GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It’s been 41 days since the Gators began their game-week of preparations for LSU, an annual cross-division clash that was scheduled for Oct. 8 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. They entered that week 4-1 with questions at quarterback and injuries on defense.

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Saturday, the Gators head to Baton Rouge for the makeup date. This time around, the quarterback situation is more stable, but injuries could be an even bigger concern.

Quarterback

Entering Week 6, Florida was coming off its first win with Austin Appleby at quarterback. The Gators defeated Vanderbilt 13-6, but posted uninspiring numbers on offense, in part due to Appleby’s failure to find and throw to open receivers. Those issues created a media narrative that Jim McElwain’s squad needed Luke Del Rio back under center to get things going on offense and have a chance against LSU.

Del Rio was presumed to make his first start since injuring his knee in Week 3. That start ultimately didn’t come until the following Saturday against Missouri, and he was noticeably rusty (18-of-38, 236 yards, TD, 3 INT). He improved slightly the next week against Georgia, cutting down on the turnovers, but it was hardly a banner day for the offense (a season-low 231 yards of total offense). In a performance against Arkansas he would like to forget (19-of-37, 229 yards, 2 INT), Del Rio injured his shoulder and handed the job back to Appleby.

Nov 12, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Austin Appleby (12) runs out of the pocket against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In game one of Appleby’s second stint as the starter, the offense looked better against South Carolina. For the second time this season, the Gators scored on their opening offensive possession. Both times, Appleby directed those drives. For the first time all year, one could say the offense actually looked better than the box score indicated.

Florida won 20-7, but had two costly fumbles in South Carolina territory. One of the two field goals was kicked because of Antonio Callaway dropped an open pass. The Gators were only a few tweaks from forcing the Gamecocks to wave the white flag early on.

Injuries: defense

On Monday of the original LSU week, coach Jim McElwain delivered an alarming injury report, headlined by the potential absences of the starting defensive line: DE Bryan Cox Jr., DT Joey Ivie, DT Caleb Brantley and DE Jordan Sherit. By Wednesday it appeared that Brantley and Cox would be able to play, but that was too late to quiet a popular talking point that the Gators were trying to get out of the game because they were too banged up to face the Tigers.

This time, Cox is hurt again. He had been playing with a club on his arm due to a broken hand, and appeared to injure his right ankle against South Carolina. The injuries mean more playing time for DE Jabari Zuniga, a redshirt freshman who leads the team with 5.0 sacks.

The headlining injuries on defense are that of Jarrad Davis (sprained ankle) and Alex Anzalone (broken arm). While Anzalone is out for the year, Davis’ status is uncertain. He suffered the injury against Missouri in Week 7 and played against Georgia in Week 9, but aggravated the injury against Arkansas and did not play Saturday against South Carolina.

McElwain indicated it’s doubtful Davis (below) will play at LSU.

“You know I think he’s still out, looks like,” the coach said Saturday. “But you know we’ll see. I sure hope so.”

Oct 15, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) against the Missouri Tigers during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

A definite absence is senior strong safety Marcus Maye, who has a broken arm. While Maye’s absence hurts, the Gators at least have experience backups in the secondary in Nick Washington and Marcell Harris.

Injuries: offense

Last time the teams were scheduled to play, the focus was on the quarterback’s ankle. This time, the concerns are with those in charge of protecting the quarterback.

Starting center Cam Dillard was injured against Arkansas and backup center Tyler Jordan left Saturday’s game and did not return. The Gators turned to redshirt freshman T.J. McCoy at center, and also brought in Kavaris Harkless when LT David Sharpe left the game with an injury, moving Martez Ivey from left guard to left tackle.

“I’ve been with the twos the entire spring camp and the entire fall camp. So those were my dudes,” Appleby said after the game. “I’m actually more comfortable with them. … Those are my guys.”

“When T.J. came in there, he kind of got the look. I’m like, ‘Hey man, go do what we do.’ And we settled in, same with Harkless and some others. We just go play football the Gator way. We’re so deep. We’ve got so much talent on this team that it doesn’t matter who’s out there. If we play to our standard, we’ll be successful.”

The verdict: Better or Worse?

For Florida, the injury bug has been unavoidable. The team’s health was going to be a factor against LSU on Oct. 8 and it certainly will be Saturday in Baton Rouge.

With the five big injuries on defense (Anzalone, Cox, Davis, Cece Jefferson and Maye), it would be easy to say that Florida is in worse shape to face LSU now than it would have been before Hurricane Matthew. The Tigers have managed impressive SEC wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas, and went toe-to-toe with Alabama for three-plus quarters.

With Davis and Anzalone out, many people will expect to see LSU run with ease on the Gators. While no one is mistaking Rico Dowdle for Leonard Fournette or Derrius Guice, it’s somewhat encouraging for the Gators that they held South Carolina to 43 rushing yards on 30 attempts. UF’s leading tackler was true freshman LB David Reese (11), who started in Davis’ absence.

There’s a pattern, however, of Florida’s rushing defense being less effective away from The Swamp (3.8 yards per carry, 141.8 yards per game) than it is at home (2.5 yards per carry, 87 yards per game). And that might prove to be the deciding factor Saturday in Baton Rouge.

But defense is only half the equation. With the way Luke Del Rio has played since injuring his knee against North Texas in Week 3, Florida stood little to no chance of beating LSU on Oct. 8 if he was the starting quarterback.

With the way Appleby played against South Carolina, the Gators at least have a shot.