Florida football: Gators defense vs. Missouri’s offense

It will be another test for the Florida football defense. How much of a test depends on a lot of factors.

The Florida football defense will be tested to be sure Saturday at Missouri.

The question becomes: Just how much will they be tested?

Will it be Vanderbilt-type testing or Georgia-like testing?

Honestly, it could go either way as the Tigers have been up and down all season long. But, they’ve been up at home and down on the road.

They also have the injury bug to contend with.

Missouri’s offense

The biggest question marks this week for the Tigers is whether graduate transfer quarterback Kelly Bryant and running back Larry Rountree III will start against Florida football.

Bryant missed last week’s loss at Georgia and Rountree is suffering from a mild sprain.

If both of them are out for a long duration Saturday, Florida football can expect nearly a Vanderbilt kind of test.

Florida Gators Football

However, if they are both healthy, active and playing, the story could be different.

Bryant has been the catalyst of the offense, throwing for 1,846 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season.

The Clemson transfer does have five interceptions and a completion percentage of 62.22%. But, he’s also mobile — Bryant has 180 yards on 26 rushes, which means he can move, but not that well.

Rountree, on the other hand, has had nine touchdowns to go along with his 415 yards after initial contact, meaning he does a good job moving after the initial point of attack. He also averages 4.85 yards per carry this season.

For the most part, Rountree likes to run to the right. He averages 5.8 yards per carry on sweeps wide and 4.9 yards per carry on runs off right guard and right tackle.

Conversely, he only gets about 3.7 yards per carry off the left, presumably because less experience at left guard as redshirt sophomore Case Cook has just seven starts this season.

When Rountree sweeps to the left, he does average about 5.5 yards per carry.

As for Bryant, while he likes to go to the right (35-for-52 with three TDs and 332 yards), he is actually more accurate throwing left (23-for-33 for 214 yards and two touchdowns) on passes up to 10 yards.

His arm does get better from 11-20 yards to the right (13-for-28 for 281 yards, one touchdown and one interception).

And, it gets worse when he tries to throw left and deep (12-for-25 with two interceptions and just 297 yards) on passes between 11-20+ yards.

The key here is Bryant loves to throw short and let his receivers get the extra yardage after the catch.

Florida’s defense

With the exception of Jeremiah Moon, the Florida football defense is healthy — including Jabari Zuniga on the defensive line.

This spells some trouble for Missouri as it will be more difficult for Rountree to get any kind of running game established. The Gators are 31st nationally against the run, giving up an average of just 131.4 yards per game.

Against the pass, Florida football is even better, allowing just 199.5 yards per game — good for 24th in the nation.

With Zuniga — hopefully — back to full strength and if Mohamoud Diabate breaking out against Vanderbilt last week is an indication of what he can do, Florida football can be dangerous to Missouri, even on the road.

Because Bryant can be mobile on short-yardage situations, the defense will have to spy him at all times. Safeties will have to be prepared for him to take off at any time.

However, I suspect because of his hamstring strain, that mobility may not be as good as it has been. But, that doesn’t mean the Gators should underestimate.

The same goes for Rountree, who can be dangerous if not wrapped up at the first point of contact.

As for the Florida football secondary, with Bryant’s propensity to throw short, bumping covering should help throw that game off.

Florida’s secondary needs to seal off routes and push Missouri’s receivers inside, where Bryant doesn’t tend to throw.

No. 11 Florida football will kick-off in Columbia against Missouri at noon Saturday.