For a first game, Gators offensive line performed at a very competent level
It was Florida Atlantic, so let’s not get carried away here. After Saturday’s game with Campbell (5:30 p.m., SEC Network+), the schedule becomes infinitely more difficult, but that first game win did answer a sufficient number of questions to raise the levels of optimism significantly for the Florida Gators. Start with the fact the Gators went an entire game without having to punt. The Gators scored on 10 of their 11 possessions in their 66-21 win over FAU, nine touchdowns and a field goal. In all probability, it would have been 11 for 11 except a catchable ball became a deflection and an interception for an FAU defensive back who was delightfully surprised at his good fortune.
The Gators didn’t have to punt, a fact that wasn’t lost on Jon Sumrall, who quipped, “I would love to never punt. I love [punter] Alec Clark … Yeah, I don’t care if I ever see him play.”
Said with a grin and not intended to be a dig at the snail pace offense of the past four seasons, it served as a tongue in cheek reminder that there is a Grand Canyonesque gap between the offensive philosophy of Sumrall and his predecessor. A year ago, the Gators averaged an SEC-low 21.6 points and a plodding 341.3 yards per game. By halftime against FAU, the Gators had already scored 38 points and were within 20 yards of what constituted a typical full game of offense a year ago.
It was impressive even if it was Florida Atlantic. And, considering Campbell is a D1AA team from something called the Coastal Athletic Association, we shouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the final numbers Saturday night dwarf those of game one. Then comes 10 straight games – nine against Southeastern Conference brethren and one against Florida State, providing of course the fine folks in Tallahassee figure out how to keep the lights on – in which the Gators will face defenses loaded up with NFL-caliber talent and coordinators who know a thing or two about forcing punts after three-and-outs.
Finding an offensive identity that is adaptable to the level of competition has to be at or close to the top of Sumrall’s priority list, but for now, he sees measurable progress from what he saw in the spring. From the very beginning, Sumrall knew he had an abundance of talented skill people to match the creative mind of offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. What he wasn’t so sure of was his offensive line and in particular his tackles.
What Sumrall saw of his offensive line against Florida Atlantic was encouraging, particularly in terms of discipline by five guys who were playing together as a unit for the first time. There was only one false start. There wasn’t a single holding call nor were there any hands to the face personal fouls. No late hits. No ineligible receiver penalties because an offensive lineman drifted a few yards past the line of scrimmage before the pass was delivered. The O-line didn’t give up a sack. All but one or two of quarterback Aaron Philo’s carries were designed runs, not scrambles.
That’s not to say there weren’t a few mistakes, the most glaring of which were some high snaps from center Harrison Moore, but overall, it was a very good first game performance. Moore was flanked by Knijeah Harris, last year’s starter at left guard, and Penn State transfer TJ Shanahan on the right side. Bryce Lovett, a part-time starter at guard last year, got the start at left tackle, and the right tackle was Stanford transfer Emeka Ugorjie.
“Yeah, we had a false start,” Sumrall said. “Snaps weren't great at times. Those five snaps that we talked about. I thought for the most part we looked organized, prepared, targeted things well. There wasn't a whole lot of just like, hey, why is that guy going the wrong way? Or anything like that. It was pretty clean. There were a couple where it's like, 'Hey, you have to protect inside leverage here on this play, and you got beat inside. You got to do a better job of that.' Maybe hand placement. But for the most part, I thought we functioned like a competent football team on the O-line. It wasn't by any stretch of the imagination elite. It was just competent football. We got to continue to get better.”
Of the five high snaps from Moore, four came when his focus was divided because the play called for executing a certain block. Steps have already been taken to correct the issue.
“Four of his five [bad snaps] were on back blocks in the run game,” Sumrall explained. “So I said, ‘Hey, you probably need to start taking extra steps working on back blocks, not pass sets. Trust me, we’re very aware of that. I was pissed off. So was Buster. So was Phil (offensive line coach Trautwein). Multiple times. We'll get it cleaned up. Harrison will take a lot of pride in his craft and get that corrected.”
The interior blocking by Moore, Harris and Shanahan was consistent, which was to be expected. Those three were targeted as starters all the way back in the spring and they should only get better. They’re smart, powerful and mobile enough to get second level blocks.
Throughout the entire spring and most of August, Trautwein was shuffling personnel to find tackles that could get the job done. Lovett found a home at left tackle which enabled Ugorjie to move back to the right side, his natural position where he started 10 times last season at Stanford. They played well against FAU, assisted by how Faulkner schemed things.
“What we did helps them,” Sumrall said. “We're going to run the football. We're going to put the ball on the perimeter. We're going to play-action. We're not going to put them in like just 50 dropback passes a game, where the guys [on the EDGE] tee off. So I thought Buster called the game in a way that managed what they have to do well for them. But they're getting better. They're all getting better.”
Scoring on 10 of 11 possessions is elite. Seven touchdown drives of 75 or more yards is also elite. Scoring 66 points even against an overmatched opponent is rare. None of this happens if the offensive line fails to get the job done.
The O-line was quite effective against Florida Atlantic, but again, let’s not fool ourselves. It was FAU and this week Campbell is several steps below the level of FAU, but disregard the opponent. What is important is getting the reps and building the cohesion it takes for five guys to function in synch.
So it wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be. The idea is week-to-week improvement.
“I thought our offensive line played solid,” Sumrall said. “I wouldn't say that they've arrived yet or were elite, but I thought that it looked like a well-coached, cohesive unit that played trained.”
INJURY UPDATE: Wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., injured on Philo’s touchdown pass to Vernell Brown III on Florida’s opening drive, is questionable for Campbell, as is defensive end Emmanuel Obebadejo. Both suffered ankle injuries.
“They're not out today, but they're just, they're out at practice some, but not able to participate,” Sumrall said. “And so we won't really know until probably the middle to later in the week what their real availability is, but they're definitely not probable as of right now.”
Tight end Evan Chieca continues to improve but when he is available has yet to be determined. Wide receiver Davian Groce (back) is probably out one more week. Offensive tackle Eagan Boyer is scheduled to be back at practice this week.”
Great team building start for the Gators. More good improvement to come….you can just feel it!
1 penalty for motion and the guy was really upset with himself and his teammates rallied around him- his being upset with himself was good but the team reaction was even better. I realize this was game 1 and it was FAU, and I also realize we will lose a game or 3 along the way- but this team has a different feel about it