Buddy Martin Blog: We All Have Questions About Mullen's Gators, Including Me: How Special Are They?

When you've got the Wright (Nay'Quan) man toting the rock ... (Chris Spears photo).

This much is the gospel: Scott Stricklin made the perfect choice in bringing his former Mississippi State coach to Gainesville

So many questions, yet so many apparent answers.

Is Dan Mullen the best play caller in CFB?

Could anybody else have one of the country’s best offenses built on passing one year and running the next season?

Is Dan Mullen’s team third best in the SEC, or maybe even better?

Yes, yes and I don’t know.

And then we are left wondering why so many Gator fans doubt Mullen when it comes to Emory Jones, Todd Grantham and John Hevesy?

This much is the gospel: Scott Stricklin made the perfect choice in bringing his former Mississippi State coach to Gainesville.

The 2021 Gators are legit. But they must earn their reputation every game, every quarter, every snap.

So what IS their reputation? It’s trending toward a very popular contender/underdog — if you can be that when you’re already in the Top Ten. Pardon me while a make some more room on Dan’s Van. (Lane and Shane apparently already have the trains tied up. And Nick walks on water and doesn’t need transportation.)

Lexington has been the Gators’ friend over the years. I don’t think they have lost there since Lincoln was president. I do remember the night a little-known backup quarterback came on the field for the first time as a replacement for an injured Feleipe Franks and played his way into Gator fame. Kyle Trask’s incredible debut should become the prototypical “Next Man Up.”

Here we are a third of the regular season gone and perhaps the die is cast. In the football bible, thou shalt not talk about the obvious – a rival waiting around the corner which could make or break the season.

We are required to say the next game is the most important one – and in this case, they find themselves going Lexington as an 8-point favorite over an unbeaten Kentucky team. And maybe it is the most relevant Florida-Kentucky game since Babe Parilli was throwing passes for Bear Bryant.

Still we can’t help but peek around the corner. So what’s on their mind? Kentucky’s on their minds, but what’s on their heart? No matter the name of the song, to them it’s “Georgia on My Heart.”

The Bulldogs may be the only thing standing between Mullen’s 2021 squad and a clean run at a rematch with Alabama in Atlanta.

The Gators have a hot quarterback whose numbers are starting look Heisman-ish even though he hasn’t yet been noticed -- although ranked third nationally in Week 4 for QBs passing percentage under pressure.

Neither can they ignore the fact that after posting 209 yards passing and 144 yards rushing, Emory Jones became the first Gator player to throw for 200-plus yards and rush for 100-plus in the same game since Tim Tebow accomplished the feat on Nov. 21, 2009.

When you get your name in the same sentence with Tebow, you’re messing with legend territory, even by association, even though you've only started four games and can't even spell Heisman.

Your running game is No. 1 in the country, with with three studs at the position on the depth chart. And Greg Knox seems to have them coming in waves – Malik Davis, Nay’Quan Wright and Dameon Pierce.

The much-maligned offensive line has become a weapon, protecting their quarterback in the pocket and escorting the runners. Here’s one piece of evidence: Keeping alive the streak of 14 straight games with 400+ yards of offense, the longest active streak in FBS.p

The defense has wobbled at bit at times, but somehow Grantham seems to find enough bodies to get them back on track.

They’ll likely be favored in seven of the eight games, depending on the health of three key players currently sidelined: LB Ventrell Miller (not probable) CB Kaiir Elam (expected back this week) and QB Anthony Richardson (back this week).

Right now they’ve got a huge home field advantage with The Swamp coming to life again -- but only three of the remaining games are in Gainesville.

Mullen exalted the spirit of The Swamp. He’s loving him some Gator fans these days.

“They did an unbelievable job showing up again two weeks in a row, and really, three out of the last four weeks. They created that environment for us here in The Swamp. Getting the Swamp to where it is, to what people think it is, to the stadium people are nervous to come and play here, is because of the fan base and the environment they create. The energy they bring to our team for four quarters, the energy our student body and fans bring is pretty special.”

Maybe his team is going to be special, too. Very special. Stay tuned.

Whether by ground, air, or sea, Emory Jones is a threat. (Chris Spears photo)