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Florida Football: Studs and duds from the 2019 season

By Dante Pryor

MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 30: Charles Snowden #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers sacks Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 30: Charles Snowden #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers sacks Kyle Trask #11 of the Florida Gators during the second half of the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2019, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Dud: Florida’s offensive line

The Gators did not have many duds this season, but there are two that kept them from the SEC Championship Game. The first was their offensive line. It was problematic this season because of their lack of game time experience.

Coming into this season, the offensive line was the question mark of question marks. They were replacing tackle Jawaan Taylor who declared early for the NFL. This new group was replacing a crew who had a combined 141 starts among them.

The Gator offensive line surrendered 25 sacks this season which isn’t a bad number. However, Mullen wants to compete for conference championships. Although, the line held well against good defenses — Miami, Tennessee and Kentucky, for example — they struggled against elite competition. The Florida offensive line gave up four sacks to the Auburn Tigers. Even against Kentucky the offensive line didn’t run block well. Take away the one 76-yard run, and the Gators average a pedestrian 2.3 yards per carry.

Georgia got to starting quarterback Kyle Trask twice and held the Gator rushing attack to 1.1 yards per carry. This speaks to a larger issue with the Gator line. They are good, but not elite. If they are going to compete with the likes of LSU, Alabama and Georgia their linemen have to elite.

These duds could keep the Gators from being SEC contenders.

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