Tag Archives: gators

SEC Battle in the Swamp

The Gators return home to face Arkansas this Saturday after a 24-7 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Kentucky. Head coach Will Muschamp said, on Monday, that he was “pleased with the win. Offensively we were very workman-like, very efficient…Defensively I thought we handled the tempo very well.” The Gators Defense stepped up in their first game without defensive tackle Dominique Easley. Easley underwent a season-ending knee injury during practice last Tuesday. The Gators had to start Dante Fowler and Ronald Powell on the outside against the Wildcats and repositioned Jonathan Bullard inside beside defensive tackle Damien Jacobs. Even with the injuries the gators have sustained on defense, the two-deep rotation is solid but untested.

Arkansas(3-2, 0-1) and Florida(3-1, 2-0) have not played each other since 2009, when the ranked #1 Gators kicked a field goal in the closing nine seconds of the game propelling the Gators to a win with a score of 23-20. The Razorbacks are coming of an impressive game putting up 33 points against Texas A&M in Fayetteville, AR. Although they fell short losing 45-33, Arkansas stayed close in points throughout the game, boosted by the return of quarterback Brandon Allen. Allen left the game early against Southern Miss, and missed the following Rutgers game due to a sprained shoulder. Allen started against Texas A&M and threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns in the impressive effort.

Florida’s defensive tackle Damien Jacobs anticipates a very physical game with Arkansas’s offensive line. “They’re real physical,” Jacobs said to the Orlando Sentinel, “I think they’re a little chippy. They’re a little dirty. So we’re going to have to be ready for it all this week.” Arkansas has an average of 237 rushing yards a game, ranking second in the SEC. In contrast, Florida through the first three games had only relinquished 214 rushing yards. Florida has been the best team in the country at preventing the running game, only allowing 53.5 yards per game. Even without defensive tackle Dominic Easley Arkansas had coach Bret Bielema said that the gators are still dangerous. According to the Arkansas News website Bielema stated,  “Obviously, they lost a real good player in (Easley), But across the board up front, they use their hands well. They’re powerful. Their linebackers run.” In my opinion, the key to winning this game is to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. Let the games begin. The game will be on ESPN2 at 7pm on Saturday.

Information from The Associated Press, Sbnation, GatorZone, The Orlando Sentinel and The SEC Network was used in this article.

Freshman Star Emerges In Florida’s DB

By: John Whitelow

In just four games, Florida’s corner back Vernon Hargreaves III has managed to produce seven tackles, four pass break ups and three interceptions for 39 return yards. Hargreaves is tied for No. 2 nationally in interceptions and is tied for No. 1 in the SEC.

Hargreaves was originally listed as a back up corner at the stat of the season up until they faced Kentucky this past weekend, he earned his first career start. In that game alone he racked up two tackles, an interception and a pass break up.

Yesterday Hargreaves earned the SEC Freshman player of the week award. Hargreaves intercepted a pass in the end zone from Kentucky’s Maxwell Smith and also leads the gators in interceptions. Hargreaves currently holds the most interceptions by an SEC freshman and the third-most nationally among freshmen.

Hargreaves is definitely a big impact on the SEC’s best pass defense. The group of guys around him will only push Hargreaves to get better and already seems to have good chemistry and trust with each other. Hargreaves has yet to face the tougher teams of the SEC but will only improve through the season. This rookie for Florida is the real deal and by the end of the season, he will be known as one of the best corners in the nation.

Should Gator fans be concerned about injuries?

A lot of people are concerned that Florida’s season is completely tarnished. Well don’t think so fast, because its not.

With quarterback Jeff Driskel and DT Dominique Easley out for the remainder of the season, yeah its a big blow but its no reason to hang your head. I honestly don’t see too much of a change from this. I think its going to be more interesting to see how their offense develops with Tyler Murphy taking the snaps.

With the absence of Driskel, offensive coordinator Brent Pease will have to shake things up a bit and that could be a good thing. Maybe a change is what the Gators need.

Both Driskel and Murphy are dual-threat quarterbacks but Florida seemed like they were digging a bigger hole with Driskel and that conservative ball-control offense.

Murphy can make more things happen on the ground, which should allow Pease to run a Urban Meyer pro-style offense.

Florida has always been known by having a monster defense, so with the loss of Easley I don’t think there will be any drastic. Their defense is young and talented and they should be exciting to watch.

Dominique Easley suffers right knee injury

Florida DT Dominique Easley said earlier Wednesday that he could miss the rest of the season after injuring his right knee in practice.

Easley posted on his Twitter that he was done for the year; “Gatornation thank you for all of 4 yrs of sticking with me but god has something else planned for and have no worries #believe.”

However, head coach Will Muschamp reported that Easley’s right knee was only “tweaked” during a non-contact drill during Tuesday’s practice. Muschamp said “we think he’ll be fine. We just need more information right now.”

Through the first four games, Easley has recorded four quarterback hurries and two tackles for a loss. He suffered from a anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee back in 2011.

If the news is true, this will be a huge blow for the Gators. Easley will be the second starter in less than a week who will miss the rest of the season. Quarterback Jeff Driskel fractured his right fibula last weekend in the victory over Tennessee.

The Gators will travel this Saturday to take on Kentucky at 7pm.