From Across The Field: Upclose With The Florida Gators

This week we introduce something new as we have invited our Florida Gators Mave, Zach Goodall to share his thoughts from the Gators standpoint ahead of this week's game in Gainesville.

The Vanderbilt Commodores travel to Gainesville Saturday to face the Florida Gators in an SEC East matchup where the visitors from Nashville will be decided underdogs. 

To get a better idea of how things are in The Swamp this week, we've brought our Florida Maven, Zach Goodall in to answer five questions about the Gators  ahead of Saturday's meeting. 

Here are his answers to five questions. 

1) What's the feeling like around Gainesville and the Gators team after losing to Georgia and all but being eliminated from a chance to go to Atlanta?

 I think everyone realizes the likelihood of Georgia dropping two to end the season is unlikely, so Florida fans are looking forward to a second straight NY6 Bowl in as many years with Dan Mullen as head coach - which fans should be more than happy about, considering the success Mullen has found in that time frame despite the previous seven years of Florida football.

2) How much has the loss of Franks at quarterback hurt the Gators since his loss? How has Trask been in comparison?

Honestly, Trask has surpassed all expectations and the offense has flowed better with his game-managing style than it did with Franks given a lack of a run game.

 However, while true pocket passing and game managing have worked this year, I expect Emory Jones to take the starting job next year in order for Mullen to truly run his system as more of his recruits come in.

3) The Gators defense has reportedly had some injuries, especially on the d-line. How are they health-wise and will any of the top guys be out this week?

Expect their third edge rusher Jerermiah Moon and rotating linebacker/nickel cornerback Amari Burney to miss this game with injuries. 

Defensive end Jabari Zuniga should play, but he appeared to re-reaggravate his ankle against Georgia, after missing four games on-and-off throughout the year with the same injury. He moved inside after tweaking it against Georgia which hampered his production.

4) Dan Mullen was a hugh hire when he took over there, how is he being received now in his second season where he has not gotten them to Atlanta?

Being 17-5 with a dominant Peach Bowl win under your belt from year one and another NY6 Bowl on the way after replacing seven years of Jim McElwain and Will Muschamp exceeds any realistic expectation anyone could have had for Mullen.

 After the Georgia loss, some irrational fans started questioning Mullen's legitimacy for the job, but that's nonsense. He's still building his program and system - the next two years of his career at UF will be more important and telling than his first two.

5) Considering the struggles of both Florida State and Miami, how important is this recruiting class to be able to load up on top talent from in state because  the teams at the top of the SEC are so strong and have a bit of a head start on this staff? 

Super important, and the firing of Willie Taggart at FSU should help Florida in recruiting. It's just over a month until NSD, and I expect an FSU commit or two to flip to orange and blue.