Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Gators fail to match talent
Gap between Mullen, Smart’s programs on display in Georgia loss
JACKSONVILLE – UF suffered a 36-17 loss to Georgia on Saturday in Jacksonville. Check out the top three things we learned from the game:
1. Florida could not match Georgia’s talent level on offense:
The Bulldogs’ recent recruiting dominance came to bear Saturday on coach Dan Mullen’s Gators.
UF’s defense could not keep up with coach Kirby Smart’s stable of playmakers or unsettle sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm.
Two weeks after he struggled mightily during a 20-point loss at LSU, Fromm’s field sense and accuracy were impeccable. He finished 17-of-24 passing for 240 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Gators.
Tailback D’Andre Swift, who has been slowed all season by a groin injury, operated at another gear on his way to a 104-yard day on just 12 carries.
Tight end Issac Nauta muscled his way to a game-high 73 receiving yards, while backup receiver Jeremiah Holloman beat UF backup cornerback C.J. McWilliams for two touchdown passes and drew an interference call — though questionable — in the end zone.
UF held Georgia leading receiver Mecole Hardman to just two catches for 10 yards. But the fastest player on the field Saturday returned a punt 26 yards. Five other Bulldogs had plays longer than 20 yards.
Freddie Swain’s 36-yard touchdown catch was the only play longer than 20 yards for the Gators.
To catch the Bulldogs, Mullen and his staff must close the gap with Smart and Co. on the recruiting trail.
Georgia’s 2018 class ranked No. 1 in the nation. And Saturday, Smart did not even need his top recruit, quarterback Justin Fields.
The Bulldogs’ 2019 class is currently ranked fourth by 247Sports. UF is ranked No. 22.
Until Mullen improves the Gators’ explosiveness on offense, Smart’s Bulldogs are going to be tough to beat.
2. Quarterback Feleipe Franks regressed: Franks certainly improved his performance from a season ago against Georgia. During last October’s 42-7 loss, Franks managed 30 passing yards and an interception on 19 attempts while suffering five sacks and two fumbles.
Yet, Franks took a step back Saturday based on his reasonably steady, levelheaded play much of this season.
Franks did make a spectacular throw — perhaps his best as a Gator — on Swain’s 36-yard touchdown in the middle of the field to give UF a temporary 14-13 lead.
Toss out the play and Franks was 12-of-20 passing for 69 yards, or just 3.5 yards per attempt — not the kind of conservative numbers expected from the strong-armed redshirt sophomore.
Franks missed a golden opportunity for a big play on the Gators’ first offensive play. Mullen caught Georgia’s defense by surprise with a first-down flea-flicker. But Franks had too much flicker on the pass, overthrowing wide open Van Jefferson by several yards.
UF’s next series ended on an inexplicable interception by Franks directly into the arms of cornerback Tyrique McGhee. McGhee later stripped Franks of the football on the UF 1-yard line, with the Gators trailing 20-14.
Meanwhile, first-year freshman Emory Jones saw his first SEC action.
Jones had a couple of nice runs, including one for 12 yards, and made a nice throw down field that drew an interference call. Jones also fumbled on a thirddown option play, ending a UF drive.
Jones did not create QB controversy with Franks — and Mullen maintained he will redshirt the 18-year-old. But Jones proved he deserved a bigger role, and likely will get one during the coming weeks.
3. The Gators’ winning formula evaporated: UF’s five-game win streak ended Saturday as Mullen’s socalled “plan to win” fell flat. The Gators entered the game with a plus-nine turnover margin, but were minus-three against the Bulldogs.
Florida has held its past three opponents to just 9 of 41 (21.95 percent) on third down. After going 5 of 14 at LSU, Georgia finished the day 8 of 14 against the Gators. Georgia scored four times on third-down plays.
“The situational parts of the game, we can’t do that,” Mullen said. “Two of them we had blown coverages on. Just poor execution.”
The Gators’ pass rush also did little to impact Fromm, who picked apart the SEC’s top pass defense. UF entered the game with 21 sacks, but had just one against the Bulldogs.