Grading the Florida Gators With One-Third Of the Season In the Books

Where do the Florida Gators truly stand four games in? Photo Credit: Chris Spears

A third of the season is in the books. That the Gators are 3-1 through four games isn’t really a surprise since most experts figured that’s where they would be at this point, but the experts are having to admit they may have under-estimated this team.

Florida was supposed to lose to Alabama, but the folks in Vegas had the Crimson Tide favored by two touchdowns. The Gators lost 31-29 and quite frankly, could have and should have won this game. It wasn’t a stroke of luck, either, that UF played the No. 1 team in the country this close. The Gators showed in the final 40 minutes of the game when they completely dominated the Tide on both sides of the football, outscoring the Tide 26-10, that they not only belong on the same field with Alabama but any team in the country.

Dan Mullen has put together a team that is very capable of winning every remaining game on the schedule. The offense is different than last year, but because it’s Mullen calling the plays, the Gators are ripping and shredding when they have the football. Just ask Alabama, whose front seven is supposed to be the best in the country. That front seven got pounded for 258 rushing yards and that front seven didn’t make life miserable for Emory Jones, which is what all the experts were predicting.

Defensively, Florida is improved. Certainly, not as improved as Mullen or defensive coordinator Todd Grantham would like, but the Gators are getting better every game. They were one of the worst defenses in the country a year ago. This year, they’re getting stops. Alabama only got 10 points after the first quarter. Take away two glaring first quarter mistakes and Tennessee was shut out the rest of the way.

There is still a lot of football to be played and much improvement to be made, but this is a team that is looking better every single week. Here are the grades unit-by-unit for the Gators through the first four games.

OFFENSE

Quarterback (B+): Emory Jones remains a work in progress, but judging by the Alabama and Tennessee games, he’s making progress at a very rapid pace. The calls for EJ to be benched in favor of Anthony Richardson have been largely silenced, in part because Richardson has been unable to play the last two weeks due to that hamstring injury suffered against South Florida in game two. In Richardson’s absence, however, and with the entire Florida offense dependent on improvement from Jones, the fourth-year starting QB has delivered in exceptional if not spectacular fashion.

Jones has put together back-to-back games in which he is 39-55 passing (70.9 percent) for 404 yards (7.35 per attempt) for two touchdowns and 34-220 rushing (6.47 per carry) for another TD. This is not against a pair of paycheck cupcake opponents, either. It’s against the No. 1 team in the country in Alabama and SEC East opponent Tennessee. While Jones has been showing why Dan Mullen never once wavered in his support, it has allowed Richardson to heal. Now the Gators go into the final eight games of the season including the four critical games of October (at Kentucky, Vanderbilt, at LSU and Georgia in Jacksonville) with an emerging and dangerouns Jones to go with the electric, big play capabilities of Richardson. It makes for the proverbial two-headed monster at quarterback.

Although Mullen adapts his offense to the personnel he has on hand, it is clear that Jones and Richardson are the dual threats he prefers since a running quarterback presents the greatest dilemma for an opposing defensive coordinator. Does the opposing DC go cover three and stack against the run while giving up the intermediate passes and the wheel routes out of the backfield? Does he trust his one-on-one matchups on the outside well enough to go with a 1-high look that allows him to stack the box but could make him vulnerable against those 14-17 yard medium range passes in the seams? Cover two helps against the pass but is quite vulnerable to the run. In each of these defenses, it’s next to impossible to account for the quarterback when he runs, whether by design or when the pocket breaks down.

With Jones (70-104 passing for 4 TDs; 57-375 rushing for 2 TDs), Mullen has the experienced quarterback who, after three years in the system, can make all the reads and checkdowns. With Richardson (6-11, 192 yards passing for 2 TDs; 11-275 rushing, 2 TDs) he has the most electric player UF has ever had at quarterback and perhaps Florida’s most dynamic combination of speed and big play instincts since Percy Harvin. In that running quarterbacks will take more hits, having two with the skills of Jones and Richardson is a necessity if the Gators are to mount a real challenge for the SEC East title.

Running back (A):

This is the most talented running backs room since Steve Spurrier had Fred Taylor, Terry Jackson and Eli Williams back in 1996. Those three combined for 1,688 rushing yards (5.84 per carry) and 17 touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 536 yards (15.3 per catch) and two touchdowns. This year, Mullen has five exceptional running backs – seniors Dameon Pierce and Malik Davis, third-year sophomore Nay’Quan Wright and former 5-star transfers Demarkcus Bowman (from Clemson) and Lorenzo Lingard (from Miami) – but only one football that has to be shared. Pierce, Davis and Wright have played so well that Bowman and Lingard can’t get on the field.

Davis not only is healthy, but he’s regained the speed and elusiveness he lost due to knee and foot injuries that basically sidelined him for three years. He’s gained 257 yards (6.27 per carry) on the ground for three touchdowns and he’s caught five passes for 28 yards and a TD.

Pierce (172 yards rushing, 6.5 per carry, 5 touchdowns; 8-40 receiving) has always been a money back in the power game, but now he’s showing moves and elusiveness that nobody knew he had. He is Florida’s best short yardage option, particularly when the Gators are inside the opponents’ five and looking to score.

Wright (137 yards rushing, 5.46 per carry, 1 TD; 4-35 receiving) might be Florida’s most complete back. He was a one-man wrecking crew on that 99-yard drive against Alabama when he caught a pass for 18 yards to get the Gators out from the shadow of their own goalpost and had four carries for 53 yards.

Bowman (7-53 rushing) and Lingard (7-27) are quality backs who are spending their time on the sidelines, not because they aren’t talented enough to play but because the three guys in front of them are playing so well.

This is easily the most versatile and complete group of running backs in the entire SEC.

Receivers (B):

The offense has shifted from everybody out for a pass to a run-first attack, which accounts for some of the expected dip in productivity – 60 catches for 770 yards (12.8 per catch) and five touchdowns through four games. These are numbers that figure to increase substantially in the final eight games of the season as Jones and Richardson’s ability to take off running will make opponents become less inclined to drop seven into coverage on obvious passing downs. Additionally, as Jones becomes more and more comfortable as the starting QB, he will be taking more downfield shots. Richardson has the big arm and seems to have more of a willingness to throw the deep ball.

Meanwhile, the receivers are catching the ball when it’s thrown their way and they are exceptional downfield blockers. If there is a knock on their play so far it is a bit of inconsistency in separating from coverage when running their routes.

As expected Jacob Copeland (10 catches, 232 yards, 23.2 per catch, 2 TDs) has emerged as Florida’s best downfield threat. On most snaps he commands a double team. When either Jones or Richardson sees Copeland with single coverage, they need to get him the football because there are very few DBs in the SEC that he can’t beat.

Xzavier Henderson’s diving catch of an Emory Jones pass for 18 yards against Alabama or that back shoulder catch for a 20-yard gain against Tennessee should tell you plenty about his talent. It seems only a matter of time before opponents try to load up the box and Henderson (8-122, 1 TD), with one-on-one coverage for four full quarters has a breakout game.

The surprise of the group is sixth-year senior Rick Wells (11-121, 2 TDs), who only needs four more catches to match his total for the first five years in Gainesville. Justin Shorter (9-88) had a 33-yard catch against Tennessee. He’s another one who should be seeing the ball more often as opponents try to load up against the run and with his size (6-5, 228) and speed he is a one-on-one nightmare. Trent Whittemore (6-56) has been lining up mostly in the slot, but he showed with a 13-yard TDP to Kemore Gamble against Tennessee that he’s a versatile talent who can be used in a lot of ways.

After going without a catch in the first two games, the tight ends emerged against Alabama and Tennessee with Gamble (8-61, 1 TD) and Keon Zipperer (4-51) giving the passing game a real threat in the middle of the field. Nick Elksnis still hasn’t made a catch, but he’s enough of a talent that it’s expected he will be heard from before too long.

As a group, the receiving numbers aren’t anything close to what they were last year, but it’s a different offense that focuses on the run. When opponents stack against the run, the Gators will have to throw the ball and the productivity of the receivers will have to increase.

O-line (A+):

Picked by Phil Steele, Athlon and Lindy’s to be in the lower half of the SEC offensive lines, this group has emerged as the best in the entire league and one of the best in the entire country. There isn’t a former 5-star recruit in their midst, but they have dominated every opponent so far. The numbers bear it out – 322.5 yards per game rushing (7.46 per carry), 540.8 yards per game in total offense, and only three sacks allowed although all three have more to do with Jones holding the ball too long than the protection breaking down. Florida has gained more than 250 yards rushing in each of its first four games, the first time that’s happened in school history.

And more telling stat might be penalties. The UF O-line has been flagged for holding only twice all season and there have been just four false starts.

Jean Delance, long a whipping boy of some UF fans, has had an exceptional start to the season at right tackle. In the Alabama game when paired against Phidarian Mathis, projected to be a first rounder, Delance dominated both in the run game and in pass protection. When Delance had to sit a couple of series when he was dinged, Michael Tarquin stepped in and he, too, whipped Mathis. Delance sat all but three or so series against Tennessee but Tarquin was outstanding in his place.

Stewart Reese was excellent at right guard the first two games and for three quarters against Alabama, but when he was injured, Josh Braun came off the bench and the Gators didn’t miss a beat. Braun played the entire Tennessee game and dominated whoever the Vols put across from him.

The surprise guy is center Kingsley Eguakun, who emerged as the starter in August, enabling John Hevesy to move Reese over to right guard. Eguakun was able to handle Alabama’s DJ Dale, another first rounder in waiting, without needing a double team. When Eguakun was dinged in the Tennessee game, Richie Leonard filled in admirably.

Over on the left side, Ethan White has been solid and occasionally spectacular at the guard position and Richard Gouraige hasn’t given up a sack at tackle, even though he’s consistently going against the opponent’s best pass rusher. He easily took out Bama’s Will Anderson in pass protection.

The O-line has played so well that it has forced Alabama and Tennessee to blitz far more often than they are accustomed to, but even that hasn’t worked. These guys have worked well as a unit and the emergence of three quality backups has given Hevesy a group that he can depend on.

DEFENSE

D-line (B+):

This has emerged as the strength of the defense, in large part because the addition of transfers Daquan Newkirk (12 tackles, 1 sack) and Antonio Valentino (4 tackles, 2 QB hurries) combined with Gervon Dexter (18 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 QB hurries) has given the Gators the strong rotation in the middle of the D-line that they lacked last season. The strength up the middle has made life easier for Zachary Carter (11 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 1 fumble forced) coming off the edge.

A year ago, the Gators were consistently gouged in the running game because the defensive line struggled to hold the gaps. A year ago, the Gators gave up 170.5 yards per game on the ground. This year, UF is allowing only 110 yards per game and 3.08 per carry. The Gators aren’t getting outmuscled up front and they’re able to get pressure up the gut, which is freeing up Carter on the outside.

Depth was an issue last year, when the Gators were also limited by no spring practice and no offseason workouts. This year, the Gators have wide bodies in the middle who give depth that was missing last year and it shows when defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has to substitute. Massive Desmond Watson, who is a biscuit under 400 pounds, showed his worth in the goal line stand against Alabama that forced a field goal. Auburn transfer Tyrone Truesdell needs to become more of a contributor as does Dante Zanders, but having so many big bodies gives Grantham flexibility in making his calls.

This is a unit that is getting better with each game. Carter is having an All-SEC season rushing the passer and Dexter is a star in the making. Newkirk is a stabilizing force at nose tackle. A year ago, the D-line was a weakness. This year it is emerging as a key reason why Florida’s defense, so bad a year ago, has a chance to finish top 40 – or better – in 2021.

Linebackers (B):

The Gators took a big hit when Ventrell Miller was lost for the season with a torn muscle, which has forced Todd Grantham to shuffle a few players to compensate. The linebackers had an exceptional game against Alabama when the Gators held the Crimson Tide to 91 yards, but Tennessee came back to gouge the Gators with eight plays of 10 or more yards in the running game so a measure of consistency has to be found.

Amari Burney (16 tackles) and Tyron Hopper (16 tackles) have tried to hold down Miller’s spot in the middle but we may see more of Jeremiah Moon shifting from the outside to the middle because of his size (6-5, 250) and experience (sixth-year guy). Mohamoud Diabate, who is tied with Trey Dean III for the team lead in tackles, has put together very good games back-to-back against Alabama and Tennessee.

On the outside, Moon has been very consistent (23 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries) so there is probably a reluctance to move him permanently inside. Brenton Cox Jr. doesn’t have the big numbers (10 tackles, 1 sack, 3 QB hurries) but he’s doubled on every single play so that should open the door for others to make plays. The Gators need more production out of Khris Bogle (11 tackles) and for Diwun Black to become comfortable enough with the schemes that Grantham will put him in the rotation more often.

Compensating for the loss of Miller will be the single most difficult task moving forward. Until there is a definitive answer in the middle, the Gators will be vulnerable to teams that can pound the football up the middle.

Secondary (C):

A year ago this was the weak link on the team, and it continues to be, although there has been overall improvement. The secondary took a big hit in experience, losing players to the NFL, graduation and the transfer portal. Mullen fired the two assistants who coached the secondary last year, bringing in Wesley McGriff, formerly of the Auburn staff, and Jules Montinar, formerly of South Florida.

Although the four-game numbers show some improvement over last year – fewer yards per pass attempt and lower completion percentage for example – the Gators are still giving up too many big plays (see TDPs of 47 and 75 yards against Tennessee) and tackling has left much to be desired. For the most part, the play at the corner position has been decent, but the inconsistency at safety has to have McGriff wanting to pull his hair out. These guys should be the best tacklers in the secondary and so far they’ve had their problems getting people on the ground.

Kaiir Elam, who missed the Tennessee game after getting dinged up against Alabama, is exceptional at one corner. What we’ve seen at the other corner is that veteran transfers Elijah Blades (from Texas A&M) and Jadarrius Perkins (from juco/Missouri) are going to have to play more while kids like Jason Marshall and Avery Helm gain experience.

Senior safety Trey Dean III is tied for the team lead in tackles with 26 and he’s improved in that area since the first two games. Tre’Vez Johnson and Mordecai McDaniel have to find some consistency or else their play at safety will be exploited by teams going over the top.

This is an area that has to grow up quicker or else the Gators will be exposed by the sophisticated passing games in the final two games of the month of October – at LSU on October 16 and Georgia in Jacksonville October 30. We’ve seen improvement through four games, but it needs to accelerate.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter (A):

Redshirt freshman Jeremy Crawshaw would be second in the SEC in punting if only he had enough attempts to qualify. He’s averaging 46.6 yards on 10 punts so far, an average that would be a bit better if he hadn’t had to try to pooch a couple inside the 10. The Australian transplant has had at least one punt of 53 yards in every game with a long of 58 against Tennessee.

Placekicker (B):

Chris Howard was Florida’s extra point and field goal guy through the first three games, but that missed extra point against Alabama was the difference in a chance to win in overtime and having to try a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Jace Christmann, who kicked for Mullen at Mississippi State in 2017, and who had been handling kickoffs the first three games, took over against Tennessee, hitting all five extra points and a 47-yard field goal that had the distance to be good from 57. He is likely to be the extra point and field goal guy the rest of the season unless he goes into a slump or is injured.

Returns (C):

Other than a 33-yard punt return by Henderson in game one against Florida Atlantic there hasn’t been much to the return game, either on punts (5-53, all by Henderson) or kickoffs (7-87, longest of 22 yards). This is an area in which the Gators need to improve.