Muschamp on Gators’ QB problems: ‘Ask Dan’
GAINESVILLE — Coach Will Muschamp has answered the question more than enough.
The Florida Gators’ continued issues at quarterback are Dan Mullen’s problem now.
The topic, though, is fair game this week for Muschamp, who will return to the Swamp for the second time as head coach at South Carolina. Who will line up under center for the reeling Gators (6-3, 4-3 SEC) against the surging Gamecocks (5-3, 4-3) remains to be seen.
Reporters asked Muschamp Tuesday what he makes of his former team’s long-standing issues at the most critical position.
“I’m the head coach at South Carolina. Ask Dan,” Muschamp said. “Next question. I got asked that question a lot. “I hit my quota.” Joking aside, Muschamp was fired during his fourth season in Gainesville largely for his inability to identify and develop a quarterback.
Many blamed Muschamp’s defensive background and conservative approach to the other side of the football.
Meanwhile, Mullen — like predecessor Jim McElwain — is known for his ability to develop quarterbacks. Yet Mullen is running up against the same issue during Year 1 with the Gators.
During last Saturday’s loss to Missouri, Mullen benched Feleipe Franks in favor of Kyle Trask. Mullen said Monday he did not know who would start Saturday as UF looks to snap a two-game skid.
Mullen’s track record says he will develop a winning quarterback for the Gators.
Following the Missouri loss, UF has been outscored by 40 points in two games. Mullen was asked why a school that produced three Heisman-winning quarterbacks has not been able to find even a good one since Tim Tebow.
“Well, our quarterbacks haven’t played much in the system right here,” Mullen explained. “They’re two guys that are young guys that haven’t played a whole lot of football. So we’re gonna keep coaching them. We’re gonna keep working them.”
The Florida Gators’ defense enters the season’s final three games in another tailspin.
Unlike a season ago, the Gators still could pull out of their defensive funk and help salvage Mullen’s first season.
Based on the past two games, the unit will have to make a 180-degree change in performance and attitude.
The Gators raced to a 6-1 start as the defense forced turnovers, pressured the quarterback and thrived on third down.
During losses to Georgia and Missouri, UF failed to force a single turnover, totaled just two sacks and allowed 19 of 32 third-down conversions.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said some of the production decline has been due to lack of effort.
“I can go back and show plays where we’re close, but close doesn’t get it done,” he said Monday. “It’s a production business and you’ve got to find ways to finish. Everybody can be a part of that, whether it’s tighter coverage, whether it’s better get-off, whether it’s maybe one guy eating up another guy for somebody
“Everybody can be a part of that as a team to find a way to get those turnovers, to find a way to affect the quarterback.”
Coming off the Georgia loss and the end of UF’s SEC title hopes, linebacker and team leader David Reese sensed it might be a long day against Missouri.
“It was our energy before like as a unit, as a team, it was our energy before the game,” he said. “Just our attitude and our effort going into that game.”
The Gators will have to recapture their mental edge on defense Saturday against South Carolina.
The Gamecocks gained 510 yards during last Saturday’s 48-44 win against Ole Miss while the Gators gave up a season-high 471 to Missouri.
Worse, UF has allowed at least 35 points in consecutive games for just the fourth time since 1971, including a season ago to Georgia and Missouri amid the firing of McElwain.
Asked how it felt to watch Missouri scored 38 points in the Swamp, defensive tackle Adam Shuler did not mince words.
“I mean, you’re supposed to feel like crap,” he said. “That’s not good. That’s not acceptable. We gotta handle it in practice and do better.”