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.