Florida football: 3 reasons the Gators can go 8-4, and 3 for 4-8
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F480a5b26fd88c46cc6584e625d49514ed8d5ea53369dc6ed817b549db865e63c.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures alongside Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15), Florida Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (2), and Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 5, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
Reason No. 2 Florida football gets four wins: Mertz can’t take care of the ball
Let me preface this section by saying I have a lot more faith in Mertz than a lot of people around the country, and think he’ll turn it around in a major way in Gainesville.
But if I’m wrong, and he struggles with decision-making and taking care of the ball, the Gators are going to be hurting, and hurting bad.
Graham’s role this fall will be that of a game manager. He’ll need to execute run plays well and make quick, smart decisions in the passing game and keep the ball out of harm’s way.
If he doesn’t do that, things will get really bad really fast.
If turnovers go up, suddenly the Gators will lose control of the game and put their defense in tough spots. If they start digging themselves into two touchdown holes each game, they’ll have to rely on their air attack, which is not nearly as strong as the ground game.
And if Mertz is struggling to take care of the ball, throwing it out of necessity will only add to that issue.
All of the toss-up games the Gators have this year, which I believe are South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, and maybe Tennessee, will all be losses if the turnovers are out of control.
Dropping three of four of those games will make it hard for the Gators to even go 6-6, never mind 8-4.