Post-Game Analysis: Florida Gators 38 (4-2, 2-1) Vanderbilt Commodores 14 (2-5, 0-3)

Florida wipes the dirt off and conquers the Commodores with balance and defense.

By LOREN MATTHEWS

Football Analyst

GatorBaitMedia

Florida had an interesting week in the aftermath of getting its teeth kicked in by Kentucky last week. Questions swirled about the future of the Florida offense and what could be done to fix what many thought was an anemic attack with very little imagination or big play ability. The Florida defense, after showing improvement in the first month of the season, was dominated in a way very few Florida defenses had experienced even with the pitfalls of the past two seasons. Thankfully the Vanderbilt elixir was prescribed by the Southeastern Conference and in most cases that is an opportunity for any team to either take the ship in for a few repairs or get the ship turned in the right direction. For the Gators , in many ways this would be an opportunity for both and with Homecoming festivities as the back drop the Gators needed a sound performance.

What We Thought: The Gators would be chomping at the bit to get back on the field as soon as possible to erase the lingering thoughts of their last performance. Based upon recent criticisms and self-reflection the Gator offense would look to find creative ways to spread the ball around to its playmakers while looking to reestablish the physical run game that has been their calling card over the past two seasons. Quarterback Graham Mertz would continue to play efficient football and with the return of Eugene Wilson III the horizontal passing game that the Gators have used to complement the run game would flourish. Defensively the Gators would enter Saturday’s game with far more than a chip on its shoulder as the last outing of record left very little to be pleased with. Regardless of the opponent, a defensive unit that had been one of the best in the conference through four games would be aiming for much better than what it presented last week.

Graham Mertz (15) and freshman running back Treyaun Webb (20 (Chris Spears photo)

What We Got: The Vanderbilt elixir was just what the Gators needed. Florida used a balanced offensive attack to score 38 points and gain almost 500 yards. Despite the absence of Kingsley Eguakun, Austin Barber, and Trevor Etienne the Gators still managed to run for 7.2 yards per carry while Graham Mertz continued his efficient play throwing for 254 yards and completing 30 of 36 passes. While the absence of Trevor Etienne was concerning, freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson III added a different tenor to the offense with the ability to create mismatches on the perimeter and effect the tempo of the Gators offense. Wilson caught eight passes for 64 yards and touchdown and his ability to make people miss on the perimeter gave the Gators another weapon on the outside to complement the consistency of Ricky Pearsall Jr. The Gator defense made good use of their opportunity to build themselves back up with a solid performance as well. After being wrecked for over 300 rushing yards last week the Gators held Vanderbilt to only 64 rushing yards on 19 attempts. While the defense allowed two passing touchdowns, the unit came up big on three fourth down attempts which Head Coach Billy Napier and staff count as turnovers as well.

The Skinny: Regardless of the opponent any opportunity to go out and get better is key for any football team. The Florida Gators were able to develop a plan and execute it despite the absence of some of its key players. That success speaks to the attention that Coach Napier and staff have devoted to the development of depth at key positions on both sides of the ball. With a retooled offensive line the Gators managed to play one of its most balanced games of the season. Defensively, Austin Armstrong’s defense continues to exhibit the passion that has allowed the unit to remain one of the seasons most positive developments. What is concerning is that the Florida Gators seems to play a different brand of football within the confides of Ben Hill Griffin stadium than they do away from it. A looming road test against a rested South Carolina team will certainly be the topic of conversation over the next six days. Coincidentally, it is those six days that could dictate whether the Gators are successful when they arrive in Columbia. When examined in its totality a win against Vanderbilt is usually a given for most football teams in the SEC. For the Gators however, it was a win that allowed them to lick the mental and physical wounds of a previous loss and focus on continued improvement heading into a pivotal road trip. With the Gators away from Gainesville for the next four weeks, Coach Napier and staff will be tasked with finding a way to put this team in the bag and unfold it in some of the conferences most high-pressure environments.

Final Score: Florida Gators 38 Vanderbilt Commodores 14 (Prediction Florida 28 Vanderbilt 14)