Napier: "...got to force 'em to kick field goals"

The offense Josh Heupel developed on his way to becoming the head coach at Tennessee is often called “The Blur” since its basic concept is to run to wherever the ball is spotted and get off a snap as quickly as possible. By design it is supposed to leave opponents gagging and unable to substitute because the pace is just too quick. Through two games this season, the Vols are getting in 75 snaps in 23:55 of possession time.

“They run about three plays a minute, right?” Billy Napier said Monday at his weekly press conference. “I think they're first or second in the country in pace.”

Tennessee presents a unique challenge because the offense is as effective running the ball as it is passing. The Vols are averaging 477.5 yards per game, 257.5 on the ground (6.13 yards per carry) and 220 through the air (6.8 per pass attempt). The running numbers are up a bit from last year, but the passing numbers are significantly down. A year ago with Hendon Hooker at QB, the Vols averaged 10 yards per pass attempt and 106.1 passing yards more per game.

The switch to a more run-heavy attack has everything to do with the change at quarterback. Hendon Hooker, now in the NFL, was a pass-first quarterback who got most of his 416 rushing yards extending plays when the pocket broke down or receivers were covered. Last year’s backup Joe Milton runs the show this year. Milton is a dangerous runner with a very live arm. He’s thrown the ball 90 yards so arm strength isn’t an issue, but perhaps decision making is because the pass routes are shorter. A year ago with Hooker in charge, Tennessee receivers averaged more than 14 yards per catch. This year with Milton taking the snaps, UT receivers average 10 yards per catch.

By no means does this mean the UT offense has slowed down, just that the Vols are getting more out of a running game that is responding well to the same fast tempo. Jaylen Wright is averaging 9.32 yards per carry while Jabari Small gets 6.23 per touch.

Tempo is enough of a problem, but now there is the dilemma of a running game that forces the safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage, which, theoretically, leaves a defense vulnerable to throwing the ball over the top.

So how do the Gators combat an offense far different that the two they’ve seen so far? Utah was run-first but the Utes had a very conservative passing game against the Gators, in large part because starting QB Cam Rising was (and still is) sidelined as he recovers from ACL surgery. McNeese State came to UF for a paycheck and made sure it left The Swamp without significant injuries to key players.

Against Utah and McNeese, the Gators have allowed only 382 yards (4.11 per play) and 31 points, impressive for a defense that relies so heavily on transfers and rookies. While taking nothing away from the defensive effort, the Gators have done a good job of playing defense with the offense. In other words, the Gators are moving the football and controlling the tempo.

Through the first two games, the Gators rank 15th nationally in time of possession, averaging 34:02.50 holding the football while keeping opponents to 25:57.50. A 9-minute discrepancy certainly favors the Gators it would seem, but that doesn’t seem to hinder Tennessee. The Vols hold the ball only 23:55.00 per game, but they still get 75 snaps.

Defensively, the Gators have to continue getting off the field on third down (Utah and McNeese are a combined 5-23, which ranks seventh nationally) and once they have the ball, control the clock. Billy Napier calls this playing complementary football.

“Yeah, I think there's a commitment there to play complementary football,” Napier said. “Ultimately we've gotten off the field on defense. We've been much improved on third down … Time of possession has been a factor. Ultimately we probably need to create a few more explosives, truth be known.”

Whether it’s on defense or offense, first down is critical. Defensively, the Gators need to put the Vols in second-and-long, which is 7-8 yards. That was a problem for the Gators a season ago as Tennessee converted six of nine third down opportunities in a game in which they piled up 576 yards and scored 33 points. The Vols were good for 227 yards and three rushing TDs while the passing game put up 349 yards and three more TDs.

Ideally, the best way to combat the Vols is get them off the field on third down, but if they get into the red zone give up three points instead of six.

“I think the game's about first down, then you got to get off the field on third down,” Napier said. “Ball gets into the red area, you got to force 'em to kick field goals.”

A year ago, the Vols averaged 46.1 points per game and were more than content to win games in shootout fashion. The Gators on the other hand were 0-3 (lost to Tennessee, LSU and FSU) when games turned into shootouts. If the Gators can force the Vols to kick field goals, they can avoid another shootout situation.

Conversely, the Gators need to be second-and-manageable and convert their third downs. After a miserable 1-13 effort on third down against Utah, the Gators rebounded by converting five of six third downs against McNeese State. The Gators scored on seven straight possessions against McNeese and they held onto the ball for 36:09.

When the offense is clicking, the Gators have the type of attack that can eat up plenty of clock, more important this year since the new NCAA rule that keeps the clock moving after first downs except in the final two minutes of each half. Statistical experts say each team is averaging somewhere around eight fewer plays per game, which equates to one long possession. Figure the 25 seconds of the play clock, 10 seconds from the time the play is snapped until officials whistle it down and then spot it for the next play, and you’ve taken nearly three minutes off the game.

The Gators can shorten the game considerably if they can get the Vols off the field on third down, then turn third downs into a new set of downs when they have the ball. It’s pretty simple. Tennessee can’t score if it doesn’t have the football.

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For the Gators to control the tempo and keep the Vols’ offense off the field, Florida’s offensive line will have to come up with another strong effort. After a penalty-filled effort against Utah in which the Gators allowed five sacks and shot themselves in the foot with false starts and holding penalties, the O-line bounced back with a cleanly played game in the trenches against McNeese State. There’s a world of difference between the McNeese D-line and the one the Gators will see against Tennessee. The Vols have limited two opponents to 87 yards a game and 2.35 yards per carry. The Vols have 11 sacks, which is tied for first nationally.

The Gators got a bit of good news Monday when Napier announced that center Kingsley Eguakun will be back this week. Eguakun, who started 26 consecutive games prior to this season, missed the first two games with what was described as a lower leg injury. If he’s back at full strength and able to start, that will be a huge plus since he’s considered one of the more cerebral centers in the SEC when it comes to making the right line calls before the ball is snapped.

“We get Kingsley back this week, which I think will be a positive,” Napier said. Eguakun’s backup, Jake Slaughter, had a game to forget against Utah, but the improvement from week one to week two was rather remarkable. “Look, Jake was player of the game [against McNeese]. He played significantly better week one to week two.”

Against McNeese, it was evident the Gators were rotating Florida International transfer Lyndell Hudson II in at right tackle. Damien George Jr. has been the starter but he had issues with false starts and had a holding call in the Utah game. At FIU, Hudson was a three-year starter so he brings an element of experience that George doesn’t have. That could come in very handy against the Vols, who get most of their pass rush from their front four.

“Third tackle, very capable player,” Napier said describing Hudson. “I think he's impressed me. He did just show up in June, so there's an element to that. I think he's continuing to learn and grow and develop more knowledge of the system.

“I think every week he gets a little bit better. But, yeah, gives us a swing tackle there, which we didn't have in the opener. Had some issues there.”