We’re getting closer and closer to Florida football’s matchup against Tennessee. All eyes will be on Tennessee’s offense and Hendon Hooker, but that’s only half the battle.
The Gators, who haven’t looked as fluid on offense as of late, will need to move the ball well in Knoxville if they want a chance to win this one.
A lot of that comes down to Anthony Richardson. If he can be confident in his decisions and his health, we should be good to go. And we’ll need him to be sharp in order to execute a balanced attack on Tennessee.
Florida football: Keep it balanced
We all know that Florida can run the ball effectively with their three-headed monster of running backs and AR. But they have to avoid being one-dimensional. If Napier is able to get Richardson settled in, making quick and easy throws to establish the passing attack, UF will be in good shape.
The one good team that UT has played this year was Pitt, who scored 27. They ran for 141 and threw for 274. They are a more pass-heavy team than UF is, and AR won’t throw for 250.
But if the Gators can get the quick pass game going and get to around 175 in the air, that’ll be a great start.
The run game will always be solid, but if the Vols don’t respect the passing game it won’t be very effective.
Florida football: Toughest opposing players
As Caleb Calhoun from All for Tennessee told us yesterday, the Vols have three guys to watch out for, one at each level.
On the D-line, the Gators will have to deal with Byron Young. The 6’3”-245 senior is a great pass rusher and is the best guy up front for Tennessee. He had his best game of the year against Pitt, where he had 4 tackles and a sack.
At linebacker, the Vols have Jeremy Banks, another senior on the defensive unit. Banks has been all over the field for UT, with 14 tackles and a forced fumble on the year.
Banks’ specialty is stopping the run, so the Gators will need to gameplan for him in order to use the ground game effectively.
Finally, Trevon Flowers is Tennessee’s guy roaming in the secondary. Flowers has totaled up 16 tackles, a sack, and a pick.
Flowers will make life difficult for Richardson throwing the ball, so it will be important that other pass catchers step up for Florida this weekend.
Keep up with Florida football at Hail Florida Hail.