I watched the game again, and here are my notes:
- #13-Jr QB Feleipe Franks actually had a good day if it were not for two penalties taking away one of his scores. He finished 12/17, 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 63.7 QBR 164.2 RAT with 8 rushing attempts and 23 yards. Kentucky developed a game plan predicated entirely on stopping Feleipe Franks, and it worked. If it were not for the offensive line penalties, Franks might have had the Gators tied up at 14-14 in the 2nd quarter. Give Kentucky some credit for putting together a good game plan. Franks will end the season going 42/54 (77.8%) for 524 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT, and a rating of 176.3.
- #11-Jr QB Kyle Trask looked good in relief. He led the Gators to 19 unanswered points in the 4th quarter and went 9/13, 126 yards, 86.1 QBR 213.2 RAT with 1 rushing attempt for 4 yards and a touchdown. He performed best when he was allowed to roll outside the pocket (minus that one time he threw a jump ball across his body). Kyle succeeded by not playing into Kentucky's game plan to stop Feleipe Franks. Kyle's best plays were the ones where Dan Mullen dialed up the old spread option plays from the Tebow days. He was also afforded better run blocking along the strong side in that 4th quarter.
- #16-Sr WR Freddie Swain has a knack for getting behind the Kentucky defense. He finished with 4 receptions, 57 yards, and 1 touchdown.
- #3-So DB Marco Wilson seemed to be targeted as the weak point in the Gator secondary. He actually did not need to interfere with the pass that led to Kentucky's first TD. He had the angle. He seems to have lost a step and can no longer win those 50/50 battles, as was the case in the 3rd quarter when Kentucky scored their third TD.
- #31-Jr DB Shawn Davis is stepping up and should see more playing time.
- #33-Sr LB David Reese II somehow spent a lot of time in pass coverage. He led the team with 16 tackles, 13 solo, but he should also get credit for "passes defended assists", since he always seemed to be around the ball when there was a successful pass defended.
- #92-RSr DE Jabari Zuniga was injured in the opening defensive series and did not play in the remainder of the game. This might help explain why the Gators were only able to get 1 sack and a couple QB hurries in this game.
- #58-GrTr BUCK Jonathan Greenard was held to 1 sack and a QB hurry. He probably would have more sacks if he had Zuniga on the other side.
- #2-Jr DB Brad Stewart Jr had his ups and downs.
- Kentucky's offensive line and defensive line are both legitimate. Take a look at the mass of those players. The only thing keeping Kentucky out of contention is better in-game coaching. Give credit to the Kentucky's coaching staff for taking unranked and low-ranked linemen and making them quite dangerous. On defense they were able to rush 4 and smother the Gator receivers. When they rushed 5 it often was disastrous for the Gators.
- Kentucky #91-Sr DE Calvin Taylor spent more time in the Gator backfield than our own running backs did. He ran all the way through the Gator's right tackle/ right guard, up through the Gator's left tackle/ left guard, and delivered the killing blow to Feleipe Franks' backside in the season-ending tackle. Give credit to Taylor, but shame on the Gator offensive line strong side for letting Kentucky swim in the Gator backfield with relative impunity.
SUMMARY: The Gators have some things that they can fix as they head into the meat of their SEC schedule. Florida looked bad, partly because Kentucky developed a game plan solely based on winning their marquee game. Injuries certainly are plaguing the Gator's ability to win by scheming around their weaknesses.
Superb, penetrating analysis, E-.
There it all is; main questions are:
(1) Can EVERYONE in the SEC count on being able to follow this blueprint?
(2) Can WE successfully adjust?
(3) How soon will we be likely getting our key injured players back?
(4)What is the TRUE "emotional health" of this team? Can our guys carry the palpable "coming together" to support each other forward, rally right on through the schedule from here?
That last is the BIG one. We all saw it, FELT it--and if we can make it a clear and constant theme, central to team unity, how all approach preparation and the manner in which each player and coach, individually and together go about their business every week for the rest of this season, then we will be a formidable opponent indeed.
We will first have to heal as best we can; meanwhile scheme with an eye towards limiting the weak spots that injuries and inherent lack of depth pose for us as we face each opponent's likeliest strategy for using THEIR strengths against us...all the while continuing to do the best with what WE'VE got against THEM. All that hasn't changed much, after all: Only the personel and the overall "psyche" of our team has shifted, and must ADAPT.
COACHING, as much as anything else, WILL make the difference there.
These young men WANT to succeed! They will be EAGER to grab onto the positives, if offered, and rally together FOR EACH OTHER. Our coaching staff must look at this as an OPPORTUNITY:
We can come through all of this and out the other side MORE of a "team" than EVER!
