'Always Fun When the Plays Work': Gators Find Offensive Identity Before SEC Play

Florida's offense restored its identity against McNeese State on Saturday, a week before it will be relied upon in SEC play.

Photo: Montrell Johnson Jr.; Credit: Alex Shepherd

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In what could be considered Florida head coach Billy Napier's ideal football world, the Gators' offensive showing on Saturday night was exactly what it's supposed to look like. 

Aside from a late fumble by walk-on running back Eddie Battle, Florida ran the ball to perfection in its 49-7 whooping of McNeese State in Week 2. The Gators scored four touchdowns on the ground in the first half, something the program had not accomplished since 2009 with Tim Tebow at the helm.

"It's always fun when the plays work," Napier stated post-game. "It's always a lot more fun when the plays work."

Florida's deployment of a strong rushing attack should come as no surprise. 

Ask Napier his preferred offensive scheme and he is likely to reiterate that his history as a play-caller — his teams have run the ball on 55% or more snaps of every season he has been a college head coach  — is "well-documented." He most recently said this in a press conference last Monday. 

Much was made of UF's inability to stick to Napier's script in Week 1, when Florida fell behind Utah by two scores halfway through the second quarter and couldn't recover after leaning into the passing game.  

"I think just from a demeanor standpoint," Napier admitted on Monday, "I think we definitely want to be more committed to the run game."

With an opportunity to reset and tune up against an FCS opponent at home, the Gators were betrothed to the run.

By halftime, Florida had rushed 30 times for 212 yards while quarterback Graham Mertz only made 12 passing attempts — he completed nine. Each of Florida's scholarship running backs, Montrell Johnson, Trevor Etienne and Treyaun Webb, put points on the board before the break.

The first half lasted only an hour and 20 minutes. Of those 30 minutes of game clock, Florida consumed 18 minutes and 37 seconds. 

"I think we had a hat for a hat. I think that we made the right decisions at quarterback, and ultimately the staff did a good job putting the plan together," Napier explained. "We went and executed that plan for the most part on all parts of our team. 

"That's what you want when you play an opponent like this, and certainly as a coach you'd like to say they're all the same, but we know that's not true. There's a human nature element, and for them to show up and compete was a positive."

The level of competition must be taken into account while assessing Florida's performance across the board, but significant improvement was showcased compared to what was displayed offensively in Salt Lake City over a week ago, when UF produced 13 net rushing yards.

Florida was able to finish Week 2 with a 69% to 31% run/pass split offensively and six touchdowns on the ground. It only faced six third downs, converting five, with ample rushing success on first and second to keep the chains moving.

"I think just staying on schedule, creating favorable down and distances," Napier explained. "I think third down was manageable for the most part all night, and really the one third-and-long that we did have, we converted. 

"That's where you're essentially playing with odds on your side, and ultimately that's where you want to live as a play caller."

Napier will aim to extend his proverbial rent there when Florida hosts Tennessee at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, in order to keep the Volunteers' fast-paced offense off the field. 

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