Florida-McNeese State: Pregame Analysis

The Gators Can Scratch The Itch from Salt Salt Lake City

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com Football Analyst

Gators HBC Billy Napier - Cowboys HBC Jeff Goff

After a tough week of questions and concerns following the team’s less than fruitful trip out west, the Florida Gators return to The Swamp to take on a foe that should allow the Gators to scratch the itch of Salt Lake City. Where last week’s questions centered around the health of the opponents starters, this week is all about internal reflection. But we have questions:

Will the Gators make good on what Graham Mertz described as “controllable” issues and show improvement this week? Can some semblance of a “hang your hat” scheme reveal itself on offense? Can the Napier’s “organization” play a clean football game for the first time in fourteen outings under the second-year head coach?

Fortunately for the Gators in what many would view as a glorified scrimmage comes the fighting Joe Dumars of McNeese State. Yes, the NBA Hall of Famer whose name graces the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award is the most famous alum of this university based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. While their mascot is actually the Cowboys, McNeese State is coming off a subpar performance of their own giving up 35 second half points to fellow FCS opponent Tarleton State at home. McNeese State feels like it allowed the rails to come off late in the second half when a pick-six sealed the deal with McNeese fighting to get back in the game. Similar to the Gators, McNeese State had its own issues upfront, allowing seven sacks while only producing one defensively.

McNeese State Offense

Key Players: #19 QB Nate Glantz (6-0, 200, Jr.), #5 RB D’Angelo Durham (6-1, 208, Jr.), #9 RB Cam Thomas (5-8, 170, Jr.), #14 WR Jihad Marks (6-1, 210, So.), #15 WR Jalen Johnson (5-9, 176, Jr.)

The Cowboys only ran for 89 yards against Tarleton State last week. While seven sacks netted a loss of 58 yards, the sum total left little impact. The Cowboys utilize a pistol set with the quarterback as an active participant in the run game. Transfer quarterback Nate Glantz (Iowa State) is a willing runner who will look to fight for extra yards. Running back D’Angelo Durham has three career 100-yard rushing games to his credit. When passing the Cowboys will look to spread teams out and take deeps shots when available. Of the Cowboys 18 completions 11 went to Jihad Marks (6) and Jalen Johnson (5). Florida will need to pay close attention to both particularly if Glantz looks to break the pocket. Florida failed to sack either Utah quarterback a week ago. Just as Tarleton State got home with basic pressure and the blitz, look for Florida to bring multiple pressures to rattle Glantz and get the defense

going early.

Florida Head Coach Billy Napier

McNeese State Defense

Key Players: #48 LB Micah Davey (6-2, 239, R-So), #7 DB Johnquai Lewis (6-2, 176, Jr.), #98 DL Trey Winters (6-7, 350, So.), #42 DE Earnest Grayson (6-3, 254, R-Jr.)

McNeese State utilizes a 4-2-5 alignment under second-year defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro. Linebacker Micah Davey, the son of former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey, was a freshman FCS All-American and a preseason all-conference pick this season. Davey played well last week with 12 tackles (5 solo). Defensive lineman Trey Winters will be one of the largest interior lineman the Gators face all season. A former offensive lineman from the University of Iowa, Winters moved to the defensive line in spring drills and was effective at time against Tarleton State. At cornerback. Johnquai Lewis is a Florida native who began his career at Kansas. A two-time state champion at Champagnat Catholic in Hialeah, Lewis is a downhill type player who looks to get involved. The pass rush was limited for the Cowboys last week and the lone sack was recorded by defensive end Earnest Grayson. Grayson returns as the team leader in sacks a year ago. With the Cowboys unable to pressure Tarleton State QB Victor Gabalis last week, Coach Pecoraro’s bunch could look to dial up the pressure early with Kingsley Eguakun out and Jake Slaughter listed to start in his place.

Jake Slaughter (66) and company should get on track this week.

The Skinny: Its Get Right time for the Gators. As a friend of mine stated, “where are the uncompromising fundamentals?” McNeese State should not pose much of a threat to upset the Gators in the Swamp this Saturday but they could help them look suspect. The Gators struggled with what could be deemed as unforced errors last week with nine penalties, many that killed promising drives. McNeese State dealt with its own penalties with 8 for 80 yards. Regardless of the penalties, the numbers that stand out are 13 and 210. That is the number of yards rushing the Gators found against Utah and the number of yards surrendered by McNeese State last week. Which means if Coach Billy Napier stays true to his beliefs, the Gators will look to push around an inferior opponent, play good defense, limit penalties and get to the house. On paper this is a no brainer, mismatch, paycheck type of a game. However, questions surround the Gators in all three phases of the game. Coach Napier says “the criticism is well deserved,” and everything matters when discussing the issues facing his team. A win at home helps with all of that no matter the opponent. Especially when you shut them out. The challenge is to make the “correctable” forgettable and the “fundamental” easy.

Prediction: Florida Gators 32, McNeese State Cowboys 0