You’ve got questions and we’ve got your answers.
Homecoming festivities are in full swing in Gainesville but with a 4-4 record, there hasn’t been much to celebrate on the football field this season. Florida will host Vanderbilt at noon this Saturday — the first time the Gators will play on Florida Field in over a month — and the game essentially holds Florida’s bowl eligibility in the balance.
Gatordon: Where does this team find resolve in the light of three straight losses and a rash of injuries?
A: They need to rally around each other. Only the coaches and players truly know the battles that this team has endured throughout spring and fall camp and into the season. When you spend enough time with people on and off the field you build bonds and strong relationships. Right now the team only has themselves, their families and pride to play for. That’s what they need to rally around.
CGator22: Have you heard anything about impending staff changes as far as assistants go?
A: I have been told that there has been some talk about making changes. A lot of that will depend on how the last four games in the regular season go.
CGator22: Who is currently in line to redshirt right now?
A: Here are the freshmen that are not eligible to redshirt. Alex Anzalone, Vernon Hargreaves, Demarcus Robinson, Ahmad Fulwood, Johnny Townsend, Jarrad Davis, Kelvin Taylor, Keanu Neal and Daniel McMillian.
The rest of the freshman class, including Nick Washington via hardship waiver, is eligible to redshirt this season.
Gator_Nica: What will the offensive line look like now that Tyler Moore is out? Who backs up who?
A: Right now there isn’t a true two-deep depth chart but this is what the depth chart will look like this Saturday.
LT: Max Garcia, Trip Thurman
LG: Ian Silberman or Kyle Koehne
C: Jonotthan Harrison, Kyle Koehne
RG: Jon Halapio, Kyle Koehne, Ian Silberman
RT: Trenton Brown, Trip Thurman
Muschamp said that Thurman will back up both tackle spots and while Octavius Jackson is not listed as a backup anywhere, you could see him forced into action if a lineman goes down with an injury. The coaching staff keeps saying that they will pull Jackson’s redshirt if they need to but it’s obvious that they really don’t want to make that move.
Fdelat1: What are the keys to beating Vanderbilt and avoiding an embarrassing four game losing streak?
A: Florida needs to do something that they haven’t been able to do this season — start fast. Vanderbilt isn’t going to come into this game scared or intimidated by the Gators and the longer Florida lets the Commodores in this game the more confidence they will build.
Offensively, Florida needs to go back to their bread and butter from 2012 and pound the ball on the ground. Let the offensive line play hat-on-hat and get Kelvin Taylor into a flow and rhythm early. When you soften the defense up with Taylor, hit them with some play-action.
Defensively, the Gators need to get after the quarterback. Vanderbilt has allowed more sacks than any other team in the conference and they have the worst rushing offense in the SEC as well. Shut down the running game, force Vandy into obvious passing situations and affect the quarterback.