Struggling Gators push to save season
‘We have a lot to play for,’ QB Emory Jones says despite woes
GAINESVILLE — Florida stumbled to the finish in 2020 and is on shaky footing five games into the 2021 season.
Coming off a flag-fest at Kentucky, the No. 20 Gators (3-2, 1-2 SEC) have fallen in the polls, the conference standings and now the question is what goals remain for a program with championship visions.
“It’s not the end of the world for us; we have a lot to play for,” quarterback Emory Jones said Tuesday. “We can do a lot of big things still.”
The Gators sit two games behind Georgia and Kentucky in the SEC East. Winning the division is less pressing than beating some quality opponents.
Dating to the Senior Night loss Dec. 12 to LSU, Florida’s Sept. 26 victory against Tennessee is the only win against a Power 5 foe in six tries.
Other than their Cotton Bowl no-show, each of the defeat was by one possession, including the 20-13 decision at Kentucky.
Undone by 15 penalties and poor late-game red-zone execution, the Gators aim to clean up their act during Saturday’s homecoming visit from Vanderbilt and get on track before a pivotal two-game stretch.
AOct. 16 trip to LSU and an Oct. 30 matchup against Georgia in Jacksonville following a bye week will ultimately shape the perception of the season.
“There’s nothing that we can do that can change the results of Saturday night, no matter what we want and how disappointed we are or frustrated we are,” coach Dan Mullen said. “The biggest one to me is you use the frustration to motivate you ... and not let the frustrations create a big negative. Because the negatives are only going to add to the problems that you have.”
Long and short of it
Jones has a strong arm, explosive receivers and a gifted playcaller for a coach.
The combination has not added up to a consistent down-field passing game for the Gators. Florida’s 12 completions of 20 yards or longer are the fewest in the SEC behind Vanderbilt’s punchless attack (11).
Jones realizes fans are blaming him.
“I see a lot of stuff,” he said. The redshirt junior is confident he also knows what’s really going on.
“It’s not that we’re not calling deep plays or passes,” Jones said. “Sometimes, if the defense is dropping all the way back I can’t just force myself to throw a deep ball just because everybody wants me to or because we haven’t done that a lot this season.
“I’m just taking what the defense is giving me.”
The Gators lead the conference with an average of 292.2 rushing yards; Jones’ 438 yards on the ground lead SEC QBs.
Jones averages just 6.45 yards per passing attempt, among the lowest in the league.
Meanwhile, Kyle Trask averaged 9.80 through five games in 2020 and 7.63 for Feleipe Franks in 2018. Trask also was throwing to All-Americas Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney. Four receivers from the 2018 Gators were drafted.
Jones has just 8 completions of 20 yards or longer and just two more than 30. Many factors go into the dearth of deep balls, he said, noting perception is not always reality.
“I know what’s really going on on the field,” he said. “Nobody that’s saying anything on social media or anything knows any plays we’re running, barely knows any defense or coverages, or anything the defense is running. So they really don’t have the understanding of really anything that’s going on on the field.
“I just stay to myself about all that. I never let anything like that get to me.”
Been there, done that
Right guard Stewart Reese was flagged for one of Florida’s eight false-start penalties at Kentucky. That’s one too many for a sixthyear player during an exceedingly sloppy night when all five starting offensive lineman committed false starts.
The performance reminded Reese of a career-low point while at Mississippi State.
During a 49-10 drubbing in 2017 at Auburn, Reese committed three false-start penalties during his first SEC road start.
“It’s just part of the experience learning,” he said.
“Once you go into a hostile environment you have to be ready and prepare to roll with the punches and adjust wherever you need to adjust.”
The Gators’ inability to handle Kroger Field’s crowd noise and avoid pre-snap movement effectively cost them the game.
“I feel like once the bullets started flying some people got kind of flustered,” Reese said. “That’s just part of the game. You just have to learn how to focus.”