Eleventh in a series previewing SEC football teams.
HOOVER, Ala. - Will Muschamp had a breakthrough season in 2012, his second year as coach at Florida, but the Gators fell a victory short of qualifying for the SEC Championship Game, then fell flat in a Sugar Bowl loss to Louisville.
The sting of that 33-23 loss to the Cardinals, who were coached by former Florida assistant and Arkansas native Charlie Strong, capped an 11-2 season, leaving a bad taste for the Gators to contemplate during the off season.
Gators At a Glance
LAST SEASON 11-2, 7-1 (tie first in SEC East)
COACH Will Muschamp (18-8 in third year at Florida and overall)
RETURNING STARTERS Offense 4, defense 3
KEY RETURNING PLAYERS QB Jeff Driskel, DE Dominique Easley, RG Jon Halapio, CB Loucheiz Purifoy
SEC TITLE SCENARIO Florida’s defense has well-regarded talent to fill in for a big crop of departed players. But without the experience, it’s tough to think they’ll compare to last season’s strong group. The Gators’ run game should be OK, but again, a vast array of departures makes it unlikely Florida has the weapons to challenge for supremacy in the East.
“We’ve been living off that all season, so we’ve got to change that,” said senior defensive end Dominique Easley, who noted that Florida coaches put up a big poster of the scoreboard from that game leading into the team locker room.
“I felt like we lost our composure a little bit in the second half,” Muschamp said at SEC media days. “That was disappointing. … We hadn’t done that all season.”
Florida in 2013 might not have the same flashy appeal as the Fun and Gun Gators under Steve Spurrier or the recent BCS championship teams led by Chris Leak and Tim Tebow, but the program has re-emerged on the national scene after Urban Meyer’s departure following the 2010 season.
The Gators look like a program moving in the right direction.
“We made strides in our second season,” Muschamp said. “I think as you look back from year one to year two, obviously the record was much better … but more than anything to me, the roster in our locker room is much better.”
Florida looks to have a stable quarterback situation for the first time since Tebow’s departure after the 2009 season. Junior Jeff Driskel, who held the starting job much of last season, stands as the lone veteran at the position after Jacoby Brissett elected to transfer to North Carolina State in January.
“He knows [the job] is his, so he’s more focused now than ever,” Florida offensive lineman Jon Halapio said.
“It’s easier to become more vocal when you’re the set quarterback,” Driskel said. “When there’s a competition, you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I’m a lot more confident because I’ve played more and gotten a lot more snaps and played one year as the starting quarterback.”
Driskel ranked 11th among SEC quarterbacks in pass efficiency last season and 12th in the conference in total offense with 171.6 yards per game.
Under Muschamp, Driskel won’t rack up huge passing numbers. Tailback Mike Gillislee and the run game became more of a focal point last season, and the tandem of sophomore Matt Jones and junior Mack Brown are projected to carry on that style this season behind a line that brings back starters Halapio and center Jonnotthan Harrison.
“Mike Gillislee was our first 1,000-yard rusher since 2003,” Muschamp said. “That’s not going to be the exception anymore at Florida, that’s going to be the norm. I’m excited moving forward with our style.”
The Gators, who have not had a first-team All-SEC receiver the past four seasons, brought former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips in to coach that position.
Florida’s strength was on defense last year, and after losing a bundle of talent to the NFL, Muschamp admitted concerns about that backbone of this team.
“I’m young, but I’m old-fashioned,” Muschamp said. “In any sport, you better be strong up the middle.”
Muschamp recited the number of defensive standouts the Gators lost, particularly defensive tackle Sharrief Floyd, linebackers Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic and defensive backs Matt Elam and Josh Evans.
“It ought to create some sleepless nights for you,” he said.
Muschamp suspended sophomore middle linebacker Antonio Morrison for at least two games for his second arrest in five weeks last weekend. Morrison was arrested on Sunday for harassing a police animal - reports say he was barking at a police dog - and resisting arrest, though the charges were subsequently dropped. The second incident followed his June 16 arrest for punching a bouncer at a Gainesville bar, for which he accepted a deferred prosecution on simple battery charges.
“I’m extremely disappointed in Antonio Morrison’s decision making,” Muschamp wrote on Twitter.
Florida ranked fourth nationally against the rush, giving up 94.9 yards per game, and fifth in total defense, giving up 287.5 yards per game. Additionally, the Gators gave up just seven plays of 30 yards or longer, easily the best in the SEC over LSU (11).
“We were a defensive team last year,” Halapio said. “When we did mess up, and we messed up a lot, they always had our backs.”
Florida’s biggest area of improvement, turnover margin, will be hard to duplicate this fall. The Gators went from a minus-12 margin in 2011 to a plus-15 last year, good for 17th in the country.
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/27/2013