Following a disappointing loss to Michigan, Inside the Gators now reviews the past week with a 3-2-1 report. We provide three observations, present two questions and make one prediction as the Gators head into a match-up with Northern Colorado next Saturday.
Three things we learned this week:
1. Getting older has not automatically made the offensive line better.
Florida head coach Jim McElwain was vocal in his praise for the offensive line this offseason, calling the unit the strength of the team. With only one starter to replace, many expected that Florida would have an improved, cohesive unit up front.
The 2017 offensive line flunked it’s first big test. Michigan recorded six sacks, forced constant pressure and held the Gators to 11 rushing yards.
“They beat us every which way they could up front, and we never had an answer,” McElwain said after the game.
“Their guys were bigger and stronger,” he added. “They whooped us. I mean, plain and simple.”
McElwain also boasted this spring and summer that the offensive line was playing with a new energy and aggressiveness thanks to new position coach Brad Davis. On Saturday, it looked like the same old Florida offensive line that got pushed around roughly 20 months ago by Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
2. The Gators don’t know how to stop the run.
Michigan’s final rushing stats show 49 carries for 215 yards. That total looks even worse for Florida when you take away negative plays by the quarterbacks (6 carries, negative 14 yards). The Gators particularly could not stop UM running back Ty Isaacs, who carried the ball 11 times for 114 yards with a long run of 36 yards.
With Tennessee two weeks away, one would expect the Volunteers to put the game in running back John Kelly’s hands. Kelly averaged 6.43 yards per carry in a reserve role (98 carries, 630 yards) last season.
Florida was No. 5 in the SEC in rushing defense last season (144.23 yards per game), but eight starters from that squad departed due to graduation and to enter the NFL Draft. New defensive coordinator Randy Shannon has to figure out something before facing running backs like Kelly and 1,000-yard rushers Benny Snell Jr. (Kentucky), Ralph Webb (Vanderbilt) and Derrius Guice (LSU) in the first four weeks of SEC play.
3. The quarterback situation remains unsolved.
Few were surprised to see senior quarterback Malik Zaire play against Michigan, but not many expected that he would finish the game. Zaire entered the game after Feleipe Franks fumbled, much like how Michigan brought in backup quarterback John O’Korn after Wilton Speight’s second interception. While Speight returned and finished out the game, Franks remained on the bench.
McElwain told reporters after the game that the coaches hoped a change of pace on offense with Zaire at quarterback would provide some kind of spark. It did not, as the Gators failed to cut into the UM lead. Zaire got to throw almost twice as many passes (17) as Franks (9). Based on the two small sample sizes, Franks (5-of-9, 75 yards) was a more effective passer than Zaire (9-of-17, 106 yards).
Northern Colorado’s defense should not cause problems next Saturday, but there will be times this season when the team needs to rally on offense. Right now, it’s unclear who the coaches will turn to at quarterback.
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* Notebook: Offensive line disappoints
* One step forward, two steps back
* Video: McElwain, Hammond and Sherit
* Five Fast Thoughts: Ugly affair to open season
* Impact Analysis: Florida drops season opener
* Alley: Florida-Michigan Game Thread
* Post game press-conference updates
* GET TWO MONTHS OF FREE ACCESS TO INSIDE THE GATORS
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Two questions heading into the week (and onward):
1. Should Gator Nation be worried by the outcome?
Michigan was the higher-ranked team and the betting favorite, so it was not surprising that they beat Florida. Coming into the game, however, few would have expected a performance on offense so bad that McElwain would have to tell everyone that it is not time to panic.
“We've got to look at a lot of things,” McElwain said after the game. “And yet, it's not time to hit the panic button. We've got a good football team. We'll come back and do the right thing and be okay.”
McElwain obviously is big reason why many fans feel the need to panic. The third-year coach has little to show for improvement on offense and development at quarterback. It is also worrisome that a position group he spent months bragging on – the offensive line – was manhandled by Michigan from start to finish. McElwain said the Wolverines were bigger and stronger, something he can’t change about the Gator linemen over night, or frankly much at all during the season.
The best argument for not panicking just yet is that four of the offensive linemen who started Saturday also started in the SEC Championship Game in December. Last year’s starting left tackle David Sharpe left for the NFL, but the other four linemen are back this fall. Sharpe was talented, but he didn’t block SEC defensive lines all by himself. The core of the 2017 offensive line led UF to wins over teams like LSU and Iowa last season.
It is completely reasonable to criticize McElwain for Saturday’s performance and adjust season expectations. In all likelihood, Florida isn’t as bad as it looked. Michigan’s Don Brown is considered one of college football’s best defensive coordinators and the Florida coaches were woefully out-schemed.
2. Will Franks have to look over his shoulder?
It may not have played out the way McElwain intended, but it was a tough break for Franks to be benched the remainder of the game after his fumble when trying to pick up a first down running the ball. Now McElwain has to consider that the redshirt freshman quarterback may play nervous that any turnovers will result in him getting benched.
In the box score, Franks and Zaire posted similar completion percentages of 55.5 (Franks: 5-of-9) and 52.9 (9-of-17). What is most surprising is that Franks did not get to throw nearly as many passes as Zaire. McElwain said the coaches thought about bringing in Luke Del Rio, but decided to stay with Zaire.
“And then at that point in the game, you know, (the thought was) let Malik carry it out and maybe get out of trouble and, you know, try to find us one downfield,” McElwain said after the game.
Next week against Northern Colorado, McElwain should have no issue dividing up snaps between the quarterbacks. The confidence issue, however, could come the following Saturday against Tennessee. If Franks is named the starter again, one can’t fault him for playing nervous that any mistake will result in Zaire taking over.
One prediction:
Freshman running back Malik Davis will see an increased role in the immediate future out of necessity to get the running game going.
The highest average yards per carry among Florida ball-carriers Saturday belonged to Davis at eight yards per carry. It was Davis’ only carry.
In the absence of junior running Jordan Scarlett, sophomore Lamical Perine and senior Mark Thompson shared the role of primary running back, where they recorded a total of 12 carries for 21 yards. Zaire finished with the most runs (8 carries for negative 29 yards), some of which were sacks and failed scrambles. Whether or not Scarlett returns soon, it’s clear that Davis deserves a bigger role in the backfield.
With Perine and Thompson unable to bounce off or run through defenders, it would have made sense to try a running back who could potentially run right by the defense. The lack of carries for Davis, who impressed in the portions of camp open to media members, is purely on the coaches.
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