Friday night, I attended the Zac Brown Band concert in Jacksonville. The arena, located across the way from the site of the Florida-Georgia game, was rocking with Gators and Bulldogs alike.
As good as Zac Brown and his fellow musicians were, the Bulldogs were the ones headed back to GA in high spirits.
Despite a triumphant return by John Brantley, the Gators blew a seven-point halftime lead and were outscored 14-3 in the second half.
Florida fans had plenty of reason to cheer early, as Brantley reminded fans why he retained the starting job over uber-talented freshman Jeff Driskel.
The senior signal caller looked poised and in control, leading the Gators to three scoring drives. He picked apart the Georgia defense and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-19 in the first quarter.
Besides Brantley, the return of Jeff Demps to the lineup provided early dividends.
The fastest man in college football showed his world class speed on a blazing 99-yard kick return that put the Gators up 14-3.
However, the offense didn’t do much after that.
The Bulldogs passing game took over as Aaron Murray and the Georgia offense took over in the second half. The Bulldogs simply overpowered the Gators’ small defense, rushing for 185 yards.
With the 24-20 loss, the Gators dropped their fourth straight game for the first time since 1988.
One of the big problems for the Gators has been the poor play of their offensive line. Left tackle Xavier Nixon has regressed since his freshman year. The athletically gifted Nixon has struggled with penalties and has been beaten far too many times in pass protection.
The Gators lack of size up front has also been an issue, particularly in the running game. After running all over the likes of UAB and Kentucky to start the season, the Gators’ vaunted running attack has been shut down by the physical defenses of Alabama, LSU and Georgia.
Speedsters Chris Rainey and Demps combined for a mere 38 yards on 13 carries and did not find the end zone.
With smaller running backs, opening holes is crucial for the ground game, but the Gators simply lack the power, size and discipline to be effective against SEC defenses.
On defense, size is still the issue.
The secondary is terribly undersized as cornerback Cody Riggs stands just 5-foot-9 and safeties Matt Elam and Pop Saunders are 5-foot-10 and 5-foot-8, respectively.
The linebackers, while fast, do not have the strength or bulk to fight off blocks and the defensive line doesn’t excel at two-gapping.
The Gators certainly have a lot of talent up front in Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley, Ronald Powell and Jelani Jenkins, but without a consistent pass rush and bad technique, the front-seven is not playing to its potential.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Rivalry Week: Florida/Georgia showdown
It’s all business for the Gators this week.
Despite a hot start, the team has been run over, through and around over the past month, and the offense has looked inept without John Brantley, yes, John Brantley, at the helm.
The senior quarterback could play Saturday against Georgia, but he’s been limited in practice. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said freshman Jacoby Brissett will start if Brantley is unable to go.
Whether it’s Brissett, Brantley or Jeff Driskel, the offense needs to wake up.
Against Alabama, LSU and Auburn, the offense has averaged a pitiful nine points per game, and none of the position groups have performed well.
The offensive line has had a ton of mental mistakes and struggled against Alabama and LSU’s powerful defensive lines.
Jeff Demps’ absence has left Chris Rainey solo, and the senior hasn’t been able to shoulder the load.
The receivers have been virtually nonexistent outside of a few big plays by Andre Debose (can this guy get on the field more?)
Defensively, the story hasn’t been much better.
The rush defense has taken a step back, although it did show signs of life against Auburn. The linebackers and safeties seemed to forget how to tackle, although linebacker Jelani Jenkins acknowledged the Gators have played against a string of talented backs.
If the Gators don’t want to get embarrassed in Jacksonville against one of their biggest rivals, here are a few keys:
Florida’s offense
Whether it’s Brissett or Brantley, the passing offense needs to start out with some easy completions. The 2010 option offense negates any flow or rhythm and has been ineffective.
Demps should return to the lineup after getting healthy during the bye week. He and Debose are the most talented players at their positions and are always threats to score.
The offensive line faces another physical defense as Georgia runs a 3-4 system featuring some giant defensive linemen including 6-foot-6, 350-pound sophomore Kwame Geathers and 6-foot-5, 351-pounder Jon Jenkins. Cornelius Washington has rare size at outside linebacker (6-foot-4, 269 pounds), and USC transfer Jarvis Jones leads the team with four sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Georgia’s offense
The secondary will face one of its toughest tests thus far. Georgia’s Aaron Murray is a rising sophomore who can make plays with his arm and his legs. He completes 60 percent of his passes and boasts a 16:7 touchdown to interception ratio. He spreads the ball around to his playmakers – four receivers have at least 18 catches.
Unlike Florida, Georgia has some bigtime playmakers who present some mismatches. Freshman running back Isaiah Crowell has made an instant impact, rushing for 608 yards and four touchdowns as the feature back. He has terrific size and speed and will be tough to tackle in the open field.
Tight end Orson Charles is another size/speed athlete who is tied for the team lead with four touchdowns. Freshman Malcolm Mitchell has stepped into the No. 1 receiver role after AJ Green departed to the NFL. Mitchell leads the team with 22 catches for 438 yards.
Florida’s defense
Sophomore Ronald Powell should return to the starting lineup, but for how long? The disappointing former No. 1 recruit hasn’t made much of an impact at the buck position. The Gators need him to step up as a pass rusher, but this week will be a tough test against Georgia’s mammoth offensive line whose smallest starter stands 6-foot-2, 313 pounds.
The defensive line has been terrific at times, but has also struggled to adapt to a two-gap system. Georgia’s giant offensive line keeps Murray clean and opens holes for Crowell with ease. The front line of Shariff Floyd, Dominique Easley and Jaye Howard need to maintain gap discipline so the linebackers can make plays.
UF’s small secondary may have trouble containing UGA’s receivers. Their top three receivers are all at least 6-foot-1, and Charles stands 6-foot-3, 243 pounds.
Georgia’s defense
Senior cornerback Brandon Boykin is one of the top prospects at his position. His speed makes him a threat on both defense and in the return game.
Like their offensive line, Georgia has a ton of size up front in its 3-4 defense. They simply have better athletes up front than the Gators do on their o-line.
Despite a hot start, the team has been run over, through and around over the past month, and the offense has looked inept without John Brantley, yes, John Brantley, at the helm.
The senior quarterback could play Saturday against Georgia, but he’s been limited in practice. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said freshman Jacoby Brissett will start if Brantley is unable to go.
Whether it’s Brissett, Brantley or Jeff Driskel, the offense needs to wake up.
Against Alabama, LSU and Auburn, the offense has averaged a pitiful nine points per game, and none of the position groups have performed well.
The offensive line has had a ton of mental mistakes and struggled against Alabama and LSU’s powerful defensive lines.
Jeff Demps’ absence has left Chris Rainey solo, and the senior hasn’t been able to shoulder the load.
The receivers have been virtually nonexistent outside of a few big plays by Andre Debose (can this guy get on the field more?)
Defensively, the story hasn’t been much better.
The rush defense has taken a step back, although it did show signs of life against Auburn. The linebackers and safeties seemed to forget how to tackle, although linebacker Jelani Jenkins acknowledged the Gators have played against a string of talented backs.
If the Gators don’t want to get embarrassed in Jacksonville against one of their biggest rivals, here are a few keys:
Florida’s offense
Whether it’s Brissett or Brantley, the passing offense needs to start out with some easy completions. The 2010 option offense negates any flow or rhythm and has been ineffective.
Demps should return to the lineup after getting healthy during the bye week. He and Debose are the most talented players at their positions and are always threats to score.
The offensive line faces another physical defense as Georgia runs a 3-4 system featuring some giant defensive linemen including 6-foot-6, 350-pound sophomore Kwame Geathers and 6-foot-5, 351-pounder Jon Jenkins. Cornelius Washington has rare size at outside linebacker (6-foot-4, 269 pounds), and USC transfer Jarvis Jones leads the team with four sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Georgia’s offense
The secondary will face one of its toughest tests thus far. Georgia’s Aaron Murray is a rising sophomore who can make plays with his arm and his legs. He completes 60 percent of his passes and boasts a 16:7 touchdown to interception ratio. He spreads the ball around to his playmakers – four receivers have at least 18 catches.
Unlike Florida, Georgia has some bigtime playmakers who present some mismatches. Freshman running back Isaiah Crowell has made an instant impact, rushing for 608 yards and four touchdowns as the feature back. He has terrific size and speed and will be tough to tackle in the open field.
Tight end Orson Charles is another size/speed athlete who is tied for the team lead with four touchdowns. Freshman Malcolm Mitchell has stepped into the No. 1 receiver role after AJ Green departed to the NFL. Mitchell leads the team with 22 catches for 438 yards.
Florida’s defense
Sophomore Ronald Powell should return to the starting lineup, but for how long? The disappointing former No. 1 recruit hasn’t made much of an impact at the buck position. The Gators need him to step up as a pass rusher, but this week will be a tough test against Georgia’s mammoth offensive line whose smallest starter stands 6-foot-2, 313 pounds.
The defensive line has been terrific at times, but has also struggled to adapt to a two-gap system. Georgia’s giant offensive line keeps Murray clean and opens holes for Crowell with ease. The front line of Shariff Floyd, Dominique Easley and Jaye Howard need to maintain gap discipline so the linebackers can make plays.
UF’s small secondary may have trouble containing UGA’s receivers. Their top three receivers are all at least 6-foot-1, and Charles stands 6-foot-3, 243 pounds.
Georgia’s defense
Senior cornerback Brandon Boykin is one of the top prospects at his position. His speed makes him a threat on both defense and in the return game.
Like their offensive line, Georgia has a ton of size up front in its 3-4 defense. They simply have better athletes up front than the Gators do on their o-line.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Former Dwyer stars transferring
According to reports, the Gators' already thin receiving corps will take a hit as No. 2 tight end Gerald Christian and receiver/punt returner Robert Clark will transfer from the program.
Both players cited a lack of playing time as the reason for transferring.
Christian arrived at UF in 2010 as the nation's second-ranked tight end, according to Rivals.com. The former four-star prospect seemed like an ideal replacement for the departed Aaron Hernandez as his combination of size, speed and strength would make him a weapon in UF's offense. However, he rarely saw the field as a freshman and spent some time at linebacker during training camp this year.
He ultimately earned the starting job while Jordan Reed missed time with a leg injury, but registered only four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in his brief career.
Clark was a backup receiver who caught seven passes as a freshman, but was limited to special teams duty in 2011.
Both players cited a lack of playing time as the reason for transferring.
Christian arrived at UF in 2010 as the nation's second-ranked tight end, according to Rivals.com. The former four-star prospect seemed like an ideal replacement for the departed Aaron Hernandez as his combination of size, speed and strength would make him a weapon in UF's offense. However, he rarely saw the field as a freshman and spent some time at linebacker during training camp this year.
He ultimately earned the starting job while Jordan Reed missed time with a leg injury, but registered only four catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in his brief career.
Clark was a backup receiver who caught seven passes as a freshman, but was limited to special teams duty in 2011.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Florida loses third game in a row to SEC opponent
It’s hard to be critical of a team that’s throwing two true freshmen into the fire.
But on Saturday, Florida simply played a clunker against Auburn.
The Charlie Weis-led offense looked anemic, at times, even worse than the 2010 team that had Trey Burton and Jordan Reed taking significant snaps at quarterback.
Jeff Driskel continues to miss open reads and overthrew several receivers downfield.
Jacoby Brissett, while poised, simply isn’t ready to lead this offense.
Then again, what options do the Gators have?
Senior John Brantley had been a disappointment prior to this year, but his absence has made people realize how invaluable experience for a quarterback.
Brissett has spent most of the season as the No. 3 quarterback, and Driskel has always looked like the game is too fast for him at the moment.
With Jeff Demps sidelined with a nagging ankle injury, Chris Rainey was thrust into the lead back, playmaker and punt returner role.
Instead, he was bottled up, kept in check and muffed them all.
The usually sure-handed Rainey fumbled three punts and lost one of them.
As far as carrying the offense…he finished with a combined 63 yards rushing and receiving. His 36-yard kick return was by far his longest play, but that was negated by his terrible job on punt return duties.
The offensive line also vastly underperformed. Chaz Green struggled early and was replaced by Xavier Nixon, the former starter at left tackle who had been benched for his poor play the past two weeks.
Nixon was even worse, committing a bone-headed false start penalty and surrendering a sack.
On defense, the Gators played better than the past two games, bottling up Auburn’s workhorse, Michael Dyer, for 73 yards on 23 carries.
Sophomore Dominique Easley, a former five-star recruit, showed up big for the Gators, recording his first career sack. Easley’s speed and explosion off the ball are far and away his best assets. At the same time, they can be his downfall as he has been whistled for being offside several times.
Junior Lerentee McCray put some good pressure on the quarterback and was a key reason that Auburn wasn’t able to get much going on the ground. The former defensive end has far outplayed sophomore Ronald Powell, in my opinion.
Speaking of which, Powell didn’t play after not practicing last week, but Muschamp said he should be good to go against Georgia. Hopefully he dedicates himself in practice because so far he’s been incredibly underwhelming.
But on Saturday, Florida simply played a clunker against Auburn.
The Charlie Weis-led offense looked anemic, at times, even worse than the 2010 team that had Trey Burton and Jordan Reed taking significant snaps at quarterback.
Jeff Driskel continues to miss open reads and overthrew several receivers downfield.
Jacoby Brissett, while poised, simply isn’t ready to lead this offense.
Then again, what options do the Gators have?
Senior John Brantley had been a disappointment prior to this year, but his absence has made people realize how invaluable experience for a quarterback.
Brissett has spent most of the season as the No. 3 quarterback, and Driskel has always looked like the game is too fast for him at the moment.
With Jeff Demps sidelined with a nagging ankle injury, Chris Rainey was thrust into the lead back, playmaker and punt returner role.
Instead, he was bottled up, kept in check and muffed them all.
The usually sure-handed Rainey fumbled three punts and lost one of them.
As far as carrying the offense…he finished with a combined 63 yards rushing and receiving. His 36-yard kick return was by far his longest play, but that was negated by his terrible job on punt return duties.
The offensive line also vastly underperformed. Chaz Green struggled early and was replaced by Xavier Nixon, the former starter at left tackle who had been benched for his poor play the past two weeks.
Nixon was even worse, committing a bone-headed false start penalty and surrendering a sack.
On defense, the Gators played better than the past two games, bottling up Auburn’s workhorse, Michael Dyer, for 73 yards on 23 carries.
Sophomore Dominique Easley, a former five-star recruit, showed up big for the Gators, recording his first career sack. Easley’s speed and explosion off the ball are far and away his best assets. At the same time, they can be his downfall as he has been whistled for being offside several times.
Junior Lerentee McCray put some good pressure on the quarterback and was a key reason that Auburn wasn’t able to get much going on the ground. The former defensive end has far outplayed sophomore Ronald Powell, in my opinion.
Speaking of which, Powell didn’t play after not practicing last week, but Muschamp said he should be good to go against Georgia. Hopefully he dedicates himself in practice because so far he’s been incredibly underwhelming.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Florida vs. Auburn Preview
Coming off a 41-11 beating against No. 1 LSU, Florida face yet another ranked conference opponent in No. 24 Auburn. While the Tigers lost Cam Newton and Nick Fairley to the draft, they have no shortage of talent in the backfield.
After getting run over and around by Trent Richardson and Spencer Ware the past two weeks, the Gators will face a two-headed monster.
Stopping Auburn's rushing attack
Sophomore Michael Dyer is a former five-star recruit who rushed for 1,093 yards in Auburn’s magical season last year. The 5-foot-9, 207-pounder has already run for 679 yards and eight touchdowns in six games, including a 41-carry effort against South Carolina.
Speedster Onterio McCalebb is the closest thing Auburn has to Chris Rainey. The diminutive but versatile back has 18 receptions for 201 yards and has carried the ball 56 times for 312 yards (5.6 ypc).
Coach Will Muschamp said the Gators have performed better when playing one-gap technique, and after struggling mightily in run defense in consecutive games, it would make sense for the team to play to its strengths.
Sophomores Dominique Easley and Sharrif Floyd have played well thus far, although Easley has drawn a few too many penalties. The biggest disappointment, both from fans and coaches’ views has been Ronald Powell.
The top recruit of 2010 has been a starter at the buck position, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end spot. Despite an ideal size and speed combination, Powell has done a poor job at setting the edge in the run game and only registered three career sacks.
From my view, Powell has lined up too far off the ball and has been slow off the snap. This combination has allowed offensive tackles, who already outweigh Powell by at least 50 to 60 pounds, to get their hands on his pads and take away any of his power.
On the other hand, junior Lerentee McCray has excelled as a starter. The speedy linebacker has been a playmaker and seems to be around the ball.
Going back to basics
With John Brantley sidelined with an ankle injury, true freshman Jacoby Brissett is expected to start. Brissett played decently in his debut last week, but his playbook was limited.
The Gators need to start getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers, specifically Jordan Reed and Andre Debose.
The offensive line, which started out strong, has been manhandled by the more physically-gifted defensive lines of Alabama and LSU. Guard Kyle Koehne and Jonotthan Harrison both said the line has made too many mental errors and penalties.
With improved line play, it should open up more lanes for Chris Rainey and the rising Mike Gillislee to re-establish the ground game which was the trademark through the first four weeks.
I think the Gators should be able to pull off a road victory, but it certainly won’t be easy. They’ve clearly struggled against elite backs and Dyer is definitely one of them. The keys for the Gators will be to stop the run and run the football. It’s that simple.
After getting run over and around by Trent Richardson and Spencer Ware the past two weeks, the Gators will face a two-headed monster.
Stopping Auburn's rushing attack
Sophomore Michael Dyer is a former five-star recruit who rushed for 1,093 yards in Auburn’s magical season last year. The 5-foot-9, 207-pounder has already run for 679 yards and eight touchdowns in six games, including a 41-carry effort against South Carolina.
Speedster Onterio McCalebb is the closest thing Auburn has to Chris Rainey. The diminutive but versatile back has 18 receptions for 201 yards and has carried the ball 56 times for 312 yards (5.6 ypc).
Coach Will Muschamp said the Gators have performed better when playing one-gap technique, and after struggling mightily in run defense in consecutive games, it would make sense for the team to play to its strengths.
Sophomores Dominique Easley and Sharrif Floyd have played well thus far, although Easley has drawn a few too many penalties. The biggest disappointment, both from fans and coaches’ views has been Ronald Powell.
The top recruit of 2010 has been a starter at the buck position, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end spot. Despite an ideal size and speed combination, Powell has done a poor job at setting the edge in the run game and only registered three career sacks.
From my view, Powell has lined up too far off the ball and has been slow off the snap. This combination has allowed offensive tackles, who already outweigh Powell by at least 50 to 60 pounds, to get their hands on his pads and take away any of his power.
On the other hand, junior Lerentee McCray has excelled as a starter. The speedy linebacker has been a playmaker and seems to be around the ball.
Going back to basics
With John Brantley sidelined with an ankle injury, true freshman Jacoby Brissett is expected to start. Brissett played decently in his debut last week, but his playbook was limited.
The Gators need to start getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers, specifically Jordan Reed and Andre Debose.
The offensive line, which started out strong, has been manhandled by the more physically-gifted defensive lines of Alabama and LSU. Guard Kyle Koehne and Jonotthan Harrison both said the line has made too many mental errors and penalties.
With improved line play, it should open up more lanes for Chris Rainey and the rising Mike Gillislee to re-establish the ground game which was the trademark through the first four weeks.
I think the Gators should be able to pull off a road victory, but it certainly won’t be easy. They’ve clearly struggled against elite backs and Dyer is definitely one of them. The keys for the Gators will be to stop the run and run the football. It’s that simple.
Monday, October 10, 2011
It's back: Florida Football 2011
I know it's been over a year since I posted on my blog. In the meantime, I've been writing for Foxboroblog, a New England Patriots site run by a few avid fans who happen to have some writing skills. Recently I joined another great site, NEPatriotsdraft.com, which has a huge following as a great draft and scouting resource. While I don't always cover the Gators over there, I plan on posting weekly again on Battle in the Trenches to give Florida fans the scoop on their beloved Gators.
Quick recap of the season so far...
Week 1: New coach Will Muschamp's debut couldn't have gone any better. With Charlie Weis in charge of the offense, the Gators opened the season with an impressive 41-3 beatdown of in-state FAU. Weis dialed up the run game often as the Gators rushed for 197 yards on 33 carries. Jeff Demps led the way with two touchdowns and Chris Rainey proved why is he such a versatile player, racking up 146 all-purpose yards and three TDs. Senior quarterback John Brantley played well in his debut despite tossing two picks.
Week 2: In a matchup against UAB, it was once again the Chris Rainey Show. The redshirt senior rushed for 119 yards and a TD and caught three passes for 43 yards. His speed and elusiveness in the open field is second to none. The Gators rushed the ball 55 times, and Brantley played another efficient game. The defense pitched its first shutout of the year, holding UAB to a paltry 3.1 yards-per-carry on the ground.
Week 3: After playing two subpar teams, the Gators faced its first decent matchup in its first SEC game of the year against Tennessee. Led by talented quarterback Tyler Bray, many thought the Volunteers would have a chance to upset the 16th-ranked Gators. They were wrong. Florida dominated the first three quarters as Rainey solidified his status as the go-to guy in the offense. The Heisman hopeful caught an 83-yard TD pass and carried the load with 108 yards on 21 carries. Brantley played perhaps his best game of his career, tossing two TDs on 14 of 23 passing.
Week 4: Florida traveled to Kentucky, and frankly, it was the Wildcats who didn't show up. UF's defense dominated the line of scrimmage and the running game put on a historic performance. Within the first five minutes, the Gators scored three TDs to put the game out of hand. Brantley completed a beautiful 45-yard TD to tight end Gerald Christian down the seam to open the scoring onslaught before the Speed Team took over. Demps showed why is he regarded as the fastest player in the nation, racking up 157 yards on only 10 carries. Rainey didn't do too bad himself, averaging 7 yards a pop. Two young guys on defense - linebacker Michael Taylor and safety Matt Elam - recorded interceptions as the Gators held the Wildcats to an average of 3.8 yards per pass.
Week 5: Fresh off a four-game winning streak to open the season, the Gators hosted perhaps their biggest rival, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in a battle of Teacher (Nick Saban) vs. Student (Muschamp). Like many of these matchups go, the teacher still did the teaching. Saban's physical and tough defense, along with the powerful running of Heisman candidate Trent Richardson was simply too much for the younger and leaner Gators to handle. Richardson continually broke tackles en route to a career performance. After shutting down opposing running games, the Gators surrendered 226 yards on the ground and were continually beaten at the line of scrimmage. Alabama's defense took some heavy shots, forced turnovers and ended up knocking Brantley out of the game with an ankle injury. Despite scoring 10 points in the first quarter, the Gators were shut out the rest of the game in the Crimson Tide's 38-10 stomping.
Week 6: Reeling from a tough loss at home, the Gators had the unenviable task of traveling to Death Valley to take on the top-ranked LSU Tigers. Unfortunately for the Gators, it was more of the same. LSU dominated on both sides of the ball as running back Spencer Ware played a Richardson-like role in grinding out yards and forcing missed tackles. The former high school quarterback had 109 rushing yards and two scores as LSU piled up 41 points on the helpless Gators. Playing without Brantley or backup Jeff Driskell, the Gators offense looked like the 2010 version with Trey Burton and freshman Jacoby Brissett running a lot of option plays. The Tigers limited the Gators to a paltry 100 yards passing and 113 yards on the ground as they left the young team demoralized.
Quick recap of the season so far...
Week 1: New coach Will Muschamp's debut couldn't have gone any better. With Charlie Weis in charge of the offense, the Gators opened the season with an impressive 41-3 beatdown of in-state FAU. Weis dialed up the run game often as the Gators rushed for 197 yards on 33 carries. Jeff Demps led the way with two touchdowns and Chris Rainey proved why is he such a versatile player, racking up 146 all-purpose yards and three TDs. Senior quarterback John Brantley played well in his debut despite tossing two picks.
Week 2: In a matchup against UAB, it was once again the Chris Rainey Show. The redshirt senior rushed for 119 yards and a TD and caught three passes for 43 yards. His speed and elusiveness in the open field is second to none. The Gators rushed the ball 55 times, and Brantley played another efficient game. The defense pitched its first shutout of the year, holding UAB to a paltry 3.1 yards-per-carry on the ground.
Week 3: After playing two subpar teams, the Gators faced its first decent matchup in its first SEC game of the year against Tennessee. Led by talented quarterback Tyler Bray, many thought the Volunteers would have a chance to upset the 16th-ranked Gators. They were wrong. Florida dominated the first three quarters as Rainey solidified his status as the go-to guy in the offense. The Heisman hopeful caught an 83-yard TD pass and carried the load with 108 yards on 21 carries. Brantley played perhaps his best game of his career, tossing two TDs on 14 of 23 passing.
Week 4: Florida traveled to Kentucky, and frankly, it was the Wildcats who didn't show up. UF's defense dominated the line of scrimmage and the running game put on a historic performance. Within the first five minutes, the Gators scored three TDs to put the game out of hand. Brantley completed a beautiful 45-yard TD to tight end Gerald Christian down the seam to open the scoring onslaught before the Speed Team took over. Demps showed why is he regarded as the fastest player in the nation, racking up 157 yards on only 10 carries. Rainey didn't do too bad himself, averaging 7 yards a pop. Two young guys on defense - linebacker Michael Taylor and safety Matt Elam - recorded interceptions as the Gators held the Wildcats to an average of 3.8 yards per pass.
Week 5: Fresh off a four-game winning streak to open the season, the Gators hosted perhaps their biggest rival, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in a battle of Teacher (Nick Saban) vs. Student (Muschamp). Like many of these matchups go, the teacher still did the teaching. Saban's physical and tough defense, along with the powerful running of Heisman candidate Trent Richardson was simply too much for the younger and leaner Gators to handle. Richardson continually broke tackles en route to a career performance. After shutting down opposing running games, the Gators surrendered 226 yards on the ground and were continually beaten at the line of scrimmage. Alabama's defense took some heavy shots, forced turnovers and ended up knocking Brantley out of the game with an ankle injury. Despite scoring 10 points in the first quarter, the Gators were shut out the rest of the game in the Crimson Tide's 38-10 stomping.
Week 6: Reeling from a tough loss at home, the Gators had the unenviable task of traveling to Death Valley to take on the top-ranked LSU Tigers. Unfortunately for the Gators, it was more of the same. LSU dominated on both sides of the ball as running back Spencer Ware played a Richardson-like role in grinding out yards and forcing missed tackles. The former high school quarterback had 109 rushing yards and two scores as LSU piled up 41 points on the helpless Gators. Playing without Brantley or backup Jeff Driskell, the Gators offense looked like the 2010 version with Trey Burton and freshman Jacoby Brissett running a lot of option plays. The Tigers limited the Gators to a paltry 100 yards passing and 113 yards on the ground as they left the young team demoralized.
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