Florida Gators: Thoughts of the Week: October 1 – October 7

With a 10-9 win over Tennessee, the Florida Gators just accomplished something they haven’t done since 1968, beating a team by scoring 10 or less points. Until Sunday, the Gators were 0-66-2 since beating FSU 9-3 on September 28, 1968. So what we saw was very, very rare.

Sure, the game was ugly at times and I know you were very frustrated, but the Gators are now 3-1 – a record everybody expected them to have at this point. There is still a world of improvement that needs to be made, but the Gators have the record most of you expected and that is something to note and appreciate – especially when you look at the number of ranked teams that lost this past weekend and remember that anything can happen on any given Sunday.

And then on Monday, two big pieces of information were announced. First, the University Athletic Association put out information for contractors to bid on a nearly $12 million practice facility that people have been clamoring for for years. And then the big news, the news that Treon Harris would be suspended indefinitely until a sexual assault matter was investigated and handled.

Because the matter is under investigation and because we know very little, it is unfair to comment or speculate on the matter, but here are my two cents: Please do not comment on Treon Harris’ character (one way or another) until the matter is officially investigated. He has not been charged or convicted and while he is suspended, he has not been arrested, so comments on him as a person are premature. Also, do not make jokes about the case, nor should the fact that Jameis Winston had a similar matter be brought up, the only thing that should be compared is how the Universities handled the matter – and even still they are very different cases. Some things are worth poking fun at rivals about, this is not one of them. This matter effects at least two person’s lives and this is a much more personal matter than Twitter and the media allow it to be. No need to be apocalyptic about the matter and also, no reason to take it lightly, but please be careful in attacking Harris or the victim, and keep your opinions in the median until the matter has uncovered more information to allow you to make a reasonable opinion.

Twelve Fun Tennessee Thoughts and Notes

1. The Gators did exactly what they needed to do to disrupt quarterback Justin Worley – blitz and attack an inexperienced offensive line. Before the game, Tennessee was ranked 111th in the country in sacks allowed and the Gators exploited the weakness by sacking Worley six times – the most sacks that they have had in a game since the 2012 Gator Bowl against Ohio State.
2. The Gators needed to contain Jalen Hurd and the Tennessee backfield, and boy did they! The Gators held Tennessee to 28 yards on 29 carries, including sacks. Jalen Hurd was only held to 3.9 yards per carry on 10 rushes and he struggled to break though the Gators second level of defense. Further, the Gators held starter Marlin Lane to just 22 yards on 10 carries.
3. Heading into the game, Tennessee was ranked fourth in the country in fewest penalties on the season, averaging only about four penalties per game. The Gators forced Tennessee to have a season high in both penalties and tied for the season high in yards with 49, while the Gators tied their season low with only five penalties for 45 yards.
4. In my opinion, this game was a breakout game for Jonathan Bullard, Bryan Cox, Jr., and Jalen Tabor. Jonathan Bullard had five tackles in the game, the most he has had in the last ten games, but he was all over the field and close to the action on seemingly every play. Bullard came in with high expectations as a five-star recruit and has not necessarily lived up to the hype, but the game against Tennessee showed that he has the ability to be a big contributor. Further, Cox, too, had five tackles on the game tying his total from all of last season. His three tackles for loss during the game was more than he had in his entire career previously (two) and his three sacks led the team. Finally, Jalen Tabor proved why Will Muschamp was so excited to bring him on board as a recruit. During the game, Tabor not only had four tackles with one sack, but he also forced a fumble that allowed the Gators, led by Treon Harris, to score their only touchdown of the game. Incredible game by those three.
5. The Gators still need to get better on run blocking. On Saturday, the Gators ran the ball 48 times, second most this season, but only averaged 3.25 yards per carry against the 79th ranked rush defense. Matt Jones did well on the ground and was certainly the hot hand averaging 4.96 yards per carry, the team as a whole must improve on the ground – especially if the offense cannot thrive through the air.
6. The drops by the wide receivers are inexcusable, yes, but they need to be delivered better. At least four drops from the game were because of poor hands and focus, but at least two drops were because they were not thrown well, particularly the dropped ball by Tevin Westbrook where the ball was delivered with exceptional velocity, much more than should be there when the receiver is just 10 yards away. Wide receivers need to spend time with the jugs machine this week and Driskel needs to work on his short passes.
7. I need to see more from Kurt Roper. While I think that his hands are tied because of the ability of Driskel and the inexperience of Harris, I am not seeing play calling that is putting Florida in good positions to be more successful. The double-reverse should have been run to the other side the field, wide receiver routes need to be shorter, and calls on third down need to be better. I really like Roper, and maybe he is being handcuffed, but he could really stand to call some better games. Talent is subpar? Figure out how to use their talents. If Jesse Palmer is calling out the play calling as an observer, then you know it’s become too predictable.
8. What’s happened with Demarcus Robinson? He had a monster two first games and has been absent and butterfinger-prone the last two games? He had at least two big drops against Tennessee. He has got to catch those moving forward.
9. Incredible work in the red zone by the Gators. Tennessee ran eight plays in the red zone and they accounted for -11 yards with three incompletions, an interception, and one sack. Great work.
10. DJ Humphries struggled again. It is tough to watch. He struggles with the speed of the game and keeping/following through on his blocks. On the other hand, Rod Johnson is the second-best and sometimes the best offensive lineman the Gators have, sharing the “best” honor with Max Garcia. He has really stepped-up and he is someone that has NFL potential.
11. A decade of winning is really something special. No matter who the team is, if you can beat a conference opponent 10-years in a row, it is nothing to scoff at no matter the score.
12. Congratulations to Austin Hardin. You have had a tough few years and you delivered this time — hopefully it helps your confidence. Huge kick, though.

UF Will Likely Beat LSU, Maybe

Before the news of Treon Harris broke, I thought for sure that the Gators would win the game. Now, while I still believe it is possible, I do not think it as much of a sure thing. But I do think if Florida does these five things, they stand a great shot at winning.

1. Attack their rush defense. LSU is currently ranked 90th in the country in rush defense, while the Florida rushing attack ranks 45th. Florida needs to attack with a balance of Matt Jones and Kelvin Taylor and wear down LSU, because they are going to struggle to beat them through the air – particularly with Jeff Driskel – as they have the 10th best pass defense in the country and haven’t been ranked worst than 10th all season.
2. Win the turnover margin. Florida is ranked 4th in the country and LSU is ranked 22nd in the country, so we know that both teams can create turnovers, so Florida will need to protect the football particularly through the air. Florida’s six interceptions thrown is ranked as the 81st worst in the country, while LSU’s six interceptions gained is good for 35th in the country.
3. Convert on third down. The Gators are 108th in the country in third down conversions, while LSU’s defense is ranked 19th in the country in third down stops. If Florida wants to be successful on offense, they must convert on third down – if not, it could be a long offensive night.
4. Florida needs to get to quarterback Brandon Harris early and often. The Gators are ranked 23rd in the country in sacks per game and had a big coming out party against Tennessee – they need to do the same against LSU and their 62nd ranked sacks allowed per game. The game will be won by forcing Harris to make mistakes, while taking sacks.
5. Finally, the Gators must convert in the red zone. They are ranked 15th in the country in red zone conversion percentage, while LSU is ranked 28th in red zone defense. The Gators must score touchdown, something they do 56.25% of the time. The Gators have only missed scoring points one time in the red zone – while LSU has stopped their opponents three times in the red zone.

Gators in National Rankings

Matt Jones – Rushing Yards/Game – 38th
Jeff Driskel – Passing Yards/Game – 88th
Demarcus Robinson – Receiving Yards/Game – 23rd
Andre Debose – Punt Return Yards/Game – 7th
Andre Debose – Kick Return Yards/Game – 46th
Frankie Velez – Place Kicking Percentage – 19th
Frankie Velez – PAT Kicking Percentage – 1st
Kyle Christy – Punt Yard Average – 12th
Frankie Velez – Scoring Per Game – 60th
Jeff Driskel – Total Offense – 88th
Demarcus Robinson – Yards from Scrimmage – 80th
Matt Jones – Yards from Scrimmage – 62nd
Bryan Cox, Jr – Sacks/Game – 39th
Alex McCalister – Sacks/Game – 68th
Keanu Neal – Interceptions/Game – 5th
Vernon Hargreaves – Passes Defended/Game – 11th
Keanu Neal – Passes Defended/Game – 33rd
Brian Poole – Passes Defended/Game – 33rd
Neiron Ball – Fumbles Forced/Game – 42nd
Dante Fowler – Fumbles Forced/Game – 64th
Jalen Tabor – Fumbles Forced/Game – 64th
Neiron Ball – Fumbles Forced/Game – 64th
Keanu Neal – Fumbles Forced/Game – 64th
Caleb Brantley – Fumbles Forced/Game – 64th
Leon Orr – Fumbles Forced/Game – 44th
Marcus Maye – Fumbles Forced/Game – 44th
Austin Hardin – Kickoff Average – 28th

Dan’s Heisman Trophy Locks of the Week

1. Todd Gurley
2. Marcus Mariota
3. Amari Coooper
4. Dak Prescott
5. Ameer Abdullah

Must Read Articles of the Week

Holly Millea | Trial By Twitter
Robert Rockaway | Why Gangsters Who Broke Every Law Still Went to Services on Yom Kippur
Jeremy Collins | Thirteen Ways of Looking at Greg Maddux
Dan Wetzel | Why no one wants to host the 2022 Olympics
Michael du Cille | How the world’s health organizations failed to stop the Ebola disaster

Song of the Week

I post a lot of country music on here, and I hope that many of you like it, but this week let’s try something new. Every day at work I sit next to a guy that loves this band called, “The Arctic Monkeys”. Yes, that is their name.

However, don’t get too caught up on their name, they acutally have some interesting, but enjoyable music. Here is a sampling of one track that I hear every. single. day.