There’s plenty of blame to go around for Florida’s recent offensive struggles, but the offensive line has been one of the biggest areas of concern.
Through the first four games, the Gators’ offensive line showed promise. The tape wasn’t perfect, but the group played with aggression, finished blocks and frequently reached the second level.
That hasn’t been the case over the past two games, contributing to back-to-back poor offensive performances against South Carolina and Missouri.
Florida has struggled to get the running game going during that stretch, averaging just 81 yards per game on 2.57 yards per carry. Junior quarterback Aaron Philo has also been sacked six times over the past two games after going down just twice in the first four. Those six sacks allowed are the second-most in the SEC since Week 5.
There’s been such a steep drop-off in success that fans are speculating whether Florida has a tell or is tipping its plays. Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner dismissed that theory.
“It doesn’t look to me (to be the case). That’s an easy thing (to say). Hey, man, they got something on us. Yeah, they do. They lined up, they played four-down front and they got after us is really what it is,” Faulkner said.
During Monday’s press conference, Sumrall noted that the offense’s speeds were slower than the staff would like, suggesting fatigue could be a factor in the offensive line’s struggles.
“We looked maybe a little bit more fatigued and worn down, and we weren’t finishing blocks as well,” Sumrall said. “I think there’s some things in there that we’re trying to figure out, how do we help our guys be their best on game day? But we have not looked anywhere near where we need to look to play to our standard.”
Missouri and South Carolina both have talented front sevens, but Florida is about to face an even tougher test in Week 7 against Texas.
The Gators just struggled against South Carolina edge rusher Dylan Stewart, who is in the conversation with Texas’ Colin Simmons as one of the top defensive players in college football. The two could potentially be the first edge rushers selected in the 2027 NFL Draft, making Florida’s next matchup particularly challenging for an offensive line that has struggled in recent weeks.
“You look at this edge, this Colin Simmons kid that these guys got. Like, holy cow. He’s wow good,” Sumrall said. “I really started to watch the tape last night, and I’m like, ‘Alright, I’m just gonna turn this off. I don’t even want to watch this guy anymore right now.’ He’s a really good player.”
Simmons currently leads the country with 9.5 sacks and has recorded at least one sack in four straight games, including 7.5 over his last two contests.
“We got to know where he is, but really it’s their whole D line,” Faulkner said. “It’s a really, really, really good defense, a stout front. We got to do a good job of knowing where they all are and straining up front, finishing blocks and sustaining. That’s got to show back up to what it was early in the season.”
Faulkner knows Florida will need to provide extra protection to account for Simmons. He pointed to a play from last Saturday against South Carolina when he believes he should have called for a chip block on Stewart. The Gators could need similar protection against Texas.
“I should have had a chip call on 6 [Dylan Stewart]. He’s fixing to throw a dig on, I think it was 3rd and 15, to Dallas [Wilson]. So the design was there. Probably should have had a chip call on; if we had the chip call on, you know, I think we pick up the first down there. So it’s kind of the same way this week.”
Florida has allowed Missouri’s and South Carolina’s defensive lines to dictate the game, and now the Gators are about to face an even tougher front.