Florida football: Takeaways from the first half against LSU
It’s been a smash-mouth kind of football game for Florida football against LSU. The Tigers have scored quickly while the Gators have been methodical.
It hasn’t been as punchy as we thought it might, but Florida football and LSU has seemed like a knock-down-drag-out in the first half.
A late touchdown pass from Kyle Trask to Van Jefferson has No. 7 Florida tied with No. 5 LSU, 21-21 at halftime.
In addition to the score, the stat line has been pretty even with Florida gaining 246 yards of total offense to LSU’s 265.
Here are other takeaways we observed in the first half:
LSU’s offense moves fast
The Tigers’ scoring drives have been 2, 5 and 4 plays in duration.
The first scoring drive was capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase. It was two plays, 66 yards and ate just 32 seconds.
In fact, just to put it in perspective, the Tigers have had the ball just 9 minutes, 47 seconds in the first half.
Florida football has been methodical
On the other hand, Florida’s scoring drives were 12, 13 and 11 plays and two of them ate up more than 13 minutes combined.
The Florida football offense has been grinding rather than looking for the quick strikes they got against Auburn last week.
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Kyle Trask has been steady amid the noise of Tiger Stadium, throwing for 141 yards — which is more than Burrow’s 121 — on 11-of-18 passing and two touchdowns.
Emory Jones has come in and shown a different look to the LSU defense.
Platooning seems to work
Speaking of Jones and Trask, Florida football head coach Dan Mullen has been utilizing the quarterbacks a little more liberally.
And, it has made a difference as Jones effectively threw LSU’s defense off-balance with his running ability, allowing for more mismatches on the offensive side for Florida football.
They both were used on the last drive of the first half and helped the Gators move 75 yards, capped with a pass from Jones to Lamical Perine for the tying touchdown.
Pitts needs to be more active
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts was the man last week against Auburn and he has the potential to do the same thing against LSU.
Thus far, the 6-foot-6 Pitts has exploited mismatches with LSU’s secondary which has led to four catches for 85 yards — including a 28-yard catch and springboarded into Perine’s score in the last drive of the half.
In the second half, as LSU continues to apply corner pressure on Trask and/or Jones, that could free up Pitts more for short pass plays he can turn into bigger yardage.
Florida defense needs to hold
Jonathan Greenard is out with a high-ankle sprain and Jabari Zuniga is not in the game either.
It means, Florida football is facing the most dangerous offense it’s faced this season without two of its best edge rushers.
It also means the Florida offense will have to keep pace with LSU unless the Tigers make a mistake and allow Florida football to gain an advantage.
Regardless, the defense has held Burrow to just 121 yards passing, but its been because the Tigers have been able to run the football more effectively because we’re missing that edge rush.
Thanks to South Carolina, SEC East remains wide open. dark. Next
It will be interesting to see what Todd Grantham counters in the second half.