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Published Oct 16, 2016
The Day After Breakdown
Mark Wheeler  •  1standTenFlorida
Publisher

Here on The Day After Breakdown, Inside the Gators looks back on the Florida-Missouri game and hands out positional grades based on the performance of UF's players and coaches, a by the numbers, hot and not and the bottom line.

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* ALLEY: 20 games into his UF coaching career, give CJM a grade

* Jarrad Davis Sunday Injury Update

* Rivals100 lineman loves everything about Florida

* The Inside Scoop Update on weekend visitors

* Recruit Reaction to the Gators win

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GRADING THE GATORS
POSCOMMENTGRADE

QB

Yes, Florida rolled up over 500 yards of offense while winning 40-14 - improving Luke Del Rio's record to 4-0 as a starter. However, no one who watched that game from beginning to end - including Del Rio and Jim McElwain - thought Del Rio played well. He ended up 18-of-38 for 236-yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. He was late or underthrew way too many balls on the day.

C-

RB

The first three carries of the game came from three different players (Brandon Powell, Mark Thompson and Jordan Scarlett). Five different running backs saw action in the first quarter, including former walk-on Mark Herndon. Therefore, there's no need to continue wondering if one or two backs will move to the forefront to carry the load, the rotation is here to stay. Scarlett and Lamical Perine both rushed for over 100-yards as the Gators averaged 7.4 yards per carry.

A-

WR

Finally, there are other Florida players are stepping up in the passing game. Tyrie Cleveland had the best day in his young career with 3 catches for 79-yards and a touchdown. Brandon Powell was also reintroduced as an offensive weapon catching 4 balls for 38-yards. With just 28-yards, Antonio Callaway actually came in fifth in receiving yards on the day.

B+

TE

The tight ends combined for 5 catches on the day, but really made their mark blocking in the running game. C'Yontai Lewis in particular had a couple of play changing blocks out on the edge.

C+

OL

It's become so fashionable - and in most cases deservedly so - to pile on the offensive line that we have a predetermined mindset when it comes to them - and thus don't always give credit when it is deserved. The false starts - mostly by David Sharpe - hurt and Tyler Jordan was manhandled a couple of times (replaced by Fred Johnson), but overall the unit played well. You don't total over 500 yards of offense without the big ugly's upfront doing their jobs. Florida only gave up 1 sack while averaging over 7 yards per carry rushing. That didn't happen on accident. Though he had the false starts, Sharpe had a pretty good game against Charles Harris, one of the best ends in the conference. Martez Ivey looked like he had one of his better games as well.

B+

DL

First off, Florida is still shorthanded along the line. The Gators were forced to play this game without three (Bryan Cox, Joey Ivie and Jordan Sherit) starters, thus they are being graded on a curve. Yes, Missouri ran at will most of the day, but on the flip side UF did an admirable job harassing Drew Lock. Though they weren't credited with a sack, the defensive line did record nine official quarterback hurries.

B+

LB

Jarrad Davis started out like a man on a mission. He was all over the place totaling 8 tackles, 1.5 TFL and 1 quarterback hurry. Alex Anzalone contributed 8 tackles himself while adding a fumble recovery. David Reese had 6 tackles in relief. The only thing that matters now though is Davis' status going forward.

B

DB

ALL that needs to be written here is that Florida had more interception return yardage then Missouri had passing yardage. Again, the Tigers had one of the top 10 passing attacks in the nation coming in - and DBU shut them completely down.

A+

ST

Because of turnovers, Florida didn't punt the ball a lot - only four times and not for a great average - but all four Johnny Townsend punts pinned Missouri inside their 20 yard line. Eddy Piniero was 2-of-3 on field goal attempts, including nailing one from 53-yards. Callaway and Perine each had a 40-yard kickoff returns, but once again Florida struggled on punt returns - averaging less then 2 yards a return.

B+

Coaches

While the offense can look unimaginative at times, Florida still had one of their biggest yardage outputs in years. The unforced errors of dead ball penalties, - all eight of them - have to be fixed. That was the biggest black eye of what was otherwise a damn good Homecoming Game performance.

B

HOT & NOT  

* Hot: Give it up for a couple of the youngsters. Antonneous Clayton recorded two tackles and two quarterback hurries seeing his most extensive action at defensive end. Wide receiver Cleveland looks like he is going to be a deep threat for years to come. Running back Perine ran for over 100 yards. Though he is giving up a lot of weight and size inside, CeCe Jefferson was incredibly active - especially in the second half. You can also give Ivey and Jaawan Taylor on the line kudos for playing well on Saturday.

* Not: Yes he was coming back from injury, but Del Rio simply has to do better. He basically threw five interceptions on the day - though luckily for the Gators, two were dropped. He also under threw receivers on several occasions, including twice on what could have been - should have been - touchdowns. He is more of a game manager than he is a difference maker, and these next four pass defenses he will face - #14 SC, #44 LSU, #61 ARK & #66 UGA - are all better than the ones he has faced to date -#71 N.TEX, #77 MIZZU, #83 UK, #95 UMASS . If he doesn't improve markedly, could we see someone else under center?

DEFINING MOMENTS    

* There were a couple, but really one set the tone for the day. On Florida's very first offensive snap of the game, Sharpe was called for the first of Florida's eight false start penalties.

BY THE NUMBERS    

1 - That is where Florida sits in the SEC East standings - 1st place with just four conference games remaining.

2 - Florida's offense didn't score its first touchdown until there were just under 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter and only scored twice all game. All this despite totaling 523 yards of offense. Why might you ask? The reason can mostly be laid at the feet of the next two numbers.

3 (5) - One of the biggest issues in Saturday's win was Del Rio being well off in his return from injury. It wasn't just the three outright interceptions he threw - to go with at least two more outright drops from Missouri defenders, it was that he was also late or short on a couple of throws - two of which would have gone for touchdowns.

8 - On Florida's very first offensive play from scrimmage the Gators committed a false start penalty. That was simply a sign of things to come. Unbelievably UF committed eight false start penalties in the game. They often placed the Gators behind the chains - limiting what the offense could do run/pass option wise.

39 - Entering the game, statistically speaking Missouri had the best passing offense Florida has faced this year. However, that is why the game is played on the field, not on paper. UF held Drew Lock to just 39 yards on 4-of-18 passing with two picks. As a team the Tigers top 10 in the nation passing offense was held to just 98 yards overall, many of those yards coming against Florida backups.

265 - Here, it is just the opposite. Entering the game, statistically speaking Missouri had one of the worst rushing offenses Florida would face this year. However, the Tigers were able to gash an injury ravaged Gators defensive line for 265 yards - gaining almost 6 yards per carry.

THE BOTTOM LINE

It hasn't always been pretty, not in this game in particular or the season in general, but at 5-1 overall, 3-1 in the conference, Florida sits atop the SEC East and the Gators control their own destiny if they are to make it to Atlanta for the second straight year under Jim McElwain. Yes, there are some warts, as there are with any team not named Alabama, but so far the good by far outweighs the bad for the No. 15 ranked Gators.

It might be time to just be willing to live with the fact that the offense is what it is at this point and rely on riding the defense and special teams this season. Along those lines, this bye week comes at an optimal time - allowing a couple of the injured defenders an extra week of healing time.