Gators’ slim title hopes rest on o-line

GAINESVILLE — Maligned by their head coach at Missouri and manhandledatLSU, it hasbeena roughstretch for the Florida Gators’ offensive line.

Two lopsided losses featuring 10 sacks and one offensive touchdown fell squarely on the shoulders of the five men up front.

“We definitely call ourselves out for those losses … keeping the defense on the field and us going threeand-out too many times,” lineman Max Garcia said Tuesday. “We do feel like it’s a majority of our fault.”

Garcia and Company also will be a major part of the solution if Florida (4-3, 3-2) is able to beat Georgia (4-3, 3-2) Saturday and keep the Gators’ increasingly slim SEC East title hopes alive.

Florida’s ball- control, run-oriented offense depends on winning at the line of scrimmage. When it fails, things fall apart.

During a 36-17 loss Oct. 19 at Missouri, the Gators allowed six sacks, eight quarterback hurries and compiled 151 yards — the fewest by a UF team since 1999.

Frustrated and flummoxed afterward, coach Will Muschamp called his offense “inept” and pointed the finger at the line.

To find an effective game plan on offense going for-

asked what it would be like to walk into Doak Campbell Stadium as a Hurricane. “I’m looking forward to seeing what that’s like. It’s a great place and I have a lot of great memories. I’m excited to go back. [FSU] has done a great job this year, and I’m very proud of what they’ve done. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”

While Coley’s current crop of players is in South Florida, there’s no doubt his fingerprints are onFlorida State’s potent roster in Tallahassee.

As the Seminoles’ recruiting coordinator, he helped FSU land back-toback top-10 signing classes in 2008 and 2009. He was named the ACC’s top recruiter in 2010 by ESPN.com and as tight ends coach, he worked directly with Seminoles’ standout Nick O’Leary, a former Palm Beach Dwyer standout who has emerged as one of Jameis Winston’s go- to targets with six touchdown catches.

Coley also had the opportunity to watch Winston as a scout-team player, before the quarterback sensation played his way into Heisman Trophy consideration through Florida State’s first seven games.

“He’s a tremendous talent. He’s a kid that’s great to work with. Heworks hard,” Coley said when asked about Winston’s success so far this season.

“I’m not surprised. I knewhe had all those skills. When I watched him practice last year as a redshirt, I knew.”

Though he knows Florida State’s players well, Coley doesn’t think he’ll be able to give his new team any kind of inside information. The Seminoles coaching staff underwent multiple changes. The players have changed, too.

Instead, Coley’s focusing on the tangible ways he can help Miami win, including working with quarterback Stephen Morris, sharing the sideline with players during games and drawing up schemes to showcase the Hurricanes’ offensive playmakers.

“It’s been fun [calling plays]. I’ve enjoyed the challenge,” Coley said.

“I obviously have a lot of respect for the job I did up there and the training that I got and the amount of time that I put in to getting to the point where I’m at, where I’m calling plays and I’m helping a team prepare and score.”

Adds Golden, “I’ve been really impressed with his poise and his experience and maturity in terms of