Florida Gators v. Miami Hurricanes Post-Game Analysis

Florida loses first home opener since 1989 in embarrassing fashion.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

The Gators were bigger, stronger, faster, and in Billy Napier’s words all of this was “verifiable”. This was the year that Napier stated “all of our processes are in place”, and the roster was constructed to his liking. Even those around the program were observing a more determined, disciplined team, and after three years had a ton of Napier’s favorite word “character”. So in the build- up to yesterday’s contest against in-state rival Miami, the Gators, with an experienced signal-caller and improved roster were going to show that year three of the Napier experience was going to be much different than the first two.

Unfortunately that could be further from the truth as the Gators looked as outmatched at home as they did on the road a year ago at Utah. There were no duplicate numbers on the field but there were duplicate mistakes. There were fewer but still costly penalties, the play calling was head-scratching to say the least, and the defense looked like it picked up right where it left off. Historically, I repeat historically bad. Florida has played football since 1906 by the way. So let’s go back about 19 hours or so and sum up this “embarrassing” home loss.

What We Thought: While much was made of the quarterbacks (Graham Mertz and Cam Ward) this game would be a showdown in the muck. The team that dominated the line of scrimmage would be the victor. Miami featured one of the ACC’s best defensive lines against a retooled and confident Florida offensive line. The Gators had six or seven defensive lineman as well as transfer linebacker Pup Howard that would make life hard for the Miami offense and first year quarterback Cam Ward. The Swamp would be rocking, and if anything that would tilt the scales as Ben Hill Griffin is far more intimidating than Sun Devils Stadium in Tempe or Rice-Eccles in Salt Lake City. The Gators were supposed to be experienced and well coached on offense and rebuilt and retooled enough on defense to steal a win at home. 

Florida Head Coach Billy Napier (Chris Spears photo)

What We Got: True to prognostication, the team that won the trenches dominated and won this football game. Unfortunately for Gator fans it was Miami. The Gators were beat in every phase of the football game except special teams and that is because Miami only punted twice. Cam Ward had no issues navigating the Miami offense and as for the crowd noise, I tell people all the time, “fans don’t block or tackle”. Who did play was a Florida defense that despite all we heard cleans the locker room better than they tackle, and defend the pass. Ward was 26 of 35 for 385 yards, completing three touchdown passes to three different receivers. In the running game Miami was effective enough to gain first downs on short yardage with Florida getting zero push up front. When asked about the inability to affect the game up front Napier deflected the notion that strength and conditioning was a factor but never gave a reason why his team continues to make no impact on short and manageable downs against opposing offenses. Defensively Miami was just as dominant against a basic and again head-scratching Florida attack. Mertz had possibly his worst game as a Gator managing a QBR of just 19.1. The retooled offensive line would struggle as well rushing for just 138 yards (71 on one play) and giving up three sacks. Offensively the Gators lacked any imagination schematically and still have issues identifying ways to get their playmakers the football.

The Skinny: While you may not agree with Napier on much. He is correct, this was embarrassing. Football games will be lost, the other team is just better. The problem is over and over you are told that things have improved and the product on the field is not indicative of the chatter. With a limited sample size and inexplainable vail of secrecy all you have to go on is no longer "verifiable". Yesterday many observed a team that was not prepared mentally or physically to play one of the best the ACC has to offer. That would lead one to question, how will these team navigate the best in its own conference? The answer is none of it matters and here is the reason why? Schematically the offense resembles nothing that those far more adept at offense have seen or recognize. The defense while talented on paper continues to be a constant disappointment and lacks zero physicality, a calling card for any defense. The coaching staff while well respected has no support. Not because of their ability to coach but because of the cloak and dagger approach no one knows just how hard this team is being coached. There was an erroneous and disrespectful rumor that Napier had an altercation with Albert the Alligator in the tunnel following the game, I dont believe that to be true. What was true was the spattering of boos that awaited the coach as he went in to address his team. This program is on the injury report and week to week. The arrival of Samford next Saturday will provide some temporary glee, but like a bouquet of flowers it only lasts for about a week. This team has flaws that mystify traditional norms, with plenty of resources and personnel to boot. Yesterday was not good, but at least the locker room is clean. 

Final Score: Florida 17 Miami 41 (Prediction-Florida 27 Miami 21)

No after party in The Swamp (GatorBait photo)