Coach For A Day: Florida Gators
Now that Florida's chances of winning the SEC East are all but gone, the Gators find themselves looking to rebound when Vaqnderbilt visits Gainesville this Satruday, but will it be an angry bunch of reptiles, or a team staggering in the wake of a disappointing loss.
We won't know the answer to that one until sometime around 11:30 Saturday, shortly after kickoff between the Dores and the Gators.
What we do know now is that regardless of which version of the Gators starts the game, they will be heavy favorites before kickoff.
So today I get to play Dan Mullen and coach Florida for a day in preperation for Vanderbilt's visit to the house that Spurrier built.
OFFENSE
Florida, like Vanderbilt has endured an injury at quarterback as starter Feleipe Franks suffered a season ending dislocated ankle that required surgery.
Since then Kyle Trask has been the Gators starter and performed admirably under the circumstances.
He has a bevy of talented receovers to throw too, including former middle Tennessee prep standout Van Jefferson, and a group of talented backs to run the football behind him.
The Commodores defense has been the most improved part of their team the last two weeks and have been much better against the run, and pass, though their are still areas in need of further improvement.
If I'm Mullen and staff, I simply stick to the script that was developed following Trask taking over for Franks. RUn the football and mix in the intermediate to deep passing game.
It's a simple thing when you have the far superior athletic talent on the field and are at home.
DEFENSE
The Gators defense has also endured some key injuries and there are two to three players who could miss this one. But there's still plenty of capable players to take their place.
Vanderbilt will likely send their third string quarterback, Deuce Wallace into this one as starter Mo Hasan and backup Riley Neal are both in concussion protocal and unlikely to be available.
Wallace has struggled to find any rythem or consistancy throwing the football so far this season, meaning the Commodores will be very much reliant on Ke'Shawm Vaughn and running the ball against a stout Gators defense.
The Gators have allowed some yardage on the ground this season, but knowing that the Commodores are one-demensional in this one, lookf for eight or nine in the box and man coverage on the receivers, forcing Vanderbilt to attempt to throw the football with an ineffective quarterback.
It's simple in form, but the biggest question for the Gators is will the angry reptiles show up, or will it be a bunch still looking for their teeth that they lost last week in Jacksonville.
We'll find out about 30 minutes into this one Saturday.
