Charting the Course – Week 5 for Florida Gators

Where Have They Been?

As the Gators approach a pivotal game in the Swamp against LSU, there are a few questions this team needs address. Not just from a personnel and scheme standpoint but from a mental standpoint. The excitement and momentum that was so evident and energizing for the first 3 and half games has just hit the floor.

Their first trip to Tennessee ended in a loss and the second trip didn’t instill anymore confidence in the hopes that this season will turn out as many had desired. I figured the Gators would start slow considering the potential hangover from the loss, the early start mixed with the opponent and atmosphere. Unfortunately, the Gators never had any consistent momentum and played themselves into a game that was one score away from being a disaster.

Once again the Florida offense was inconsistent and severely underwhelming. They managed to accumulate 236 yards of total offense and 13 points. If not for 3 Vanderbilt turnovers who knows what could have been. Austin Appleby has digressed since his first half against the Vols only leading this offense to 20 points in the last six quarters. The inconsistency of the offense has been disappointing. The Gators have led at the half of every game but in 4 of their 5 games they have failed to scored in the 3rd quarter.

Some of the ups and downs can be attributed to the loss of Luke Del Rio but the mysterious logic of the run game cannot. The last two games Jordan Scarlett has been the most consistent of the backs and seems to deserve more carries, but we are all in wait and see mode if and when that occurs. All backs have had spurts, because they have only played in spurts.

There isn’t much to say about the Vanderbilt game other than it was a pitiful performance. The defense continues to play well but how long can they hold on with some of the injuries that have occurred and we are not half way through the season.

The last three outings for the Gators have nearly taken the wind out of their sails. There is a reason to be optimistic though. Most likely Del Rio will be back, they are coming back to the Swamp and all the goals are still achievable. This week will be an opportunity to revive the excitement that was there entering the North Texas game and prove they are legitimate contenders in the SEC.

What’s Next

If we listed the most disappointing teams in the country, LSU has to be at or near the top of that list. They entered the season with one of the favorites to win the Heisman, a loaded roster and a preseason top 5 ranking. This Saturday when the LSU Tigers come strolling into the Swamp, they come in nowhere near the expectations many had for them.

Last week the Tigers proved they aren’t the least of Tigers in the SEC by steamrolling Missouri 42-7 in interim head coach Ed Orgeron’s first game. Coach O has found a knack for mastering the mid-season coaching change and he will have the Tigers ready to play come noon on Saturday.

The Tigers are not without their own issues injury wise. They have lost two starting offensive linemen and Leonard Fournette is coming off of an ankle injury that kept him out last week. Without Fournette the Tigers put up 634 total yards, most of that coming on the ground with 416 yards at 8 YPC.

This is a huge game for both teams as they both attempt to hang on to division title hopes. The loser is pretty much eliminated from the race. LSU national title hopes may be out the picture but they do have the talent to rise up and win the SEC West. Was last week an emotional outburst performance or are the stars beginning to align on the bayou.

What’s Down the Road?

Saturday’s like the one in Athens are not good for the heart. One minute your celebrating a 17-0 lead the next minute your up in arms after the Eason fumble in the end zone and then minutes later your celebrating an Eason dime for the lead to only be let down by a Hail Mary from Mars by Joshua Dobbs. I am sure Gators everywhere thought the Bulldogs did them a favor only to be disappointed by the bitter rival.

The Volunteers are not out of the water yet they have to travel to College Station this week for a top 10 showdown against Texas A&M and then take on the Crimson Tide at home. As for Georgia they get the Gamecocks and Commodores before their off week to prepare for the Cocktail Party.

In another crazy finish, the North Carolina Tar Heels continued to expose the Derwin James-less Florida State defense putting up 37 points and winning on a last second field goal. This was probably not the season for Showtime to be following the ‘Noles because their defense has yet to arrive. Jimbo has to be flabbergasted at the output of his defense. Dalvin Cook continues to put up great numbers but one has to wonder if he can sustain this output until November. Florida State travels down south to play Miami and unless that defense tightens up I am not sure than can avoid a 3-3 start.

Next week the Gators will take on Missouri who was boat raced in Baton Rouge. The Tigers had been playing well until last Saturday evening. Coach Boom’s Gamecocks fell again, this time at the hands of Texas A&M and fall to 2-3 on the year and will need to upset someone to sniff a bowl game this year.

Before entering a 5 game stretch that includes this week’s home tilt against Alabama, followed by Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida and LSU. This is a dangerous team and could beat anyone of those teams during this stretch.

Last week our beloved Presbyterian Blue Hose were off, but this week they take head to Boiling Springs, North Carolina to take on Gardner-Webb.

Even though the outing versus Vanderbilt was far from perfect the Gators still walked away with a win and a multiplicity of reasons to focus and improve. They are still in the hunt for the East but yet in the worse position depending on the results from other games. LSU is a tremendous game for the Gators whose SEC East division hopes will most likely be decided in the next two weeks. If the Vols lose this week things will be very interesting come next weekend.

Kevin Camps
Kevin, a lifelong Gator fan has followed and studied Florida football since 1990. He is a Gainesville native that has experienced many great triumphs of Florida football. Born and raised as a Gator, Kevin loves to talk and promote the Gator Nation. When not talking Gators, Kevin is spending time with his wife and five kids, serving in his church or grilling great bbq.

1 COMMENT

  1. Thanks Kevin: Whatever the coaches are saying at halftime they need to reevaluate. I hope whatever the Tenn coach said at half against us, is available on tape. Maybe Emmit, Tebow or Spurrier need to show up at half for one of those inspirational speeches. Kind of like the one from Animal House. “Did the Americans give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?…” Go Gators.