Florida Gators vs. UCF Knights: Expert Post-Game Analysis & Key Takeaways

The Florida defense shows up in a major way as the Gators vanquish their in-state foe.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

Florida receiver Chimere Dike (Chris Spears photo)

Going into Saturday night’s contest, no one knew what to expect from the Florida Gators defense. The first four games of the season had seen this unit, full of promise and talent, underachieve in almost every category. Florida was ranked 110th in the country in rushing defense and was facing a UCF team that was averaging 326 yards on the ground. Would an off-week of spirited competition and increased attention to detail lend itself to a more aggressive more technically sound unit? Would UCF enter The Swamp, take the Gators' lunch money and signal a changing of the guard in the football hierarchy of the state? Despite the noise around their head coach this was a game that the Gators had to win, by any means necessary. Anything less would be catastrophic.

What We Thought: After surrendering their first loss of the season at home last week. UCF would come into The Swamp looking to revitalize a running game that had underperformed against conference foe Colorado. Running back RJ Harvey had been an early darkhorse Heisman candidate and was averaging 130 yards per contest. Quarterback KJ Jefferson would make a return vist to The Swamp after torching the Gator defense for over 350 yards of total offense as the Arkansas quarterback last season. His ability to affect the game with both his legs and arm would be a challenge for the underachieving Gator defense and their ability to keep him in check would be a major factor in the outcome. On offense the Gators would look to establish territorial dominance on a UCF defensive front that suddenly had been exposed by tougher competition. Colorado was able to find running lanes at key times last week and the Gators equipped with more talent upfront would look to lean on the UCF front and have similar success with Johnson, Baugh, Jackson and company. Mertz and Lagway would both find success through the air facing a UCF secondary that had surrendered 350 yards per game to Power 4 opponents.

What We Got: The defense found that bounce on Saturday night. Coach Napier challenges his team to “get off the stool and go to the middle of the ring,” and time and again they did just that. While Florida would move the ball with consistency it was the defense that finally looked organized, prepared and most importantly played with savage intent.

The Gators held UCF to just 108 yards rushing, one of the lowest totals of the Gus Malzahn era. The defensive line was able to keep the UCF offensive line from getting to the second level which allowed linebackers Shemar James, Pup Howard and Jaden Robinson to play downhill for a combined 15 tackles.  On the perimeter where UCF likes to diversify its attack, Tyreak Sapp and Jordan Castell had their best games of the year with 11 tackles and defensive end Jack Pyburn added five more. Most importantly the Gators played in the UCF backyard most of the game with seven total tackles for loss. KJ Jefferson would struggle to make an impact this trip going 12x22 passing for 165 yards, rushing for -18 yards, mainly due to five sacks by the Gators. Mertz and Lagway both were efficient on the day combing for 229 yards passing. Mertz was 19x23 with a touchdown, while Lagway would be perfect for the second contest in a row, going 4 for 4 including a 32-yard strike to Chimera Dike to set up Florida’s second score of the game. As expected, Florida found success in the running game as the Florida backfield combined for 109 yards rushing (130 total) with Montrell Johnson and Ja’Kobi Jackson finding the end zone in the first half. The rushing and passing success of the offense was highlighted by the fact that the Florida offense failed to yield a sack to a UCF defense known for pressuring the quarterback. 

First down Gators!! (Chris Spears photo)

The Skinny: While no one wanted to speak it. This was a must win game for reasons that would require another article. Maybe even a book. The Gators could hide behind the opt-outs, and coaching transition of the Gasparilla Bowl loss and explain a loss, but this one was different. Napier and his organization could not lose this game. This one had to be personal. A loss here would have been on everyone from Scott Stricklin to the janitor that cleans the pristine football locker room. On this day the Gators understood and handled the assignment. The score may make one think that it was closer than it was, but on this day Florida was just better. In reality if the Gators play UCF ten times give me the Gators in all ten. Think about it this way. The Gators entered the game as a 2.5-point underdog and won by 11. Pretty dominant.  

Napier stated that the Gators used the off week to get better and that a Wednesday off week practice was “one of the best practices I’ve ever been a part off.” While quotes don’t always match performance, on this day Napier was right. While much has been made about who should take the snaps, the real issue for the first five games has been the defense and last night it showed up when needed. No matter what happens going forward, the Gators had to have this one and for one night played the complementary football Napier consistently speaks about. Was this a job saver? Long way to go. Can the Gators take this win and use it as a stepping stone for the next week and beyond? Certainly. The schedule doesn’t get any easier but with a roster rated in the Top-10 nationally they have the tools to improve. Coach Napier seems to have found some nuggets from the past few practices that he wants to continue going forward. More competition, more accountability. If that is a break from the norm then I would encourage him to double down on that thought as the team has shown to at times to be unprepared, unorganized and looking like the dog ate their homework. For one week, the Gators solved the Monday-Thursday problem and solved it when they absolutely had to have it. 

Final Score: Florida Gators 24 UCF Knights 13 (Prediction-Florida 31 UCF 20)