Tom: We’re three games into Will Muschamp’s first season and finally have our first Southeastern Conference game under our belts, so we’re starting to get an idea of Florida’s offensive identity. To this point, it’s been a heavy dose of running backs, both on handoffs and in the passing game, but the receivers have been a non-factor.
This has to be a concern moving forward with the meat of the Gators’ schedule on the horizon, right?
Greg: No, not really. Not at all, in fact.
Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Trey Burton are Florida’s three best playmakers. They need to get the majority of touches.
Whether you’re playing Alabama or Furman, Gainesville High or the New England Patriots, your best players are your best players, and they need to get the ball the most for the offense to be successful.
Elite defenses — the type Florida will face in October — are good enough to take away any team’s top threat. While the Gators’ offense may be one-dimensional, it’s based on more than just one player. If a defense slides to Rainey on the right, Florida has Demps on the left. And if you commit to taking away both, Burton will pound it up the middle.
Florida’s attack is what it is, and asking it to be more than that is a recipe for disaster.
Tom: Here’s the thing: Elite defenses — like the Alabama’s and LSU’s of the world — aren’t going to play Florida like FAU, UAB and Tennessee did.
They’re not going to play soft coverage downfield and give the Gators the swing passes to Demps, Rainey and Burton. They have the speed to take the flats away and force John Brantley to do some actual throwing.
And those teams most certainly will try to take away the run from Florida. The running backs will still get their touches, but LSU and Alabama are ranked third and fourth in the nation in rushing defense, respectively.
Florida’s receivers are going to need to be more than decoys — which they’ve been for the better part of three games — if the Gators hope to be successful on offense.
Greg: The Alabama and LSU rush defenses may be strong, but their ability to stop the pass isn’t far behind. Through three games, Alabama ranks fifth nationally. LSU is 19th.
Florida could barely get the aerial attack going against FAU and UAB, so why should they expect to have any success against top-flight opponents?
No matter who UF plays, a carry from Demps or Rainey has the potential to go the distance.
Because the offensive line has played surprisingly well, Florida’s best bet is to pound it and hope one of them can take it to the house.
The mere threat of speedy receivers Deonte Thompson or Quinton Dunbar getting up the field is enough to keep the defense honest.
Tom: Yeah, those pass defense numbers aren’t too shabby; but last I checked, Florida was all about taking what the defense gives it. That’s not going to be the short passing game and running game against those teams since their strengths are stopping the run.
Florida couldn’t get the aerial attack going its first three games because the opposing defenses weren’t going to let it. Smarter teams will make Florida pass, and the Gators have to establish the passing game for Dunbar and Thompson to be considered threats.
Of Brantley’s 47 completions, 17 have been to receivers.
That’s not going to cut it moving forward, and it’s why the Gators need to do more than just get the ball to their three-headed monster at running back.
Contact Tom Green at tgreen@alligator.org and Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
