Sunday Hash: Breaking down how Florida’s Week 10 loss affects program
Maybe the new strategy for Florida should be a simple one: Stop beating South Carolina.
Florida has won in each of the last two years against the Gamecocks and each time it felt like a program changer.
Except it was not.
After last year’s win, Florida lost its final three games. After this year’s win over the Gamecocks, there is a real chance Florida could finish the season with five straight losses.
Maybe it’s the Curse of Steve Spurrier.
Whatever it is, it’s not fun for Gator fans who keep having these moments of hope drowned by the raging waters of chaos.
The Sunday Hash today looks at Florida’s most recent loss, an overtime thriller against Arkansas, with the latest Dooley’s Dozen.
We can do the math
It doesn’t take Stephen Hawking to figure out that Florida has lost as many games as it has won under Billy Napier. Or that Florida is probably going to finish under .500 for the third straight season. Or that Billy Napier is 7-10 against Power 5 teams at Florida. No, we get all of that.
We also understand the why
On Saturday, Florida started three true freshmen on defense. Their best offensive player is a true freshman. This is a team that has a chance to be good, but it won’t be this year because these kids haven’t developed as players or athletes yet.
It’s a team without a Brandon Spikes or a Sammy Green or Brandon Siler — someone to get your attention.
It’s going to get rough
The coaches are pretty much insulated from all of the noise in the system, but they know it is out there. Tyler from Spartanburg is waiting to pounce. And the players hear it.
“It’s not my job to preach patience. It’s my job to coach the team,” said Billy Napier after the loss. “I do feel like there are things we can do better.”
But that’s part of the disconnect
The fans don’t get much of Napier during the week. But they are getting a little tired of the same answers after the game about how the coaches have to do a better job of coaching. While that is coach-speak, let’s see it in action.
“I’m sure everybody will have an opinion about it, but we flat-out did not make enough plays today, and I’m sure the film will say that,” Graham Mertz said.
The times of our lives
Remember back in the old days when Gator fans would be disappointed with a 9-4 season? When they ran Ron Zook out for winning eight games a year and two coaches who won division titles? Maybe everybody needs to understand that expectations probably need to simmer down. Just be happy you got to live through Spurrier and Tebow.
This has to be addressed
Napier has like a thousand people running around the halls getting everyone cut-up film and donuts. How about assigning a team of black polo shirts to study why Florida smells like a dumpster fire behind a sewage treatment plant in the third quarter of games?
In eight games that weren’t McNeese, Florida has scored just 26 total points all season in the third. That’s something to be ashamed of. Get it fixed.
Here’s the funny thing
The ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor said that Napier told her the Gators were going to start fast in the second half. And they were getting the ball first. Then they ran nine plays on two possessions that gained a total of nine yards. That, my friend, is not coming down fast
Tre Wilson needs more touches
He has had 19 in his last two games and it is still not enough. Wilson had eight catches for 90 yards, but 58 yards came after the catch. He was targeted nine times compared to Kahleil Jackson’s 10. He needs to get his hands on the ball the way Florida used to use Percy Harvin.
And why was Arlis Boardingham ignored until the final drive in regulation? These are the kinds of questions you get after a loss.
This is not a good stat
I used this one yesterday but think it bears repeating. In its last three games when the schedule has turned even more difficult, Florida is giving up an average of 477.3 yards per game. And they have allowed 40.3 points a game.
This defense is bruised, battered and tired. The kids are not alright. They’re beat.
We must remember this
Nobody is trying to lose any of these games. I see young men playing hard and the transformation of Princely Umanmielen has been fun to watch. I mean, they’re trying.
“I don’t think there’s anybody more frustrated than the men on this team, the coaches on this team,” Mertz said. We know. We’re just sharing it with you.
And they have not quit, nor will they
It is pretty easy now to dismiss (or even divorce) this team with the three games remaining against LSU, Missouri and FSU. There does not seem to be a path to a bowl game through those thick woods. But it’s still college football.
“We play good players and good coaches every week, and that group is up for the challenge,” Napier said. “There ain’t nobody running and hiding in there, I can promise you.”
This could be historic
But not in a good way. It feels like there are some really good players (like Ricky Pearsall) who are being wasted because the talent isn’t around them.
But this is an ugly fact: Should Florida lose these last three games or qualify for a bowl and then lose it, this would be the first time the Florida Gators will have had three straight losing seasons since 1945-47.
Try Mullen That Over, Dan.
Read more
Pat Dooley’s Six Pack: Instant reactions to Florida’s blunder in the Swamp
Five takeaways from Florida’s overtime loss to Arkansas Razorbacks
Good, Bad and Ugly: Gators Wire’s quick takes on devastating Arkansas loss
Twitter reactions to Florida football’s overtime loss to Arkansas
PHOTOS: Highlights from Florida football’s loss vs. Arkansas
Twitter reacts to crucial Jordan Castell interception against Arkansas
PHOTOS: A look at Florida football’s Gator Walk ahead of Arkansas game
Follow
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
