Report Card: Florida failed in every way imaginable against Kentucky

Florida rolled into Kentucky on a three-game winning streak and feeling pretty good about itself. It rolled out on a stretcher with people wondering if the Gators are good enough to avoid a third straight losing season.

Here's how we grade Florida football's performance:

Offense: F-plus

It earned a plus because Graham Mertz completed 25 of 30 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, and he somehow managed to leave with no broken bones. Otherwise, Kentucky’s defensive front brutalized the Gators. And this was the game in which UF finally had its full offensive line available after injuries and suspensions held players back. The result: 69 yards rushing. If Florida can’t do better than that, a lot more misery is on the way.

Defense: F

Were the Gators really No. 5 in total defense heading into the game? They looked like No. 555 once it began. Ray Davis is a very good runner, but UF made him look like vintage Earl Campbell. Davis gained 206 yards in the first half alone and seemed to break that many tackles doing it. The grade would have been an F-minus, but Kentucky QB Devin Leary hit only nine-of-20 passes for 69 yards. If he’d been sharp, Kentucky might have hung 50 on the Gators.

Special Teams: D plus

Jeremy Crawshaw had a nice day, averaging 53.8 yards on five punts. Unlike last week, there were never any instances of 10 men on the field. Those things were overshadowed by a killer penalty when freshman Dijon Johnson tried to leap over a blocker to block a kick. The 15-yard personal foul gave Kentucky the ball back, and Ray Davis scored on a 75-yard run to make it 16-0 and deflate what little hopes UF had. Why do those things keep happening?

Coaching F

Billy Napier said the Gators deserve all the criticism they’ll get, and it must start with him. Florida did not come out ready to play, which has become a trend. Even when the Gators got down, there was no sense of urgency on offense. As for the defense, 11 fans chosen at random from the stands could have tackled better than the Gators. Then there was the sloppiness of 10 penalties. Napier is nothing if not detail oriented, but UF is anything but meticulous once the games begin.

David Whitley is The Gainesville Sun's sports columnist. Contact him at dwhitley@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidEWhitley

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida flunks SEC test at Kentucky