Oliver Barry CRS, GRI
Begin forwarded message:
From: Shane Ford <goufgators@bellsouth.net>
Date: December 30, 2016 at 6:55:04 PM CST
To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Gators: Explosive offense only a matter of time
Reply-To: gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com
--Gators: Explosive offense only a matter of time
Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway makes a catch against Alabama during the SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Dec. 3. The UF players point to some productive plays against the Tide as a sign of things to come for the Gators offense. (Brad McClenny/Staff photographer)
Published: Friday, December 30, 2016 at 1:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 30, 2016 at 1:11 p.m.
TAMPA -- Some might look at Florida's seven-year offensive slump and see a seemingly hopeless and helpless situation, with no apparent end in sight.
Facts
Monday
Who: No. 20 Florida (8-4) vs. No. 21 Iowa (8-4)
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV: ABC
Radio: 103.7-FM, AM-850But the Gators have a much different perspective. They see hope. They see signs of life. They have found reasons to be optimistic that this long and frustrating cycle of offensive ineptitude is about to start turning.
Maybe it begins in Monday's Outback Bowl.
The Gators believe it can happen because of what happened in Atlanta four weeks ago.
Yes, UF lost to Alabama by 38 points. Yes, the Gators rushed for zero yards. But then there were those two long and nearly flawless touchdown drives against a powerful defense that had not given up a TD in more than a month.
Evidence, the Gators say, that the potential is there for Jim McElwain's offense to be potent.
"When we play at the level we're capable of playing at every position, there's few teams that can stop us," quarterback Austin Appleby said. "That team didn't get scored on for an entire month. And we moved the ball the whole game. Now it's about finishing. That's really the biggest thing. You've got to finish.
"It's encouraging because you know how close we are, and we've been that close all year. But there's so much more that we can do and so much more that we're capable of. Going into this game and beyond this game, it's about the guys moving forward and playing to our full potential."
The offensive breakthrough is going to happen, Appleby said. There were signs in the Alabama game. Signs in the win at LSU and in the first half against Tennessee.
It may not happen Monday against Iowa, but it's coming, Appleby said.
"People (outside the program) don't see what the commitment is to being a great offense," Appleby said. "We go against one of the best defenses in the country and beat them on a regular basis. We've got so many young guys. We've got so much room for development and so much room to get better.
"Our coaches are going to continue to learn, to fit guys into roles. You saw how BP (Brandon Powell) exploded against Alabama because we found a great little spot for him.
"We're going to keep bringing guys in that can help us win. All the pieces are here. Now it's about putting them together and ultimately going out and executing. The process getting there is what we're working hard every single day to do."
The Gators are optimistic about the offense, based on the positives that have occurred this season and the fact that other than Appleby and senior wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood, the rest of the offense returns in 2017.
And then there's the McElwain factor. He has a proven system that worked at Alabama and worked at Colorado State. The players seem confident it's going to work at Florida.
"Coach Mac," sophomore tailback Jordan Scarlett said, when asked why he's optimistic about the offense next season. "He's just talking and stressing to us that we've got to get rolling offensively. I know he's trying to put together a plan. He's had some time now within the two years he's been here, so I've got my trust in him. I feel like we're going to be great in year three coming up.
"I just know he's a really smart guy offensively and he knows what he's trying to do."
The players believe, wide receiver Antonio Callaway said.
"We can do it," he said. "We've got the athletes, we've got the talent. We've just got to believe and play on one accord.
"Coach Mac, he knows what he's talking about, he knows what he's talking about. You just have to listen and do what you're coached to do."
Cornerback Jalen Tabor said it's only a matter of time before the offense breaks through.
"They're getting better," he said. "We have a lot of talent on offense. But just like anything else, you have to go through some growing pains. Just like Nick Saban at Alabama. What did he go, 7-6 in his first season? Growing pains. Once they all get on the same page, the sky is going to be the limit. There is so much talent on that side of the ball."
And potential, as the Gators showed in Atlanta earlier this month.
"I think we have a great chance to be great," junior offensive tackle David Sharpe said. "We've got a lot of young guys still on the come-up, still learning the game at all the positions really.
"Yeah man, we can be very explosive at times. If we can keep that consistency (that we had on those TD drives against Alabama), then we can be great."
Contact Robbie Andreu at 352-374-5022 or robbie.andreu@gvillesun.com. Also check out Andreu's blog at Gatorsports.com.
Sent From Shane's iPhoneGo Gators! & Skål Vikes!ALPCA #8756Europlate #1045
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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)
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