Dan Mullen expecting special teams surprises from Tennessee
An unexpected call on a special teams play can be a great way to swing momentum and pick up a quick boost. Florida head coach Dan Mullen know this well. In his young UF tenure, Mullen has already called multiple memorable fake punts, trusting Tommy Townsend to pick up a first down. On Thursday, Mullen revealed he’s expecting the Tennessee Volunteers to try some of the same things on Saturday in The Swamp.
“They have a great punter and great kicker. They love onside kicks. I expect them to try a surprise onside kick maybe first kick of the game. I expect them to fake a punt early in the game,” Mullen said on his weekly radio show, per Gator Country’s Nick de la Torre.
Mullen’s comments might just be some radio show fun. There’s a chance he could be revealing his own plans. Gamesmanship speculation is always fun ahead of a rivalry game. One things for sure, it would be a bad look for the Gators if they’re caught off guard by a Tennessee fake punt or onside kick after the head coach publicly said he is expecting to see those kind of “surprise” plays.
Florida vs. Tennessee is set for a noon ET kickoff and will air on ESPN.
They tried a surprise onside last year to Perine and he handled it easily with 4 Tennessee players around him
Have we tried some surprise on sides kicks this season? I don’t recall one but could be wrong. Pruitt loves to go for it on 4th down and it would not surprise me to see 2-3 trick plays from both teams. If we run the same tired 4th and 1 plays of a 190 pound TB up the middle into a wall we deserve not to make it. Stick 240 pound Crouch in at TB or even in a wildcat play, stick Anderson or another big body in at full back. anything but running gray or Ty into the teeth of the DL.
Perine made a great play on the onside kick last year.
One of the best things Mullen got from Urban Meyer –and that was sorely missed during the Muschamp and McElwain tenures– is special emphasis on special teams. He just thinking out loud, and just maybe, trying to discourage Tennessee from trying any trick plays.
^this. what better way to discourage someone from surprising you than by saying exactly what they could do. see if it pays off!