UF offense fizzles in 33-17 defeat
UF’s offense fails to impress on big stage
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jerry’s World was overwhelming. The Florida Gators offense was not.
Florida coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier pulled their greatest non-hits from the recycle bin against the Michigan Wolverines in the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium Saturday afternoon. Garbage as usual.
The offensive line couldn’t block. Running backs couldn’t run. And the quarterbacks didn’t do much either. Michigan 33, Florida 17. Florida’s two TDs came on defensive pick-6 returns, two plays that gave the Gators hope in the expansive confines of one of the gaudiest football stadiums on the planet. False hope on a dismal afternoon.
One of the neat amenities in the stadium is a massive HD video board suspended 90 feet above the center of the field. Unfortunately for all the Florida fans, they got a super-sized view of a shrinking offense.
McElwain remains the erstwhile offensive guru whose offense could use a pick-me-up. Yet again.
The Gators offense ranked No. 97 nationally in points per game against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents for the last two seasons, and they’re off to another rousing start in 2017. They finished with only 192 yards of total offense, but a nice chunk came at garbage time. They only had 136 yards midway through the fourth quarter. The team rushed for 11 yards, factoring in six sacks.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said his team is moving on with “humble hearts” after the rout. Jimmy Mac is moving on with a huge slice of Humble Pie.
“They beat us every which way they could up front, and we never had an answer,” McElwain said. “Plain and simple, take your whooping. And I’m taking it.”
Still is, probably. The Twitter Mob quickly rallied around their computers and smart phones, blasting away: “Nice to know you, McElwain. Chip Kelly, you looking for a job?”
“Wasn’t McElwain hired because of his offensive coaching ability? Well in Year 3, it’s offensive, all right. #Gators.”
McElwain’s pre-season hyperbole about his offensive line — “I’m really excited about this group” — turned into a bunch of static noise once the game started.
Ditto duds for the quarterback
play.
Starter Feleipe Franks had his moments, throwing a number of mid-range spirals. For Florida fans who have forgotten, that’s a ball that is thrown crisply in the air.
His first completion was a tight toss down the right sideline for a 34-yard gain. But he also tripped twice after taking the snap from center, fumbling twice and losing the ball once.
He had a forgettable game, completing only 5 of 9 passes for 75 yards before he was benched in favor of Malik Zaire in the third quarter. Jack Del Rio, the third guy in the mix of QBs, didn’t play, even though McElwain considered throwing him into the mix. It wouldn’t have mattered.
The cliché goes that if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any. If you have three, it’s a dumpster fire. Say hello to your 2017 Florida Gators and an offense that’s been stale for quite some time.
Franks was the 11th starting quarterback for the Gators since Tim Tebow’s final season in 2009. But this wasn’t all on Franks. He often had no room to run and had to revert to scramble mode.
Ditto for Zaire, a Notre Dame graduate transfer. His most memorable play was fumbling in the end zone, resulting in a Michigan TD in the final quarter.
Maybe things improve when 10 players — including Antonio Callaway, the team’s best offensive player but also a troubled wild child — return next week against the Northern Colorado Cupcakes (oops, Bears).
A better measure of where this team stands will come in two weeks against Tennessee.
McElwain said he remains a true believer, insisting, “We’ll come back and have a good football team,” but at this point everything is blissful, wishful thinking.
The Gators offense is in trouble again, and that looms large, in and out of Jerry’s World.