Florida football: The Gators offense vs South Carolina’s defense

Each week we take a look at the Florida football offense and the opposing team’s defense. This week Florida football takes on the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Florida football offense looked good against LSU but still has a few issues. The Gamecocks, on the other hand, are coming off a huge upset win over the University of Georgia.

Florida football offense

Last week the Gators took a big loss at the hands of LSU 42-28. On the positive of that is the fact that the offense ran up 28 points and looked good for most of the game.  What we saw was a QB in Kyle Trask that stepped up and handled the situation as well as he could have. He had poise and patience with his throws.

He stood in and went on scoring back to back with LSU through the first three quarters. Trask went 23-for-39 for 310 yards with three touchdowns and a pick.

Those are great stats and in the atmosphere, he was in even akes that much more impressive. He is getting better with every game and that is only good for the Gators.

This week should be no different as Trask has proven no matter what type of competition they are playing he will be ready. South Carolina’s defense is good, but not as good as the one he just played.

The receivers once again were on fire and looked like the pros they are going to be. They were led by tight end Kyle Pitts with 108 yards. They had no answer for him as he had his way with all the DB’s they tried to put on him. He is proving to be a weapon that USC will need to plan for.

Van Jefferson had 73 yards and two touchdowns and has shown to be a stand out wideout. He runs routes with such precision, he will be a handful for whichever Gamecock has to covers him.

Trevon Grimes had 30 yards and a touchdown as well. Another week where eight players all caught passes in the offense. That kind of productivity is hard to plan for. Who do you try and stop?

The Florida football running game had a very nice day and Lamical Perine ran with power and passion against the Tigers. He ended up with 65 yards to led the running attack once again. Look, we know the issues with offense have been with the running game.

They are a work in progress and really they did not do a bad job. That LSU defense was tough and they hung right with them.

If they want to win this week the running game once again must step up and lend a helping hand.

South Carolina Defense

Last week, the South Carolina defense had one of their better games in a long time. They held the number three team in the country to 17 points, at home.

Israel Mukuamu had a great night for the defense with 11 tackles. The 6-4, 205-pound cornerback recorded 3 interceptions, including one he returned 53 yards for a touchdown. That earned him two national honors this week.

The question will be, who does he cover? The Florida receivers are all great and tp pick one only means the other will be open. They have a couple of linebackers that are outstanding and help anchor the defense. T.J Brunson who had 10 tackles against Georgia, plays the run well and can hit with the best.

Ernest Jones Is the other linebacker that can make a day-long for any running attack. He had 12 tackles and cant wait for the Gators:

"“I’m already ready for Florida. I love the feeling of winning a big game, I want that feeling again,” LB Ernest Jones said. “Ready for the Florida game. It’s going to be exciting, back home, 12:00, it’s going to be a real good one.”"

They can put a hurt on a running game if it is not running full speed. But the biggest improvement to this defense is the D line. Kingsley Enagbare, who had a sack against Georgia, can be a force and get to the QB. His quickness shows and causes problems on the strong side.

On the other side, the weak side is D.J. Wonnum a defensive end that exploits offensive lines that are not ready. He had 6 tackles and a half-sack against a well equipped Georiga line.

This will a battle all game between the D line of SC and the O line of Florida football. I don’t see the running game exploding this week but they can have a good game if the line steps up on the road. Perine is ready to break another long one and he has been playing with that fire lately.

Results

Those linebackers on the Gamecocks are very good, but can they cover Pitts, or do they put Mukuamu on him? That leaves Jefferson, Cleveland, Swain, Grimes, Copeland, and Hammond to run against the others? Each one of them has the ability to go for the 100-yard day.

Advantage: Florida football.

The running game for Florida will step up as the line will be ready. But I must give a slight advantage to the defensive line for SC. Not a wash, but a real close battle to the end.

Can the D line of SC get to Trask? No, I think Trask became a solid QB in the LSU game and showed he can play with anyone, anywhere.

He will shine once again and see at least another 250-yard day. Let’s not forget Emory Jones. He had 36 yards rushing and threw for a touchdown as well.

He gives that other speed and hits the hole so quick it gives him an advantage even when they know he will most likely run. The Florida QB’s are solid and the advantage goes to them.

Florida football gets back in the winning column this week at go to 7-1. Next up Georgia Bulldogs.