Behind Enemy Lines: What’s the scoop on the Florida Gators?
Tennessee and Florida renew the rivalry this weekend as the Vols look to pick up their first win inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – at The Swamp – in 20 years. Who is this Florida Gators football team and what does Billy Napier have in store for his second matchup against Josh Heupel?
Volquest took the time to check in with Nick de la Torre from Gators Online to ask these questions and more ahead of the nationally televised matchup Saturday night.
VQ Question: I know he’s only played two games for Florida, but who is Graham Mertz? Historically, he’s struggled to complete passes at a high clip and with turnovers. He’s completing over 70 percent of his passes through two games. Is he improved?
Gators Online: I fell out of favor with Florida fans when I told them Graham Mertz was just “fine”. Mertz won the starting job at Florida mostly due to his veteran experience but more importantly because of his maturity. I say that in the sense that he knows who he is as an athlete and a player. He’s a game manager. Mertz is fine to hit a check down receiver. He’ll throw the ball away and move on to the next play, something Anthony Richardson was hesitant to do. Mertz has a great grasp of Billy Napier’s offense, but he isn’t flashy. He’s not immobile but not a true threat to run.
We haven’t seen the turnover issues that plagued him at Wisconsin. His one interception this season went through Ricky Pearsall’s hands and was tipped into the waiting arms of a Utah defensive back. His 70% completion percentage is a mirage though. 21 of his 33 completions against Utah went for less than nine yards in the air. Last week, McNeese played three high safeties, so Florida ran the ball and threw underneath.
He’s a game manager but Florida isn’t asking him to be more than that. The issue that UF will face is when other teams get a lead and put Florida in a position where they have to ask Mertz to lead a comeback. I’m not sure the Gators are built for that right now.
VQ Question: Florida has a new DC this year and lost a ton of production from last year’s defense. What’s different about this Florida defense compared to last?
Gators Online : Austin Armstrong just turned 30 years old before the season but he’s thought of highly in the coaching ranks. We were told that the defense was going to be aggressive and get after the quarterback. Florida has two sacks in eight quarters, both against McNeese and they haven’t forced a turnover.
The Gators’ defense has been better this year because of their depth. Last season they asked 300-pound defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to play 687 snaps and 420-pound nose tackle Desmond Watson played nearly 400. They just didn’t have depth and the defense wore down throughout games and as the season went on. Florida rotates a ton, that has been key for them to stay fresh and produce this season. Unfortunately for them, Josh Heupel runs his offense at a Formula 1 pace. I think Tennessee will limit how much Florida can sub in fresh guys on offense and that will be something to watch as the game goes on.
VQ Question: Ricky Pearsall is easily the go-to guy in the passing game. How much will Florida incorporate freshman Eugene Wilson III this week? Could he be a difference maker when looking to make plays on offense?
Gators Online: This has been a popular question this week. Eugene Wilson III (he goes by Tre) was a five-star in the On3 rankings and is one of the most exciting players I’ve covered at Florida. He was also one of two players wearing No. 3 on the field at the same time, in what might be the most head-scratching penalty of the year.
I won’t go full Urban Meyer and don him “the next Percy Harvin” but he’s, perhaps, Percy Harvin-lite. He’s only 5-10, 185 but Wilson’s acceleration is elite. He’s at his top end speed in a matter of steps and a player that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Last week they ran a wildcat snap with him for the first time this season.
His snap count nearly doubled in week two and he’s a player that Florida can lean on if Tennessee’s pass rush breathing down Mertz’s neck and the Gators need to get the ball out quickly.
VQ Question: Florida wants to run the football. Would it be worst-case scenario for Tennessee to jump up two scores in the first quarter/half? Kind of like Utah did?
Gators Online: Absolutely. This isn’t the 2020 offense with Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, and Kadarius Toney. Billy Napier is in his sixth year as a head coach and his offense has never passed the ball more than they’ve run it.
Utah’s defensive line completely dominated Florida up front, and they abandoned the run. Mertz threw the ball 44 times, that’s not the recipe for the Gators to win football games. Florida does have a couple of playmakers in Wilson, Pearsall, and Caleb Douglas but this isn’t an offense that’s going to throw the ball around the yard a ton or one that’s designed to score quickly.
VQ Question: How are Florida fans viewing this game? We know Tennessee hasn’t won down there since ‘03 and Florida has had the upper hand historically. Tennessee’s passing game was pretty uninspiring last week. The line says Tennessee is a touchdown favorite. How do Gator fans feel about this one?
Gators Online: The men and women that build palaces in the desert don’t keep upgrading them for setting bad lines. With that being said, Florida fans feel confident.
The confidence stems, from what I can tell, a history of Tennessee finding ways to lose in Gainesville over the last two decades and Joe Milton. Florida fans are well-versed in Mixon. I remember watching him as a junior in high school at Friday Night Lights. Florida fans watched him at Michigan and again at Tennessee. He’s physically gifted in the way that Anthony Richardson is but he’s as frustrating to watch as Richardson was for Florida fans due to his accuracy issues.
Florida’s defensive gameplan, which the fanbase thinks will work, is to contain the running game and make Milton beat Florida with his arm. Florida’s defensive gameplan will be to keep the talented Tennessee rushing attack at bay and keep Milton in the pocket forcing him to win the game with his arm. That is much easier for me to type than for the team to accomplish but Gator fans are confident with Austin Armstrong and the early returns from his defense this season.
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