Florida giving up an historic amount of points through first 2 weeks of season
Florida is off to an impressive start to the 2020 season. The Gators are ranked No. 4 in the country after back-to-back wins over Ole Miss and South Carolina in which they’ve scored 89 total points and racked up 990 yards of total offense.
However, the Gators are giving up a lot of offense to opposing teams, too. In fact, they nearly made history in that regard during their first two games.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, Florida’s 59 points allowed are the third most it’s allowed in its first two games of a season, behind only the 69 points it allowed in 1965 and the 65 it gave up in 1917 (h/t SEC Network’s Brandon Zimmerman). Of course, that hasn’t hurt the Gators as they continue to pile up a ton of offense of their own.
It’s worth noting that typically Florida opens the season against lighter non-conference opponents, as many top schools do. This year’s schedule is different, though, as every SEC team is playing a 10-game conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So the Gators immediately jumped into conference play against some quality opponents.
Three of Florida’s next four games are against ranked teams, so it will be interesting to see if it can maintain this model of success. Because if the Gators’ offense slows down, they may also need to find a way to better limit opposing offenses.
Florida looks to improve to 3-0 this Saturday as it travels to take on No. 21 Texas A&M at noon ET on ESPN.
I think part of the problem with the Florida defense is that they are basically playing two hybrid, smaller sized DEs (Cox and Moon or Bogle) at the same time on the edges and a true strongside DE at DT (Carter) I would like to see Carter playing DE opposite the hybrid DE on first and second downs. Carter is much better vs. the run on the edge than he is in the middle. Maybe they will consider that when Campbell comes back, if he ever does (I guess from COVID). And please move Wilson full time to the nickel and start Hill at the corner opposite Elam. Wilson can’t cover the edges and does the middle well for whatever reason.
Gotta get Gervin Dexter some more looks as well. He is a monster. If we can get some size back in the middle with Campbell and Grathem can be a little more creative with blitz packages we will be ok. I do not believe we are gonna be able to simply send 4 this year and get to the QB. Carter showed flashes but needs to be more consistent. Same with Cox. I do believe that if we get Campbell and McWilliams back this week, this game could be a coming out party for the Defense. If we can maintain some juice throughout the entire game then we may get a couple of turnovers and hold them to two scores.
I’m hearing talk that Campbell may not return at all this season.
Both Campbell and Stewart are listed on the depth chart for the A&M game. Have not shown on the depth chart before. Looks like both will play Saturday for the Gators.
Nice. That will help.
Part of the problem is Florida is scoring to fast. Giving opposing offenses to many possessions
It is not the possessions but the quality of those possessions by the opposition and UF’s inability to get off the field on 3rd downs…and 4th downs vs. SC.
More to the point of current context, UF is 9th in the league in scoring defense, with our next opponent only slightly worse. Gotta keep scoring until the defense gets fixed.
And I love great defense, so watching the two top ones go at it in Athens should be fun.
Gee. No OOC warmup games, no spring practice, weird summer camp with limited tackling. Ole Miss in Game 1 with a real quarterback and a great offensive coach.
Cox as an edge rusher is the same size as Zuniga. Greenard was about 15 pounds heavier than any Gator edge rusher this year. I like the idea of Carter moving back outside to SDE. Moon and Bogle are really true OLBs.
“No OOC warmup games, no spring practice, weird summer camp with limited tackling.”
That’s exactly why stats from this season cannot be cleanly compared to stats from any other season. While I don’t believe this season’s champion should have an asterisk next to their accomplishment, all statistics certainly will require asterisks.
Great points Box. We all know that when it comes down to it, all you really have to do is score more points than the other team. In a perfect world, we’d love to play defense more like we have in other years – but this isn’t other years. UGA is looking good on both sides of the ball and so is Bama. Tenn looks much improved too. The battle for the SEC and to get a playoff spot will not be easy for any team in our conference. The same can’t be said for those teams that play in one-team conferences and are seemingly handed a spot by many in the sports media. Looking for a lot of discussion around that especially this season with the B10 and P12 joining the party late…
If Florida’s first 2 opponents were Arkansas and Auburn this article wouldn’t exist.
LOL ok, swamp79. South Carolina sure does have a mighty offense, right? Especially compared to Auburn. What other nonsense are you going to make up?
Mudragon, you’re absolutely right. I think people are making too much about Florida’s defense. Their offense is more than good enough to hang with anyone. And we’re only two games into the season, so there’s still improvement to be made. Under good coaches, teams improve during the season.
swamp79, coming from the twit that said if Georgia doesn’t start Mathis it’s because they’re racist I’ll take this ignotroll comment and placee it with all your other ones, file 13…
Can’t agree more G8rMud, this year more than any it’s simply about winning, there will be no extra credits for style points, 10 and 1 thru the SEC rigors should land any team in our league into the CFPs…period
Box, while hoping that the O scores enough to win the game, I’m definitely concerned about our D. Things need to improve to have a chance to compete with elite teams. I think that a lack of QB pressure from the D line is a factor – it’s not all on the secondary. Hoping we can fix these things. Some guys that could help haven’t played yet and I don’t know why (injuries, Covid, academics?).
LeghumperU, definitely. Our path in the SEC secures one spot for sure in the playoffs, but I think our conference may get screwed with regards to the second and third place teams (that may very well be more deserving than teams from other conferences, but may get pushed out. A lot of head scratchers are ranked high without having done a d*mned thing to earn it.
Nashville. Zuinga was a good DE playing the run both inside and on the edge at DE. Cox is more of a rush OLB and rush defense has not been his strength at Georgia or now at Florida. He is disruptive though, which allows others to play the run.If they would. Burney has not so far. Miller has been inconsistent in the two games. Great vs Ole Miss. Disappeared and got benched for a while vs. SC.
I don’t think Miller was necessarily benched. He seemed to be moving better against SC when I watched him. I think there’s a chance he just rotated out to give Houston some quality snaps. They were rotating pretty heavily.
I haven’t really focused in on Cox in the first two games. I’m going to try to watch the games again this week and focus on Cox.
What’cha wanna know about Cox? (:
I’ll give you the modified version, explosive, disruptive, one dimensional pass rusher, weak against the run, not a good cover guy, his aggressive pass rushing often leaves him out of position but that being said, when he guesses right he certainly looks the 5star QB pressure part, somewhat undersized build for a DE and often seen sitting on the bench all by himself when not on the field…
Leghumper. That mostly describes Cox when he was at UGA. Not much describes him now. He is playing the strongside DE position this year and I think he is a little out of position there. I have not seen him out of position all year for Florida. I have seen him makes sacks and put a lot of pressure on QBs. He has been run on some because he is undersized for a strongside DE.
Clarification. Out of position at his position. Not out of position on the field during games.
I’ll take your word for it over my lying eyes, g8rNature. Guess I was imagining Cox sulking temper tantrums on the bench the last two games and his teammates trying to console him also. He isn’t a little out of position, he’s a lot out of position and I see his frustration with Granthams schemes growing. Cox is incredibly electric and Uber talented but I see a meltdown coming soon…the role of DE does not suit him because he’s not built for it but where else can Todd play him in that scheme?
Leghumper, you are a dawg with a bone, whether that bone is Mullen, Georgia opponent bye weeks, or Cox leaving Georgia.
So try this one: The Florida coaches said Cox needed a lot of work on his fundamentals when he got to Florida. Guess they skipped that at Georgia.
Hi Leghumper:
First off, media reports state that Cox is a bright spot on UF’s defense … one of its best players. Second, Cox was never going to work out at UGA regardless of his attitude because he isn’t an LB. The kid is a DE. He isn’t as good as these guys, mind you, but his skill set is kind of like David Pollack at UGA or Jevon Kearse at Florida: weakside pass-rushing DE.
Florida plugged Cox in at Jabari Zuniga’s spot on the DL and he is going to do pretty well there. Zuniga and Cox have similar body types, though Cox is about an inch taller. Zuniga is 253 lbs, Cox is 250. Cox is a couple of years younger, so he might get to 250-255.
The thing about running the 3-4 is that it is difficult to tell who is able to make the transition from high school DE to college OLB. Cox is one of the guys who couldn’t handle it. As for why he couldn’t play DE at UGA … well there IS a talent gap between the two programs. Florida has better skill players right now – not at RB, but definitely at QB, WR and TE – but UGA is better everywhere else, especially on defense. UGA might have played a 250 lb. LDE early in his tenure when he was still heavily relying on Richt’s recruits, but no way that happens now.
Nash, bone or no bone, the coaches at Ga also said Cox needed a lot of work on his fundamentals (particularly against the run and in coverage…)aka one dimensional pass rusher as I stated, that is why he got passed up on the depth chart, his ego is what kept him from improving. It is what it is, twist it any way you want.
Waycross, your position very well stated. Don’t disagree with a lot of it as previously stated. While I disagree (Pickens/Jackson vs Copeland/Swain) at the WR gap clearly UF is all about Pitts who I’ve stated on a number of occasions should be at the top of the Heisman watch. You are right about one thing regarding Cox, he is younger and certainly more raw skilled but similar to Pollack and Kearse but unfortunately I still believe his attitude will continue to be his limitation. Nash believes I have a personal bone to pick with Cox, it’s not personal and I wish Brenton well but when I say it is what it is, I see him doing the same stupid stuff on the Gator sidelines that he did in Athens, instead of engaging with coaches and players and trying to get better, he sits on the bench moping or struts around like an angry young man. If Brenton ever grows up the sky is the limit, unfortunately I just don’t see it happening until he is ready to take ownership for his actions. Stay well WaycrossG8r
Our best defense this year will be longer sustained scoring drives. That can keep the defense fresh to take on A&M, LSU, UGA, UT, and football gods willing Bama.
Not liking this game at all. Feeling like the team took the foot off the gas makes me think they aren’t ready to handle the praise they are getting. That and Trask went all Felipe after the big lead with some bad series.
Trask didn’t go “all Feleipe.” Go to YouTube and watch Grimes and Toney on the interception. They ran into each other as Trask was releasing the ball. It looked like one of them broke the wrong way.
Go back and watch those two series, and tell me if you played with the same urgency. I loved Feleipe the teammate and the person. His QB skills were erratic obviously. My point is still the same…this team started to play like it was going to coast and we were bailed out by Muschamp’s clock mismanagement skills.
I completely agree that the Gator offense lost focus in the fourth quarter, but I’m just not sure it’s on Trask. I think the receivers in particular lost concentration.
“Felipe” was a better Gator than you will ever be in your wildest dreams.
Clueless idiot
Sort of a childish retort
They’ll get better, play average d with this offense they’ll go 10-0
They have work to do but there’s the talent to develop. We’ve been so used to coming out of the gate with a strong defense, I expect the offense to carry the defense more this season as they come around. I see players better learning their role in the scheme. People are unrealistic to think they are going to dominate from game one. It’s more important to improve every day, win each game and play best at the end of the season.
I’m not making excuses because the tackling has been ATROCIOUS for Florida, but 1 they were up against Ole Miss who has a UCF fast pace offense with Lane Kiffin running that team and ABSOLUTELY talented players on offense. Hard to hold them in check. 2nd, Muschamp basically played his usual game of not playing to win but to not lose badly. His only goal was very apparent as all he wanted to do was control the clock against Florida and limit UF’s offensive possessions. He actually did do that which limited UF’s offense against him, but it kept his offense on the field longer too and ONLY because he was playing it safe. Don’t believe me? Look at their last drive when they were 2 TD’s down with minutes still on the clock, but he’s not pushing the ball down the field fast to try and score, he’s just marching methodically knowing he is going to lose the game, because his goal is to run out the clock on that drive and not give UF time to score another TD against him. It’s gameplans like that where the loser doesn’t really want to win, but plays to try and lose less badly that hurt Florida.
Once again, making zero excuses for the tackling. If things don’t improve, Georgia will get to 4-0 against UF this year even with a moronic offense.