Dan Mullen’s offense is built to evolve. While certain offenses are built to run with specific skill sets, Mullen adapts from year to year based on the strengths of his current roster.
Of course, the dual-threat quarterback is where he found his niche, but the success the Gators had in 2020 behind Kyle Trask revealed that underlying versatility.
Now, whether it’s Emory Jones or Anthony Richardson, Mullen has his prototypical quarterback taking snaps once again. Spring is the time for Florida to get creative and reshape the offense around its new leader.
“We’re adding some different things that we didn’t have in last year and throwing some of those new things out there to see what kind of sticks and fits with our guys,” Mullen said. “And we’re tweaking some of the things and we’ll make some changes.”
By most accounts, Jones is expected to be that new leader. And Mullen is excited to change things up to complement his dynamic ability.
“One thing Emory is going to bring to the table is ability to really extend plays,” he said. “You know, he has tremendous arm talent, a really strong arm, his ability to extend plays, potentially scramble, keep plays alive, and then the arm strength to make throws down the field, that’ll change things up. So, I think the improvisation of the quarterback position will be one thing that will be very different.”
While Florida’s offense revolves around the quarterback, there are new weapons at almost every other position as well.
The Gators can’t help but to be more run-centered in 2021, but it requires a give and take from everyone to build the perfect offense.
“We’re going to play to the strengths of the quarterback,” Mullen said. “We’re also going to play to the strengths of all the players around him as well, and so they’re going to have to slightly adjust onto what everybody else around him does well.”
Things will be particularly different at the wide receiver and tight end positions.
The Gators won’t have a Kadarius Toney next season. Mullen doesn’t want anyone to try to be Toney and replace what he was for the offense.
He pointed out that Toney was nothing like Josh Hammond or Freddie Swain, but Florida had success with them the year before, and now those guys are seeing success in the NFL. The same goes for the current players.
That is even more relevant when looking at the tight ends.
Kyle Pitts leaves Florida as one of the greatest ever. It would be silly and extremely unfair to hold Kemore Gamble and Keon Zipperer to the standard that Pitts set.
They are entirely different players and won’t be the centerpiece of the offense that Pitts was, and that is not a bad thing.
“There’ll be some things those guys do better than Kyle,” Mullen said. “There’s some things that they’re going to be different than than him. The key is not to compare or try to match the two. The key is to live up and put our guys into position to what they do well and then expect them to live up to what they do well and maximize their talent.”
Mullen is simply grateful to have a spring to evaluate his players this year. While Florida did fine offensively without one in 2020, it is a critical time, especially when transitioning to a new quarterback.
The Gators already had five practices to start the install, and these last 10 will be all about honing it for the fall.
“I think one thing that we missed out on last year is identifying the strengths and weaknesses of our players,” he said. “We’re throwing a lot at them with installation. And now I’m going to bet at the end of spring there’s going to be a bunch of stuff we did this spring that we’re not going to use or we’re going to throw out and just say, ‘Hey, that really doesn’t fit the profile of this team.’”
Last season, Florida had the talent to adjust as the season progressed. It should have that this season as well, but in an offense built to evolve, the Gators are taking advantage of every second they can get on the practice field.