Twenty-four minutes.
If you’re reading this in class, celebrate with a subdued fist pump if you’ve been sitting there for more than 24 minutes. You’re in the homestretch!
It took me 24 minutes to shower, brush my teeth, get dressed and leave my apartment this morning. You can watch the “Gangnam Style” music video on YouTube nearly six times in 24 minutes. Believe me, I have thoroughly tested that number.
Simply put, 24 minutes — or 1,440 seconds — is a long time.
Now, add a second to that eternity. That’s how long LSU held onto the ball during the second half of the Tigers’ 41-11 dismantling of the Gators last season in Death Valley.
Granted, the game was out of hand at halftime, but LSU controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half. The Tigers broke the Gators’ spirits in a slow, painful fashion.
“We wore down as the game went (on) last year,” linebacker Jon Bostic said.
The 13 seconds that elapsed on Jacoby Brissett’s 65-yard touchdown to Andre Debose marked the lone bright spot for the Gators’ offense in the second half. UF gained just 38 yards on its 13 other plays from scrimmage.
Former LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu caught as many passes from Brissett (one) as UF’s receivers did during the second half.
Meanwhile, the Tigers ran 21 of their 63 plays in the fourth quarter and piled on 14 points to complete the 30-point rout of the outmanned and overpowered Gators.
“We got beat really bad,” nose tackle Omar Hunter said. “It was a sick feeling.”
Let me throw out another number: 180. That represents the degree of change you will see in the line-of-scrimmage battle this time around.
Last year, Florida’s ground game consisted of giving the ball to either Jeff Demps or Chris Rainey and hoping the speedsters could outrun everybody. Against the likes of Alabama and LSU, relying on that strategy was stupid.
However, the Gators have a legitimate ground game in 2012 led by north-south runner Mike Gillislee and a bigger offensive line. Gillislee has been clutch for Florida this season and has proven he is more than capable of filling the workhorse role for the UF offense.
Coaches limited Gillislee to 13 carries against Kentucky, and the DeLand native got some much-needed rest during the bye week. He should be ready to carry the offensive load on Saturday.
Offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Florida will not monitor Gillislee’s carries, and I applaud that strategy. The Gators should give Gilly the rock at least 20 times on Saturday.
“He’s 22, he’s got good youth in him,” Pease said. “Look at guys in the NFL. If a guy wants to play at the next level, he better be able to handle it 25 times a game. … Mike can handle that. Mike is good at avoiding people. He’s not taking direct hits. He knows how to protect himself, like any good running back.”
The Tigers rank third in the Southeastern Conference in rushing defense, but the best ground attack they have faced this season is North Texas’ 63rd-ranked unit.
LSU has talent along its defensive front seven. But heading into Game 6, the group is largely untested in 2012.
With the exception of leading rusher Kenny Hilliard, the Tigers are hurting on the other side of the ball. Preseason All-SEC first-teamer Alex Hurst switched from right to left tackle to replace All-SEC second-teamer Chris Faulk, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
Fullback J.C. Copeland will play with a left leg injury, and running back Spencer Ware will play with a shoulder injury. Alfred Blue is likely out for the season with a knee injury.
LSU, which relies on power running, will face its toughest defensive test so far shorthanded, with banged-up pieces in its ground game.
The return of Jelani Jenkins from a right thumb injury only bolsters Florida’s unit, which has benefited significantly from the contributions of freshmen linebackers Dante Fowler Jr. and Antonio Morrison.
Also, the Gators are hungry for turnovers, and the Tigers fumbled five times against Towson last weekend.
Florida may not knock off LSU this weekend, but an inability to run the ball and control the clock will not be the Gators’ downfall.
Muschamp constantly emphasizes controlling the line of scrimmage, and Florida has the personnel and the experience to win ugly.
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Senior running back Mike Gillislee receives a handoff from sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel during Florida's 38-0 win against Kentucky on Sept. 22 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Gillislee ran for 56 yards on 13 carries.
