It wasn’t that way back that coach Dan Mullen‘s tenure appeared prefer it was shaping as much as be all the things Gators followers needed. The staff was simply six factors away from a School Soccer Playoff look final season, and after giving Alabama all it might deal with in Week 3, it appeared like this might lastly be the staff to interrupt by means of.
Then, Saturday evening occurred. The Gators misplaced to Kentucky in Lexington for the primary time since 1986, and Mullen is now 2-2 towards a Wildcats staff who UF’s earlier 5 coaches by no means misplaced to.
Whereas Florida is clearly an improved and extra aggressive staff than those underneath earlier coaches Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain, it’s changing into increasingly more clear that one thing wants to vary if Mullen’s squad goes to take that leap ahead.
In his newest column, Sports activities Illustrated’s Pat Forde took a take a look at a number of coaches who appear to have misplaced fairly a little bit of their luster. Right here’s what he needed to say about Mullen.
After a two-point loss to Alabama Sept. 18, Mullen was being lauded for his means to maintain the Gators on the forefront of the SEC after main personnel losses from 2020. He was 31–10 at Florida, and a few believed Mullen’s staff might beat Georgia and retain the SEC East title.
Now: In 2018, Mullen grew to become the primary Florida coach because the mid-Nineteen Eighties to lose to Kentucky, after which he did it once more Saturday. Whereas the Wildcats are 5–0, that didn’t sit properly with Gators followers accustomed to having their method with Huge Blue. Possibilities of repeating as SEC East champion all however disappeared with that loss.
The massive downside: Mullen has gotten conservative offensively with this staff, working the ball 59% of the time and never trusting his quarterbacks within the passing recreation. When he ate all three of his timeouts on a timid offensive possession to finish the primary half towards Kentucky clinging to a ten–7 lead, Florida followers who bear in mind Steve Spurrier have been apoplectic. Fifteen penalties and a blocked subject aim that was returned for a landing weren’t properly obtained, both.
What is going to convey again the love: Placing up 50 on Vanderbilt on Saturday will assist. Then comes essential video games at LSU and in Jacksonville towards Georgia, adopted by what must be 4 extra wins. Mullen can be wonderful as soon as the Kentucky-related outrage wears off.
Mullen’s job safety is actually not moved significantly by the loss to UK, although it’s arguably the worst he’s taken as head coach. However Forde is correct that one thing wants to vary. Mullen, who is understood for taking probabilities, has been very conservative in his play-calling this season, and that was particularly problematic towards Kentucky.
The Gators are nice at working the soccer, however the Wildcats discovered a technique to decelerate the dashing assault, and whether or not the issue is an absence of religion in quarterback Emory Jones or one thing else, Florida might want to play quite a bit higher down the stretch if it desires to have any probability at salvaging this season.
Associated
Contents
- 1 Associated
- 2 How did ESPN’s FPI reply to Florida’s loss? You is likely to be stunned.
- 3 Gators fall precipitously in USA TODAY Sports activities’ Week 5 re-rank
- 4 Florida in some way stays within the prime 5 of SP+ rankings regardless of Kentucky loss
- 5 Sloppy loss causes Florida’s steep drop in newest AP Ballot
- 6 Gators see largest drop in newest USA TODAY Sports activities AFCA Coaches Ballot
- 7 Checklist
- 8 SEC Energy Rankings: Kentucky leaps into prime three with win over Florida
How did ESPN’s FPI reply to Florida’s loss? You is likely to be stunned.
Gators fall precipitously in USA TODAY Sports activities’ Week 5 re-rank
Florida in some way stays within the prime 5 of SP+ rankings regardless of Kentucky loss
Sloppy loss causes Florida’s steep drop in newest AP Ballot
Gators see largest drop in newest USA TODAY Sports activities AFCA Coaches Ballot
Checklist
SEC Energy Rankings: Kentucky leaps into prime three with win over Florida
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