At this rate, UF quarterback Tim Tebow will not be winning a second Heisman Trophy this year.
With 489 passing yards and five touchdowns on the year, he is way behind Missouri's Chase Daniel (1,412 yards and 12 touchdowns) and Texas Tech's Graham Harrell (1,573 and 12).
But honestly? Tebow does not care that on Saturday against Tennessee, he only threw 15 passes and earned just 26 rushing yards on 12 carries.
"To tell you the truth, during the game I never even thought about it one time, how many passes or what was going on," Tebow said. "I mean, we're running this play, first down, now we're focused on another first down."
Through three games last year, Tebow was soaring with 835 passing yards and eight touchdowns. Now, he doesn't have time to focus on the numbers until he watches the game tape.
But even then, scoring points is more important than racking up passing yards.
"It doesn't even register like that until after the game," Tebow said. "You sit down, you look through it, and you break everything down. But I mean, the way we're running it now is great. We're picking up first downs, managing the clock and having a lot of success doing it.
"Everything else will come. You've just got to be patient and just trust the system."
That system, run by offensive coordinator Dan Mullen, is doing just fine. UF has beaten its opponents in the only two stats Mullen pays attention to: wins and points. The Gators have scored 112 points this year compared to 19 for its opposition.
"We did exactly what we wanted to do on Saturday," Mullen said.
After a long pause where reporters wanted him to elaborate, Mullen finished with this.
"That's about it."
Mullen has plenty to choose from this season. Tebow's role in the offense is changing with more playmakers than ever at running back. Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody and even Brandon James are all taking carries away from Tebow. And with James returning punts and kickoffs to midfield, Tebow only has 50 yards to rack up on many drives instead of 80 or 90.
The new clock rules have also cut down on Tebow's numbers, taking plays away from the Gators that could potentially see the offense throw deep or accumulate yards on the ground.
When it comes to making huge plays in crunch time, Tebow said he will still be in coach Urban Meyer's face, screaming to get the ball.
"When I'm called upon to make those plays, I'll make them," Tebow said. "I'm trying to be smart and win games."
But in normal situations, he's fine with handing the rock to a running back.
"That's only when the game's on the line, though. On fourth down or something," Tebow said. "That's not first and 10 or second and 5."
At least five guys on the field are enjoying the increased running game and lack of passes - the offensive line.
Senior left tackle Phil Trautwein expressed his fondness for the run-up-the-gut style of offense the Gators have shown this year.
"We love to be a physical offensive line," Trautwein said. "If that's what it takes, to run the ball to win, that's the way we'll do it."
