After posting the worst back-to-back losses in the last 40 years, it would be easy for players and coaches to point fingers.
With John Brantley out, the offense has been atrocious, and the defense not much better.
On Saturday in Baton Rouge, La., the Gators held the ball for just 5:59 in the second half. They didn’t have a drive longer than three plays and recorded only one true first down. In all, LSU held the ball for 35:40.
Against Alabama, it was just as bad: two first downs in the second half, and the Crimson Tide had 18:40 time of possession in the third and fourth quarters with a total of 34:41.
Poor field position, more often than not, has also hampered the defense.
Alabama’s average starting position was its own 36-yard line, and two of the Crimson Tide’s scoring drives began in Florida territory. LSU also benefited from the Florida offense not being able to move the ball and switch the field, as it had an average starting position of its own 35-yard line. Five of the Tigers’ seven scoring drives started at their own 43 or better.
Blame the losses on the offense, you might be saying.
But there’s also been plenty of cause for concern on the other side of the ball.
Florida has given up 79 points and 819 yards of total offense the last two weeks, and the defense has allowed big play after big play, regardless of field position.
The Gators have also had plenty of problems stopping the run. That has to get better going forward. There’s no question about it.
So which unit is at fault for the losses? The answer is simple: both.
Dan Quinn isn’t making excuses for his defense, saying its job is to stop the offense, no matter the situation it’s put in.
“I kind of look at it from a different angle,” he said. “We’re firefighters, and let’s go put out the fire.”
Quinn said a lot of the defense’s struggles have been a result of not getting off the field on third down, as opposed to being put in bad positions by an inept offense. To a degree, he’s right, as the Gators allowed a 50-percent conversion rate the last two weeks.
More concerning perhaps, the unit did not force a single turnover.
“That’s one of the things we’ve been disappointed in the last two weeks: not creating opportunities for the offense,” Quinn said.
But Florida has scored a combined 21 points in the two games, and Charlie Weis is also holding the offense accountable, saying putting up that few points simply won’t get the job done.
“Obviously we can’t be scoring 10 and 11 points and winning football games,” he said.
Florida has to play better in every facet, including special teams. And until that happens, there will be plenty of reasons why not.
Just be happy the Gators aren’t pointing fingers.
Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.
