The 2014 season kicks off with the Idaho Vandals traveling to the Swamp for a large paycheck and a beatdown.

Most of the attention of Gator Nation will be given to the performance of the offense, which was simply wretched last season. New OC Kurt Roper has a healthy Jeff Driskel back to lead his version of the spread offense, which should play much better to Driskel’s strengths, and those of most of the offensive players.

It’s time to spread the ball around to finally let the WRs show their abilities – a lineup of Robinson, Dunbar, Fulwood, and Debose is pretty good. Mix in the zone scheme running game with Taylor and Jones to wear down an undermanned Idaho team. The rebuilt and hopefully improved 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. Idaho’s defense was terrible last year, giving up over 46 points a game – no reason not to approach that number this week.

The Idaho offense should not prove very challenging to the Gator defense, as they are over matched physically and in skill level. Hopefully the Florida offense is providing an early and expanding lead, providing the defense the opportunity to rest the starters after halftime and allow for a lot of guys to gain experience and develop depth. Plenty of young guys will get their chance to prove they belong in the rotation this week and next at various positions, especially on the D-Line and in the secondary.

This should be the first of two glorified scrimmages before the SEC season begins. As always, the mantra for these games is, “no injuries!”

Prediction: Florida 41 Idaho 10

The upcoming 2014 season will be a harbinger of the immediate future of Florida football. Along with the anticipation that comes with the start to a new season, there is as much angst as hope as the dark cloud of a dismal 2013 still hangs over the program. It’s likely a make-or-break season for Will Muschamp, as he is under intense pressure to turn the win-loss record around and establish positive momentum going forward. Part of the hope of a turnaround is pinned on the hire of new Offensive Coordinator Kurt Roper and Offensive Line coach Mike Summers. They are tasked with implementing a new philosophy based more on a Spread scheme, and even more importantly rebuilding the confidence of a unit shattered by injury, ineffectiveness, and bad coaching. Fair or not, the fate of this staff rests on a very fast learning curve for a bunch of kids that have been dealt a largely bad hand during their Gator careers to date. Jeremy Foley is a very smart AD, and has mostly ignored the noise from disgruntled Boosters and fans, given the extreme circumstances surrounding last season. Forces both inside and outside of the program have been working to tear down Muschamp and the team. While no one can be sure what would constitute enough of a turnaround for Foley to grant Muschamp another season, common sense dictates that, barring another rash of key injuries, an improved offense and perhaps a minimum of 8 wins are required.

Offense

This side of the ball will determine the success (or failure) of the 2014 season, and the future of Muschamp as Head Coach. That’s a lot of pressure to perform under, especially installing a new offense. Roper comes in highly thought of as a QB coach and playcaller, but may not have the luxury of easing in to his new role.

The abysmal 2013 performance led to the worst season since Charley Pell’s initial campaign in 1979 (the Visor’s freshman year at UF). Injuries ravaged every unit, while the ineptitude of OC Brent Pease and OL coach Tim Davis as coaches and recruiters led to their deserved firing. Physical injuries can heal, but can Roper and Summers rebuild the damaged confidence of the returning players? Already, the early returns out of spring practice and fall camp indicate that this offense will be far better suited to the abilities and strengths of QB Jeff Driskel and the skill position players, and will employ a blocking scheme much easier to pick up and implement.

Driskel is back and healthy again, and could thrive in the new offense. He will be asked to make quicker reads, which has not been his strong suit to date – Coach Roper can make a huge difference here. Driskel will still be allowed to run occasionally, and he is a premier threat when used this way effectively. The most interesting off-season battle will be to see which freshman will the backup role – Treon Harris or Will Grier. Both are highly-ranked recruits and bring a lot of promise to the position. Harris is the son of a coach, and played in a similar offense at Miami Northwestern against the best competition in the state while winning a championship. He is also an effective runner, which I feel gives him an advantage right now because of this background. Grier is a very accurate passer and has decent running ability, plus he had the advantage of enrolling early and getting to participate in spring practice. He has stated he wants to redshirt – I hope the performance of Driskel and Harris allow it.

The biggest question mark is the O-Line. At the Tackle positions, returning a healthy Chaz Green at RT is a huge bonus, as that allows Tyler Moore to slide inside back to OG, his natural position. DJ Humphries has to improve at LT – JUCO transfer Drew Savary, and freshmen David Sharpe and Rod Johnson will push for playing time and could provide some quality depth at both slots. Joining Moore in the Guard rotation will be Trenton Brown, Cam Dillard, and Trip Thurman – the performance of this position should markedly improve. Moore is a natural guard, and Brown really came on late in the season as he gained experience and got in shape. The hardest spot to fill will be at Center, as the loss of Jonathan Harrison will be felt. Max Garcia did well in the spring and during fall camp, and will provide senior leadership, with Dillard as the backup. Losing that much experience of making the blocking checks at the LOS hurts though, especially installing a new offense. A lot is riding on Garcia’s speed in picking up the new calls. Coach Summers has some quality material to work with, and hopefully gets this unit to perform much closer to it’s potential.

Running back should be in the capable hands of Kelvin Taylor as the starter. He showed flashes of being a solid SEC RB as a freshman, and will be backed up by Matt Jones, Mack Brown, and Adam Lane. Jones may finally get to show off his receiving skills to help with the passing game, which will help lighten his ball-carrying load as he has struggled with injuries. Brown is a senior and has plenty of experience, and redshirt freshman Lane has drawn physical comparisons to Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice. The performance of this group should be solid.

Now comes the mystery group that is the WR corps. After being underutilized in 2012 and ignored in 2013, no one is quite sure what this unit will contribute this season. Quinton Dunbar is the leader, and physically plays the part of a SEC WR – now is his time to shine. Demarcus Robinson came in hugely hyped in 2013 as a freshman, but poor work habits and some dumb off the field behavior wasted his first season. Off-season reports indicate he has his mind right now and worked hard – he has all the physical tools to be an all-SEC performer someday, but it has to start now. There is plenty of untapped potential among Ahmad Fulwood, Andre Debose, and Latroy Pittman. Some of the freshmen will get a chance early for playing time, led by the promising CJ Worton. Roper’s offense should be a godsend for these guys, and their playmaking abilities may surprise the SEC this year. An interesting development is the promotion of Chris Leak to WR coach – can he transition his QB skills to this group in reading coverage, route running, and blocking schemes?

The TE position has been completely revamped due to injury and scheme change. Of most importance is the transfer in from Virginia of Jake McGee, a quality player who was a 2-year starter – he inherits the starting role and could thrive in this offense. Colin Thompson has left the program, and freshmen C’yontai Lewis and DeAndre Goolsby could get immediate playing time. Both have some raw physical skills, but can they develop quickly enough to provide receiving depth? Coach Roper’s offense flexes out the TE in the ‘B’ position quite often, relying less on in-line blocking and more on stretching the defense down the seams. This scheme alone should help open up the offense in general, make Driskel’s life easier, and force defenses to actually guard the entire field instead of loading up the box with no passing threat to worry about.

Defense

This unit is Coach Muschamp’s calling card. They performed very well early in 2013, but eventually wore down both physically and mentally as the offense sucked the life out the entire program. Injuries struck at many key positions here as well, but there was also locker room infighting as the defenders became frustrated with the offensive meltdown, and this damaged team chemistry. Even with the loss of star DL Dominique Easley, and experienced CBs Marcus Roberson and Luchiez Purifoy, there is a lot of quality material returning to again have a solid SEC-level defense. The hope is that the defense isn’t relied upon so heavily in 2014 and stays much fresher.

The D-Line will be an interesting mix of different levels of experience, and has the chance to play more closely to that of a SEC-level unit again given better health. Dante Fowler is the leader, and should be an all-SEC candidate at DE. The rotation at the other DE/Buck position is a question mark. Alex McCalister and Bryan Cox have little experience, and Freshmen Gerald Willis and Taven Bryan come in as highly-regarded prospects, but the SEC is hard on young guys. Fowler must stay healthy, and some of the DTs such as Jon Bullard may need to play some outside to shore up this group. The situation at Tackle is much better. Bullard, Leon Orr and Darius Cummings return, and there is a lot of young talent to provide depth between Khairi Clark, Caleb Brantley, Jay-nard Bostwick, and Joey Ivie. Bullard is the top player, but needs to up his level of consistency and intensity. New DL Coach Brad Lawing has an excellent reputation of developing linemen and has enough talent within this group to make it an effective unit, but some of the young guys have to prove they can quickly adapt to the SEC.

The LB corps has a lot to prove this season, as their play fell off markedly last year and was, quite frankly, sub-par. There is plenty of experience with Michael Taylor, Neiron Ball, and Antonio Morrison returning, but their performance left much to be desired. Jarran Reed looks to be the breakout start in the middle. Alex Anzalone and Matt Rolin have promise, but have not proven they can stay healthy. Daniel McMillian has the physical tools, but hasn’t put it together mentally. Morrison has the best chance to bounce back, but Tank needs to get his mind right and focus on playing hard every snap. This group was pushed around last year, and don’t appear to be capable of playing SEC run defense. Decent in pass coverage, but with a very good secondary behind them, they may be tested early and often by the quality teams to see if they can slow down the running game. Overall, this unit looks average at best, and I can see a lot of 4-2-5 looks to try and get the best players on the field, and mask a deficiency.

The secondary has the potential to be strong again despite losses to the NFL, but few positions are settled as there is a lack of 1st-team experience. It all starts with Vernon Hargreaves III, who will challenge for SEC and national honors at CB. Right now it appears there will be a revolving door at the other CB post until 1 or 2 guys separate themselves from among the group of Brian Poole and true freshmen Duke Dawson and Jalen Tabor. Plenty of talent, but short on experience – an injury to Hargreaves could prove problematic. At safety, there will be a lot of quality competition between Marcus Maye, Marcell Harris, and Keanu Neal, with Jabari Gorman likely backing up both positions. This is a physical group that will be stout against the run, but their coverage skills are in question until they prove it on the field in a tight game.

Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin and DB Coach Travaris Robinson should be able to mold a solid overall defense by the end of the season, but there could be some shortcomings in the LB and inexperience in the secondary that require some scheming around until a few guys prove they are ready for SEC football.

Special Teams

All phases of the kicking and the return game took a huge step back in 2013. The loss of confidence in the entire group from the coaching staff was alarming, and every spot is an open competition right now.

Punter Kyle Christy completely lost his way, and Austin Hardin and a cast of thousands couldn’t remotely approach the level of departed PK Caleb Sturgis. Christy has to return to 2012 form or will be benched for good in favor of Johnny Townsend, who filled in adequately last season. The same goes for Hardin, who will be challenged by Frankie Velez for PK duties through fall camp and into the start of the season. Coach Muschamp has no time to coddle this group given the stakes of the upcoming season.

The return game was anemic last season as well, as there simply were no playmakers available to try and provide decent field position. Hopefully Hargreaves won’t be called upon as the PR, even though he really looks the part and has the ‘it’ factor – he is simply too valuable as the best CB on the roster. It may fall upon one of the freshmen to fill this role in 2014 – there are some exciting prospects such as Alvin Bailey that could get their chance early. At KR, an intriguing prospect is the return of Andre Debose. He has been one of the most dangerous KRs in the country, and could be play a huge role is helping the offense with improved field position, and possibly influencing the outcome of a few games with some big returns.

Schedule and Outlook

Only recently has the excitement level for Gator football begun to come back this summer. Everyone was disillusioned after the abject failure that was 2013, and here’s hoping for an entirely fresh start across the board. Florida opens with 3 straight home games where the confidence of the team can be slowly rebuilt, and the new offense can get valuable reps in before the schedule toughens.

Idaho – Win
Time to establish a new identity for the offense and use this as an advanced scrimmage; stay healthy (please)!

Eastern Michigan – Win
Continue to build the confidence of the offense and get the reps more up to SEC-level speed; again, stay healthy (please)!

Kentucky – Win
SEC opener at the Swamp; a chance to better gauge the development of the offense, and settle on rotations on both offense and defense.

@Alabama – Loss
Despite the doomsayers, the Gators have enough talent to stand strong against the Tide, who will be breaking in a new QB. The real test will be to the confidence of the offense in the new system against a quality SEC opponent, and how well it can execute in a hostile environment. I think for now that the lack of depth and the unknown capability to respond to adversity on the road against an established program will lead to a loss, but can also be a building block to the key part of the schedule coming up. The Tide running game is based on brute power, and Florida’s front seven has not proven it can stand up for a full game against that type of attack.

Open Date (first of 2) This comes at a good time, in advance of perhaps the most important game of the season in terms of development of a winning attitude and confidence

@Tennessee – Win
Florida will travel to Knoxville to play the inbreds of Tennessee. The Vols are sick of being the Gators’ whipping boy since 2005, and are talking a big game right now for a program that been irrelevant for years. It will be interesting to see how Florida responds to a second straight SEC road game, as Tennessee is sure to throw everything into winning this game. A second straight loss here could seriously damage any physical and emotional progress from September, and start the howling (again) for Muschamp to be fired. This is simply a huge game for the Florida program.

LSU – Loss
Next up is a return to the Swamp to face LSU. The Tigers lost a lot of talent and leadership to graduation, and may still be deciding on a permanent starter at QB. They again will have a talented roster, but this is a winnable game for the Gators if they play smart football. They don’t have the firepower on offense yet to overcome turnovers or a slew of mental mistakes. Stopping the Tiger rushing attack is the key to this game, and I’m not sure if the Gator front seven is good enough yet to do it.

Missouri (Homecoming) –Win
The Tigers come to Gainesville, and this will be as much a mental test for Florida as physical, as the Gators will be coming off of 3 emotional battles, and can’t afford a letdown. The Tigers were deluded by a historically weak East Division in 2013 and seem to think that playing in the SEC is no big deal – it’s time for the league to remind them of their standing.

Open Date

Georgia – Loss
It’s on to the final stretch, starting with Georgia in Jacksonville. Everyone knows Muschamp is 0-3 vs. his alma mater, and he’ll be under intense pressure to reverse this disturbing trend. Even with the tremendous struggles on offense for most of his tenure as Head Coach, the Gators have had the chance to win this game in the 4th quarter each of the last 3 seasons. Can Florida get over the mental hurdle and finish? Sometimes the hardest thing to do is get over that hurdle

@Vanderbilt – Win
Next up is a trip to Nashville. Vandy broke their 26-game losing streak to Florida last season – in the Swamp no less, a real blemish on Muschamp’s resume. Payback will be in order, as the Gators will put the Commodores back in their place.

South Carolina – Win
Florida returns home to face what appears to be the preseason favorite in the SEC East, South Carolina. Everyone who has read my column for the last 10 years knows that I have no desire to “help” Steve Spurrier win the East “if it can’t be Florida”. That line of thinking is crap – all he has done is try to beat the Gators on the field and in recruiting, so I could care less what he did as a player and coach at UF. Florida needs to beat his brains in if at all possible, to help re-assert it’s dominance in the series. Despite the Gamecocks’ recent success, I’m of the opinion that they will take a step back this season, and this game is there for the taking with a loud Swamp crowd supporting the Gators.

Eastern Kentucky – Win
The final home game is next as EKU comes to the Swamp for a nice paycheck and a beatdown – no Georgia Southern flashbacks here. The Colonels will suffer the wrath caused by last season’s GSU meltdown.

@Florida St. – Loss
Finally, it’s off to Taliban City to face the Criminoles and the King Crab. No matter how much hate there is for F$U, it’s always tough to stay emotionally ready after the grind of the SEC schedule, especially when this game is on the road. F$U is talking proud about how they are ”back”, just as they were when they dominated a garbage conference in the 1990s to pump up their record as they played 1 or 2 tough games annually. After all these years, the ACC still stinks. In all likelihood they will have waltzed to another bloated record against minimal opposition, and have plenty of weeks to game plan for the Gators. Muschamp’s struggles have infinitely helped F$U recruiting in-state the past few years, and the Gators will be an underdog in this game. I’m just not sure the offense, no matter how well it may progress as the season plays out, will be ready to carry the load it will need to.

Overall Record 8-4
SEC Record 5-3

There is so much riding on the results of 2014, unfairly or not, for Will Muschamp and the entire program. The perception of the Gator program is one of skepticism, from knowledgeable observers to recruits. Basically everyone outside of the players and coaches is in wait-and-see mode. 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, and change will be in the wind again, leading to a handful more of seasons lost trying another rebuilding effort. No pressure……

It’s that time again……HEEEEEEEEERE COME THE GATORS!!!

The embarrassing, depressing, and in a bad way historic season of 2013 mercifully ended with a lopsided loss to F$U.  Another painful and inept offensive performance – as John McKay once so aptly put it, “Our offensive execution?  I’m all for it!”

What a disaster.  Even the one glimmer of hope in game-planning a lot around Trey Burton in the Wildcat formation had to be scrapped as he injured his shoulder being tackled after his 55-yard run in the 1st quarter – a perfect summary of the offense of 2013.  With Skyler Mornhinweg at QB, the Gator offense never really stood a chance.  Brent Pease disappointed again, as he refuses to throw downfield – even with low-percentage attempts at a few big plays, and with nothing to lose.  There is really nothing else to add, as I have harped on the poor offense ad nauseum for weeks.  But to go out so meekly without taking some shots deep is maddening and has no excuse.

On defense, the front seven simply wore down with the pathetic effort of the Gator offense constantly returning them to the field.  The scheme was there to perhaps pull off an upset, but only with a college-level offense to support it.  After holding F$U’s offense  down for most of the first half, I was disappointed in the pass coverage that allowed Kelvin Benjamin to score twice and turn momentum completely to their side.  Loucheiz Purifoy was burned badly, and showed why even though he is a terrific athlete, he lacks elite cover skills as a CB and has been picked on the past 2 seasons.  VH3 took over and slowed Benjamin down in the second half, but still gave up some completions due to the size differential.  The loss of Marcus Roberson to injury was sorely felt.  The injuries in the LB corps helped necessitate playing a lot of nickel and dime packages.  That was fine with me, as I didn’t fear the Criminole running game at all, even with the scrambling ability of Jameis Winston.  But given the amount of time the defense had to play, even that scheme cracked late.

All in all, a microcosm of the entire season.

Talk about a stunning fall from a 12-1 National Championship season just 5 years ago, followed with a 12-1 season in 2009.  The shock won’t wear off for a while for many who haven’t experienced something like this.  However, the offseason purge will begin quickly, and will benefit the program in the long run.  Expect OC Brent Pease and OL coach Tim Davis to get blown out in a few days.  Also expect to see quite a few transfers of players that are disenchanted with lack of playing time and perceived slights from the coaching staff, but in reality were either too soft or simply aren’t SEC-caliber talent.  In a strange way this will lift some of the dark clouds hanging over recruiting the past few months as the losing streak grew, and will generate some new excitement with some of these kids.  I also expect a few current commits to waver if not decommit, but that will open the door to other guys who want to be Gators, and also open up more scholarships than expected before the season started and allow flexibility for Muschamp and the staff to pursue talent.

It’s a delicate balance that Jeremy Foley has to strike with a head coach that’s perceived as on a 1-tear leash, and Will Muschamp in turn has to find an OC and OL coach that are willing to come in with that risk.  Obviously not the best scenario for access to coaches you want to interview, but this is what happens when through a variety of causes your program bottoms out……and it can be a difficult climb out of that dark hole.  With no bowl practices, the staff has more time than ever to plan out a strategy for the balance of the recruiting season through NSD, and also take a hard look at the roster and how best to utilize the returning talent.  I hope a few moves are seriously considered, such as moving Leon Orr to TE to take advantage of his size, speed, and athleticism, as he simply doesn’t make impact plays as a DL, and there was ZERO production from that position in 2013.  Perhaps Ron Powell gets a look at MLB depending on the health of other returning LBs.  A few guys like Purifoy and Roberson could leave early for the NFL, opening up the depth chart in the secondary.

For those that are stepping out on the ledge, I would like to remind them to go back and compare Florida’s performance starting in 1980 to any program in the country……and that was accomplished in the SEC, the premier conference in college football.  One bad season every 30 years or so is more easily accepted and understood when compared to what many of the other traditional powers have suffered through.  This too shall pass……but had better pass quickly.  College football is religion in the South, and Saturdays are the high holy days.  Even the Visor has limited patience!

I’ll be back after NSD with a recruiting recap and look ahead to Spring Practice.

Happy Holidays!

As always, Go Gators!

Wow – even with a vote of confidence for Will Muschamp after losing to Vanderbilt, few saw this latest blow to the football program coming.  As bad as the offense is right now – essentially a high-school scheme with a QB to match – being held to under 300 yards and only 20 points against an inferior opponent is the last straw for the current offensive staff.  Changes are a comin’……but will it be Muschamp making them?  I still believe he’ll be back for 2014, but any thought he had of keeping most of the offensive coaches is out the window now.  The hue and cry from the masses is deafening, and he’s in danger of losing the players……which is when the Head Coach gets fired.  I’m not sure how hands-off Jeremy Foley has been willing to stay up to now, but he has to address this with Muschamp immediately.

Despite the scores of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the offense should have been able to score enough points to put GSU in passing situations and out of their comfort zone, allowing the Gator defense to get some rest.  Sadly, it became obvious that the defenders were wearing down quickly in the 2nd half.  The triple-option is tough enough to deal with……especially with less than a week to prepare.  But overcoming an inept offense has finally broken the will of those guys, and it’s a damn shame.

Again, the offense came out solidly and then flattened out after early in the 2nd quarter.  The performance of the O-Line doesn’t excuse Brent Pease for making puzzling and ineffective play calls to maintain momentum at key points in the game.  Even with Skyler Mornhinweg’s weak arm, there were plenty of chances to throw the ball against an 8-man front geared up for the run.  Maybe the bad coaching of Tim Davis has Pease so spooked he can’t see the forest for the trees at his point…….but those problems run deeper than that.

With nothing left to play for except pride, the Gators host Florida $t. this Saturday at the Swamp.  It would be wonderful to have a competitive roster to field  to try and ruin the championship hopes of the Criminoles and (notoriously) Famous Jameis Winston, but maybe it will be up to the Florida Attorney General to do the dirty deed instead (doubtful).  While I still believe the defense has enough manpower to put up a decent fight for a while, it looks like it would take a decided advantage in turnover margin plus an entirely risk-adverse offensive game plan to pull off the upset.  I simply can’t look at the numbers the F$U offense has piled up against pretty much a crap schedule and be overly impressed……but sadly they can pretty much play conservatively until the Gator offense wears the defense down……the Gator defense.  Still, I would dare the Criminoles to run the ball and stick with the run, while taking away TE Nick O’Leary and taking your chances with the jump-ball strategy to Kelvin Benjamin.  Luchiez Purifoy and Marcus Roberson have the size to fight with Benjamin, VH3 can stay with Kenny Shaw, and Brian Poole or Jabari Gorman can man up with O’Leary.  Run a defense with 5 and 6 DBs the entire game (the strength of the entire team), and even if F$U has some success running, so be it.  Given the lack of quality numbers on the D-Line and at LB, go with your best payers and unit to try and lead the way.

If Tyler Murphy plays and plays well, I think his mobility can help create a few chances for points, but the RBs and WRs have to make something happen on their own.  A dink-and-dunk pass attack simply won’t cut it……it’s time to go for lower-percentage pass plays down the field, and see if the WRs can make a few plays on the ball and/or runs after the catch.  As always, expect the opponent to stuff the box and dare Florida to throw the entire game.  It’s been hard to watch the high-school offense resorting to direct snaps to the RBs as a staple the past 2 weeks.  As good as Kelvin Taylor can be, there’s no way he has any real success if Skyler Mornhinweg plays……you’d be looking at the distinct possibility of a shutout barring a defensive or special teams score……his arm is that weak.  Unfortunately it’s looking less likely that Murphy plays, pretty much sealing Florida’s fate.  If that is the case, I hope Max Staver gets some snaps – at least he has a real arm, and maybe can get lucky on a few deep throws.

It’s bad enough that Florida is playing only for pride at this point.  The other shoe to possibly drop is that this was to be the biggest recruiting weekend of the year.  With all of the dysfunction exhibited by the offensive staff and the media hype on Will Muschamp’s status, this could crush this year’s class, and seriously impact the 2015 class as well.  Having the stands half-empty (again) in the second half, with more Criminole fans left than Gator fans, is almost certain death to closing on the quality players left on the board.

All good things must come to an end it seems…….but so will all bad things in terms of Gator Football.  No matter the dark days, weeks, and possibly years ahead, Florida will eventually come back to prominence.  This fact is completely lost on those who only have known Gator football since Steve Spurrier arrived in 1990, or even going back to 1980, the year after the infamous 0-10-1 season.  Times have changed…….wall-to-wall media coverage, social media, instant gratification, salaries, the pressure to win immediately……and the environment in and around big-time college football is completely different than just a generation ago.  Short-term thinking and mindless hysteria are what’s in vogue right now.  Make no mistake – these factors are definitely causing damage to the program right now……as has the bad coaching and less-than-stellar CEO performance by Coach Muschamp to date.  In addition, there are forces in motion behind the scenes that may take years to repair, which could put Florida in a cycle of rinse-and-repeat coaching changes that only prolong the pain and make it that much more difficult to recover.  Of course, no one wants to hear that, and even to try and contemplate the thought would make any Gator fan sick.

Despite the storm over the Swamp these days……it will always be great to be a Florida Gator.  It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since my dad took me to my first Gator game in 1973 to see a JUCO transfer RB named Nat Moore and QB Don Gaffney lead the Gators.  I’ve seen it all since then……a winless season, “Run Lindsay, Run”, crippling probation, the first (unrecognized and recognized) SEC Championship, dominance in the best league in the country for a 20-year span, Heisman Trophy winners, Hall-of-Fame players like Emmitt Smith and Wilber Marshall, and truth-is-stranger-than-fiction coaching sagas.

And it’s all worth it.

Thanks dad……and Go Gators!

Prediction:  F$U 38        Florida 14

All good things……

Might as well tear down everything that has been built since 1979 and start over.  It seems as if every football power has eventually tanked at some point, despite the hopes that a program will always be self-sustaining.  It’s difficult to step back and objectively analyze what has been accomplished over the past 34 seasons when you get so immersed in the current season and results.  That being said, 2013 is an especially disappointing season, and a nightmare that hopefully will be not be re-lived for a LONG time.

Losing to a mediocre Vanderbilt team is just another shock to the system for Florida fans at this point, as Gator Nation has almost become numb to the pain as this season has unraveled.  It’s obvious that this team’s spirit has been beaten down by an unbelievable amount of injuries, a tough stretch of games, and poor coaching on offense.  The hope for the balance of the season is that somehow the coaches can keep the players interested and playing hard and with pride.

The statistics will show that the Commodores were held to less than 200 yards of offense, but the gifts of turnovers allowing to start inside the Florida 20-yard line 3 times is way too much for this Gator team to overcome.  Another dull effort by the offense, with Tyler Murphy getting beaten up even more behind a porous O-Line.  The end of a 22-game winning streak is just another dismal result of this season.

The upcoming trip to Columbia will be unpleasant.  Florida laid it on the Gamecocks last year, and the Pariah will look to pay back the Gators with a beatdown that almost looks inevitable at this point.  Tyler Murphy is severely banged up, and quite frankly should be rested the next 2 games.  Neither Kyle Mornhinweg or Max Staver looks to be a long-term answer at QB, so why the hesitation of pulling their redshirt and playing them now?  You may need at least 2 QBs every game behind a lousy O-Line that was embarrassed by Vanderbilt and is far less than SEC-caliber.  It’s become so bad that it really doesn’t matter what the game plan is going in or how well some plays may be designed – this unit simply can’t stand up to any decent talent across the LOS.

The Carolina defense must be licking it’s chops, waiting to feast on this O-Line and deal out some punishment.  Even with Jadaveon Clowney severely underperforming this year, the rest of the D-Line is taking advantage of the attention paid to him and cleaning up.  The Gamecock secondary is nothing special, but Florida doesn’t have the passing scheme or protection to consistently take advantage of them.  Looks like another long, painful day ahead for the Gator offense, which will try somehow to generate some points and take the air out of the ball and shorten the game as much as possible.

Sadly, even the Gator defense is failing to bail out the offense at critical points, as they have worn down under the physical and emotional toll of crappy offensive play.  The hits just keep on coming, as Tank Morrison is the latest casualty and will miss the rest of the season with a torn meniscus.  The front seven hasn’t held up this season – a combination of injuries, and lack of size and talent.  The secondary is one of the best in the country, but can only hold out so long if there is no pass rush, or simply won’t be tested if the opponent is running the ball successfully.

The Gamecock offense seems to have found it’s footing with Connor Shaw playing well at QB……as long as he stays on the field.  Mike Davis may be an all-SEC RB, and has helped take the pressure off of the passing game and a WR corp that is nothing special.  As well as they have been playing recently, I expect a full onslaught to try and get the Gators behind early, and then sit back and watch the Florida offense implode……again.

So……the count stands at 8 starters and over 20 players to miss either multiple games, the majority of, or the entire season, an unprecedented run of misfortune.  Some is simply luck, but perhaps the S&C staff will need to re-evaluate some practices in the off-season……god knows there will be plenty of time with no bowl practices or game to look forward to since that fateful 1979 season.

It’s funny to listen to younger fans bitch and moan about how bad things are, since they have never experienced a lost season like this one.  Any Gator fan that only knows 1990 or later has no perception of what a real struggle is.  Well, they are about to see it first hand, as it’s gonna take years to turn around this mess and get back to championship-level play.  That will all start with recruiting, and when your team is struggling on the field and the coaching staff is under fire, that begins to suffer as well, and it is extremely difficult to turn around that self-perpetuating cycle.

Seeing overhead views of a half-empty Swamp as early as the 3rd quarter is unacceptable.  This isn’t your typical scUM “crowd” of inmates, or front-running Criminole “fans” that suddenly are crawling out from under their rocks.  Perception sometimes becomes reality, and that is a sight that will sicken even the most ardent Gator fan, and will just inflame the fan base even more.  Jeremy Foley sees it, and certainly hears it from influential Gator Boosters……count on it.

Will Muschamp likely never expected anything like this to happen to start his head coaching career, especially at Florida, but it’s not just injuries that have led to this point.  He has to re-evaluate his entire methodology, from coaching to player development to management of his staff to recruiting oversight.  He has some difficult decisions to make about his staff, and they have to be made soon and decisively to save this recruiting class and to start rebuilding confidence within the locker room in his ability to lead this team.  Recruiting is the lifeblood of a football program, and an infusion of talent is needed at Florida, no matter who is here to coach it.

It’s a tough time for the football team, but it’s still great to be a Florida Gator, and the program will rebound at some point.  The hardest part will be putting up with all the negativity sure to be loudly heard the next few years, especially within the state from the “fans” of other “universities”.

Prediction:  S. Carolina 38          Florida 7

Another loss.  Another loss to the Puppies (3 straight).  2013 continues to spiral down into a season that no one will want to remember.

Right now, Florida is a team that is just good enough to lose respectably.  The zombie-like 1st half performance of the defense was an indictment of the entire coaching staff.  This unit is the one that Will Muschamp has hung his hat on since he arrived at Florida, and that was an abomination.  No fire, no energy, no pulse – they really were the Walking Dead.  The LBs are simply been exposed this year as undersized and quite frankly, not SEC-caliber.  Tank Morrison has not lived up to the hype all season, and was guilty of the blown coverage on Todd Gurley that led to the 2nd Puppy TD on the long pass play.  The D-Line was only marginally better, rarely pressuring the QB, and gashed for long runs early and late.  Speaking of Late, allowing Georgia to hold the ball the last 8 minutes of the game was unacceptable……talk about a symbolic end to a game that has reflected the season to date.  Even a great moment – the 4th-down stop early in the 4th quarter that gave Florida a chance to tie or take the lead was hampered by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Neiron Ball for removing his helmet while on the field……WTF?!

While the second half performance of the offense showed signs of life and some new wrinkles in scheme, I’m not going to fall into the trap yet that they will build on that performance until I see it the rest of the season.  It was great to see a long pass completed early in the game, but not a single similar attempt was made after – there’s no good reason for that.  Tyler Murphy was allowed to start running some zone read plays again, but that didn’t really start until the 3rd quarter.  Kelvin Taylor had his most carries and yards in his young career in his first-ever start, and again showed flashes of future greatness.  Solomon Patton again had some nice receptions and a very good KO return, but also negated an easy FG opportunity in the 1st quarter with a stupid personal foul.

See a trend here?  “Something positive happened, but……”  It’s depressing at this point and sucks out any positive vibe from the fans.  Seeing the Gators pushed around for an entire half in a rivalry game is unacceptable.

It’s on to Homecoming against Vanderbilt.  The Commodores beat Georgia this year, but have been wildly up and down for most of the season.  WR Jordan Matthews will be a future NFL player and leads their offense.  The rest of the team is fairly average, but can rise up without much warning.  James Franklin continues to do a good job as Head Coach, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he finally jumps ship (I’m so clever) to a more prestigious job.

I was hoping to say that the Gator offense should be able to build upon it’s second half performance against Georgia, but that was before OT Tyler Moore suffered a broken arm falling off of a scooter during the week.  Now the OL is going to have a 3rd-teamer in the rotation, and possibly have to shuffle positions again.  What  freakin’ joke.  No continuity, no foundation to develop from as the season progresses……..just an utter fail.  Vandy’s defense is not as good as last year, and maybe the Gator OL can survive this latest crisis.  Perhaps Max Garcia will have to slide out from LG, but it looks like the redshirt may have to pulled off of a freshman now by default.  I think that Tyler Murphy will have to run the ball more on zone reads now, and again could be under pressure if he tries to stay in the pocket.  Which affects the passing game……and the running game……and possibly leaves the defense on the field longer……yeesh.  Something tells me the reins are pulled in again on offense instead of the other way around, and Muschamp tries to gut out a close win.

At least Joey Townsend has done well as the new punter, and Frankie Velez has been adequate as the new FG kicker.  The return game and coverage unit was solid again against UGA.  Perhaps this decides this week’s game.

Even die-hard fans are starting to wish this season would just end as soon as possible.  Just burn all the game film from 2013, and start fresh in 2014.  The Bataan Death March seemingly won’t end.  Of course, the staff and players still want to be bowl-eligible (I can’t believe I’m typing this) and gain the extra month of practice that affords.  Recruiting is definitely being affected now, as some guys long in the Gator camp are starting to look around.  Will Muschamp is feeling the heat and pressure of a lost season and how it affects the entire program……and his job status heading into 2014.  Injuries have conspired against him to ruin what could have been an 8-9 win season, but there are other forces at work out of his control.  There’s no way Jeremy Foley doesn’t allow him another full season to recover, but as I’ve said before, there are certain staff members on notice right now, and I’d be very surprised if there is no turnover in the existing staff after the season ends.  This has turned into the worst season of Gator Football since 1989, and it will take a tremendous mental effort to push through and try to finish strong.  I just don’t know if this offensive staff can coach the remaining guys up to that level, and if all of the negative crap that started even before the season can be overcome.

Another noon start for a mediocre matchup, and probably a LOT of empty seats and a disenchanted crowd.  Sounds like the perfect recipe for Vandy to end a losing streak to Florida that began in 1989……there’s that year again.  We’ll see how much fight and pride are left in this team starting now.

Prediction: Florida 23      Vanderbilt 17

The Walking Dead come to life this Saturday in Jacksonville right after Halloween, as both team limp in with disappointing records, disgruntled (to put it mildly) fan bases, one offense that’s DOA, and enough players shelved for the season with injuries that I would bet could field a competitive team.

After a week off, we’ll see right away if Will Muschamp backs up his comments about changing things across the board in order to jump start the offense and give the Gators a fair shot at winning.  Sadly, the team is only playing for pride going forward as any significant team goal will not be achieved.

Again, it all starts with the O-Line.  Hopefully some changes in position and/or players themselves allows Tyler Murphy and the passing game some shot at making enough plays to balance out the offense and actually score some points……a novel concept this season.  The week off should have allowed some guys the chance to heal some nagging injuries.  The main thing, though, is the scheme……have the coaches actually given the players a better chance at success?  Kelvin Taylor hopefully gets a full share of carries, and it sure as hell would be nice to take some chances down the field with some intermediate and deep throws, even if the WRs are covered……give them the chance to make a play on the ball.  What’s the worst that could happen?  Another turnover?  Another punt?  And what happened to the supposed throws to the RBs?  Screen passes?  UGA’s DEs are undersized, and can be pushed around – quit leaving the OTs exposed to pass rush specialists, help them with some TEs, and make something happen.

There’s nothing to lose now, and it’s time to be more aggressive and even start planning ahead for 2014.  Brent Pease is the Dead Man Walking right now……

The defense certainly had it’s pride wounded at Missouri with a combination of tiring of bailing out an inept offense and simply playing poorly.  Even with all of the injuries to the Puppy offensive skill players, their attack will challenge all levels of the field, and will require a great effort to slow then down enough to have a chance at winning.  If the pass rush would ever materialize, Aaron Murray has always shown the propensity for erratic throws and turnovers.  I expect a healthier Todd Gurley is gonna get a lot of carries to simply try and wear down the Gator defense as long as the game is not seriously in doubt for Georgia.  The Florida secondary should match up well with the Puppy WRs, and should have at least a few chances at interceptions.  It’s the run defense that worries me – it started to show cracks as far back as the Arkansas game, as the D-Line and LBs have been pushed around too easily.  In addition, all of the injuries to the UGA WRs have meant a lot more throws to the RBs and TEs – let’s hope the coaches plan for this and the LBs are ready.  I expect a lot of nickel and dime packages (not the Halloween or other side of the tracks kind of packages, kiddies), daring UGA to stay with the run.  I hope to see a lot of blitzing as well, both against the run and pass.

Florida may have an edge in special teams again this year.  It looks like the KO return game has stepped up with Solomon Patton.  Frankie Velez has been solid on FGs, and the coverage units have played well.  The Puppies have struggled in giving up big returns for a decade now, and that could swing things Florida’s way……the Gator offense needs all the help it can get right now.

At this point, I think Gator Nation just wants to see some changes – any changes – on offense to try and jump start things, and, while hating a 3rd straight loss to Georgia, would be OK with a competitive game.  How sad is that?

In the end, I see Georgia’s offense having too many possessions that will eventually lead to scoring opportunities later in the game.  Even with the Puppy defense struggling mightily this year, Florida doesn’t have the players and hasn’t shown the coaching capable of exploiting it the entire season to date.  It looks like the Resident Evil and Red Queen (Coach Helen Hunt of the Puppies) live on for a 3rd straight year……I sure hope I’m wrong.

Prediction:  Georgia 31        Florida 17

About the only good thing to come out the trip to Columbia was that the Visor has now attended games at each SEC venue.

Where to begin?

The offense is completely broken.  Every position area has problems.  Tyler Murphy played hurt with a bruised shoulder, and it was apparent on his missed TD throw in the 1st quarter to Burton, and some shaky passes the rest of the game.  He looked tentative and missed some open receivers by not simply pulling the trigger right away – you can see some reasons why he was the backup QB starting to come to light.  Kelvin Taylor showed some promise at RB, and looks like the lead ball carrier going forward.  The fact that he is still learning the playbook and can be a liability in pass protection is outweighed by his playmaking ability.  Mack Brown is an adequate backup, but won’t break off any long runs.  The WRs did not get open often to help Murphy unless it was on short, quick routes, but that leads to the continued crowding of the box by opposing defenses.  But it all comes down to……the (truly) Offensive Line……what a disaster.  This group as it’s constituted simply has failed.  It’s time to move some guys back to their natural positions and stop the square peg/round hole measures.  Tyler Moore either should play OG or sit.  Jon Halapio is just not 100% even though he has bravely soldiered on with his pectoral injury – maybe replace him with Moore.  DJ Humphries has disappointed at LT protecting the blindside – he simply is getting overpowered and lacks the weight needed for the position……maybe move him to RT, and let Max Garcia slide outside.  One sustained drive……unacceptable.  The entire passing game is suffering due to the crap OL play, but even when there is protection, the schemes, routes, and concepts appear weak and too simple to defend……another damning indictment of Pease.

As feared, the defense eventually cracked, and in a big way.  The inability to adjust to the runs to the left side of the Mizzou OL was particularly troubling.  The LB corps was exposed as too small and was pushed around.  Yes, the loss of Dominique Easley is being felt, but Leon Orr is simply a warm body out there, and Darious Cummings isn’t making any plays.  Dante Fowler had some flashes, but could be neutralized with additional blockers while the other defenders were handled – easily.  Jon Bullard is off-and-on, and lacks consistency – he needs to find a permanent home at either DE or DT.  Talk about a portent of things to come……Maty Mauk hits the first play for a long pass completion, and Cody Riggs gets himself tossed for targeting – inexcusable.  The DBs did an OK job on the short routes, but were burned on the corner and slant routes way too often.  Knowing the size of the Tiger WRs should have been an indicator of playing more inside technique – the staff gets a lot of blame for that.  Again, the lack of push from the DL on pass plays was evidenced, and allowed a QB making his freakin’ first-ever start look like an all-SEC player.

There is enough talent and good coaching on Defense to make adjustments to correct some of the problems, but this unit will continue to wear down and become disheartened if the Offense continues to fail.  And where’s the evidence that things will change, from players to schemes to coaching?  Brent Pease should be on immediate notice that he’s gonna get his ass run out of town quickly unless something different is tried – his tenure has been unimpressive.  Will Muschamp looked a little shaken for the first time in his career at Florida on his coach’s show.  He said the right things about change, but we’ll see if he follows through in 2 weeks.  Gator Nation is in an uproar, and for once it’s not all unwarranted.  The offensive staff has failed to date – even with personnel problems, it’s their job to give these kids the best chance of succeeding.  The rest of 2013 will lay the groundwork for 2014 and beyond.  The ineptitude of the Offense is going to affect recruiting, and that can spell the end to any coaching job.  Jeremy Foley won’t do anything rash unless absolutely warranted – Muschamp’s job is safe, but Pease and Tim Davis may have one foot out of the door.  Here’s the rub with coaching staff changes……Muschamp may eventually decide that these guys haven’t worked out, but how will that be perceived by potential new candidates and recruits?  That he’s a guy that has a quick trigger for coaches?  That he simply can’t identify a quality OC?  That he meddles in the offense no matter who the OC is?  Do recruits that play offense see this and choose to stay away?

It’s a sobering situation to have to get consoling words from Missouri fans of all people leaving the game.  The Offense has stunk for the majority of 3 years now.  Florida is just another team on the schedule, with fading national cache.  What should have been a SEC East Division there for the taking is a wasted opportunity.  How much damage is being done to the program?  You could se some arguing on the Gator sideline during the game, and how much longer until the infighting between Offense and Defense fractures the locker room?  It may have already started.

These are dicey times for Will Muschamp and Gator Football in general.  There is so much negativity swirling around the program right now it’s a challenge just to focus on helping the players and preparing for the next game.  Sadly, expectations are really low for the rest of 2013 – 5 or 6 losses are a real possibility.  I mentioned in my season preview that there was a good chance that this year’s record likely would fall behind 2012, but no one saw this abomination on Offense coming.  Some of the disappointment can be tempered by the staggering amount of season-ending injuries to key players across the board, but there are signs of cracks in the foundation of the program in coaching and player development (or lack thereof) on the offensive side of the ball that are troubling and that cannot be masked or ignored.

We’ll see if a nothing-to-lose attitude takes over, and whether a fresh start after a week off helps the team going forward.  It’s tragic to have it come to this for the Florida program.

I’ll be back next week with my preview of the Georgia game – it’s still great to be a Florida Gator, and especially not a mangy ‘ol Puppy.

Well, so much for playing fast and loose in Baton Rouge.  Despite the success of shortening the game and reducing the number of possessions that LSU’s offense had, the inability of the Gator offense to make big plays and execute in key moments led to a desultory loss.  This was painful to watch……how long before the defense starts pointing fingers at the offense and things get really dicey in the locker room?

The main reason for the failure of the offense to score a touchdown was the poor performance of the O-Line.  Even with the Tigers jamming 8-9 men at the LOS to stop the run, the Gators managed enough first downs and time-of possession to make this a winnable game.  But the pass blocking was horrid, never allowing Murphy the time to make some throws where the design of the play actually had something available.  This is year 2 under OL coach Tim Davis, and this unit still is not SEC-caliber.  Garcia and Harrison are by far the best 2 OL, while the rest are limited as run or pass blockers……the loss of Chaz Green at RT before the season even started is glaringly apparent now.  Not far behind in poor performance was the WR corps – too many times did a WR not read a blitz and adjust their route accordingly to a quick hitch, and let the ball either him them in the back or simply never see the pass coming.  The freshmen receivers were guilty of this a few times, but also Burton once, and that is inexcusable for someone with his experience.

By process of elimination, it looks like those who are a part of the “Free Kelvin Taylor” movement will get their wish, as he relieved Matt Jones – Jones is now out for the season with a torn meniscus.  Taylor ran well, but it is his lack of knowledge of the entire playbook and deficiencies in pass blocking show why the staff had been trying to hold him back for a redshirt – now that is no longer an option.  Brown ran well in spurts to move the chains, but can’t rip off large chunks of yardage.  Murphy never panicked despite heavy pressure and was able to scramble a few times to extend plays, but never really had the chance to take advantage of the few opportunities to make a game-changing completion.  He did overthrow a few open guys in the red zone, and that hurt as well – he looked like a guy running for his life with little experience, which had to be expected at some point.

The Gator defense was gashed all afternoon by the run.  LSU decided to use it’s size advantage, and exposed the front 7 as too small to stop an elite O-Line.  This was more than the loss of Easley at work – Orr, Jacobs, and Cummings were manhandled, and the LBs could not fill the gaps effectively, either.  The pass rush was almost non-existent, with Powell and Fowler no real factor.  It was surprising to see the lack of blitzes until later in the game, maybe underscoring the lack of trust in the coverage by the secondary……a puzzling scenario.  Just as disappointing were the lapses in pass coverage from Roberson and Purifoy, as each received his at least once-a-game PI penalty.  The real crusher, though, was allowing LSU to convert on 3rd-and-17 in the second quarter, eventually leading to a 14-3 Tiger lead.  Still, even with all of those negatives, only 17 points were allowed after LSU shut things down to see what the Gator offense could (or couldn’t) do, which should have given Florida the chance to win, but……

As bad as that loss was, Florida still has it’s destiny in it’s own hands as far as getting to Atlanta by winning the East.  This week’s game at Missouri is critical to not just keep that opportunity alive, but to start to repair the mental damage of 2 road losses this year.  Florida gets a huge break with Tiger QB James Franklin out for the season with a shoulder injury.  Head Coach Gary Pinkel has to go to backup Maty Mauk, who is an unknown factor, but playing at home always helps someone thrown into that circumstance.  Franklin’s running ability will be missed, but the Tigers still have a good running attack with 3 RBs over 300 yards for the season, and averaging 5.7 yards per carry.  Their WRs are big and strong, led by Dorial Green-Beckham and L’Damian Washington.  It will be another physical matchup for the Gator secondary, which has to play better this week and shut them down.  Missouri did Florida a huge favor in winning at Georgia, and the Gators must take advantage.  The real question (as usual) going in will be whether the offense can play at an effective SEC level and pull it’s own weight.  The Tiger defense has an excellent pass rusher in Michael Sam, but has inexperience in it’s back seven that can be exploited (at least by most teams).  Perhaps Taylor can break off some big runs to spark the offense..

Will Muschamp is a smart coach, and has to recognize how this offense is killing the team.  While no one knows for sure if he has a hand in the painful conservatism of the play-calling, it’s obvious that the offensive staff has to change things up in order to get better results.  The defense will continue to show cracks if it has to carry the team all season.  The wolves are starting to howl in the distance, and this could prove problematic if the rest of the season tanks and potentially affects recruiting.  Jeremy Foley will not make any rash decision, but will seriously evaluate things next year unless tangible progress is shown on the field.  Maybe changes will be made within the staff in the offseason if necessary…….but right now there is still a lot to play for in 2013, and the staff owes it to these players to put them in a better position to succeed.  This is now the biggest game of the year, and the coaches and players have to rise to the occasion.  It’s too late now to try and hold stuff back for the Georgia and South Carolina games – Florida needs a win this week.  The Gators haven’t won on the road against a decent opponent yet – here’s their chance to make something good happen.

Prediction:  Florida 20      Missouri 17

Florida put forth a solid performance in it’s 30-10 win over Arkansas at the Swamp Saturday night.  The defense continues to lead the way, allowing the offense the luxury of a few possessions to find a rhythm before effectively moving the ball.  The run defense, though, showed a few cracks, as the Razorbacks ran for 81 yards in the 1st quarter and took a 7-0 lead.  Alex Collins is a good back, and their fullback is effective as well, but the loss of Easley and an undersized LB corps was slightly exposed.  The coaching staff will have to figure out a way going forward to scheme ways to offset these shortcomings against the tough opponents coming up.

Tyler Murphy continues to perform efficiently at QB.  The passing game was opened up a little bit, as Arkansas (as expected) dared Florida to throw.  Some new corner and crossing routes were used to good effect, and Patton had a career game with his 2 long runs after the catch for TDs, taking advantage of some poor tackling.  The only real criticism is that Murphy has to learn to throw the ball away occasionally instead of taking a loss.  The running game struggled, but credit has to be given to the Hog D-Line, one of the better units in the SEC.  Of course, the game plan was to keep things safe mostly between the tackles as long as the game was close or in hand, but Florida won’t have that luxury against the better teams coming up.  Matt Jones still doesn’t look right, and while Mack Brown is solid, but has no real breakaway speed.  There were some holes that a game-breaking RB could have made some big runs through, but it looks like the Gators simply don’t have that big-play RB this year.

On defense, Florida controlled things after a shaky first quarter.  Coach Muschamp said after the game that some of Arkansas’ running success was due to poor gap discipline, but I’m still concerned that the interior of the line and LBs lack elite size and strength to control more physical opponents.  Fowler and Powell got good pressure against the pass, and Taylor seems like the most instinctive LB when shooting gaps to make tackles and in coverage.  Morrison has been pretty quiet at LB so far this season.  The secondary did it’s usual excellent job.  Purifoy turned the momentum of the game around with his pick-6 to give the Gators the lead for good, while the rest of the DBs did a good job of tackling.  However, the Razorback WRs did their QB no favors with at least a 6 drops.  The slant routes were effective, and Florida needs to shore up it’s technique against these immediately.

The (not so) special teams play by the kickers was brutal.  Christy and Hardin are a mess mentally right now.  They need to relax and get their minds right going forward, or will be on the bench.  If the personality of your team is ball-control offense and tough defense, this group can kill any good work by either.

HOUSE MONEY

The preseason is over, and it’s time for big-boy football starting this week at LSU.  Going in to this game with a backup QB who really hasn’t been tested by a quality opponent, and with the loss of the defensive leader, does not allow for much optimism.  However, it also takes some of the pressure off of the team, as expectations for an upset will be scaled back.  Unfortunately, it’s doubtful the Tigers will overlook the Gators, as they will have payback on their minds after the physical way they lost last year.  Based on performance to date, it would appear that there is little chance the Florida’s running game will control the clock and wear down the Tigers like it did last season.  But this has been a strange year for defense in the SEC, and LSU has uncharacteristically struggled this year, especially against the pass  The question is whether Florida can expose this weakness with it’s lack of playmakers.  Yes, Patton and Dunbar have made some big plays, but this is a step up in quality of opponent, despite their struggles so far……especially in a tough place to steal a road win.

LSU’s offense has been a revelation this season, with new Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron reviving an attack that’s been mostly dormant for years.  Zach Mettenberger is suddenly a pro prospect at QB, with Jeremy Hill, Alfred Blue, and Kenny Hilliard all big and tough RBs.  The passing game is what has elevated their offense to one of the best in the country.  This will be strength vs. strength, and the Gator secondary has to prove it’s worth with tight coverage all day against quality WRs like Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry.  It will be interesting to see how Florida’s run defense holds up, as Arkansas had some early success between the tackles.  This will by far be the toughest test to date for Florida’s defense, and we will see if it’s lofty statistical ranking is more a function of weak competition or of true ability.  The Tigers are averaging over 40 points a game, and there’s no way the Gators steal a win in Death Valley unless they hold LSU to around 24.

LSU’s defense has really struggled at times this year, especially against the pass.  Defensive Coordinator John Chavis has been in the SEC for over 20 years, and I have to believe that they will improve.  Unfortunately, I’m just not sure that Murphy, despite his poise and leadership, has the experience and confidence to really open things up and execute when opportunities present themselves on a consistent basis yet.  Brent Pease has to break tendencies across the board, starting with more passes on first down to keep the Tiger defense honest instead of stacking the LOS.  The RBs have to start to be utilized more in the passing game, and perhaps we’ll see some screen plays and more play-action passes.  The O-Line has to play it’s best game of the year to open some holes in the running game, but also in pass protection.  Arkansas presented a solid challenge with their D-Line, so perhaps that was good preparation for this week.  Of course, crowd noise will be a huge factor, and the OL has to show discipline in preventing procedure penalties.

Until Florida’s offense proves it’s worth against a good team, it’s all on the defense to keep things close until the 4th quarter.  The Gators have to win the turnover battle, and somehow keep the crowd out of the game by keeping the score close, and not allowing momentum to sweep them away.  Defense and special teams have to give the offense some short fields to work with, and it’s time to open up the playbook after a painfully conservative 5 games.  This is a huge step up in competition, and I’m sure the players are ready to elevate their game to the challenge.  Ultimately, I’m afraid the Gator offense with Murphy at QB still lacks the experience and playmaking ability to keep up with LSU’s offense.  I can see a few cracks showing in the Gator defense as the game wears on unless the offense rises to a level it hasn’t shown in a long time.  Again, the special teams play has to revert to something approaching 2012 form to make a tough job a little easier.  Right now, I think the Tigers pull away in the second half in what should be a very good game.

Going in to the meat of the schedule with a new QB and the loss of Easley may eventually prove problematic, but I feel it alleviates some of the expectations, and may allow the Gators to play fast and loose on Saturday.  Very few give Florida either a chance to win in Death Valley, or to go on and win the SEC East, so it’s time for the staff and players to play with house money and let it ride.  I hope it’s a fun ride the rest of the season no matter the wins and losses.

Prediction:  LSU 27          Florida 17