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Florida football: Failure in one key to the game cost Gators vs Kentucky

By Benjamin Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators throws a pass during the 2nd quarter of a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators throws a pass during the 2nd quarter of a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Prior to last night’s game against Kentucky, we had listed five things that needed to go right for Florida football in order to knock off the Wildcats. The Gators were successful in four of the five keys. However, failure on the fifth key to the game is ultimately what gave Kentucky the victory.

Florida football: Close but no cigar

Last week against Utah, there were questions about Brenton Cox and Gervon Dexter’s play. The Gators ended last week with zero sacks and we said Cox and Dexter would need to have a big game against a questionable Kentucky offensive line.

Dexter had a big time sack that the ref wanted to flag because reasons, and Cox’s pressure lead to Dexter picking off Kentucky Will Levis.

Check mark there.

After all the saga surrounding Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez, he wound up not playing. Kavosiey Smoke, as predicted, did okay but Florida was able to hold Kentucky as a whole to 70 yards rushing.

Check mark there.

We highlighted how dangerous Kentucky receiver Tayvion Robinson could be and Florida held him to one catch. Levis did have his long, 55-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, but even with that Florida held Kentucky to 202 yards passing.

Check mark there.

Last year Florida lost to Kentucky after having a field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown. We said Florida just needed to match Kentucky in special teams. Florida football arguable won the special teams battle because turns out Kentucky doesn’t have a long snapper.

Check mark there.

So what went wrong?

Florida football: Ricky Pearsall targets

Our fifth and final key was that Florida football needed to find more targets for Ricky Pearsall. Given that Kentucky likes to play zone and was going to key on stopping Richardson from running, which they did, the Gators needed to look for Pearsall in the holes of the zone.

The story of the game is Anthony Richardson imploding, but part of the implosion is Florida’s failure to adjust in the second half.

Make no mistake about it, Gator receivers did not help out Richardson early on. Pearsall and Xzaiver Henderson both had drops that could have extended drives. And Richardson had an open Pearsall and just missed him.

But as things were going south for Florida football’s offense, the play calling seemed to involve runs to Trevor Etienne or forcing it to Justin Shorter.

Etienne, more please. Shorter, not as much.

Pearsall finished with two catches. And it wasn’t from a lack of being open.

But on the game-changing interception in the second-half, Richardson is trying to connect with Nay’Quan Wright but has a complete breakdown in communication. Richardson thinks Wright is going to settle in the flat. Wright does not and that was that.

Proven throws to Pearsall might have settled Richardson down but Billy Napier and crew had other plans.

Florida football did four out of five things correctly. But failure on the fifth is why they are now 1-1.

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