2022 [W4: UF Post Game] Melt Down in College Station.

[Weeze]

Melt Down in College Station

Florida Falls to Texas A&M 43-3.

 

Kyle Field under the lights as Gators lose 3 in a Row.

The Gators opened their SEC play on the road against the Texas A&M Aggies. The Aggies came into Saturday night's game as the slight favorite to win, and they took that personally. The Gator Offense was non-existent for the second week in a row as Florida failed to find the endzone. They did at least manage to kick a Field Goal this week, as to not be completely shut out. Though the 3 consolation points will be be questioned by the fans as it came late in the 4th quarter. Some fans will want to know why to coach didn't just go for broke and try to get a touchdown. The defense for the second week in a row could not keep the opponent off the board, and allowed a season high 426 yards rushing. The more appalling stat however is the 74-3 point differential the last two weeks.

 

QB Morgan Neal, 18 of 38 for 163 yards, 0 TDs, 2 Ints, 9 Rushes for 35 yards.

 

The Gators have consistently struggled this season on offense. The Passing game, lead by senior QB Morgan Neal, has struggled. The Pass catchers at receivers are top heavy. Once you get past those top two targets, it has been difficult for Neal to find a reliable target. But even Micheal Burawa, WR1, and the best pass catcher with 66%(Min. 9 Targets), has struggled to be reliable. 19 Catches on 29 Targets, and 181 Yards on the season, has struggled to find ways to get Burawa open. Saturday he was only 4 of 8 targets for 38 yards, week before 5 of 8 for 56 yards. After the game coach Weeze spoke about how he and his staff were going to reevaluate and have to come up with a new plan for his receivers. They tried something new this week and it didn't work.

"We tried changing things up, we wanted to spread the formation out and get Neal more involved on the run game. We feel he did a decent enough job running the ball today, but the passes just weren't there to be made. He is too talented a passer for these kind of passing numbers the last couple weeks, so it is on us[the staff] to figure out how to scheme players open." When asked if we would see a shake up or if more changes were to come, he was slow to respond, but eventually answered.

"I don't think it would be too hard to imagine changing things up. What we are doing obviously isn't working. We have talent all over the roster, its just about getting creative and seeing what we can do to help the team as a whole."

 

Neal might have had an decent day for a QB who isn't asked to run very often, but Sam Haynes struggled with a miserable 26 yards on the game. Mason Matthews, his backup didn't fare much better with 17 yards to round out the team total 78 yards. The second consecutive week that the team has rushed for less than 100 yards as a unit, only rushing for 84 last week against Nebraska. Could we see a change at running back moving forward? During camp, running back was a heavily rotated position and we saw several players start. The last two weeks we've seen a combined 3.2 YPC average for Haynes, which maybe would be ok if he was a power back that was going to beat you over and over again, however Haynes gift is with his speed, and it just hasn't been there. This will be an area to watch over the next week has the Gators get ready for the Tigers of Missouri.

 

The Florida Offense averages 10 PPG so far this season over four games.

As bleak as some things have seen so far this season however for one of the worst offenses in football, there is one VERY bright note that we would be remiss if we didn't mention. It would be disrespectful. The Florida Gators have given up only one Sack this season. One. The Same team is also the only team that has prevented them from getting a sack, Nebraska. Florida's streaked continued Saturday night as the unit stonewalled the Aggies passrush as it failed to find Morgan on 38 drop backs. So while there is a lot that can be said about the weapons on this team, the O-line this season in pass protection has been top notch in keeping Neal off the ground for 150 of his 151 pass attempts.

 

QB Jordan Peterson 12 of 19 for 167 yards, 4 TDs, 0 Ints, 31 Rushes for 237 yards 1 TD, 1 Fum.

Florida's defense by the end of the game against Texas A&M looked exhausted. It looked like a team who had run a marathon. While A&M only ran 76 plays vs Florida's 67, 75% of Texas A&M offensive playcalls were run plays. They gas lit the defense and continued to pour gasoline on the fire until the final whistle. 57 Rushing attempts, for 426 yards(7.5YPC), and 2 TDs. On the rare occasions Peterson actually remembered he could throw the ball, it was almost a guaranteed completion from the defense being so spent. While Ranked as one of the worst rushing defenses, the Florida Pass defense has ranked in the top 15 in the country. Without any answers to the run game however, it was just too gassed to stop the passes which unfortunately lead to the majority of their touchdowns.

 

Jordan Peterson was an all-star. If he has dreams of playing at the next level and needed a highlight real, he got it. 12 of 19, he only threw for 167 yards but he didn't need to throw because he was doing it all with his legs. He ran a track meet Saturday night, rushing 31 times for 237 yards by himself. Florida has a made a few personnel changes upfront to help with the run, but it clearly hasn't been enough. Peterson managed to find the endzone with his legs as well 1 time to add to the four he threw. Running back Gehrig Okwara also had a day running 21 times for 162 yards and a touchdown.

 

The defense might be what it is for the season. The biggest solution to the defensive woes at this point might be the offense. If the offense can find ways to score points and keep control of the ball, keeping the defense off the field and allowing them to rest, we might see a increase in their production.

 

Getting back on track however does not get any easier this week as the Gators return home after a two week stint on the road. This week they get to hoist the Missouri Tigers. The Tigers are coming in with Aaron Leamon as the leading passer in the SEC(1,271 yards). He of course is passing to the SEC leading receiver Jakeem Erlin(492 yards). The struggling defense will have their hands full dealing with those two. But if the coaching staff can find the schematic changes they were talking about, It is possible that the Gators could pull off a major upset and win a major victory against the number 1 team in the SEC East.