Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has come under friendly fire this season.
The Gators have the struggled offensively this season. Florida ranks second to last (127th) in red zone offense and rank in the bottom quarter of the country in passing (86) scoring (104), total (114) and plays over 10 yards (118).
Those numbers comer after a year where the Gators’ offense finished outside the top 100 in the country rushing, total offense, red zone offense and led the country in sacks allowed (45). The progress from year one to year two hasn’t been there and, even though fans have been putting the blame on the offensive coordinator and play caller, head coach Jim McElwain wouldn’t follow suit.
“He’s done an outstanding job based on the hands we were dealt when we got here,” McElwain said of Nussmeier. Figuring out those parts and those pieces and giving us opportunities to win ball games has been really good. Obviously, there’s things that need to be continually tweaked and looked at. You know what, the one thing I do know is our guys play their tails off, and that’s great to see.”
Florida has dealt with a lot the past two years. This season the Gators have missed an average of 10 starters the last three games combined. Both seasons at Florida Nussmeier has had his starting quarterback taken away abruptly. That has hurt the offense and Nussmeier has been unable to adapt.
You won’t hear a cross word about Nussmeier from his former boss, Nick Saban, either. Nussmeier and Saban won a National Championship in 2012 with Nussmeier calling the plays.
“He did a great job for us. I mean, we had success with him as our coordinator. He’s a hard worker. He’s very bright. He’s a good play caller,” Saban said. “And I think that he did outstanding. I didn’t want him to leave when he left, and we were disappointed, but it was a great opportunity for him. He’s, I think, doing a good job with the players that he has right now.”