Midseason Report Card – Florida Gators
Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr. will be one of the most important player for the Gators during their second-half run at the SEC East division title. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Florida Gators
QB: C-
When Florida has most needed its quarterbacks to play well, Jeff Driskel and Tyler Murphy have fallen short – the former by self-destructing against Miami and the latter simply by not being able to get the job done at LSU. Murphy, at least, looked good in wins over Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas.
Rest of offense: D+
The run game has been hit-or-miss. Now that RB Matt Jones is out for the season with a torn meniscus, RBs Mack Brown and Kelvin Taylor must pick up the slack for a Gators run game that ranks 13th in the SEC. WR Solomon Patton continues to be a solid option in the passing game, but the Gators QBs simply can’t utilize him frequently or effectively enough. What was supposed to be an improved offensive line has not been able to dominate the way an otherwise ordinary offense needs. Florida ranks 104th in the nation in scoring.
Defense: A+
As badly as the offense has fared, Florida’s defense has kept it in every game. The Gators lost DT Dominique Easley and are still one of the scariest defenses in the nation. CBs Loucheiz Purifoy and Vernon Hargreaves rank among the top cornerback tandems in the nation. Florida ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense and leads the SEC in total defense by an astonishing 43 yards per game.
Overall: B
Few teams could suffer season-ending injuries to their starting quarterback, top running back and a potential all-America defensive tackle and contend for their division title. Florida not only has a chance, it can become the decisive figure in the SEC East race if it beats Missouri on Saturday. Coach Will Muschamp holds a lot of credit for holding things together thus far – albeit against the easy part of the Gators’ schedule.
Offensive Spotlight: RB Kelvin Taylor
With Jones out for the season, the true freshman will start getting more reps. Brown’s 3.7 yards per carry average simply won’t get the job done for a team that must run the ball to be successful. Look for Taylor to take the job outright – especially if he plays as he did on Florida’s last scoring drive against LSU.
Defensive Spotlight: DE Dante Fowler
Easley’s absence leaves more questions up front for the Gators than in the amazingly talented secondary. Fowler possesses the talent to be the dominant, game-changing figure Florida needs. He already has 7 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.