Dropped passes are the only thing keeping Jeff Driskel from making West Virginia’s Geno Smith green with envy.
If not for his pass-catchers’ butterfingers, Driskel would lead the nation in completion percentage. Nearly 30 percent of his incompletions have been drops. Florida has the worst passing offense in the Southeastern Conference.
The Gators average only 145 passing yards per game, and they have reached the end zone through the air just four times. In the past two games, Jeff Driskel has failed to eclipse the 100-yard mark.
The struggles are understandable. Driskel is a first-time starter under center, and running back Mike Gillislee has established himself as one of the best in the country.
If giving the rock to Gilly 30 times per game is working, why should Florida’s lack of a legitimate passing game be a concern?
Because one-dimensional teams — no matter how talented — are doomed to fail.
Take last year’s LSU squad. The Tigers reached the BCS Championship Game with an elite defense and the second-best rushing offense in the Southeastern Conference.
However, Alabama exposed LSU’s 106th-ranked passing attack in New Orleans and dominated the SEC champions en route to its 14th national title.
Along with an elite defense of its own, the Crimson Tide had the best rushing
offense and fourth-best passing offense in the SEC last season. ‘Bama was balanced.
The Gators have been winning with a great defense and a powerful running game in 2012. But increased production from Driskel and the receiving corps is a must if Florida is to achieve its goal of playing for the SEC championship in Atlanta on Dec. 1.
Driskel certainly has room to improve as a passer. Checking the game replays, 20 of his 37 incompletions this season have either been underthrown, overthrown or tossed at a defender.
But the pass-catchers are also to blame for the struggles. Of Driskel’s 37 incomplete passes this season, 11 have been catchable throws.
Driskel missed out on another completion when Quinton Dunbar simply fell down on a wide-open route against Bowling Green.
For our purposes, a catchable pass is one that hits a receiver in the hands. You can’t get much more accurate than hitting a man’s palms with the football.
Granted, some tosses from Driskel may have a little more mustard on them than others, but Division-I receivers wearing state-of-the-art gloves should not be dropping as many passes as Florida’s pass-catchers — er, droppers are this season.
The Gators are averaging nearly two drops per game. In Florida’s past three contests, seven passes have hit fingers, then grass.
Through six games this season, the Gators’ 11 dropped passes have cost Driskel at least 132 yards and two touchdowns. Had the drops not occurred, Driskel would lead the nation with a 76.6 percent completion rate.
Frankie Hammond Jr., who UF coaches have praised as the team’s most consistent wide receiver, has dropped four passes. Jordan Reed and Trey Burton have two each.
No wide receiver is immune to drops. To err is human, and the last time I checked, Calvin Johnson is the only known robot playing wide receiver.
Florida is a serious national championship contender this season. The No. 2 spot in the BCS standings is a big deal, no matter what coach Will Muschamp and the players say.
However, in order to turn 6-0 into 12-0, and maybe even 14-0, the Gators receivers need to quit dropping the ball — literally.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. watches after a pass deflects off his hands in the end zone during Florida's 20-17 win at Texas A&M on Sept. 8.
