Florida Gators vs LSU Tigers: Gators Need Defense Against LSU in Saturday Night Fight

Both Florida and LSU will be using their match-up this Saturday night in the Swamp to take a temperature on their teams this season. For the 4-2 Tigers, playing in a murderer’s row of a division, it’s a chance to see if they will have any chance to compete for a title or whether their fans need to embrace this season as a rebuilding effort.

The Gators D has the ability to save the day and give a coach on the hot seat another much-needed win

For the Gators, it’s more than just a measurement of their season, it’s another test to see whether this is a program that is improving, in decline or in the case of a bad loss, in freefall. After getting totally dominated on the road against Auburn 41-7 last week, it’s a sign of the Gators problems that the Tigers still come into the game as a 1 ½ point favorite. But at 2-1, a win will keep the Gators firmly in the pack for the race for the SEC East.

However, this is precisely the kind of game for embattled Head Coach Will Muschamp to show that he can bring his style of football to Florida. Gator fans may not be used to a game plan that features running and defense, but if it’s successful on Saturday night, they may have a new view of the team.

Quarterback Quandary

Both teams come in with questions at quarterback. Gator fans were hoping to see what freshman quarterback Treon Harris could do to improve what has so far been a lackluster offense, but with his suspension, it’s back to the drawing board with Jeff Driskel, who has struggled in throwing this season, though has helped the offense with his running abilities.

The Tigers are also going through a quarterback shuffle. Sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings is 5-1 as a starter, but poor play against New Mexico State drew the fan’s ire and led to true freshman Brandon Harris getting the call against Auburn. But after a sprained ankle and terrible production, LSU brought Jennings back into the game. He had better production, but it was too late for the Tigers.

Ground and Pound

Both team’s offenses are struggling this season, with Florida posting only the nation’s 76th offense, while LSU comes in a little better at 54th. LSU brings runs a running-focused game and their quarterback tandem that can execute the read option offense. Sounds a lot like Florida’s game plan. If it plays out according to the coaches’ playbooks, this game could look like a Big 10 matchup, featuring running attacks, defensive stands, field goals and yawning fans.

So far this season, Florida’s best weapon on offense has been running back Matt Jones,  who is averaging more than 100 yards rushing through his three SEC games this year. What the Gators will need is better play from the wide receivers. After a huge game against Kentucky, Demarcus Robinson went largely silent against Alabama and Tennessee. Drops and route-running have been a problem, contributing to two of Driskel’s three interceptions against the Volunteers. Driskel makes some bad throws, but he can create space with his legs, allowing receivers to get open.

Leaky Defenses

The Tigers give up ground to opponent’s running game, allowing an astonishing 300 yard average in its two SEC blowout losses. Granted, those losses are to teams currently ranked second and third in the nation. But the Tigers also allowed a few big passing plays to Auburn, despite statistically having the nation’s 10th passing defense. LSU’s should be looking at this as a redemption game, as Florida’s anemic passing game only ranks 85th in the nation, averaging just 215 yards, which is what Steve Spurrier’s Gators averaged per quarter.  (Not really, but feels that way.)

Florida’s defense has had some nightmarish moments. One only has to look at the Alabama game … if you want to curl up in a ball and cry for a while. But don’t look at Alabama, look at Tennessee, where the Gator pass rush and personnel adjustments in the secondary held a strong Tennessee passing attack to just 9 points. The Gators line has the talent to dominate both sides of the ball, but the secondary will have to produce another big game, as LSU has some speedy receivers in Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre.

Key for a Gator Win

Turnovers. The Gators are 5th in the nation in turnover margin, forcing eight so far this season. By forcing turnovers, Florida can set its struggling offense up in good field position, giving Driskel (or potentially backups Skyler Mornhinweg or Will Grier) a shorter field with which to work and helping the Gator signal caller to build confidence while also giving the running game more space to work.

A Florida team that is consistently facing a long field could have a long night. But given Florida’s surging defensive front, accompanied by LSU’s inexperience at quarterback, the Gators D has the ability to save the day and give a coach on the hot seat another much-needed win.