Will the Florida Gators win Big with Max Brown? Florida Gators Football

In the annual rivalry between the Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium this Saturday, both teams find themselves dealing with significant quarterback setbacks. The Gators will be without their starting quarterback, Graham Mertz, who suffered a nondisplaced fracture of his collarbone in the recent loss to Missouri. Mertz, who had a standout season with 2,903 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a remarkable 72.9% completion rate, will miss the remainder of the season.

I was not only going on my first trip to Columbia. I was meeting up with our very own Loren Meadows from GatorBait and The Buddy Martin Show to sit in the press box.

We are limited to 3 mins per UAA rules

Post-Game Analysis: Gators (5-6, 3-5) vs. Tigers (9-2, 5-2) Almost and should have’s prevent the Gators from a Top-10 upset on the road COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A 4th and 17 pass by Missouri’s Brady Cook to Luther Burden III was the final straw in a football game that saw the Florida Gators play hard but fail to make yet another play when they needed it most. In the 12th week of the season the story has become less about what the Gator opponents have and more about what the Gators don’t. Florida scored over 30 points for the third straight week but failed to make key defensive plays to prevent the opposing offense from besting the Gators, who would play most of the second half without starting quarterback Graham Mertz but rode the solid performance of backup Max Brown to the lead late in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Gators, the defense failed once again to get the meaningful stops or turnovers for the Gators to leave Mizzou with a win. What We Thought: This would be a challenge from the beginning for the Gators. Missouri was coming off an emotional win against Tennessee and was playing with as much confidence as any team in the country. Missouri running back Cody Schrader was leading the SEC in rushing and after surrendering a historical number of rushing yards last week the Gators were primed to be bludgeoned once again. Missouri also featured as good a group of pass catchers as any team with the trio of Luther Burden III, Mookie Cooper, and Theo Weise Jr. Florida’s offensive output had increased over the last month and with arguably the nation's most underrated signal caller playing his best ball, scoring would be the least of Florida’s worries. If the Gators could generate a couple of turnovers they were fully equipped to defeat what may have been an over confident Missouri team. What We Got: Five plays essentially sum up the night and in many ways the season for the Gators. Late in the second quarter on a 3rd and 1 from the Florida 42 the Florida Gators failed to align properly to the closed formation into the boundary of the field. With no player in the B-Gap, Schrader ran untouched into the end zone to give Missouri the early lead. When asked about the consistent near misses on his defense Florida Coach Billy Napier stated, “we know what the issues are whether its communication, alignment, eye discipline, fundamentals”. Napier continued, “We all have to take ownership in this.” Almost. On a 2nd and 8 from the Florida 40 trailing 10-7 the Gators were on their way to a positive drive at the end of the half looking to tie the game or take the lead before halftime. Graham Mertz dropped back to pass and sailed a pass high of intended receiver Arlis Boardingham. Instead of the ball sailing harmlessly out of bounds Boardingham reached up with one hand keeping the ball in play where Missouri safety JC Carlies tip-toed the sideline for a huge turnover. Seven plays later Missouri would tack on three more points to take a 13-7 lead into the half. While it was an errant throw by Mertz it was one of those un fortunate circumstances that seems to find the Gators in key situations.. In most cases the ball falls aimlessly out of bounds but in this case the ball found a Missouri defender for a momentum changing play. Almost. With Florida leading 21-20 Missouri was driving deep into Florida territory, Brady Cook was flushed out of the pocket and threw a pass directly in the direction of Florida defensive back Jaydon Hill. Hill misplayed the ball and deflected it into the hands of Burden for an apparent touchdown. While the catch was overturned after replay, Hill was in perfect position to make a play and at worst flip the field position in the Gators favor. Even though Hill should have made the interception the play would have been negated due to Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks being called for offsides. Missouri would take the lead two plays later on a Harrison Mevis field goal. Almost. After the loss ofMertz, Florida back-up quarterback Max Brown had moved the Gators down to the Missouri 15 yard line looking to take the lead late in the game. The drive was eliminated by a routine handoff that hit the elbow of Montrell Johnson Jr. and fell to ground where it was recovered by Missouri’s Kristian Williams. Two plays later the Florida defense would once again fall prey to the big play as Theo Weise Jr. would score on a 77-yard catch and run. “That’s the one that gets me,” Napier stated. “That’s a big play in the game for sure”. Almost. It’s 4th and 17 from the Missouri 33 late in the game and the Gators need one stop to pull the upset. The Gators make the questionable choice to rush only four defenders with a long twist on the defensive line rush giving Cook time to find Burden 27 yards downfield for a first down and well with in the range of Mevis. While the defensive call can certainly be criticized with eight men in coverage and the situation at hand a Florida defender should have certainly knocked Cook’s pass down. Five plays later the Gators would watch as Mevis put the Tigers ahead for the final time on his fourth field goal of the game. “We got multiple players in the area,” Napier stated. Almost. The Skinny: The front page of Sunday’s Columbia Missourian reads “Clutch Finish” to describe the outcome of Saturday night's game. A headline like that shows that this game is always open to interpretation and the narrative goes to the victors. If the Missourian and its readers what to be honest with themselves it should possibly read, “The Better Team Lost the Game." This is one of those contests the Florida faithful will file under one that got away. In the case of 2023 their seem to be a few of those. Coach Napier has spoken about the respect he has for his players and their ability to pick themselves off of the mat throughout the season shows their respect for him as well. Yet the Gators seem to have an issue with the messaging throughout the program -- particularly on defense. The championship level play necessary to take the next step has been mostly nonexistent for 24 games and two different defensive coordinators. Five turnovers in 11 games in unacceptable and more so unbelievable. If you laid both teams on the table this was an even contest, but losing the turnover battle in the end is what helped decide the outcome. There were opportunities for plays to be made, as expected and the Gators almost made enough -- and should have made more. Final Score: Missouri Tigers 33 Florida Gators 31 (Prediction Missouri 42 Florida 30) Post Game Show Loren Meadows, Buddy Martin, Franz Beard , Brenden Martin

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

Buddy Martin, Franz Beard, Loren Meadows and Brenden Martin breakdown the good, the bad and the ugly. Florida Gators vs Missouri Tigers

Update: Graham Mertz is out for the season with a fracture collarbone