Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Mullen bullish on team’s focus
GAINESVILLE — Under pressure for things to change after a stunning loss at LSU, Florida coach Dan Mullen wouldn’t say whether a quarterback switch is imminent as the Gators prepare to face top-ranked Georgia.
Redshirt freshman Anthony Richardson replaced struggling starter Emory Jones, erased a 15-point deficit and accounted for 4 touchdowns during a 49-42 defeat to the Tigers who were an 11-point home underdog.
Richardson’s performance and upside fueled speculation of a QB change during the bye week as the Gators (4-3, 2-3 SEC) push to salvage their season Oct. 30 against their rival Bulldogs (7-0, 5-0) in Jacksonville.
Four of the first six questions asked Mullen during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference concerned his plan at quarterback.
“I’m never going to get into the strategy of what we’re going to do in the game,” Mullen said.
Jones, a redshirt junior in his first season as starter, handled the majority of snaps before the LSU game.
Richardson exhibited big-play ability against FAU and USF during the season’s first two weeks, but Saturday’s performance in Baton Rouge still was unexpected. Richardson had missed two games with a hamstring injury sustained during an 80-yard touchdown run against USF and struggled in limited action during an Oct. 2 loss at Kentucky and Oct. 9 homecoming rout of Vanderbilt.
The 6-foot-4, 236-pound Richardson’s dual-threat ability was on full display at LSU, as was his inexperience. Richardson’s 3 touchdown throws were on the mark, but his second interception thrown into heavy coverage ended the Gators’ comeback hopes with 1:59 remaining.
Jones also threw 2 interceptions, giving him 9 while continuing concerns about his inconsistency and decision-making. The 6-foot2, 211-pound Jones is a talented runner and has a team-high 494 yards on 85 carries.
He also lacks the breakaway speed and physicality at the point of attack of Richardson, who averages 12.4 yards on 28 carries.
“We have two really good quarterbacks here,” Mullen said. “We’ve played them both in every game they’re been healthy. I see us continuing down that path.”
Asked whether Richardson had earned the opportunity to start, Mullen replied: “He continues to improve. I’ve seen improvement out of both guys throughout the course of the year, which is really something positive.”
Calls outside the Florida program for Richardson to replace Jones are not going to sway Mullen, who owns a stellar track record coaching QBs.
If Richardson does make his first start against Georgia, he would face a suffocating defense yielding 5 touchdowns and an average of 6.6 points. The Bulldogs could dent Richardson’s confidence.
“We’ll look at everything,” Mullen said. “We evaluate everything that we do all the time — just like at every spot on the field.”
Mullen has other concerns, beginning with the state of Todd Grantham’s defense and the veteran coordinator’s future. LSU gashed the Gators for 321 rushing yards, or 238 above the Tigers’ season average.
Grantham’s job security was tenuous after the Gators allowed more than 50 points to Alabama and Oklahoma to close last season. The 55-year-old returned but his contract paying $1.8 million annually expires Jan. 31.