FLORIDA FOOTBALL: Gators Must Be in Full Attack Mode

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

Photo Credit Chris Spears

Having been at this quarterback thing going all the way back to third grade, Graham Mertz knows exactly what his job is every time he steps out on the field.

“I think it just comes down to playing quarterback,” Mertz said Monday as the Gators (1-1) get ready to host No. 11 Tennessee (2-0) at The Swamp Saturday night. “I mean, understanding the look on defense. My job is to attack that weakness, find it and attack it on every play.”

This has to be the mindset against the Vols, who not only bring their up tempo offense that squeezes off three plays per minute but a defense that most observers say is way ahead of the one a year ago that gave up 22.8 points and 405.3 yards per game. While the Gators do want to control tempo to help out the defense by keeping the Tennessee offense on the sideline, they don’t want to pass up opportunities to move the ball down the field.

Against McNeese State this past Saturday, the Gators scored on their first seven possessions, six of them directed by Mertz, drives that covered 456 yards in 54 plays. That’s 8.6 yards per snap. Mertz completed 14 of his 17 passes for 193 yards. There is a huge difference in the McNeese defense and the one Tennessee will run out on the field Saturday night, however. The Vols are bigger, stronger and faster at every single position.

The numbers say the Vols are superior to the defense the Gators faced at Utah in game one. The Vols are allowing only 270 yards per game (29th nationally) and only 87 on the ground while Utah is giving up 396 per game, but Utah has faced a pair of Power 5 opponents in the Gators and Baylor, while the Vols defense has gone up against a weak Virginia team and a D1AA Austin Peay team that makes McNeese State look like the reincarnation of the Lombardi-era Packers.

Florida should be able to move the ball on the Vols, but the Gators have to be cognizant of keeping the clock moving. The new NCAA clock rules will favor Florida if the Gators can convert third downs and keep the chains moving, which will be emphasized this week in practice.

“Staying ahead of the sticks, not taking negative plays,” Mertz explained. “Really that comes during the week of prep. You try to work through each progression. That’s the time in the meeting room, walk-throughs to where you’re set up. When you have the opportunity to make the play, you’re going to make it because you’ve seen it multiple times.”

McNeese ran a cover three zone out of a 3-2-6 set that was like a picket fence across the field, designed to prevent the Gators from explosive plays in the passing game. Mertz didn’t try to force the ball into the teeth of the zone, but chipped away with the short stuff and only went downfield when the defense broke down. A week earlier at Utah, it was a chip away process most of the night because the offensive line couldn’t protect and failed to open holes for the running game.

The O-line found its mojo against McNeese, but they will need to do that again Saturday night. If Montrell Johnson Jr., Trevor Etienne and Treyaun Webb can find the creases and gain positive yards on a consistent basis that’s going to open things up in the Tennessee secondary so Mertz can find Ricky Pearsall and the other Florida receivers downfield. Mertz knows he has to see the field, find whoever’s open and then deliver the ball. Theoretically, the Vols can’t cover everybody.

“I think it's a balance between going aggressive but also being decisive in what you're doing and making the smart play,” he said.

UF volleyball: Kennedy Martin earns SEC honors

Kennedy Martin was named SEC Freshman of the Week after 41 kills and 21 blocks to help the 3rd-ranked Gators sweep all three matches in the Gator Invitational. Martin had 17 kills and 10 blocks against Sacramento State, 14 kills and nine blocks against Clemson and 10 kills and five blocks against Winthrop.

The Gators travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State tonight, a 6 p.m. match that will be carried on the ACC Network.

AVCA top 25: 1. Wisconsin 7-0; 2. Louisville 8-0; 3. FLORIDA 7-0; 4. Nebraska 7-0; 5. Stanford 6-1; 6. Texas 3-2; 7. Oregon 7-1; 8. Pittsburgh 6-1; 9. Minnesota 3-3; 10. Georgia Tech 7-0; 11. Washington State 8-1; 12. BYU 8-1; 13. Penn State 4-3; 14. Creighton 7-2; 15. Tennessee 7-1; 16. Arkansas 7-2; 17. Purdue 5-2; 18. Baylor 4-3; 19. Ohio State 3-4; 20. Kansas 5-1; 21. Kentucky 2-4; 22. Houston 5-2; 23. Iowa State 7-1; 24. Auburn 7-1; 25. Dayton 8-2

SEC football

No. 10 Alabama (1-1): A change at quarterback may be pending. Nick Saban said he thought seriously about inserting Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner into the game against Texas after Milroe threw a couple of interceptions … Alabama is listed as a 32-point favorite in Tampa Saturday against South Florida.

Arkansas (2-0): HBC Sam Pittman isn’t happy with the play of his offensive line through two games. The Razorbacks are averaging only 138.5 rushing yards per game and a dismal 3.42 per carry. Stud running back Raheim Sanders, who has some swelling in the knee, may not be available for Saturday’s game with BYU … D-lineman Trajan Jeffcoat, who had three tackles including 1.5 sacks in the win over Kent State, was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week … The Razorbacks are 9.5-point favorites at home against BYU.

Auburn (2-0): Linebacker Eugene Asante, who had 12 tackles and a sack in Auburn’s 14-10 win over California, was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week ... The Tigers still have unsettled issues at quarterback. After their win over California, HBC Hugh Freeze said, “We need Payton (Thorne) to play better, truthfully” and added that backup Robby Ashford has to get more touches.

No. 1 Georgia (2-0): Safety Javon Bullard is in a walking boot since the second half of Georgia’s win over Ball State. He’s day-to-day for the South Carolina game. Ladd McConkey, last year’s leading receiver with 58 catches, has a back problem that he’s trying to work through. D-lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is in a boot and using a non-weight bearing scooter. Running back Branson Robinson’s knee injury will keep him out the remainder of the season. Tight end Lawson Luckie has had tight rope surgery to repair a high ankle sprain … Georgia is a whopping 27.5-point favorite over South Carolina in the SEC opener Saturday.

Kentucky (2-0): Center Eli Cox, who graded 86 percent in Kentucky’s win over Eastern Kentucky, was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Cox allowed no sacks or quarterback pressures … Kenneth Horsey, UK’s best and most experienced offensive lineman, is listed day-to-day for Saturday’s game with Akron … Kentucky is a 25-point favorite over Akron.

No. 14 LSU (1-1): The Tigers made a second half adjustment against Grambling, moving Harold Perkins from inside to the edge where he was far more disruptive a year ago. The move is expected to be permanent although Perkins may see some action on the inside as well … Tight end Mason Taylor and linebacker Omar Speights are both listed as probable for Saturday’s game at Mississippi State … The Tigers are listed as 10-point favorites on the road at Mississippi State.

Mississippi State (2-0): Linebacker Jett Johnson, who had the eighth game of his career with at least 10 tackles in the win over Arizona, was names SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson had 11 tackles in the game plus two of MSU’s three interceptions … Through two games running back Jo’Quavious Marks has 250 yards. He had 582 in 13 games last season.

Missouri (2-0): D-lineman Nyles Gaddy, who had a couple of sacks in Mizzou’s win over Middle Tennessee, was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week … Missouri is a 5-point home dog to Kansas State Saturday.

No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0): Placekicker Caden Davis, who drilled a 55-yard field goal with 1:53 to go to solidify the win over Tulane, was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Davis was 3-3 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points in the game … Despite scoring 37 points against Tulane, the Rebels only managed 89 yards on the ground. The Rebels were held to 1-13 conversions on third down … Ole Miss is a 20-point home favorite against Georgia Tech.

South Carolina (1-1): Spencer Rattler lit up Furman for 349 passing yards, hitting 25-27 passes plus scored a rushing touchdown to earn SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors … Freshman O-lineman Markee Anderson is listed as probable for Georgia as is EDGE Jatius Greer. DB Nick Emmanwori, DB Keenan Nelson Jr., DB David Spaulding and WR Ahmarean Brown are all listed as questionable.

No. 11 Tennessee (2-0): HBC Josh Heupel anticipates starting center Cooper Mays, who missed the first two games of the season, to be ready to go Saturday night against Florida ... The Vols are listed as 6.5-point favorites against Florida.

Texas A&M (1-1): Starting D-lineman Shemar Turner, who leads the team with two sacks, was arrested Monday and charge with reckless driving for going 85 in 35 and 45 mph zones near the A&M campus … Aggie fans are up in arms about defensive coordinator DJ Durkin but HBC Jimbo Fisher said Durkin “is a very good coach that does a good job and knows what he is doing” … The Aggies are 36-point favorites over Louisiana-Monroe.

Vanderbilt (2-1): Wide receiver London Humphries, who caught four passes for 109 yards including a 48-yarder for a TD, was named SEC Freshman of the Week ... In the loss to Wake Forest, HBC Clark Lea said the defensive plan was to take the pass away, forcing the Deacons to run but they pounded away for 288 yards … Vanderbilt is a slight 4-point favorite on the road at UNLV.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Wherever you looked for your college football news Sunday and Monday you were hit with funeral notices for the late, great Southeastern Conference. Stewart Mandel of The Athletic wrote what he called a “mini-eulogy” for the league after a weekend in which Alabama was bushwhacked in Tuscaloosa by Texas and Texas A&M moved closer to a divorce settlement with Jimbo Fisher by going dead roach against Miami. A week earlier the Gators lost to Utah, LSU was hammered by Florida State and South Carolina bit the bullet against North Carolina.

It has indeed been a rough first half of September for the SEC and by the time December rolls around, we might have endured a step back season for the league. The way things are looking now, Georgia seems to be the only team capable of carrying the SEC torch in the College Football Playoff.

But it’s only September. Things can change. The league can and will get better, but good enough to continue the streak that began in 2015 of an SEC team either national champ or runner-up?

If you’re looking for a reason why so many are predicting a down year in the SEC, look no further than the quarterback position. While it seems nearly every team in the Pac-12 has a future NFL quarterback flinging the ball all over the yard, the SEC has only a couple draft-eligible quarterbacks who we can expect to see on Sundays in the near future – KJ Jefferson of Arkansas for sure and perhaps Spencer Rattler of South Carolina. After that, a bunch of maybes.

Young quarterbacks with serious upside? The SEC has plenty already on rosters and more to come in the future. Half of 247Sports’ top 22 quarterbacks in the recruiting class of 2024 are committed to SEC schools. That bodes very well for the future of the league, but it doesn’t exactly help right now.

Now, there is a chance the SEC will turn things around and go full beast mode the rest of the way but brace yourself for a year that could see a Big Ten team like Michigan win the national championship. Heaven forbid. But, don’t expect the league to be down and out in the deep south very long. Help is indeed on the way.

Reports of the SEC’s demise may prove to be premature.