Tennessee returns to Neyland Stadium on Saturday night for its SEC home opener as they host rival Florida in a critical game for both teams.
Here’s a look at the Florida Gators ahead of the matchup.
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How The Gators Got Here
Florida enters the matchup 3-2 (1-1 SEC) and riding a two-game winning streak into Knoxville. The Gators start to the season couldn’t have been a bigger disaster, suffering blowout losses at home against Miami and Texas A&M around a win over Samford.
Billy Napier has steadied the ship the last three weeks with wins over Mississippi State and UCF around the open date. Still, Napier’s job seems all but lost and an upset win over Tennessee is the least of what he needs to do to save it.
Florida’s Strengths
Florida’s passing attack has been solid this season, led by an offensive line that’s allowed just five sacks this season. LSU is the only team in the SEC that’s allowed less sacks than the Gators. Still, the Gators passing attack ranks just seventh in the SEC in passing yards per game.
The Gators have also done a good job of avoiding penalties this season, committing the second fewest of any SEC team.
Florida has also been stout in the red zone both on offense and on defense. The Gators defense has allowed just 10 touchdowns on 18 red zone trips this season. Now, eight of those touchdowns have been rushing touchdowns and Tennessee should be able to exploit that.
Offensively, Florida has scored 15 touchdowns on 19 trips to the red zone. That’s one of the most efficient red zone touchdown rates in the entire country.
Florida’s Weaknesses
Florida’s defense as a whole has been very bad this season which provides a nice get right game opportunity for Josh Heupel and Tennessee’s offense.
The Gators’ run defense is particularly putrid, allowing 172 yards per game on the ground. That’s a comforting stat for Tennessee with its current passing game issues. Florida’s pass defense is better than its run defense but its still not great and ranks 13th in the SEC allowing 222 yards per game.
Florida’s defense has also struggled to force turnovers. Auburn is the only team facing fewer turnovers than the Gators are. Third down defense has also been a weak spot for Florida.
Gators To Know
Quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway
Florida is playing both the veteran Mertz and freshman Lagway at this point in the season. Mertz is getting more snaps while Lagway is a bit of a gadget quarterback and has attempted 11 combined passes in the last two games.
Mertz has thrown for 666 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions while Lagway has thrown for 667 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Lagway’s numbers are a bit inflated by him playing the entire Samford game.
Running Back Montrell Johnson
With Trevor Etienne off to Georgia, Johnson is the go-to guy in the Florida running back room. His 58 carries are the most of any Gator running back by 37 and he leads the team with 288 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Edge Tyreak Sapp
Sapp is the best player on Florida’s defense and as bad as Tennessee’s offensive tackle play has been this season, he is a real concern.
The junior has 2.5 sacks and 20 tackles to this point in the season and has a nice running mate across from him in George Gumbs Jr. (2.5 sacks, 15 tackles). Both those guys could be a handful for Tennessee.
Linebacker Grayson Howard
Howard leads Florida with 24 tackles to go along with one sack, a pass deflection and fumble recovery. He’s been shaky in pass coverage but stout against the run and as a tackler in space.
What Josh Heupel Said About The Gators
On the challenges of preparing for two Florida quarterbacks in Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway
“Yeah, I think both of ’em have played smart football, they’ve been accurate with the football in particular the last couple of weeks. They both operate within the system extremely well. Both have the ability to run the football and move and extend and make plays. You know, young kid (Lagway) is dynamic with the ball in his hands.”
On Florida’s defensive front
“Yeah, they’re multiple in what they do. That’s their front. Suits their coverages on the back end. It’s the pressures that they apply and they can get to the quarterback with just a four-down front, too. So, you know, for us, communication, understanding where we’re working to, recognizing the pressure. That can be the front five guys, it’s your back, it’s your tight end at times as well. All gotta be in sync and then you gotta play good football. You gotta play the fundamentals and in technique and win your one on one. But another part of that is going and winning on the outside. Doing it quickly and quarterback being decisive. All 11 guys gotta play together.”
