[gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] GridironNow: UF offense needs a reboot -- and here's how to fix it

Wow, this article addresses exactly what I was just wondering! Thanks for posting it, Woody.

On Nov 12, 2015, at 1:00 PM, Woody <gatorrrrrr@gmail.com> wrote:

By Brady Ackerman on November 12, 2015

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The big question surrounding the Florida Gators — the SEC East-champion Gators — is whether the offense can be rebooted for the stretch run.

Florida is averaging 367.2 yards per game, which is 10th in the SEC and 90th nationally. In SEC play, though, that number drops to 332.3 yards per game, ahead of just Vanderbilt and Missouri.

Throw out the New Mexico State game because the Aggies are really bad and because both of Florida's quarterbacks played equal time in that game. Since Treon Harris has become the starter, the Gators are averaging 333 yards per game; that's 7 fewer yards per game than when Will Grier was the starter. So does the offense need to re-charge, or is it the same and just feels different? The answer is both.

The offense seemed to be trending upward with Grier because he had had three consecutive 200-yard games as a passer. That feat had not been accomplished in five seasons, so that Florida finally was showing life through the air was encouraging. The Gators continued that trend against LSU with 271 passing yards, but they have regressed in the past two games against Georgia and Vanderbilt (320 total passing yards).

Florida's offensive line has struggled in pass protection the past four games, and Treon Harris has been knocked around at times. KIM KLEMENT/USA TODAY SPORTS

Keep in mind that Harris has faced defenses ranked 23rd (LSU), 14th (Georgia) and 19th (Vanderbilt) overall in his three starts. Those are the three of the top four defenses Florida has faced this season; Missouri (No. 11) is the other. Another reason for the recent struggles is that the Gators have surrendered 10 sacks in the past three games and 15 in the past four. This is a combination of both the quarterback change and the play of the offensive line. Sprinkle in four top-25 defenses in the past four games, and you have an offensive attack in reverse. The question now is how do you get this thing headed in the right direction.

1. Tempo. I think Florida needs to go up-tempo a couple of series per half. I think this allows Harris to react and not let the defense get set. You can speed up things without getting into two-minute situations. Florida likes to use a lot of packages, but maybe one series per quarter the Gators can go into attack mode and let things speed up. I don't believe this offense can slow-walk its way to wins over Florida State and the SEC West champ in the league championship game. I think the staff must get aggressive and take some chances by going up-tempo.

2. Throw on first down. I think Florida has been a little more conservative the past two weeks trying to get the SEC East locked down. Now that the trip to Atlanta is secure, coordinator Doug Nussmeier needs to re-open the playbook. Grier completed nearly 71 percent of his passes on first down and averaged a bit more than 10 first-down throws per game. With Harris, the Gators are throwing less on first down — and also not as effectively. Harris is a 57 percent passer on first down and has 23 fewer first-down attempts than Grier. Let Harris throw on first down and get him some plays he can complete with confidence.

3. Diversify the run game. Florida has been mostly a zone team in the run game, but now may be the time to draw up some draw plays and wide runs. Florida tried the counter against Vanderbilt last week, but that play is too slow to develop to be effective against a good defense. The off-tackle power with the tight end as the lead blocker can be an option. Florida has used formation overload to get Kelvin Taylor outside; a simple toss sweep or speed option to Jordan Scarlett might be a better choice down the stretch. Zone blocking is tough, especially with teams run-blitzing you, but the Gators could use that to their advantage down the stretch.

Florida's offense should be improved this week and next as long as the players remain confident. South Carolina is 90th in the nation in total defense and 109th against the run. I expect Taylor to have 100 yards and the passing game to find some big throws downfield. Next week, FAU rolls in to Gainesville with the 87th-ranked defense in the country, which should provide the Gators' offense with another opportunity to get well.

(You can follow Brady Ackerman on Twitter @bradyack)
(Feature photo by KIM KLEMENT/USA TODAY SPORTS)

Copyright 2015 by GridironNow.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

OTHER GRIDIRONNOW.COM STORIES:

Report: Gators' Grier has flu, could miss Ole Miss…

Winning despite turnovers was impressive for Gators

Here are 3 specific things Harris, Gators must work on

Florida's 3 keys to victory against Georgia

The Gators should be in celebration mode Saturday

It wasn't pretty, but Gators win SEC East

Comments

0 comments

UM booster said to want Mike Shula as coachMinnesota promotes Claeys to coachCould Sonny Dykes be in play for Houston?Fuente, Morris top candidates at Virginia TechKill lobbying for Minnesota interim to get job

OUR EXPERTS

MORE

TONY BARNHART 
Gridiron Now - Expert
Crimson Tide now No. 2 in CFP rankings

JIMMY HYAMS 
Gridiron Now - Expert
Jones' 'build a program' comment is unrealistic

MIKE HUGUENIN 
Gridiron Now - Expert
The top 3 individual matchups this weekend

Saturday, Nov 14

Georgia (6-3) @12:00 PM

Auburn (5-4)CBS

Florida (8-1) @12:00 PM

South Carolina (3-6)ESPN

North Texas (1-8)12:00 PM

Tennessee (5-4)SECN

Alabama (6-1) @3:30 PM

Mississippi State (6-2)CBS

Kentucky (4-5) @4:00 PM

Vanderbilt (3-6)SECN

Western Carolina (6-3)7:00 PM

Texas A&M (6-3)ESPNU

Arkansas (4-4) @7:15 PM

LSU (7-1) @ESPN

BYU (7-2)7:30 PM

Missouri (4-5) in Kansas CitySECN

21
Shares

98

--
--
GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GatorNews" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to gatornews+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.