With a win in each of the first three weeks of the season, the Gators should be pleased.
But the offense’s play has left plenty to be desired.
No. 9 Florida has intercepted just two fewer passes (10) than it has scored offensive touchdowns (12) this year.
After a second half in which it broke out for 209 rushing yards and 21 points against South Florida, the Gators didn’t carry that momentum into Tennessee, where they scored just seven points in the first half.
And coach Urban Meyer isn’t sure when that consistency will come.
“I have seen us win games, I have seen us do some good things, but I have not seen enough to say that [the offense] is right on that edge,” he said.
A big part of the problem has been quarterback John Brantley’s inability to throw downfield. He is averaging only 5.72 yards per pass attempt this season. That number is the lowest by a Florida quarterback during Meyer’s tenure. The second lowest was in 2005 when Chris Leak averaged 7.05 yards per attempt.
Part of the problem has been the cautious approach the team has taken to begin the year. Florida hasn’t used many five-receiver sets in order to protect Brantley.
“It’s a little bit like when we had Chris Leak,” Meyer said. “We had to slow things down a little bit, protect him and make some plays. But you are going to see more five-man protection, which means you have five available receivers.”
Slow starts have also been a problem for the Gators, as they have not scored in the first quarter of any game this season.
“That’s awful,” Meyer said. “You’ll lose [against Kentucky] if you do that this week.”
Defending Cobb: Just one week after having to game plan against then-Southeastern Conference leading rusher Tauren Poole, the Florida defense will face another test Saturday.
Kentucky hybrid-threat Randall Cobb, who plays wide receiver and wildcat quarterback, poses nightmares to defenses with his versatility.
Despite being attracted to those types of players, the Gators never offered a scholarship to Cobb — something Meyer regrets.
“I’m trying to find out who was recruiting that area,” he said. “I would fire them if they were here, but they are probably gone.”
Cobb already has racked up two receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown.
“With a player like Cobb, he can throw out of [the wildcat],” cornerback Jeremy Brown said. It’s almost like Tebow. He can fake run and you come up to [stop the run] and he’ll throw it over your head. So you just have to respect all phases — his arm, his leg, everything.”
Injury Report: The number of injuries continues to diminish for the Gators.
Offensive guard Carl Johnson was the only UF player that needed help off the field against Tennessee, but Meyer said the senior is doing fine.
Offensive lineman James Wilson was not as fortunate. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday and will miss Saturday’s game against the Wildcats.
Alabama-Florida kickoff time set: The SEC announced that the Gators and the No. 1 Crimson Tide will face off at 8 p.m. on Oct. 2. The game will air on CBS.
