Florida Gators need a ball carrier to step up, complement Kelvin Taylor
By Andrew Olson
Published:
In Will Grier’s absence, the biggest concerns for the Florida offense might not be related to QB Treon Harris’ passing ability, but instead how RB Kelvin Taylor (114 carries, 438 yards, 7 TDs) will handle defenses expecting Florida to run, and how he’ll hold up as the team’s only established ball carrier.
No one knows for sure yet how Florida coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier might adjust the offensive scheme in Grier’s absence. In the last two games with Grier as the signal caller, the Gators have taken an overall balanced approach on offense with a slight tendency to favor the ground game (62 passing plays, 77 running plays). Of the 77 running plays in the past two weeks, 55 were rushes by Taylor.
Taylor’s workload and effectiveness going forward will likely depend on which version of Harris shows up for Florida in the next six games, starting with Saturday’s contest against No. 6 LSU. UF went 4-2 last season with Harris as its starter, but the true freshman quarterback was a combined 18-of-43 passing in losses to South Carolina and FSU. In his only start this season, Harris posted a stat line of 14-of-19 for 215 yards and two touchdowns against New Mexico State, a Sun Belt team with an 0-5 record.
In the Gators’ biggest win with Harris at quarterback, a 38-20 upset of No. 11 Georgia last season, Taylor and former RB Matt Jones carried the ball on 50 of the 63 offensive plays.
This year, Jones is working out of the Washington Redskins’ backfield and Taylor lacks a complementary running back. Florida’s running back depth took a hit in August when Birmingham Bowl MVP Adam Lane transferred to Eastern Kentucky. Lane’s departure was supposed to mean an increased role for freshmen running backs Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett, but for the most part, it’s just meant more for Taylor.
Cronkrite was the less heralded recruit of the two, but has earned more playing time. In five games this season, Cronkrite has recorded a total of 28 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Scarlett, on the other hand, has not seen the field since the East Carolina game on Sept. 12, when he carried the ball four times for 24 yards. McElwain has cited fumbling problems in practice as the reason for Scarlett’s lack of playing time.
McElwain and Nussmeier have other options to break up Taylor’s monopoly on carries. Slot receiver Brandon Powell played running back last season and has the speed to take it to the house any time the ball is in his hands. When Harris was suspended for the Tennessee game, McElwain referenced the potential use of a “GatorTail package” for QB Josh Grady, which is presumed to be a variation of the wildcat package used by many teams for direct-snap running plays. Grady, a graduate transfer from Vanderbilt, threw only seven passes in three seasons for the Commodores.
Florida isn’t giving up on the pass, but both Taylor and Harris (who might be asked to run less with Grier ineligible), would benefit if another ball carrier stepped up and helped take the Gators’ ground game to the next level.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
