Florida Gators: 3 keys to fixing the slumping offense
By Mark Rogers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Make the Quarterback Comfortable
After leading Florida to a 6-0 start, Will Grier was lost to suspension just days prior to the LSU game. Despite a 35-28 loss in Death Valley, hope could be gained from Treon Harris’ (17 for 32, 271 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions) day in leading the Gators’ offense against one of the nation’s top defenses.
Harris seems to have regressed since the LSU game. He completed just 12 of 24 passes for 158 yards vs Vandy. More importantly, the Florida offense produced just nine points. Harris hit on only 8 of 19 passes vs Georgia.
Harris is a mobile quarterback with a scatter-shot arm. Ironically, he throws better when his feet are set in the pocket than when he is on the move and becomes a threat to use his speed. Head coach Jim McElwain may also be hesitant to incorporate designed runs with no viable backup.
The Florida offense has featured a number of bootleg run-pass options during Harris’ ten starts in 2014 and over the past several weeks. SEC defensive coordinators seemed to have caught on, using an athletic spy to cut down the running threat and force Harris to throw on the run.
Against Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU, Demarcus Robinson, Brandon Powell and Antonio Callaway proved they could do serious damage against elite secondaries. Harris must deliver when the opportunities are there. McElwain is the right coach to find the matchups and develop Harris in a short period of time.
Next: Establish the Run