Notebook: Quarterbacks, offensive line disappoint
QUARTERBACKS NEED WORK
The one thing No. 17 Florida doesn’t have to worry about following their 33-17 loss to No. 11 Michigan is finding things to work on moving forward.
Feleipe Franks played pretty much the way a redshirt freshman making his first start is expected to play, going 5-of-9 for 75-yards.
He was replaced mid-way through the 3rd quarter by transfer Malik Zaire who went 9-for-17 for 106-yards.
Both quarterbacks fumbled twice.
The first thing Jim McElwain will adjust with the two is mechanics.
“You know, our quarterbacks obviously didn't play great. You usually don't play great when you're playing off your back foot, so we've got to do some things that way that way that'll help.”
McElwain didn’t name Franks the starter until Wednesday before the game. With the performance in Arlington, Texas on Saturday the quarterback race between he, Zaire and incumbent Luke del Rio isn’t necessarily open again per Mac, but it’s not-not open either.
“You know what, we'll sit down. We'll take a loot at it, and we'll put a plan together for this next game and get a look at it."
The guys they’re throwing to may change over the course of the next week as well, as McElwain says the teams “Get-it-to list” will need to be updated.
“I think it's one of those deals that it's disappointed, and yet I can see where we're at and I can see the pieces. I think sitting down and really probably more than anything cleaning up that get-it-to list and let those guys go out and make some plays."
Sophomore Tyrie Cleveland led the team in receiving with 4 catches for 56 yards. Sophomore Josh Hammond followed with 3 catches totaling 71 yards.
oth were asked to step in with Antonio Callaway out serving a suspension.
Redshirt junior Dre Massey (who had one catch for two yards) and freshman Kadarius Toney were both supposed to be a much larger part of the game plan against Michigan but McElwain said they weren’t featured because “there was some stuff we didn’t get to.”
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* 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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OFFENSIVE LINE DISAPPOINTS
No matter who’s tossing the rock though, he’ll have to have time to throw.
Though McElwain praised his offensive line during the off-season - they were a noticeable factor in the Gators first opening season loss in 28 years.
“I thought we had a good plan, obviously. And then as it turned out, the plan was pretty well foiled by getting physically whooped by big, strong guys. That was disappointing,” McElwain said about his offensive line’s play.
“Their guys were bigger and stronger. They whooped us. Plain and simple."
The line’s play hurt the run game as well which was relatively stuffed all night, netting 11 total yards.
“That was the game plan, come down and be physical in the run game,” explained junior offensive lineman Martez Ivey.
“Like I said, it's little things. Just like blocking assignments, you can't have somebody run free in the backfield making plays every play, so I mean got to get in the film room and just correct. Just got to correct the mistakes, that's all. Lot of mistakes, so got to correct those."
The plan going forward with the line begins in the weight room said McElwain, to avoid being “whooped” on again moving into SEC play, and continuing to challenge them. The offense as a whole will receive a makeover in the coming weeks, but McElwain isn’t worried about the pieces he has in his squad.
“You know what, we got to look at a lot of things. 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 OK.”
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