When Will Florida's Defense Catch Up to Their Offense?

The Offense is Fine, but When Will the Florida Defense Catch Up?

Photo Credit - FloridaGators.com

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

Four straight losses, the last three in similar fashion in which the Florida offense did more than enough to win only to see the defense crash and burn has the Gators on the verge of a third straight losing season. Losing is tough to take but it’s not for a lack of effort. This team does try hard, but something isn’t working.

For all the criticism about the offense early on – too conservative, not enough downfield passing, too predictable – the Gators are proving they can move the ball and score on just about any team not named Georgia. In the three games since the Georgia loss, the Gators have averaged 34 points and 465.3 yards per game, numbers that should have translated into victories. Before he was injured Saturday night against Missouri, Graham Mertz proved to be the unexpected catch of the transfer portal year. Only Kyle Trask put up better numbers in the post-Tim Tebow quarterbacking era at the University of Florida. Surrounded by the 1-2 running punch of Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. (both with 710 yards), a stud wide receiver in Ricky Pearsall (just 52 yards shy of becoming Florida’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Taylor Jacobs in 2002) and a budding Percy-like clone in Tre Wilson, Mertz gave the UF offense a fighting chance to win. Even with young Max Brown at QB Saturday against 5th-ranked and unbeaten Florida State, the Gators have the skill people to put points on the board the Seminoles who are favored by only 6.5 points.

Think about this. The Gators are averaging 29.6 points and 425.2 yards per game for the entire year without a consistent offensive line whose holes will have to be patched in the portal come December. The future looks very good.

Criticism of the defense is warranted because, in the words of Yogi Berra, it’s like déjà vu all over again. The difference between 6-7 and 9-3 last year was a defense that couldn’t get off the field. When the Gators needed stops, they couldn’t get them. Does that ring a bell about 2023? In the last four games, the Gators have given up 167 points and an average of 544 yards per game. It’s easy to place a portion of the blame on youth since more than 1/3 of Florida’s defensive snaps are by true freshmen, but the Gators had the same problems last year with more experienced players on the field. The talent was upgraded this year and will need another significant upgrade through judicious use of the portal to bring in immediate contributors.

It is fair to ask, however, if upgrading the talent will be enough? Einstein said, “You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created. Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Assuming Napier has the offense on the right track, especially if he adds talented, experienced pieces to the offensive line, then what about the defense? We’ve had two years with the same scheme and the results have been the same. Gone are the days when scheme didn’t matter if you could out-stud the other team. Spread offenses, running quarterbacks, RPO and sophisticated passing games require a defense with both stud athletes and a scheme capable of putting the best players in position to make plays at the most critical junctures. Two years of the same thing tell us it’s time for some changes.

Billy Napier isn’t going anywhere. For now. How long he’s here in the future will be determined by two things: (1) How quickly he recruits the high schools and the portal to give UF championship-level personnel; and (2) his willingness to make whatever changes are necessary to give the Gators a defense that can get off the field with any sort of regularity.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 11-0; 2. Ohio State 11-0; 3. Michigan 11-0; 4. Washington 11-0; 5. Florida State 11-0; 6. Oregon 10-1; 7. Texas 10-1; 8. Alabama 10-1; 9. Louisville 10-1; 10. Missouri 9-2; 11. Penn State 9-2; 12. Ole Miss; 13. Oklahoma 9-2; 14. LSU 8-3; 15. Oregon State 8-3; 16. Arizona 8-3; 17. Notre Dame 8-3; 18. Tulane 10-1; 19. Kansas State 8-3; 20. Iowa 9-2; 21. Oklahoma State 8-3; 22. Liberty 11-0; 23. Toledo 10-1; 24. James Madison 10-1; 25. Tennessee 7-4

Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 11-0; 2. Ohio State 11-0; 3. Michigan 11-0; 4. Florida State 11-0; 5. Washington 11-0; 6. Oregon 10-1; 7. Texas 10-1; 8. Alabama 10-1; 9. Louisville 10-1; 10. Missouri 9-2; 11. Penn State 9-2; 12. Ole Miss 9-2; 13. Oklahoma 9-2; 14. LSU 8-3; 15. Oregon State 8-3; 16. Arizona 8-3; 17. Notre Dame 8-3; 18. Tulane 10-1; 19. Iowa 9-3; 20. Kansas State 8-3; 21. Oklahoma State 8-3; 22. Liberty 11-0; 23. Tennessee 7-4; 24. North Carolina State 8-3; 25. SMU 9-3

SEC Football

No. 8 Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC): Linebacker Chris Braswell, tied with Dallas Turner for the team lead in sacks with seven, was ejected for targeting in the Crimson Tide’s 66-10 win over Chattanooga. Since it was a first quarter ejection Braswell won’t have to miss the first half of the Iron Bowl against Auburn. Next week: at Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC)

Arkansas (4-7, 1-6 SEC): Despite a disappointing 4-7 season that began with such high expectations, Arkansas will bring back Sam Pittman for the 2024 season. In his fourth season, Pittman is 23-24. Next week: vs. No. 10 Missouri (9-2, 5-2 SEC)

Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC): If three straight games with more than 400 offensive yards including 517 against Arkansas was thought to be one step forward, then the rotten 213-yard performance against New Mexico State has to be considered two giant steps backward. Next week: vs. No. 8 Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC)

No. 1 Georgia (11-0, 8-0 SEC): The Bulldogs suffered three injuries in the win over Tennessee. OL Tate Ratledge hurt his knee but is expected to play Saturday against Georgia Tech. Wide receiver Rara Thomas has a foot sprain and wide receiver Ladd McConkey reaggravated an ankle injury. Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (6-5)

Kentucky (6-5, 3-5 SEC): Kentucky gained only 293 yards against South Carolina, marking the third straight game the Wildcats have failed to gain more than 300 yards. Kentucky ranks 11th in the SEC in offense at 338.7 yards per game, only a modest improvement from 2022. Next week: at No. 9 Louisville (10-1)

No. 14 LSU (8-3, 5-2 SEC): Almost overlooked because Jayden Daniels is having such a spectacular season are wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Nabers has caught 80 passes for 1,424 yards (17.8 per catch) for 12 touchdowns. Thomas has 55 catches for 1,021 yards (18.56 per catch) and 14 touchdowns. Next week: vs. Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC)

Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6 SEC): Will Rogers, who had missed a month of the season with a shoulder injury, returned to lead the Bulldogs to a 41-20 win over Southern Miss. Mississippi State went 1-3 during Rogers’ absence and the Bulldogs scored only one TD in the game they won. Next week: at Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 SEC)

No. 10 Missouri (9-2, 5-2 SEC): Next week: at Arkansas (4-7, 1-6 SEC)

No. 12 Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 SEC): Quarterback Jaxson Dart says he will return to Ole Miss for his senior season in 2024. Dart has thrown for 2,889 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 345 and seven more. Next week: vs. Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6 SEC)

South Carolina (5-6, 3-5 SEC): Winners of their last three games, the Gamecocks can become bowl eligible if they bushwhack Clemson at Willy-Brice on Saturday. South Carolina has given up an average of 316 yards in the last three games. In the eight games before that they gave up 435.1 per game. Next week: vs. Clemson (7-4)

No. 25 Tennessee (7-4, 3-4 SEC): Jaylen Wright scored on a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage against Georgia, but managed 15 yards on eight carries after. The Vols managed only 55 yards on 24 carries after Wright’s big run. Next week: vs. Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7 SEC)

Texas A&M (7-4, 4-3 SEC): Next week: at No. 14 LSU (8-3, 5-2 SEC)

Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-7 SEC): Clark Lea, who is 9-26 in his three years at Vandy, has received a vote of confidence from athletic director Candice Lee. The Commodores started the 2023 season 2-0 but have lost nine straight games. Next week: at No. 25 Tennessee (7-4, 3-4 SEC)

SEC basketball

Sunday’s games: Providence (4-1) 71, Georgia (2-3) 64; Mississippi State (5-0) 66, Northwestern (4-1) 57; LSU (3-2) 86, Wake Forest (2-3) 80; Jackson State (1-5) 73, Missouri (3-2) 72; South Carolina (5-0) , Grand Canyon (3-1)

Monday’s games: Tennessee (3-0) vs. Syracuse (3-0) at Maui; Saint Joseph’s (3-1) at Kentucky (3-1)

Tuesday’s game: Alabama A&M (0-2) at Auburn (3-1)

Wednesday’s games: FLORIDA (3-1) vs. Pittsburgh (4-0) at Brooklyn, NY; Ole Miss (4-0) at Temple (3-1); South Carolina State (2-2) at Missouri (3-2); Stanford (3-1) vs. No. 14 Arkansas (3-1) at Nassau, Bahamas

Football coaching stuff

Syracuse has fired Dino Babers, who went 41-55 in eight seasons. Among the coaches being mentioned as replacements are Toledo head coach Jason Candle, James Madison coach Curt Cignetti and Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Jamey Chadwell, who went 31-6 in his final three seasons at Coastal Carolina and is 11-0 at Liberty this year, has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Zach Arnett at Mississippi State. Liberty pays Chadwell $4 million a year, which is more than MSU was paying Arnett. For him to leave Liberty, Mississippi State is going to have to pony up a couple million more.

Just days after there were reports UCLA is looking to replace Chip Kelly, Kelly and the Bruins (7-4) stomped crosstown rival Southern Cal, 38-20. The Bruins are 10-point favorites to beat California in the finale. Are the Bruins still thinking about firing Kelly or did the win over Southern Cal put an end to that notion? Meanwhile, at Southern Cal, Lincoln Riley is getting torched for a 7-5 finish that included a 3-game losing streak at the end of the season.

The No. 1 name on Boise State’s list is Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who threw for 142 touchdowns during his Boise State playing days (2007-11).

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: In any other season, the race to the Heisman Trophy would be a knock down, drag out battle between Bo Nix of Oregon and Michael Penix of Washington. Penix has led Washington to an 11-0 record while throwing for a nation leading 3,695 yards and 30 touchdowns. Head-to-head, Penix owns the win over Nix, who will get a chance to avenge the Ducks’ loss in the Pac-12 championship game. Nix has thrown for 3,539 yards and 35 touchdowns with only two interceptions.

This isn’t any other season and while Penix and Nix are certainly great players, they aren’t on the same plane as LSU’s Jayden Daniels, whose numbers are staggering. Daniels has thrown for 3,577 yards and 36 TDs (4 interceptions) and has run for 1,014 yards for another 10 touchdowns. The knock on Daniels is that he plays for a team that has no defense, hence three losses, but Daniels was outstanding even in defeat. In losing to the No. 5 (FSU), No. 12 (Ole Miss) and No. 8 (Alabama) teams in the country, Daniels passed for 979 yards and seven TDs while running for 326 and two more. He had 219 passing yards and 163 rushing yards when he left the Alabama game in the third quarter.

In his last two games, Daniels has thrown for 758 yards and nine TDs while running for 330 and four. He has one regular season game left with Texas A&M and that will be his final audition for the Heisman. Nix and Penix do have an advantage in that they will have a final regular season game (Oregon with Oregon State, Washington with Washington State) plus the Pac-12 championship game, but can an extra game alter the reality that Jayden Daniels is the best player in the country?

Doubtful. The folks in New York should start engraving the trophy now.

Post Game Show Franz Beard, Buddy Martin, Loren Meadows, Brenden Martin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qAfOq4ny5Q