No. 17/18 Florida Gators football (3-0, 2-0 SEC) completed its second-straight come-from-behind victory on Saturday, taking down the No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers (2-1, 0-1 SEC) 37-20 on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, TN. After the game head coach Will Muschamp and sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel discussed what occurred on the field and in the locker room.

HISTORY / STREAKS / NOTES

» Florida has won eight-straight games against Tennessee, the longest winning streak in the series between the two teams. The Gators are 23-19 all-time against the Volunteers and 21-6 since 1976.
» UF won its first game against a ranked opponent since Muschamp took over. Florida was 0-5 previously.
» The Gators are 2-0 when trailing at the half this season after going 0-5 when faced with the same situation last year.
» Florida is 6-0 under Muschamp when rushing for more than 150 yards and 7-2 when holding opponents to fewer than 21 points.
» The Gators are outscoring opponents 50-13 in the second half and 27-0 in the fourth quarter this season.
» Florida’s 37 points were the most UF has scored in Knoxville since 1984.
» The Gators eclipsed 500 yards of total offense (reaching 555) for the first time since registering 520 against Kentucky on Sept. 24, 2011.
» Florida outrushed Tennessee by 253 yards (336-83), their greatest margin since running for 271 more than Kentucky on Sept. 24, 2011.
» Redshirt senior Buck Lerentee McCray notched his first career interception.
» Junior running back Trey Burton totaled 129 yards and two touchdowns. His 80-yard run (for a touchdown) and 32-yard reception were career-longs in each category.

MUSCHAMP’s OPENING STATEMENT

“I’m proud of our guys, coming on the road two weeks in a row in two tough places to play. Really poised at halftime again, no bickering, finger-pointing. It’s what we need to do to get this thing going. We need to give the offense more possessions in the first half. Third down was a killer for us defensively again. We had tight coverage. I’m going to give these guys credit now – they can throw the football. You look at some of the balls they threw in and completed. [Cordarrelle] Patterson and [Justin] Hunter are two outstanding players. [Mychal] Rivera the tight end is a guy and [Tyler] Bray was really on fire early, really made some nice, nice throws. A bunch of those on third down we had the match-ups we wanted in most situations.

“As the game wore on, I felt like we were winning the line of scrimmage. I think obviously our rushing yardage with [330+ yards], when you do that you’re going to win games. And we were able to do that in the ballgame. No turnovers offensively was critical and then defensively two turnovers for 14 points. So we’ve kind of flipped ourselves in the first three games a little bit on turnover margin; still need more on defense.

“I really think the pivotal turning point in the game was winning the line of scrimmage, first of all, but secondly that brilliant fake punt I ran at midfield and then we go three-and-out and then the next play 80 yards with Trey Burton. We felt like we had the counter on the backside. It was blocked beautifully. They overpursued the speed sweep. Trey cut it backside and out-ran them. Very resilient for our kids. They overcome coaching an awful lot, and I think in that situation they certainly did. I think that was a huge, huge turning point. [...]

“What we gave them they earned. We didn’t play much zone tonight. It was some pattern match and man-to-man. And we pressured and we tried to get after the quarterback. We only had one sack but I know we had some solid collisions with him. A little disappointed with how they ran the ball early in the game. Just pleased with the effort overall. Our guys did a nice job. Continue to play hard, continue to develop our identify as a team and a program. Not where we need to be but certainly better than we’ve been.”

DRISKEL STEPPING UP

Read the rest of what Muschamp and Driskel had to say…after the break!
Continue Reading » 9/15: Florida at Tennessee post-game report

Tags: Brent Pease, Chaz Green, Dan Quinn, Dominique Easley, Frankie Hammond, Jeff Driskel, Kyle Koehne, Lerentee McCray, Mike Gillislee, SEC, Tennessee Volunteers, Trey Burton, Will Muschamp, Xavier Nixon

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Dan Quinn met with the media on Wednesday to discuss a number of topics concerning his unit including how it is preparing for the upcoming road game against the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday at 6 p.m.

FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTING FOR GATORS DEFENSE

Four young players – linebacker Antonio Morrison, Buck LB Dante Fowler, defensive end Jonathan Bullard and defensive back Brian Poole – have been early contributors for the Gators on defense, and Quinn said Wendesday that each is on the field not out of necessity but rather because the coaching staff believes they can be effective.

“If we put them out there, we have confidence in them that they can get the job done,” he said.

Standing out the most is Morrison, an early enrollee who has turned the coaches’ heads all offseason and is moving into the starting role at Will this week now that redshirt junior Jelani Jenkins is sidelined with a broken thumb.

“I think it’s a big opportunity for Bo. When he came in as an early enrollee, he really had a maturity level that was not of a normal college freshman. He asked really good questions, wanted to be really on it in terms of the details of playing linebacker. I think that carried through in the spring and all the way to training camp,” Quinn said.

“Even though he’s a freshman, I don’t really see him in that way because I’ve known him, he’s been through the spring, he went through training camp. Although he is a freshman, I guess I don’t see him in that way more so because of the way he handles himself and his experience going through spring practice and training camp and then getting his experience in the first two games.”

Morrison is currently third on the team in total tackles with nine, eight of which are unassisted. He will have a huge opportunity this weekend though he may be relegated back to a reserve role if Jenkins is able to return from thumb surgery with a club on his hand for next week’s game against Kentucky.

“Sometimes on the injury and just when you have that, OK, how effective can you be? He’s got enough football instincts and that kind of stuff that I think he would be able to maneuver with one,” Quinn said of Jenkins. “You learn to play with it as you go forward. Sometimes you may have to play with it for four-five-six weeks and then even then, after a game or two, [you get adjusted and comfortable].”

THREE OUT, TWO IN

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Tags: Antonio Morrison, Brian Poole, Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler, Jelani Jenkins, Jonathan Bullard, SEC, Tennessee Volunteers

A three-year starter for the Florida Gators who played under head coaches Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook, former guard Shannon Snell has joined OGGOA as a football columnist to provide his unique perspective on the team throughout the 2012 season. Snell, who played in 46 games over four seasons and started 36 contests, was named a First Team All-American by Sporting News in 2003 and spent two seasons in the NFL.

Since I never wrote a true introduction, let me say that I am very excited to give my input on the Gators each week as someone who knows the game very well after playing for so many years. While obviously, from time to time, some of you readers will not like or agree with my opinions, one thing that I know you will enjoy about me is that I’m unapologetically honest. Sugarcoating situations to make people feel better is not something I like to do; I’ve always believed in calling a ball a ball, and a strike a strike.

Offensively, the Gators actually had a good day in quite a few areas. Jeff Driskel, the sophomore starting quarterback, was solid. Very solid. Though it should be pointed out that Driskel needs to realize when a play is dead and therefore when to throw the ball away. Young quarterbacks want to make a play every single time the ball is snapped. This is just unrealistic in the long run. Losing yardage and putting your team in unmanageable situations is not playing winning football. Sometimes throwing the football away is the best play that can be made in a particular situation.

One thing I might do if I was offensive coordinator Brent Pease is sit Driskel down in the film room and show him clips of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady throwing the ball away, just to prove that a big play does not have to be made on every snap.

What is important to note is that the positives of Driskel’s performance far outweigh the negatives. He had much better control of the offense and was very productive when he pulled the ball down and decided to run. Kudos to head coach Will Muschamp; it is clear the staff made the correct choice at quarterback.

Running back Mike Gillislee still has me buying in as a true believer in his talents. With the exception of South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore, there may be no one in the SEC who is better. His toughness cannot be questioned. And I can tell you, as someone who has pulled a groin muscle, anyone tough enough to play through that (even for just another series or two) gets a big gold star in my book. It now makes sense to me why fans have been screaming for this kid to get playing time the past three years.

Hunter Joyer is a prime example of a player proving that you can be still be a star while playing fullback. Not only was he awesome on the second Gillislee touchdown run, he played with that same intensity and effort all day. Go back and take a look. He was easily the offensive player of the game in my book. Yes, he was that good.

Read the rest of this edition of Snell’s Slant…after the break!
Continue Reading » Snell’s Slant: “A big gold star in my book”

Tags: Brent Pease, Dan Quinn, Frankie Hammond, Hunter Joyer, Jeff Driskel, Jon Bostic, Jordan Reed, Marcus Roberson, Mike Gillislee, Will Muschamp, Xavier Nixon

No. 23/24 Florida Gators football (2-0, 1-0 SEC) struggled in the first half but turned things around in the final 30 minutes and defeated the Texas A&M Aggies (0-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday afternoon in both teams’ Southeastern Conference opener at Kyle Field in College Station, TX. After the game head coach Will Muschamp discussed what occurred on the field and in the locker room.

MUSCHAMP’s OPENING STATEMENT

“It was a good win for our team. The guys continue to fight hard and play the game and play it for 60 minutes. And it wasn’t always pretty – first half defensively. Third down was an adventure. You’ve got to give them credit. Johnny Manziel is a fantastic athlete. He’s a guy that really has got legs and he extended plays and made plays for them. You got to give him credit. A lot of off-rhythm plays, very difficult to defend. We did a better job in the second half of controlling the line of scrimmage. That was the difference. There was no magic potion. We came in and told the guys just to squeeze blocks, play thicker on blocks, quit running up the field. You get an illusion that these guys are a passing football team and really they’re not right now with Johnny. They’re a running football team; a screen, short, controlled passing game. He’s going to have high percentages in every game because of the throws that they’re making and asking him to do.

Offensively I thought we ran the ball extremely well. Obviously whether it was protection, holding the ball too long at the quarterback position or we had a busted route I know on one of the sacks where the ball should have gone – we got to get that stuff cleared up. A 3rd-and-1 late in the game was critical for us; we did not convert, which was very disappointing. But we ran the ball well, we stayed balanced in the game, and we moved the football. Coming into this environment, which is a pretty solid environment, I thought our guys responded well, hung in there and did what we had to do to win the game.

Guys, we’re going to have a lot of games like this now. It’s just who we are. We’re going to grind it out. We’re going to win. That’s what we kind of are as a mentality as a football team as we continue to grow and mature through the year.”

WINNING THE FOURTH QUARTER

SEC opponents outscored the Gators 72-22 in the fourth quarter during Muschamp’s first season in 2011. Florida was much better not only in the fourth quarter but in the entire second half on Saturday, coming from behind out of the break for the first time in Muschamp’s tenure (1-5). The coach undoubtedly noticed this improvement and praised his team for its efforts.

“The second half we just played more disciplined football. They were 0-for-6 on third down; we forced six punts. We did a nice job of flipping the field in some situations,” he said. “[We] really won the game on offense there at the end. When they knew we were going to run it, we ran it. We had to run it. The 3rd-and-1 [failure] was disappointing but other than that, heck man, when you line up and are able to run the football and people know you’re going to run it, that’s what you have to do.”

He continued, “Last year, I don’t know, man. I don’t know if we win this ballgame. As far as running the football when you had to [in order] to win. Making stops defensively when you had to. Doing the things you got to do to win football games.”

Muschamp said the biggest change defensively in the second half was the defensive line. Florida’s aggressiveness was hurting them as Texas A&M invited the rushers to run up the middle while Manziel hit the creases that were created by those actions.

“I told them, ‘I’m firing you if you run up the field again. Sit on the line of scrimmage, squeeze blocks inside and quit running up the field. That’s what you want to do. Just sit on the line of scrimmage and get your hands on people and play thick on people. If you’ll do that then we won’t have run lanes anymore.’ And we didn’t have any run lanes in the second half,” he explained.

Muschamp called the final possession the “happiest moment in Florida history for me – that and the Ohio State game,” noting that being able to run it successfully when your opponent knows that is your intention puts a smile on his face. He was also ecstatic about the victory as a whole, especially one coming in such a tough road environment.

“I told our team, ‘I’m not big into those sort of things.’ With all of our hospitality in the SEC, we’re trying to make everybody happy. Everybody wanted the glory story here with A&M and they didn’t get it. I’m very proud of our team to come in here, play well and do what we had to do to win the game,” he said.

“We played two games and we’re 2-0. That’s what you’re supposed to be.”

”I’M NEVER GOING TO…APOLOGIZE FOR WINNING”

Read the rest of the Florida-Texas A&M post-game report…after the break!

Continue Reading » 9/8: Florida at Texas A&M post-game report

Tags: Chaz Green, Cody Riggs, Dan Quinn, Jelani Jenkins, Josh Evans, Kyle Field, Mike Gillislee, Texas A&M Aggies, Will Muschamp

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Dan Quinn met with the media on Wednesday to discuss how his unit performed in the season opener against Bowling Green as well as the upcoming road game against the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Two offensive players added their thoughts later in the day.

CAN’T KEEP MISSING OPPORTUNITIES

Quinn, in a general sense, was pleased with how his defense performed in the opener but was still disappointed that there were not more turnovers in the first game. He said the Gators missed opportunities for two additional interceptions and that the number of penalties committed extended drives that otherwise could have been ended.

One thing Florida was successful in doing was affecting the quarterback, registering one sack and forcing both a low completion percentage (49 percent) and few yards per completion (4.2). (By contrast the Gators combined for 62 percent and 6.9 yards per completion). Quinn still wanted to see more in this area but understood that the quick snaps and passes limited UF’s chances greatly.

That is why he is so cautious about Texas A&M’s offense and what offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury bring to the table for Florida to defend this week.

“These guys really know how to throw the ball…that kind of goes without saying. They were the number one throwing team and scoring team last year,” he said. “For us you got to be disruptive to the receivers where they don’t have clean looks at things. I think you got to be physical with those guys.

“Certainly ways to affect the quarterback whether it’s pressure, the way you rush or the leverage that you use in disguise and coverage. I think it’s kind of a combination of things [you need] to work against this offense.”

DRISKEL READY FOR PRIME TIME?
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Tags: Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler, Jeff Driskel, Jon Bostic, Jon Halapio, Jonathan Bullard, Jordan Reed, Ronald Powell

With the 2011-12 athletic season now in the books and the 2012-13 season about to begin, the focus has shifted to the return of Florida Gators football. For the second-straight year, OGGOA will take a look at every player of substance on the roster, counting down by jersey number, in this series: The Countdown.

9 – Josh Evans (Irvington, NJ)
Senior safety
6’2” 201 lbs.

Quick Bio: One of only five true seniors on the roster, Evans was a four-star recruit coming out of high school who appeared in 21 games over his first two seasons. He was forced into a reserve role because of the Gators’ extreme depth at safety but bided his time until his junior season.

Career Stats (34 games): 71 tackles (52 solo, 2.5 for loss), sack, fumble recovery, two interceptions, pass defense

2011 Season: Evans started eight games his junior year but played in all 13 contests, registering 51 total tackles including a career-high 11 against South Carolina. Arguably his best game of the season came in his last, the Gator Bowl, where he notched five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.

2012 Outlook: Evans made additional strides this offseason, according to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who said his communication and confidence has improved. Now making more plays than ever in the defensive backfield, he is once again listed as a starting safety and should hold down that position all year. “I think Josh has improved tremendously, and it has nothing to do with athleticism, it has to do with communication and being on the same page and anticipation. The safety position, a lot of it is anticipation for the communication,” head coach Will Muschamp said recently. “That’s where I think Josh has taken the next step, and he certainly has done that. And he’s been very good in camp, and he was very good throughout spring as far as taking the next step.”

8 – Jeremy Brown (Orlando, FL)
Redshirt junior cornerback
5’10” 184 lbs.

Quick Bio: A four-star prospect, Brown was sidelined by back problems for two full seasons and earned a redshirt as a freshman. He made it a point to rehab his back as much as possible during and after the 2009 season and sought to earn a starting role when Joe Haden declared early for the NFL. Brown succeeded in that goal in 2010, winning the job across from Janoris Jenkins and starting 10 contests. He missed the final two regular season games with a hamstring injury but played in the Outback Bowl.

Career Stats (11 games): 15 tackles (11 solo, one for loss), three interceptions, five pass defenses, touchdown

2011 Season: Brown suffered a knee injury right before the season began and was expected to only miss a few weeks of action. Many accused Muschamp of misleading the public as to the severity of Brown’s injury, but the coach explained in the spring that was not the case. “Our medical evaluation was he was going to be out for a week,” Muschamp said. “That’s what I was told. [...] Jeremy was a situation where he rehabbed, it didn’t work, we rehabbed a different way, it didn’t work. We continued to progress, we tried to work him back in practice as the season was going, and he just never responded to rehab, so eventually we had surgery.”

2012 Outlook: Returning to practice this summer, Brown fractured his wrist and had surgery on July 18. He was reevaluated on Aug. 28 to see if he could return to practice though the result of that check-up is not yet known. Brown would have had an opportunity to start at cornerback for Florida this season, but his injuries allowed four other players to jump ahead of him in the pecking order. He should see the field eventually if he can get back healthy but may have to focus on 2013 (his sixth and final season) to regain his starting job.

Check out 11 more players in this edition of The Countdown…after the break!

Continue Reading » The Countdown: Florida Gators roster (9-1)

Tags: Andre Debose, Brent Pease, Damien Jacobs, Dan Quinn, Dante Fowler, Dominique Easley, Frankie Hammond, Jacoby Brissett, Jeff Driskel, Jelani Jenkins, Jeremy Brown, Jon Bostic, Josh Evans, Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson, Quinton Dunbar, Ronald Powell, Trey Burton, Will Muschamp

With the 2011-12 athletic season now in the books and the 2012-13 season about to begin, the focus has shifted to the return of Florida Gators football. For the second-straight year, OGGOA will take a look at every player of substance on the roster, counting down by jersey number, in this series: The Countdown.

19 – Caleb Sturgis (St. Augustine, FL)
Redshirt senior kicker
5’11” 184 lbs.

Quick Bio: An Under Armour High School All-American entering his fifth and final year at Florida, Sturgis was a kickoff specialist as a freshman but became the team’s primary place kicker in 2009, when he hit 73.3 percent of his field goals (long: 56) and 44-of-47 extra points. He suffered through back pain early in the 2010 season and was forced to undergo surgery after just four games, being awarded a medical redshirt by the NCAA.

Career Stats (45 games): 46/60 (76.7 percent) on field goals with a long of 56 yards, 96/101 (95.0 percent) on extra points – 234 career points; 274 kickoffs for 17,726 yards (average: 64.7 yards), 36 touchbacks

2011 Season: One of three kickers in the nation to convert on three or more field goals of at least 50 yards, Sturgis was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award and arguably the most consistent player on the Gators. He was 22/26 on field goals and perfect with 31 extra points over the course of the season.

2012 Outlook: Sturgis returns as the starter for the fourth-straight season and is already second on Florida’s all-time list for made field goals (22 away from passing Jeff Chandler with 67). He has already kicked three of the four longest field goals in school history and is the only player on the roster to receive unanimous preseason recognition nationally.

18 – Kent Taylor (Land O’Lakes, FL)
Freshman tight end
6’5” 223 lbs.

Quick Bio/2012 Outlook:A four-star prospect, Taylor was widely considered the top tight end in the country last year and committed to the Gators despite having offers from every major school. He has impressed coaches this offseason with his hands and should play as a freshman mostly as a pass catcher because he still needs to add some size to be an effective blocker. “Kent catches the ball extremely well. He’s very athletic. I mean, very athletic. That’s another guy that you have to decide what he can do at this point,” head coach Will Muschamp said recently. “Obviously he’s a guy that needs to gain some girth and some strength as far as the blocking is concerned. Let’s don’t ask him to do something he can’t do. I know one thing – he can go get the football down the field. He can catch the ball. He can do some of those things. So let’s identify what he can do and what he can handle in those situations.”

Check out 10 more players in this edition of The Countdown…after the break!
Continue Reading » The Countdown: Florida Gators roster (19-10)

Tags: Antonio Morrison, Austin Hardin, Brad Phillips, Brent Pease, Caleb Sturgis, Dan Quinn, Darrin Kitchens, Jacoby Brissett, Jaylen Watkins, Jeff Driskel, Jordan Reed, Kent Taylor, Latroy Pittman, Loucheiz Purifoy, Neiron Ball, Skyler Mornhinweg, Tyler Murphy, Valdez Showers, Will Muschamp

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Dan Quinn met with the media on Wednesday to discuss the team’s upcoming season opener against the Bowling Green Falcons on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. He discussed what he wants to see from his unit on Sept. 1 and how he feels about some individual players on the team.

SHOW IT ON THE FIELD

Though he is impressed with how his unit has practiced this fall, Quinn said he is anxious to see them on the field Saturday and then soon after the game on tape so he can evaluate how well the concepts that have been taught are being executed.

“By the way you get to the ball, by the way you affect the quarterback, by the way you take the ball away – those are the things we’re looking for from our defense and what we put on tape,” he said.

Quinn and head coach Will Muschamp will be implementing a more attacking style this year, one that they hope will lead to additional turnovers and chances for the offense.

That plan starts Saturday against Bowling Green quarterback Matt Schilz, who completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 3,024 yards and 28 touchdowns a year ago while only tossing 13 interceptions.

“I’m very impressed with their quarterback, not just from his accuracy but the way he can create. He gets outside the pocket and can convert. He’s got good legs. He can run on third down to convert,” Quinn said. “It’s always good knowing the opponent you’re playing against. We’ve had time to watch him on tape and know this guy is a strong caliber quarterback. And we’re certainly up for the challenge.”

NOTES AND QUOTES

» On redshirt senior defensive tackle Omar Hunter: “One of the things that Omar brings right off the bat is the guy’s a real worker. He’s relentless. He stays after it. The thing that improved as much in the offseason was his overall strength. You see more leg strength from him. You see a stronger man when he sheds blocks. To me, the work ethic for Omar has always been there. He’s a hard worker every day in and out. Now you’re kind of seeing a more strong and powerful man inside. That’s showing up in practice the way he can take on blocks and get off blocks.”

» On how he would prepare to face two quarterbacks: “It really depends on the club and who those two quarterbacks are. If they’re close in terms of the game plan you really wouldn’t have much change.”

» On who decided to move freshman Jafar Mann over to guard: “It was both [sides]. We all looked at it. When we evaluated him, we knew he was a guy that could play nose tackle but also could play offensive guard. He played both in high school. When we started him off at defensive tackle we did that for a couple of weeks and then we wanted to put him on offensive line for a few weeks and kind of get the evaluation there. [...] After this week or next we’ll make a final determination.”

» Quinn said junior Trey Burton would be a “terrific safety,” but his top pick of a player to move over to defense if he had the option would be redshirt junior right guard Jon Halapio, who he said “would be a heck of a nose tackle.”

» On if redshirt freshman Valdez Showers could possibly wind up on offense: “I kind of fought for him to stay at safety. Last year on some of the scouted practices he also played running back and did a good job there. [...] He’s really settled in at safety, and we are counting on him to do that. He’s going to be a guy who is going to be a really big factor with Coach [D.J.] Durkin on [special] teams as well. He’s done a good job of that so far in training camp.”

» Quinn said that the defense wearing down late in games last year was not the fault of the offense (its inefficiency keeping the defense on the field for long period of time) but rather not having the necessary depth to put together a rotation that would keep players fresh throughout the game.

Tags: D.J. Durkin, Dan Quinn, Jafar Mann, Jon Halapio, Omar Hunter, Trey Burton, Valdez Showers, Will Muschamp