After averaging 26.3 running back and wide receiver carries a game in 2022, the Gators handed the ball off just 12 times in week one against Utah.
While Florida’s running back unit, led by Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne, is viewed as a strength of the roster, they didn’t get many opportunities to impact the game on the ground.
“I think ultimately, for me, looking back at it, that’s something we could have been a little bit more committed to. There’s no doubt about it,” Billy Napier said during the postgame press conference.
Although a small sample size, Florida’s run game was not productive when called on.
Trevor Etienne, who led the Gators in carries with seven, averaged 2.14 yards before contact, which ranked 12th out of 20 eligible SEC rushers in week one, according to SEC Stat Cat. Florida’s starting running back Montrell Johnson found just three carries for six yards in week one. Johnson had even less room to work with than Etienne, averaging .67 yards before contact.
Both Etienne and Johnson struggled to shake Utah’s talented front seven, averaging just 1.43 (Etienne) and 1.33 (Johnson) yards after contact against Utah. Etienne ranked 18th out of 21 eligible SEC rushers in yards after contact. Etienne and Johnson both averaged over 3.12 yards after contact a year ago, while Etienne averaged an impressive 3.64 yards after contact, which ranked the 3rd most in the SEC amongst running backs.
Neither Etienne nor Johnson was able to break a tackle in Thursday night’s contest after averaging north of a 30% broken tackle rate in 2022.
“I think we were 3.1 in carry on called runs. When we do run it, we got it in that four, five, six range. They got us on the ground, right? They tackled much better. Ultimately they contributed to that, as well,” Napier said on the running game.
A combined 10 carries for Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne is not a recipe for success for this Gators’ offense, but I do not blame Napier for changing his approach to a heavy screen-based offense, as that essentially replaced the running game and was effective at times.
“We get into all of a sudden it’s 17-3, 24-3, that affects the approach you take,” Napier said on the limited touches for his running backs. “But I do think Utah has something to do with that, as well.”
“I think we were behind the sticks quite a bit in the game. I think negative plays are the enemy, right? When it’s second and long, third and long, it’s tough sledding. I think we got to play better on first and second down,” Napier said on the struggles of the running back.
“I think we can do better is what I would say,” Napier added. “There’s no question we didn’t rush the ball as effectively as we’d like. 3.1 in carry on called runs is not good enough based on our metrics.”
While Florida’s running game was nonexistent in week one, they aren’t going to shy away from handing the ball off moving forward.
“I think our history’s pretty well-documented,” Napier said on if this team is a run-first, power-run team. “We’ve been able to rush the ball effectively in the past. We didn’t do that Saturday. I think that ultimately balance is required in this game, in my opinion, if you want to have a good team. I think there’s some weeks where you got to rush it effectively, there’s some weeks where you got to pass it effectively. Situations call for both in this game.”
“I think if you’re going to be really good, there’s times where you got to rush the ball, right? There’s a short yardage, red zone, goal line, four-minute situation,” Napier said. “Then you’re going to have to pass it. Third and long, two-minute situations.”
“You got to build your team where you’ve got balance and you’re capable of both,” Napier said. “But I think just from a demeanor standpoint, I think we definitely want to be more committed to the run game.”
The Gators have to get their running game ironed out before SEC play, as it’s a critical part of Napier’s game plan week in and week out. Florida has a great chance to create some positive momentum on the ground in week two against McNeese State, who allowed 210 rushing yards against Tarleton State in week one.