awakens and starts making some big plays downfield.  If the OL can somehow open some space for Taylor to at least keep the defense honest, the Gators could make something happen.  The stellar TE play has to continue to provide a comfort zone to Grier, and to keep drives alive.

As I said in the season preview, the level of competition would only increase through the first 5 games, and this one will be a tough challenge for a young team to win.  The staff will need to re-focus the players after an emotional win over a rival, and that can be a tough chore.  Ole Miss won’t be fazed by playing in the Swamp, but perhaps an early Florida lead can get the home crowd even more revved up and cause doubt to creep into the Rebel player’s heads.  This is a winnable game, but can the Gators put two great efforts together in a row?  I think there are simply too many question marks still on offense to expect it, plus a level of maturity that this team hasn’t gained from experience yet.

Prediction:  Mississippi 27        Florida 20

As hoped, the Gator defense came up big on the road, leading Florida to a 14-9 win at Lexington.  The score was closer than the game itself, as a young Gator offense with a freshman QB and middling OL kept this one from being a fairly easy win.  What is important, though, is the confidence gained with the win, the toughness shown by Will Grier with little protection most of the night, and the signs that this staff does have a plan on offense, despite the small number of points.  The TEs played well again, and there were some tough receptions made by the WRs.  However, there is still no deep threat, and defenses are going to start squeezing down towards the LOS.

Other than a few missed tackles and some untimely breakdowns allowing the Mildcats to gain a few first downs on long down-and-distance plays, the entire defense shut down Kentucky, never losing control of the game.  The DL was able to pressure the pocket most of the night, and did not let UK establish a consistent running game.  Jon Bullard again was a force on the inside, making plays and taking up so much attention that the other linemen were able to create havoc.  The secondary looked very good, with the return of starters VH3 and Keanu Neal solidifying things.  This unit can be one of the best in the country if it stays healthy, and will be heavily relied upon going forward.

The special teams aren’t so special right now.  Another blocked FG for Austin Hardin, poor punting by Johnny Townsend, so-so-kick coverage, and even a couple of penalties, one of which cost the Gators 3 points.  There’s a lot to be desired right now, and this unit will contribute to a few looses against the quality opponents coming up unless they turn things around.

The Gator offense was what I’m afraid it will be in the SEC this season – only occasionally effective, with the OL performance pretty much determining the overall success.  The offense will need to improve it’s efficiency, and take advantage of any trips inside the red zone.  This unit simply isn’t good enough to overcome mistakes, whether they are turnovers or penalties, against quality opponents.  Tennessee’s defensive strength lies in it’s D-Line, which presents to toughest matchup for Florida’s offense.  The OL has to figure out how to protect Grier better.  He won’t last the season taking the beating he took at Kentucky, especially having to run so often when the pocket broke down.  The passing game has shown some flashes, but no consistent threat downfield can be established yet due to the shaky pass protection.  Getting Martez Ivey back from injury should help the rotation at tackle, but the interior of the OL has to improve it’s run blocking to give the offense some balance and not cause Grier to force the issue in the passing game.  The TEs have done a fine job so far helping out the QBs, but it’s time for the WRs to do their part.  Demarcus Robinson needs to be used as a downfield and red zone weapon, taking advantage of his size and athleticism.  Antonio Calloway looks like a real find as a true freshman, and hopefully he can continue to make some plays in the middle of the field.  He also looks to be the punt returner for now, and had a big return to set up a short field last week.  Brandon Powell and Ahmad Fulwood need to step up their game and become more reliable options.  I believe the Vol front seven is only average, and the Gators can find some success – but can they consistently find that success?  The offense has to be very opportunistic and make clutch plays in plus territory going forward.  The ability is there to be an adequate unit, but now it may be a question of confidence, and showing themselves they can perform in a big game against better competition.

The Gator defense will face it’s toughest challenge by far this season.  The Volunteers have playmakers with RB Jalen Hurd and WRs Josh Malone and Preston Williams.  QB Joshua Dobbs is a dual-threat player who can hurt defenses with his running.  The Florida DL has to maintain discipline in setting the edges and not allowing too many scramble opportunities.  If they can force Dobbs into becoming a passer, then that plays into the strength of the defense overall and can lead to some turnovers.  The DL is establishing some quality depth, keeping the players fresh, and that will be very important now.  Bullard continues to make big plays, and has to continue his high level of play.   At LB, Jarrad Davis and Tank Morrison will have to play strong run defense this week.  It looks like the defense will continue to play a lot of nickel packages, with Marcus Maye, Marcel Harris, or Neal dropping down into run support as needed. The CBs will be relied upon in man coverage, and this week will be a good challenge.

On offense, Florida has to show some new schemes to help out Grier, and the OL has to elevate it’s play.

Tennessee comes into this game with confidence, despite it’s meltdown loss at home to Oklahoma 2 weeks ago.  Again, they feel it’s long overdue to beat Florida and end their current losing streak to the Gators at 10.  They are talking a big game, but I still don’t see Butch Jones as a solid game day coach.  He talks a lot about how the Vols are back and how they are recruiting so well, but where are the results on the field?   This will be a tougher test than Kentucky, as the difficulty of the schedule continues to increase each week.  To really start changing the culture of the program, it starts with taking back the Swamp.  If the Gator offense can be functional, efficient, and opportunistic, Florida should be able to win.  But can the offense rise to the occasion?  Coach Mac and OC Doug Nussmeier have to continue to build the confidence of the offense and scheme ways around the deficiencies and inexperience.  The Swamp will be alive for this one – I just hope the players don’t get overhyped and make mistakes that can’t be overcome.

Prediction: Florida 24      Tennessee 21

The roller-coaster ride begins with a win that felt like a loss, as Florida held on for a 31-24 “win” over ECU.  That was, frankly, a disappointing effort across the board.  The offense committed untimely penalties and some dumb turnovers, the defense looked lost for much of the 4th quarter, and the rotation at QB hurt momentum more than helping it……all contributing to keeping the Pirates in the game until the very end.  It took a fortuitous fumble inside the red zone to prevent what could have been a devastating loss and serious blow to the team’s psyche.  The most troubling thing of all was watching a lazy performance, with players looking like they read too many press clippings during the week and perhaps feeling entitled.  Why?  The Gators haven’t done anything for 2 full seasons and are an afterthought in the SEC……that attitude has to be erased starting now.  The bench may need to be a teaching tool to get the attention of some guys.

I believe it’s clear that Will Grier gives the Gator offense the best chance to win right now, as his ability to read defenses and make a variety of throws at least can keep a defense honest in it’s coverage.  That being said, he has a long way to go as far as judgement, as he forces too many throws into coverage, and it will bite him and the team sometime soon.  Treon Harris rarely looks for a 2nd receiver, and is basically a one-read and run QB right now.  The running game is looking pretty mediocre so far, and still doesn’t appear to provide the balance either QB needs.  Kelvin Taylor may be the most experienced RB, but Jordan Cronkrite is really pushing for more carries as he is the best north-south runner.  Jordan Scarlett is going to see the bench a lot more if he doesn’t hang on to the football better.

The play of the Gator pass coverage was the largest disappointment of the night.  After seemingly finding it’s footing and shutting down ECU after it’s first drive of the game, the entire 4th quarter was frustrating to watch, as the LBs and safeties were repeatedly beaten on the simplest of checkdown and slant routes, and simply ran out of gas by not getting off the field on 3rd down.  Lots of missed tackles in open space as well, and this has to get cleaned up immediately.  The loss of Alex Anzalone to a recurring shoulder injury really underscored how valuable he is in pass coverage in the underneath and intermediate zones.  He may be gone for 2-3 weeks or even longer, and the defensive staff has to come up with a scheme to offset his loss.  The DL played pretty well in shutting down the running game, and applied decent pressure on the QB given the large dose of quick throws.  The quick passing game of the Pirates exposed some areas of concern, but there were plenty of opportunities to make plays that were missed.  DC Geoff Collins has a reputation for blitzing, attacking defenses, but was forced to stay conservative, and this almost contributed to an upset.

It’s on to the Bluegrass to face Kentucky, who comes off a tough road win at South Carolina and is looking to end a 28-game losing streak to Florida and establish themselves as a surprise team in the SEC East.  The Wildcats are nothing special, but at least have some continuity in their 3rd year under Mike Stoops and momentum coming into this game.

The Gator defense needs to atone for a terrible effort last year against QB Patrick Towles, getting torched for over 300 yards passing and some long TDs.  The return of Vernon Hargreaves and hopefully Keanu Neal should settle down the secondary somewhat, but the entire unit has to focus and tighten things up right away.  Any road win in the SEC is a big deal, and this game could prove pivotal in determining a successful season or another struggle for mediocrity.  The Wildcats have established a decent running game led by Boo Williams, and that is priority one.

On offense, it was my hope that Coach McElwain could pick a starting QB by this game, but it appears both Grier and Harris may play.  Perhaps this a ploy to make UK prepare for 2 QBs, but if one guy gets the offense moving he needs to have the opportunity to play the majority of snaps.  OC Doug Nussmeier needs to develop a plan this week that makes the starter comfortable, and figure out a way to establish some success on the ground.  Leaning on a young QB, especially on the road with an average-at-best OL, is usually unsuccessful in the SEC.

Maybe the best thing for this Gator team is to get away from Gainesville, re-focus on fundamentals, and come together to go on the road and try to get a win.  The mental lapses against ECU cannot be repeated, and it’s time to earn some respect, not expect it just because of the name on the jersey.  Right now, I just don’t know if the offense is ready to carry it’s weight on the road.  If Florida is to win this game, the time-honored formula of solid defense and special teams has to be employed, and I’m just not sure this team is ready.

Prediction:  Florida 23      Kentucky 20

The 2015 season and the Jim McElwain era kicks off with the New Mexico State Aggies traveling to the Swamp for a large paycheck and a beatdown.

Most of the attention of Gator Nation will again be given to the performance of the offense, under it’s 4th Offensive Coordinator in 5 season.  Doug Nussmeier has to determine which of Will Grier and Treon Harris will be his full-time starting QB, and can use the first 2 games of the season to (hopefully) see one guy step to the forefront and be the leader heading into the SEC schedule.  Harris gets the start this Saturday.

As much as everyone would like to see an effective passing game develop, the first order of business is to establish a solid running game, and set the rotation at RB between Kelvin Taylor, Jordan Scarlett, and Jordan Cronkrite.  After that, we’ll see if either QB can spread the ball around to let WRs Demarcus Robinson, Brandon Powell, and Ahmad Fullwood show their abilities.  Hopefully Jake McGee and C’yontai Lewis can help out at TE to take some pressure off the QB.  The rebuilt O-Line should take advantage of the opportunity to start the process of developing chemistry.  This is a great opportunity to work out some kinks with the base offense, and begin the process of rebuilding the confidence of this group.

The Aggie offense should not prove very challenging to the Gator defense, as they are overmatched physically and in skill level.  Their best unit is their OL with 4 returning starters that allowed only 14 sacks last season.  The priority for the Gator defensive coaching staff is to determine the playing rotation for the front seven.  Plenty of young guys will get their chance to prove they belong in the rotation this week and next at various positions on the D-Line (Caleb Brantley, Khairi Clark, Cece Jefferson, Taven Bryan) and at LB (Alex Anzalone, Rayshad Jackson, Jeremi Powell, Matt Rolin).

Here’s hoping that the Gator offense can show some life early and start to gel in real game conditions.  There are so many new starters and variables right now that it’s hard to say of they can score enough points early to provide the defense the opportunity to rest the starters after halftime and allow for a lot of guys to gain experience and develop depth.

This should be a good opener for the team to settle in with all of the new coaches and to start building momentum before the SEC season begins.  As always, the mantra for these games is, “no injuries!”

Prediction: Florida 41        NMS 10

Once more, it’s time for the Gator program to start over, as Jim McElwain and a brand new staff attempt to get Florida back on track as a consistent contender in the SEC and among the national elite. McElwain has done an outstanding job so far to wash away the stench of the Will Muschamp era in all aspects. He has enlarged the support staff to concentrate on recruiting. He has convinced Jeremy Foley to loosen the purse strings and immediately build an indoor practice facility and upgrade the player’s dorms. He has hired a coaching staff that is energetic and relates very well with the high school kids Florida is recruiting. He is savvy with the media and not confrontational and immature like Muschamp. He actually seems to have a clue about offensive football and has really shown an aptitude to be a program manager with a real understanding of organization, delegation, and getting recruits interested in Florida.

Offense

The Gators will implement their 4th offense in 5 years, and I can only hope that this one sticks for the time necessary to gain continuity and comfort. Doug Nussmeier comes to Gainesville as the OC and QB Coach after one undistinguished season at Michigan. He did work closely with McElwain at Alabama during their recent run of success, and after 5 seasons of wandering in the wilderness, Florida’s offense finally has a vision and a direction with the Head Coach and the offensive staff on the same page.

It will be a competition in fall camp between Will Grier and Treon Harris for the starting QB job. Harris has the advantage in experience, getting thrown to the wolves as a true freshman last season. He showed composure under fire and leadership skills, but was too inaccurate and was hurt by poor coaching. Grier redshirted to gain weight and strength, and had the edge after Spring practice. He is taller and has a stronger arm, and came out of a high school program that had a more sophisticated passing game. But until you have to face SEC defenses and gain valuable experience, it’s difficult to say who will eventually emerge. I do think, though, that once McElwain names a starter, he and Nussmeier will give him plenty of opportunity to prove himself before making a switch. I expect both to see action the first 2 games, and perhaps a full-time starter named prior to the Kentucky game.

The running back situation seems to be more clear, as Kelvin Taylor has seemingly become the #1 guy after a successful spring, and has responded to new coach Tim Skipper. Behind Taylor, though, the picture gets a little murkier until the season develops. True freshman Jordan Scarlett comes in with a lot of hype – he has the size and speed to possibly become a star in the SEC……..if he picks up the playbook and continues to work. By default he is the backup and will get a lot of snaps, as Adam Lane continued to be in the doghouse and has recently transferred. True freshman Jordan Cronkrite will likely get some opportunities this year as well. A run of injuries here could prove disastrous with little proven depth.

The WR position could be the most pleasant surprise of the season, as there is untapped potential that has suffered from poor coaching and, frankly, poor QB play the past 2 years. Demarcus Robinson is the clear leader of the unit and can be an all-SEC player this year with improved play from the QBs and the WRs around him. He has the size, speed, and blocking ability that NFL teams desire already – it’s all about consistency going forward. Behind him, Brandon Powell, Ahmad Fullwood, C.J. Worton, and true freshman Antonio Calloway all have the natural talent to make plays in the SEC…….but need to prove it to the staff and their teammates in live action.

The TEs can really make a difference in the overall effectiveness of the offense this fall. Jake McGee was granted a 6th year of eligibility by the NCAA after breaking his ankle in the very first quarter of game 1 last year. He is a proven player with starting experience at Virginia, and could thrive in the new offense by being a weapon over the middle in the intermediate zones and taking pressure off of the inexperienced QBs. Redshirt freshman C’yontai Lewis is the backup – he has speed, but not the size to be an effective in-line blocker. For now it appears that the TEs will be flexed out more often than not to help spread the field, and not a factor in the running game.

Finally, the most talked-about and scrutinized unit facing the most pressure is the Offensive LIne. This unitl has been a mess for most of the past 2 seasons due to injuries and no consistent game planning from the previous coordinators. Coach Mike Summers was the only coach retained from the Will Muschamp failure, which speaks volumes about the trust McElwain has in him. Last season he actually did a fine job with a mash up of players with varying experience and some with marginal talent. The entire offensive staff went all out since December to bring in fresh recruits, transfers and reevaluated the returning players to try and cobble together an effective unit going forward. The only proven SEC-level player already on hand is OT David Sharpe. After that, it’s all hands on deck as transfers, redshirts and some true freshmen will make up the balance of the starting OL and rotation. Mason Halter comes from Fordham as a FCS All-American, and will likely be a starter at tackle or guard. Trip Thurman will be a starter at the other guard position or at center. True freshman Tyler Jordan has drawn raves form the staff and will get a lot of playing time at center. Martez Ivey steps in right out of high school as an immediate rotation player at tackle. Other newcomers, mostly redshirt or true freshmen such as Nick Buchanan, Cameron Dillard, Travaris Dorsey, Kavaris Harkless, Antonio Riles, and T.J. McCoy all will have opportunities this fall to prove themselves. It’s painfully obvious that coach Summers has a monumental task ahead of him, and the development of this group as the season progresses will influence the effectiveness of the entire offense and the game-planning of Nussmeier, especially if they struggle.

Defense

Overall, this unit – again – will be counted on to lead the team, and will have to carry their weight plus some until the offense can find it’s way. Fortunately, there is a lot of returning quality talent to compete against anyone in the country.

The Defensive Line, despite the loss of Dante Fowler Jr. to the NFL, has plenty of experience and quality players to establish the front line of a typical tough SEC defense. Jonathan Bullard surprised some by returning for his senior year, and will anchor the line. He has the flexibility to play both tackle and end based upon the scheme, and will be the leader of this group. There is a lot of young talent ready to get their chance. At tackle, Caleb Brantley, Taven Bryan, Joey Ivie, and Khairi Clark should form a solid rotation – Bryan, in particular, has looked very good so far in fall practice. At end, Alex McCalister and Bryan Cox, Jr. showed flashes last year in getting to the QB, but now have to prove thry can do it more consistently and without Fowler drawing attention away from them. True freshmen Cece Jefferson and Jabari Zuniga come in with high expectations, and will see significant playing time.

The Linebacker corps is the unit under the most scrutiny coming in to the season, as the prior staff simply did not recruit this position well in terms of quality talent and depth. Antonio Morrison should have entered his senior season as the leader on the field, but the knee injury suffered in the bowl game has set him back, and no one is sure if or when he’ll see the field this fall, and how effective he will be. Personally I’d like to see him redshirt, but the lack of depth and experience at the position leads me to think he will try and play as soon as possible. Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone are the only others in the rotation that have seem significant playing time, and they have both been injury-prone. New coach Randy Shannon is a great coordinator and has developed a lot of fine players, and he has a huge task ahaead of him trying to find a mix of young guys to fill in the depth chart and try to survive the season until he can re-stock the position. He has tirelessly worked his old stomping grounds of South Florida to find freshmen like Rayshad Jackson and Jahim Lawrence, who will have to learn some hard lessons right away in the SEC. There is some potential with some returning players like Daniel McMillian and Matt Rolin, but injuries or simply not picking up the scheme have hampered their careers so far.

The strength of the Gator defense this season lies in the secondary, which, barring injuries, will be among the best in the country. Leading the way is A-A candidate Vernon Hargreaves III at cornerback, who is great in coverage and also shows toughness in supporting the run game. Quincy Wilson, Jalen Tabor, and Brian Poole are all quality players, and can rotate outside as well as in the slot. All four are also very capable in making big plays with the ball in their hands after turning the ball over. The safety position is well-manned by Keanu Neal, Marcus Maye, and Duke Dawson. All have the size and speed necessary to be playmakers in the SEC, especially Neal, who is a big hitter and should be an all-SEC candidate this season. There are plenty of young guys like Marcell Harris and Deiondre Porter, and some true freshmen such as Kylan Johnson that will provide quality depth. There is an embarrassment of riches in this unit.

Special Teams

New Tight Ends and Special Teams Coordinator Greg Nord has a lot of work ahead of him establishing his own style, along with incorporating new players and improving the returning specialists.

The placekicking duties fall solely on Austin Hardin this season. He made some clutch FGs last year including the game-winner at Tennessee, but this is his 4th year at Florida, and it’s time for him to show consistency and improve his accuracy and start to fulfill the hype that came with him out of high school. Johnny Townsend inherits the punting from Kyle Christy. He has some experience from the past few years, but the job is his now, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to the challenge and pressure. Until the offense can show proof it will actually be functional unlike the past few disastrous seasons, field position will be even more important.

The return game loses one of the SEC’s all-time leaders in Andre Debose, and it may take a few games to settle on who will handle the kick and punt returns. Going in to fall camp it appears as if VH3 will be the PR. He has the playmaking ability, but I’m always nervous having such a good and important skill position starter returning kicks, because of the added risk of injury. There is no established leader right now at KR. Right now Demarcus Robinson and freshman DB Chris Williamson are mentioned as the first guys to get the opportunity, and Robinson may also handle some of the PR duties. This is concerning, as again I’m concerned about the best WR increasing his chances for injury, and also having an unknown like a true freshman returning any kicks. This situation shows just how fortunate Florida was in having guys like Brandon James and Debose in the past that were so dangerous. Yes, they both made major contributions as true freshmen, but they were not critical starters elsewhere.

Schedule and Outlook

Gator fans approach a new season with some trepidation – again. A new staff, new offense – again, and the horrific last 2 years of the Will Muschamp era have spooked even some of the most ardent fans. The defense will need to carry more than it’s share of the load until the offense (hopefully) develops some confidence and rhythm. September is crucial to this year’s success (or lack of it).

New Mexico State – Win
Time to establish a new identity for the offense (again), and use this as an advanced scrimmage. Stay healthy – please!

East Carolina – Win
Rematch of last season’s bowl game. The Pirates could be good enough on offense to force the Gators to be pressured to score more often than they may be ready to – the defense will be on the spot to control this game.

@Kentucky – Win
The Gators barely squeaked by the Wildcats last year, and the Florida fan base is not used to this game being such an iffy proposition. If the Gators play well in all 3 phases they should be able to win this game, but until there is evidence of that with the offense and special teams, the margin for error is uncomfortable.

Tennessee – Win
The overhyped media team of the offseason comes to the Swamp. The Vols may be improved, but I’m not buying that they are “back” in any way. Still, the Gators have to play well and avoid turnovers. If Florida loses either to UK or UT, the bad part of the fan base will already start to vocalize it’s displeasure (yes – that quickly), and Coach McElwain will learn first-hand as a head coach in the SEC what expectations – even reduced ones – can do to make your job that much harder.

October is a tough 4 game stretch against 2 quality SEC West teams and 2 SEC East contenders. Talk about how far Will Muschamp drug the program down – the Gators could easily be underdogs in all 4 of those games. There won’t be any chance to hide any offensive deficiencies – the OL and QB play have to be shored up and efficient by then or another difficult season could be ahead.

Mississippi – Loss
Ole Miss comes to the Swamp with another solid squad and a defensive line that will give the Gators trouble at it’s weakest position – OL and QB. The Rebels historically catch the Gators at less than their best, and right now this matchup does not look favorable.

@Missouri – Win
This game (and the next) will be a test for the young and inexperienced offense. Another solid defensive front seven awaits, and the Tigers have been able to take advantage of a historically weak SEC East. I’m going to be an optimist here and say that the Gators surprise with a close win at Columbia.

@LSU – Loss
Too tough an opponent, too tough a venue. Death Valley and the Tigers have their own issues on offense and at QB, but have one of the best RBs in college football in Leonard Fournette, and the Gators would have to win the turnover battle by at least +2 or +3 and make huge plays on special teams in order to pull off the upset.

Off Week

vs. Georgia (Jacksonville) – Loss
The Puppies are another team breaking in a new QB, but have a very strong running game and continuity in the offensive scheme that Florida can’t match. I can’t see the Gators running for over 400 yards again like last season. The off week to rest and game plan is a huge benefit, but I’m not sure if it’s enough to win.

November should be less difficult, giving the Gators a chance to either rebound from a difficult SEC gauntlet in October, or to perhaps build upon some success and complete a turnaround season.

Vanderbilt (Homecoming) – Win
The Commodores have had a nice run the past 3 seasons, but it’s back to reality, and Florida should win relatively easily.

@South Carolina – Win
The Gamecocks are rebuilding, but any road game in the SEC is a challenge. Florida’s strength on defense is it’s secondary, and that’s a good matchup against a Steve Spurrier offense. Again an optimistic prediction based on confidence in the new staff.

Florida Atlantic – Win
The Owls simply don’t have the personnel to match up with the Gators for 4 quarters. They might hang around with in-state pride and the Gators mentally looking ahead to the next game, but the Gators should pull away in the 2nd half.

Florida State – Loss
Florida has lost 4 out of 5 to the Criminoles, as Muschamp’s legacy lives on painfully for a few more seasons until the Gators restock the roster with the quality and depth it is used to. An in-state rivalry as intense as this one usually means there isn’t a real upset, but the Gators will need to jump to an early lead and not play with the pressure of playing from behind, even at home. By this time, if Florida has shown some success on the field and the offense shows signs of life, there may be enough positive momentum to help the team mentally in getting the win.

Overall Record 8-4
SEC Record 5-3

The perception of the Gator program is one of skepticism – again, especially on the offensive side of the ball – again, from knowledgeable observers and recruits. Everyone outside of the players and coaches is in wait-and-see mode – again. A good season that shows offensive progress can lead to a great offseason and recruiting class, and help permanently turn the corner for a positive future. More struggles, whether they are due to injuries or with learning the offense, could slow down the rebuilding effort. This refrain is getting old, and it’s time for good things to happen to Florida football – again.

It’s that time – again……Heeeeeeeeeeeere come the Gators!

The Song Remains The Same……

There was one final bitter pill to swallow as Will Muschamp’s head coaching career at Florida closed with another brutal loss, this one at Taliban City against the Criminoles. Just another in the long list of improbable scenarios leading to a close loss played out, as the Gators managed to waste a brilliant performance by the defense that forced 4 interceptions of Shameless Winston and repeatedly gave the offense the chances to put the game away. Sadly, the game was a microcosm of Muschamp’s tenure at Florida.

The Gator offense actually did open up the playbook some (as it should have continued to do even after the debacle at Alabama), breaking tendency by throwing the ball occasionally on first down and taking shots downfield not just to Demarcus Robinson. The inexperience and lack of accuracy of Treon Harris, however, were glaringly evident as he missed a handful of clutch throws that would have extended drives and definitely led to more points being scored. He was bitterly disappointed leaving the field after his last incompletion, throwing behind a wide-open Robinson that effectively ended the game. He has tools to work with, and importantly the poise to not panic despite his youth, but simply needs to be coached up in his timing and doing a better job of leading a receiver – that will come. Florida continued to run the ball, even when it was apparent that F$U was daring them to throw more often. Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor weren’t as effective as needed to provide balance and help Harris out, but that points more to the poor development of a passing game than to most of the players. Harris did scramble for some first downs, and actually had some clutch runs called back by penalties in the fateful second half.

Of course, the play of the game was the pick 6 that change what would have been a 12-0 or 16-0 lead into a 9-7 lead that completely changed the complexion of the game and gave the Criminoles life. While the play call wasn’t that bad, planning a throw to Tevin Westbrook, knowing his history of drops, was poor personnel management. The throw was a little behind him, but history suggested that he wasn’t a reliable option, and that falls on the offensive staff. Really feel bad for the kid, but he directly contributed to 2 crushing losses this season. Ugh.

There were some critical penalties throughout the game that were partially a by product of the rivalry, but also a lack of poise that doomed some scoring chances and contributed to the loss. The frustrations of the past 2 years and losing their coach obviously influenced some of the behavior that led to dumb penalties.

The Gator defense was terrific, forcing the many turnovers and pressuring King Crab all afternoon. The game plan to shut down the passing game did allow F$U to have success with Dalvin Cook running the ball, but that success should have been limited by some better tackling in the second half. Overall you can’t ask anything more out of that unit. They flew all over the field, blanketed WRs, and laid the wood on some punishing hits. The secondary has come a long way from the meltdown at Alabama back in September, completely shutting down the F$U passing attack except for 2 TD receptions by Nick O’Leary.

Now comes another turbulent off-season, as recruiting remains in flux and some potential big-time players are either de-committing or wavering. Jeremy Foley claims that he will have a new coach named by mid-December, and it’s critical for a new head coach and staff to have as much time as possible to hold the class together. It’s remarkable that, despite the many losses on the field, Will Muschamp is still well-liked and hasn’t been vilified by many fans and in the press. He inherited a real mess from Urban Meyer inside and outside of the locker room, and has cleaned out a lot of bad apples while rebuilding camaraderie within the team. But as he stated after being let go, the bottom line is winning, and he didn’t get that done. He leaves behind a very good defense and scheme, and I hope that a few key coaches like Travaris Robinson and Brad Lawing are retained by the new head coach – they are excellent positional coaches as well as ace recruiters. Despite the poor results on offense, there is more talent than has been shown that is left behind, and needs to be developed. Foley stated that he wants a head coach that has exhibited a more wide-open and explosive offense, and as evidenced by the results of the past 4 seasons and also across the country given more liberal rules benefiting the offense, Florida has no reason it can’t get back to what was seen from 1990-2009.

The Will Muschamp era ends at Florida, but another is soon to begin. With some improvement on offense, Florida should contend for the SEC East as soon as next season. Here’s hoping the new head coach can improve the offense while continuing the tradition of solid defense, and getting the Gators back to winning ways.

I’ll be back with a bowl preview, wrap up, and then an analysis of the new staff and what I hope is a solid recruiting class, despite the coaching change.

It’s been a rough 5 years, but better days are ahead. Go Gators!

The Gators sent the senior class and Will Muschamp out on a winning note in the Swamp with a workmanlike thrashing of the Colonels. The team played well, especially factoring in all of the off-the-field distractions surrounding the program. The defense throttled EKU all afternoon, while the offense got some explosive plays from the passing game to build a huge lead and enable the staff to clear the bench in the second half. Both Treon Harris and Jeff Driskel made some excellent TD throws, and Demarcus Robinson and Quinton Dunbar showed that they are threats downfield when given the chance. Other than the bruised knee suffered by Harris, fortunately there were no other key injuries. There’s not much in-depth analysis needed for this game, which is a welcome break from the drama that has been 2014.

Which leads to……the showdown in Taliban City this Saturday against the Criminoles.

There are even more storylines than usual for this year’s game, starting with F$U’s winning streak, Muschamp’s last game as Gator head coach, and the fact that the entire country hates the cesspool that is the Criminole program and their teflon QB, Shameless Winston.

It’s imperative that Florida not fall too far behind early and force the offense to try and climb out of that hole, as they are simply not ready to do it. The Gator offense has shown the ability to run the ball effectively, and will need to do so again to control the flow of the game and rest the defense. F$U’s defense has been vulnerable most of the season, and can be exploited. I do expect more chances to be taken than at any time this season on early downs, as there is really nothing to lose for Muschamp and the team……but ultimately it will still come down to an effective running game. The O-Line is in good health, and hopefully can repeat what a handful of teams have already done this season – gash the F$U defensive line and also have success with zone read runs by the QB. I expect both Harris and Driskel to play, and possibly a little reverse game-planning in store with Harris running more than usual and Driskel taking some shots downfield in the passing game. Hopefully Kurt Roper is allowed to actually run more of his true offense than Muschamp allowed after the Alabama loss, and has a few big plays dialed up for Saturday.

Florida’s defense knows what it has to do – slow down the Criminole passing game and force some turnovers, which Winston has been susceptible to all season. I fully expect F$U to pass the ball early and often to try and expose Florida’s mediocre play at the safety position. Rashad Greene and Nick O’Leary are the favorite targets of Winston, and the Gators need to force someone else to beat them. Dante Fowler should command a lot of attention in the pass rush, so that could open up things for others in the front seven to make some big plays and also get some sacks. The defensive game plan will likely be to dare F$U to run the ball with Dalvin Cook and Karlos Williams – consistently – and make them try and be patient on offense, which isn’t in the nature of King Crab.

If Florida can keep this game close deep into the second half, the pressure on F$U will ratchet up and possibly finally make them lose one of a handful of games they have escaped with a win this year. Dumbo Fisher is crowing about how they “finish” games. Yeah, with a team fumbling inside the 15 with a minute left (Climpson), another being stopped by a pass interference call negating the winning score (Notre Shame), another who went too conservative in the second half, and where it took a fluke tipped pass that became a TD to escape (scUM), and just last week against a team that outsmarted itself with a late trick play call that almost worked, instead of pounding the rock (Bahsten College). I’d love to see Florida put the Criminoles in that spot and to see what happens.

Can history repeat itself on Ron Zook Field at Joke Shamble Stadium? Can a lame-duck coach go out with a huge win, and in this case ruin an undefeated season and the playoff aspirations of F$U? While the Gators can play carefree with no pressure, the Criminoles have their entire season on the line, and they will be feeling it. It could be a perfect bookend scenario – Florida winning in Taliban City before the F$U winning streak starts, and ending it.

The struggles in the passing game, along with the injuries on defense to LBs Jarrad Davis and Neiron Ball, make this a tough game to win for Florida. My thought is that the Gators have a 1 in 4 chance of winning this game – not great, but does the right scenario play out and will Florida embrace the situation and put the dagger into F$U’s season? The Gators have to win the turnover battle and have to play a full game with only a few minor mistakes or penalties, given the razor-thin margin of error for the offense. The opportunity is there, but I’m not sure this team can reach out and take it. It’s my 34th consecutive game in the rivalry, and 35th out of 36 – I’m looking forward to it. No matter the outcome, it’s great to be a Florida Gator, and not be a “fan” of a rogue “school” with players, a head coach, and an administration lacking a moral compass.

Prediction: Florida $t. 26 Florida 17

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me 3 times (or more), bullshit.

I hate to see Will Muschamp forced to resign, but ultimately he did himself in, which is the biggest tragedy of all. He finally had things going his way starting with the big win against Georgia, then getting the offense a little more balanced against Vanderbilt, then…….he reverted back to the overly risk-averse coach he is, not allowing the offense to put South Carolina away in the 4th quarter and sealing his fate as Gator head coach. Yes, the special teams implosion, especially the blocked punt, were egregious enough. But his fingerprints were all over the play-calling in the 4th quarter, repeatedly running the ball into a stacked defense when a few safe passes could have helped slam the door on the Gamecocks…..but instead slammed it in his own face.

After a slow start in which both the offense and defense slept through the 1st quarter, both units came alive from the 2nd quarter until the ill-fated last 8 minutes of regulation and then overtime. How brutal to watch this self-fulfilling prophesy come to fruition……in many ways even worse than the LSU debacle. Finally it was too much even for Jeremy Foley, as I’m sure even Muschamp’s biggest supporter and close friend saw it was time for a change.

The Gator defense was terrific the last 50 minutes of regulation, completely stuffing Carolina and controlling the LOS. Tank Morrison played his ass off with 16 tackles, and the young secondary really started to realize it’s potential by controlling the Gamecock passing game. VH3 shut down his opponent (again), and his 4th down hit that stuffed Carolina’s drive early in the 4th quarter was one of the defensive plays of the season. The D-Line harassed Dylan Thompson all afternoon, repeatedly forcing him to throw off-balance and hitting him……a lot. Even when thrown into a bad spot after the blocked FG, they responded by shutting down Carolina on 4 downs. But even they couldn’t cover up the last meltdown by the punt team – letting a man come clean right up the freakin’ middle, where any sort of clean punt ices the game. There was no reason for a spread protection call – just setting up in safe protection was the call to make.

The Gator offense got the running game going in the 2nd quarter, and controlled the pace of the game until the bitter end. However……you could see the play-calling become painfully conservative as Treon Harris racked up 21 carries. Even with good gains on first down in the red zone, there was no threat of a safe pass in the 4th quarter to out the dagger in. That falls directly on Muschamp, as it’s obvious that this was not Kurt Roper’s offense after Florida took the lead (or, frankly, pretty much after the Alabama game)..

It will be interesting to see how the team responds and if they can focus on these last 2 games and play well. I’m sure playing Florida State will get their interest, but it could be a sloppy affair this Saturday against the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky. EKU plays a wide-open offensive style and can score a lot of points, but likely not against one of the better defense in the country – as long as the guys can focus for at least a few hours and get through this game.

I’m just hoping that the team doesn’t come out flat (a very possible scenario), builds an early lead, and gets this one done with no significant injuries, like losing Jarrad Davis and Neiron Ball for the rest of the season with meniscus tears against Carolina.

Wow – there are few schools that can create coaching drama like Florida does. There will be plenty of time after the regular season ends to go into further details and analysis, but the only real item to focus on is somehow keeping what could have been a great recruiting class as intact as possible. Yeesh.

Prediction: Florida 37 Eastern Kentucky 17