It’s been said over and over this offseason by Florida Gators coaches and players that the offensive line would take a huge step in 2017, and could even be the strength of the team. Well, there’s no more time for talking, only doing.
In just a few short days, the offensive line will face its first challenge of the season, and it’s going to be a big one. The Michigan Wolverines lost a lot on both sides of the ball after last season, but are expected to rebuild a strong defensive front led by redshirt senior Maurice Hurst and the No. 1 overall recruit from the 2016 class, sophomore Rashan Gary.
The last time the Gators and Wolverines met was not too long ago, back in head coach Jim McElwain’s first season. Florida was embarrassed in a 41-7 loss in the 2016 Citrus Bowl. It was the second-worst bowl game loss in the program’s history.
The Gators were manhandled on the line that day, and it is a game McElwain is trying to forget. While there are lessons to be learned from that dreadful day in Orlando, not much film from the bowl game has been watched in preparation for this Saturday.
“That was two different teams,” said McElwain. “I’m not sure we still have it in the system. I think I threw up all over it.”
It is true, these are two very different teams. Still, players like junior Fred Johnson who were there two years ago are followed around by those memories. There has been some poor offensive line play at Florida over the last several years, but that game is in the running for one of the very worst. This game is a chance for redemption.
“I still think about it,” Johnson said. “I didn’t even want to look at the scoreboard. But, yeah, that’s on everybody’s mind just to prove ourselves, like, ‘We can do this.’”
McElwain said on Monday, as he has said many times, that he is happy with the progress the offensive line has made since last season. While he has a lot of confidence in the unit, he is a firm believer that this game will either be won or lost up front.
Offensive line play has been the tell-tale sign in many games over the last few years, after all.
“I think 100 percent,” he said when asked if the offensive line would be the biggest factor against Michigan. “I think we were physically dominated the last time we played this team, and I think in the games that we’ve struggled in, it’s because up front we’ve been whooped. For us, I think it’s important that those guys understand that.”
McElwain continues to hound on the importance of the offensive line performing this game and this season to the media. It’s not just something to say to fill in the time, it is the true belief, and he is feeding that message to the team as well.
While the Gators have to produce at quarterback and running back, the root of most offensive issues in recent years has been protecting the quarterback and opening up holes for the run game. Everything, good and bad, starts up front.
“He told us in a meeting, he said ‘I want y’all to be physical,’” said redshirt sophomore T.J. McCoy. “And he told us in a team meeting ‘I’m putting this game on y’all.’ He said, ‘They’ve been talking a lot about the defensive front,’ and he told the defense ‘Hey, they’re gonna run the ball and we’re see who’s gonna be tough and win.’ He challenged both our fronts, so we’re ready to accept the challenge, man.”
While the attitude and mentality of Florida’s offensive line has obviously made a complete turnaround since Brad Davis took over in the offseason, some still struggle to understand how a unit that has been so inconsistent could be so much better in a year’s time.
It is still to be determined how big of a change the Gators will make on the field, but McCoy believes he has the answer to why this season will be different.
“What gives us confidence is that we’ve been working hard all summer, working hard all camp,” McCoy said. “We’ve been in the system for three years. I know it inside and out. Everybody on the offensive line knows it inside and out, either first team or second team. So, it’s just knowing the system. And we’ve been playing with each other for a while, so having confidence in your guys. We’ve been growing, so that’s why I have so much faith. I trust Martez [Ivey]. I trust Brett Heggie. I trust Tyler Jordan. I trust Fred Johnson. I trust Jawaan Taylor. I trust them, man. We’re all dogs. That’s our mentality, being dogs. Every time we break it down after practice, we break it down on ‘tough’. We’re gonna be some tough people this Saturday.”