No starting QB just yet and an issue at tackle on the offensive line

(Photo by Chris Spears)

On the first drive of Saturday’s scrimmage, the first unit offense was stuffed on fourth-and-one. Good news for the defense but a serious point of contention for Florida head coach Jon Sumrall, who considers most fourth-and-short situations a money down.

“If it's third-and-one and fourth-and-one, we should never get stopped,” Sumrall said at his Monday morning press conference, the irritation obvious in his entire demeanor. “We've got to get better there. That first drive, I was... absolutely freaking pissed. Like, just to be honest. I'm like, if it's fourth-and-one, that should be 100 percent conversion for us.”

Spoken like a gambler but the analytics tend to side with Sumrall on this one. There is a national trend of not only going for it but making it on fourth-and-short situations. Florida Atlantic, the Gators opening day opponent in three weeks, led the country by converting 41 of 62 fourth downs. ACC champion Duke converted an astounding 32-42, a national best 76.19 percent.

As the head coach at Tulane last year, Sumrall went for it 23 times, converting 12 (52.17 percent). The ultra-conservative Gators were 8-19, dead last in the Southeastern Conference and 119^th nationally.

“Fourth-and-one, the analytics would tell you to go for it from every part of the field, doesn't matter where you are,” Sumrall said. “Now, we don't do that, but if we're outside our 35, a lot of times if it's more than one, like, let's go and so we got to convert that one.”

Converting keeps the chains moving and while keeping the defense on the field, creates more opportunities for big plays, something that has been missing from the Florida offense. A year ago in the conservative watching the paint peel offense designed by Billy Napier, the Gators were not only dead last in the SEC on fourth down conversions but next-to-last (52-152) on third down. The Gators managed only 148 plays that covered 10 or more yards – 100 pass plays, 48 on the ground.

Contrast that to Tulane, which had 220 explosive plays – 153 passing, 67 rushing – and Faulkner’s Georgia Tech offense that had 195 (128 passing, 67 rushing).

Two things have to happen for the Gators to emerge from this era of offensive predictability to one in which they are as capable of scoring from any point on the field as they are converting third and fourth downs: (1) Improved quarterback play; and (2) consistency from the offensive line.

It is a two-man battle between Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo and redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. for the starting quarterback job. While Jones seemed to have the upper hand at Saturday’s scrimmage, Sumrall isn’t offering any hints which one in his mind provides the best combination of playmaking and on-the-field leadership.

“I like what both have done,” Sumrall said. “Neither one is just light years ahead of the other. They're both doing really good things. The one thing they both have to continue to work on is who's going to operate the best in line of scrimmage play? We cannot forget motions and shifts and then protect the football and then just leave, but they're both doing a great job. They're both supporting each other. They're both competing with each other.

“Do both of them want to start? Yes. But they're doing it the right way in the competition with each other, and they have each other's back, and I like where we're at there. I'm not announcing anything today there in case you want to know.”

Philo arrived at Florida having spent two years working with Faulkner at Georgia Tech. He played in eight games, started one, and threw for 928 yards and a couple of touchdowns, averaging 9.09 yards per attempt. Jones played in four games as DJ Lagway’s backup at Florida last year, so the Faulkner offense is a radical change that he had to adjust to during the spring and summer.

“In the spring I think Philo was way ahead because of understanding the offense and Tramell was significantly behind,” Sumrall said. “I think they've both taken some steps up and Tramell’s probably had more upward mobility to room to grow because he's learning the offense. So I think they're both playing really good football. I'm not going to sit here and say like one guy's way ahead because I think they're both doing good work. And I do feel like we're in a position where nobody's going to take the snap game one, snap one, because the other guy's done a poor job. It's going to be because he's probably just executed a little bit higher level, whoever it is … But we're at a place now where both guys are playing good football.”

Whoever starts at quarterback will have the best collection of skill people to work with since the 2019 and 2020 seasons when the Gators lit up scoreboards. The elements for an explosive offense are in place, but Sumrall has to find five guys up front who can work as a cohesive unit whether it’s run-blocking or pass protection.

The middle of the offensive line should be its strength. Left guard and returning starter Knijeah Harris, Georgia Tech transfer Harrison Moore at center, and Penn State transfer TJ Shanahan at right guard figure to be one of the best interior groups in the SEC. Moore, in particular, might prove to be one of the ten best transfers in the SEC. Already he’s drawing favorable comparisons to Jake Slaughter, the two-time All-American who was a second round draft pick of the Los Angeles Chargers.

“In the interior line, I feel pretty comfortable with who we are and where we are,” Sumrall said.

He couldn’t say the same thing about the guys on the outside, however. Their play left much to be desired.

“Tackles is the problem,” Sumrall said.

Heading into Saturday’s scrimmage, the starting tackles seemed to be Stanford transfer Emeka Ugorji and Caden Jones, last year’s right tackle at UF the last half of the season. Backups seemed to be Penn State transfer Eagan Boyer, oft-injured Fletcher Westphal and Bryce Lovett, sort of a jack-of-all trades lineman who is a plug and play type all along the line.

Lovett may be forcing some re-shuffling of the line based on the way he has practiced so far and the way he played Saturday. At 6-5 and 305 pounds, he’s a leaner, stronger version of the player who struggled at times last season when he weighed in at 348.

“Uber talented athletically” is how Sumrall described Lovett. “[He] has changed his body. Has an ideal tackle body, is good enough to go in and play guard. One of our best short-range goal line plays last week in our live period was him at right guard and moving the line of scrimmage. He can be as good as he wants to be, man. Bryce has the ability to be as good as he decides to be. It's up to him.

“He's changed his body, cut out all the fast food and the junk he was eating and he looks like a different athlete. I just want to see him play to his capacity. If he maximizes his potential, the sky's the limit. He can be as good as he wants to be.”

INJURY REPORT

WR Vernell Brown III: Held out of Saturday’s scrimmage as a precaution. Bone bruise in his foot. “Could have, if we were playing a game, probably would have pushed it and played, but didn't want to take him out of a boot to go play on a scrimmage day,” Sumrall said. “Then it felt like we didn't need to do something stupid there. So he was back full go today.”

EDGE Kam James: Still not at full go but practicing. “Took team reps,” Sumrall said. “Maybe not a full capacity of team reps, but took them.”

CB Javion Toombs: Sumrall said, “… did some individual and special teams work today, not 11-on-11 work yet, but he'll be close to being back.”

RB Duke Clark: Did individual work Monday. Sumrall said, “Probably could have done team, but just out of an abundance of caution, probably going to wait till tomorrow or the following day to put him back in teamwork.”

PK Patrick Durkin: Similar situation to VBIII. “Probably if it was a live Saturday, he could have gone,” Sumrall said. “You know, he needs to continue to get work. Nobody's arrived, but he was 25-for-28 last year on field goals [at Tulane] with, I think, three over 50.” Backup Liam Padron went 3-4 in the scrimmage with one of 50 yards.

CB Jordy Lowery: Injured a few plays into the scrimmage. “It's not gonna be a terribly long-term deal but a soft tissue deal that we'll just have to see how he responds,” Sumrall said.

DT Kendal Guervil: “I think is going to have a shot to return to play, but we're just kind of making sure we're thorough there.” Sumrall said.