Florida experienced an offensive renaissance under Dan Mullen’s leadership last season on its way to a 10-3 campaign which was led by a resurgent Feleipe Franks under center.

Without a doubt, the Gator offense improved drastically last fall but when it came to explosive plays, the team’s performance did leave some room for improvement looking ahead to the 2019 season. When it comes to plays from scrimmage of 20+ yards, the Gators ranked No. 55 nationally and No. 71 nationally in plays of 40+ yards from scrimmage.

Those stats are about the only offensive numbers the Gators put up in 2018 that would remind some of the dreaded Jim McElwain era offense in Gainesville but according to Mullen, they should be soon corrected due to the experience, knowledge and comfortability his players now have in his offense.

Here is what Mullen recently had to say when asked about how he planned to get more explosive plays from his offense this season.

“Well, I mean, one, it’s the explosive playmakers, you know? And I think we have some of those guys now,” Mullen said during his Tuesday media availability. “And guys that understand the offensive scheme better give you the opportunity to go do it. I think the other one is having multiple guys that are playmakers, you know, and especially you look at in the perimeter at the receiver position.

“We got three, four receivers out there and all four of them can make an explosive play and do what you need them to do. It allows you to take advantage of what the defense has given you. And I think that leads to more explosive plays.”

Improvisation is also a big key to Mullen’s offense and something not all of his players may have been comfortable doing last season as they continued to learn and grow in their first season in the scheme. Now that they have a better grasp of what Mullen and his coaches want from them, the Florida coach believes that knowledge, along with their ability, will lead to his players having the ability to showcase more explosive plays on the field.

“It’s guys learning the system and the offense,” Mullen continued. “Within the offense, you have guys that want to — once you know the offense, you know how to make plays within the offense, you know what I mean? ‘Hey, can I do this? Can I run this route this way? I decided to change the route, I hooked up here. I sat in this area, you know what I mean? Is it okay? This is why I did it.’ When you have guys doing that, you have a chance – they understand the system. ‘Hey, I want to take this over the top instead of sitting it down on here.’ Okay, great. They are more confident in doing it and that leads to more explosive plays.”

If the Gators can accomplish this final hurdle, they may just have the best offense in the entire SEC by seasons end.