Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be sold out when the Florida Gators (3-0, 1-0 SEC) and Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) meet on Florida field this Saturday at 3 p.m.
With the biggest game of Jim McElwain’s young tenure as head coach, the excitement and tension is heightened for the rivalry game this week.
AS always, we turned to you, the members, for questions and as always, you delivered
Gatorprincess: How do the players feel about the game importance?
It’s Tennessee week!
This may not be the first conference game of the season but you can feel a different vibe around Gainesville as well as a different mood from the players. This is the biggest game of the short season and the players sense that.
Johnl: Will Scarlett and Cronk have equal opportunities to tote the rock after KT?
I believe they will, yes. McElwain said on Wednesday that Scarlett has had a good week of practice and that he is ready to go on Saturday.
MrGator: I keep hearing chatter about UT being better than UF or more talented overall but I just don’t see it. I could go over position by position breakdowns but let’s just say that I think we match up at almost all the positions save for WR. Your thoughts?
I don’t think that is the case. I’d give Florida the edge on the defensive line and in the secondary. Tennessee’s offensive line is just as shaky as Florida’s and I think quarterback (while Dobbs is more experienced) is a toss up. Tennessee had better receivers when the season started but Pig Howard and Marquez North are both banged up this week. Jalen Hurd might be the best running back on the field Saturday but Florida is deeper at the position.
Oaktowngator: Vols seem vulnerable to big plays in the pass game. What steps will we see to keep Grier clean long enough to hit on a few of them?
The Gators need to do a couple things early in my opinion. They need to establish the running game first and foremost. The last decade, the team who runs the ball more efficiently and effectively wins this ball game. Next, let Will Grier get some easy completions early and get into a rhythm. Quick screens, pop passes to Demarcus Robinson and Brandon Powell early, let Grier see receivers catching the ball and get some confidence.
Those two things can also cause Tennessee’s safeties and secondary to start cheating in. Their secondary is susceptible; Florida just needs to set it up.
Gatordon: Any indication how the team is dealing with this week’s big distraction?
Losing Treon Harris and Jalen Tabor has not been a distraction. The team was told the news on Monday and they have been practicing all week with the knowledge that those players would not be available on Saturday.
Gatordon: What improvements can we expect to see in this game?
I think you need to commit bodies into the box, stop the run and make Josh Dobbs beat you. On offense, I need to see that “get it to” list that McElwain always talks about. Get Demarcus Robinson, Brandon Powell, C.J. Worton, Antonio Callaway and DeAndre Goolsby the ball early and often.
Gatordon: Any update on about how long Anzalone will be out?
They avoided surgery, which is good, but it will be a while. I would think maybe by Missouri at the earliest or LSU.
And some Twitter questions.
Trey Thomas Mouton: If offense does show up (not holding my breath). Where do you think it comes from? What possible can we do to score points?
I think Florida needs to run the ball effectively first and foremost. They put that toss sweep on film a lot last week. I expect them to go with a play action pass off of that formation. I’m interested to see how Jim McElwain handles a big game like this. Nothing against Kentucky, but this is the first rivalry game and the first true test of the season. Does he fold up and go conservative like the last coaching staff or does he open things up and take some shots?
Stephen Koepp: How have injuries affected the Vols? Heard they’ve already lost a few key players?
First and foremost, losing Curt Maggitt was a major, major blow to the defensive line. Maggitt was the leader of the defense, the guys really looked up to him as a leader and he was one of the most productive guys on the defense. Tennessee is missing him in a big way.
On offense receiver Pig Howard rolled his ankle this week in practice and he’s questionable for the game. There were some rumors that another receiver, Marquez North wasn’t 100 percent this week in practice as well, but I have a couple of Tennessee sources telling me that he is fine, available for Saturday.