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Florida football: Five ways the Gators can beat the Volunteers

By Benjamin Henderson

Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) is congratulated by offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun (65) after he scored a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the second quarter at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) is congratulated by offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun (65) after he scored a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the second quarter at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida football
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier waves to fans during Gator Walk before the game against the South Florida Bulls at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 17, 2022. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Vs South Florida Bulls /

Florida football: Billy Napier in-game adjustments

When one wins, all is well. When one loses, we look for things to nitpick and tear apart. When Billy Napier went all-in against Utah by letting the clock wind down, calling time out, then going for it on fourth down, it worked out and we praised him for the decision.

The same all-or-nothing fourth-down decision didn’t work against Kentucky and he was criticized.

Beyond some of the personnel deficiencies Florida has at a couple of key positions, there are a couple of in-game choices Napier has made that have cost or nearly cost Florida games:

  • On the pick-six against Kentucky, why didn’t Napier just spread Wright outside but then have Richardson run up the middle against a weakened front?
  • Also in the Kentucky game, knowing Richardson was gone mentally, why didn’t Florida pivot to a more run-oriented attack knowing Kentucky themselves weren’t exactly moving the ball?
  • Why on the goal-line against USF did Napier call a play that even gave Richardson the option to throw a fade to Shorter knowing that hasn’t been working and Florida was having success running the ball down the throat of USF?
  • Why on the final drive against USF was Scooby Williams on the field when Shemar James was having the more competent game?

There are others but the point is against Tennessee, Napier needs to do what Tennessee is giving him. If the Volunteers are having issues against defending the run, keep running. If Tennessee is insisting on throwing, then sell out on pass defense. If James is playing better than Williams or Etienne is playing better than Wright, then play the better guy in crunch time.

Florida football may be a 10.5-point underdog, but there is a very real pathway for the Gators to win. They just need to do things that they are 100% capable of doing and quite frankly have done in the past.

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