Jordan has an extreme passion for writing and digital media. A UNF graduate, who majored in English, Jordan has a keen eye for digital style and a writing method that is narrative driven. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, a good craft beer, and a relaxing day at the beach. But most of all he enjoys a Sunday spent tailgating with friends that is followed by a Jags victory!
The Florida football program is a mess. During the course of this 2017 season the Gators have lost over a quarter of their players to suspension/injury. They lost their head coach after he was fired for allegedly making false claims about death threats. They lost to their archival the Bulldogs in the worst fashion possible.
But have they lost their will?
Interim head coach Randy Shannon has plenty of experience being a head football coach in the state of Florida, but this is his toughest task yet – guiding the beaten down Gators through the rest of their 2017 schedule, before he will ultimately be replaced as the head coach and most likely be looking for new work.
Shannon quickly made a change at QB – freshman Feleipe Franks simply wasn’t getting the job done. He looked lost on the field. Grad Transfer Malik Zaire will get the start for the Gators at QB this week. In his limited action at Notre Dame he put up some remarkable numbers. Zaire will provide leadership, an understanding of how to play QB at the college level, and a nice run/pass skill set.
The Gators now head west to Missouri to face the Tigers, who aren’t having much more success in 2017 than the Gators. They’re 3-5 on the season but are favored to beat the Gators in Columbia.
At this point for Gator fans a win wouldn’t do much to calm them after a disastrous start to the season, but the Gators do have an opportunity to save some face here.
Will the team respond to this turmoil in a positive manner? We’ve seen this type of situation lead to highly motivated teams in the past. Or will they fold? Similarly to what their rivals from Tallahassee have seemingly done in 2017.
It’s very difficult to predict what will happen in this one. With so many injuries and suspensions can the Gators overcome being a road dog against Missouri?
PREDICTION:
Your guess is as good as mine at this point. If I had to make a guess (I do) I would say that the Gators will still struggle to play quality offense, especially after losing star freshman RB Malik Davis for the season. Missouri’s defense has been ugly this season, but so has Florida’s offense. It could be really ugly for both sides when the Gators O is on the field.
On the flip side the Gators defense could have trouble, especially if they play with their tail between their legs, with a Missouri offense that’s putting up over 34 points per game in 2017. QB Drew Locke is playing lights out and has thrown 28 TD passes already this season. The Mizzou ground game has been getting the job done too – they have three runners that have at least 49 carries and are averaging 5.6 yards per carry or more.
Again, we have no idea what the mental state of the Florida team will be and even if they are all there mentally, this is still a tough test. Randy Shannon will do a good job getting the boys ready, but it might not be enough.
The Florida Gators (3-3) are set to take on their arch rival the Georgia Bulldogs (7-0) for their annual contest in Jacksonville, FL, known to many as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”
Florida owns the Bulldogs in recent years. Since 1990 the Gators have won 21 out of 27 meetings, and have won three straight.
For many the tailgating is more fun than the game. Between RV City, the fraternity parties in Lot J, and the countless other tailgates, there’s sure to be fun had by all. But we’re not here to talk about the tailgates – we’re here for the football.
Georgia enters the rivalry game ranked #3 in the country. At 7-0 Georgia is on the fast track to the SEC Championship. They’ve handled all their opponents with style, save their week two one point victory of Norte Dame in South Bend (a win that’s looking better and better every week). Their QB play is above average with Jake Fromm running the show, but where the Dawgs truly excel is in the running game. They have four RBs that average over 6 yards per carry. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, who both opted to stay in college instead of entering the NFL draft last offseason, lead the way. They’ve combined for 175 carries, 1,180 rushing yards, and 14 rushing TDs. The pair is as good as they come in college football.
Georgia’s defense is just as impressive. Giving up only 252 yards of offense per game the Bulldog defense ranks third in the entire country. They’ve given up only 10 TDs on the season and come in playing as well as anyone in college football.
On the other side of this contest the Gators are struggling mightily. Decimated by suspensions and injury the Gators have dropped two straight in the SEC and while they stand at 3-3 they could just as easily be 1-5 but for a couple of miraculous fourth quarters against Tennessee and Kentucky.
Their offense is struggling to do much of anything with consistency, but the rushing attack has shown promise. Freshman Malik Davis appears to be a star in the making while Lamical Perine is a solid second option. The Gators have young playmakers, but many of them are struggling with injuries. Offensive weapon Kadarius Toney and wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland are both practicing this week and should be able to help spark the Florida offense, but the Gators will need QB Feleipe Franks to step up if they hope to have a shot in this one. The Gators will need some chunk plays to escape Jacksonville with a victory.
The history of this series would seem to suggest that the records should be thrown out the window, but with the Gators being so depleted and relying on a freshman QB that seems to lack confidence, it’s a long shot that the Gators can make a game of this one. Georgia is one of the best teams in college football this year and should handle the Gators. The Dawgs might have to overcome the mental side of this one more than the physical. Florida has held the mental edge over Georgia for some time and recent history shows the Bulldogs struggle against the Gators. Still, Georgia is a far superior team and will likely handle business against their worn down rivals from the south.
PREDICITON: Florida 17, Georgia, 34
PS – I didn’t want to talk too much about the Jim McElwain death threat situation. There isn’t enough real information for me to feel comfortable speculating. What I will say is that I would be shocked if it hasn’t, in some way, become a distraction inside the locker room.
The Gators are coming off a highly disappointing loss at the hands of the hated LSU Tigers. The regularly automatic kicking crew botched an extra point that would end up costing the Gators the game.
The Gators offense continues to struggle and seemingly can’t get out of their own way. The play calling is uninspired and the pace of play is as slow as it gets. The offense is struggling to get play calls in and get lined up in a timely manner. Things are so bad on the offensive side of the ball that fans are calling for Head Coach Jim McElwain to be fired (I’ve even seen some petitions created championing that cause).
The Gators are 3-2 on the season, but could just as easily be 1-4, after barely beating Tennessee and Kentucky. But, they did beat Tennessee and Kentucky. They also beat another division rival Vanderbilt. What’s my point? Despite being inept on the offensive side of the ball, the Gators are still in control of their own destiny in the SEC East.
They’re dealing with a bunch of injuries to key players and are still without the suspended Jordan Scarlett and Antonio Callaway. WR Tyrie Cleveland is dealing with a high ankle sprain. Safeties Chauncey Gardner and Nick Washington have been playing hurt and Washington may miss the Gators matchup this weekend. Sensational freshman Kadarius Toney may not be able to play.
The Gators take on the Aggies of Texans A&M Saturday night at 7pm on ESPN.
The Gators are in a world of hurt, but their opponent this weekend Texas A&M, isn’t fairing much better in 2017. A&M is playing a ton of underclassmen this year and is coming off a loss to Alabama. The Gators have yet to lose two straight home games under Jim McElwain, and despite getting off to a disappointing start to 2017 this young Gator team hasn’t shown any quit. The Gators defensive line should be able to take advantage of the Texas A&M O-line and help set the tone for the game. A healthy dose of Malik Davis and Co. should carry the Gators to victory in the Swamp, but with an inconsistent QB situation and an offense that fails to get off many plays, the Gators are at risk of losing every time they step on the field. Aggies WR Christian Kirk is always a threat to take it to house and could change the game. This one could go either way, but McElwain usually figures things out when the chips are down.
If you were fortunate enough to be one of the poor saps watching the pitiful Monday Night Football contest between the Bears and Vikings on ESPN last night, then you got to see the premier of the latest Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer. If you weren’t tuned in you’ve probably seen it on one of the many social media platforms since it aired about 15 hours ago.
If you’ve been hiding under a rock and haven’t had the chance to catch the trailer yet, here it is:
So, this is the second official trailer for the latest Star Wars flick. It packs in a ton of content and perhaps a few red-herrings (misleading scene sequences) into just two and half minutes. Here I’m going to overanalyze the crap out of the trailer because what else is an overly obsessed Star Wars fan boy to do?
But first, let’s take a look at what Rian Johnson, the director of the eighth film in the Star Wars saga, had to say about the trailer release in regards to whether or not he wants fans to watch it:
Does Rian want fans to avoid watching the trailer because it gives too much away? Because it’s scene sequences are misleading? A combination of both?
Either way, there’s no way to know – that is until we get to see the movie ourselves.
You’re probably saying to yourself “I thought this article was going to overanalyze the trailer, not what the director had to say about!”
I digress. So, let’s get to it!
The trailer opens with the voice of Snoke (the overarching evil in the latest trilogy) saying “when I found you I saw raw, untamed power. And beyond that, something truly special”. These words are presumably being spoken to his apprentice Kylo Ren. There’s a lot to break down in just those few words. If Kylo Ren is the subject of Snoke’s profound statement, is Ren the “something truly special” that Snoke is referring to? Or could it be Rey, who most assumed to be the Last Jedi, that Snoke is talking about? As Snoke says the words “something truly special” the video quickly jumps from Kylo Ren to Rey. Might Rey be the object of the evil Snoke’s affection? Is he aiming to turn Rey to the Dark Side? The final scene in the trailer would seem to suggest so. In that scene Rey appears to be controlled by someone, presumably Snoke, and is being told to Fulfill her Destiny. With the quick jumping around between scenes it’s rather impossible to tell the true context of what is shown and what is heard. So, while it appears that Snoke will attempt to turn Rey to the Dark Side it’s unclear what will actually happen in that regard.
Now that we’ve looked at the beginning and the end, let’s take a look at what lies in between. Rey and the exiled Luke Skywalker pick up where they left off at the end of The Force Awakens. Luke is training Rey in the ways of the force and teaching her how to master the coolest weapon in the galaxy, the light saber. It becomes apparent throughout her training that Luke becomes fearful of just how powerful Rey will become.
“I’ve seen this raw strength only once before. It didn’t scare me enough then. It does now”
-Luke Skywalker (presumably reflecting on Rey’s power)
In the trailer it appears that Luke is saying this to Rey directly, and perhaps abandoning their training, thus leaving Rey without a mentor or spiritual guide. What’s not entirely clear is who Luke is referencing when he says he has “seen this raw strength only once before”. Is it Vader? Palpatine/Sidious? Ren? Skywalker had dealt with all three first hand. Vader would make sense, considering he had the highest midiclhorian count that many had every seen. Palpatine seems to be the least likely as his strength wasn’t raw, but highly refined. But to me, the most likely candidate is Kylo Ren, who Luke trained prior to exiling himself. Ren, like Rey, has been referred to as raw and unrefined. The idea of one person harnessing so much raw strength appears to break Luke Skywalker’s will to train with Rey.
And now we’ve gotten through about one minute of the trailer. Stay with me here, folks!
Next, we jump to a Kylo Ren monologue (which would again suggest to me that he is the subject of Luke’s speech regarding raw power).
“Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be.”
-Kylo Ren
This melancholy monologue from a heavily scarred Ren could, and likely does, have multiple meanings. The obvious being that he feels the need to remove himself from his life as Ben Solo, the son of Han and Leia – In The Force Awakens Kylo kills Papa Han, and now (if we are to trust this scene sequence) it appears, he will kill Momma Leia. Carrie Fisher, the beloved actor who portrayed Leia passed away during the filming of this movie, so it would certainly make sense logistically if Ren were to kill her in the story as well. It would be a full break from his past. But several situations throughout the films so far, seem to suggest that Kylo Ren might not be entirely evil. Could it be that Ren is actually abandoning the past by abandoning his affinity for Darth Vader and the Dark Side as a whole? A later scene in the trailer seems to suggest that might be possible. In said scene Rey says (seemingly to Kylo Ren) “I need someone to show me my place in all this”. Subsequently Ren extends his hand. Does Ren abandon the Dark Side in order to align with Rey? Or does Rey fall victim to the seduction and power of the Dark Side? It seems likely that one of the two scenarios will come to fruition. But perhaps this is the greatest red herring of all, and neither story line will actually come to fruition.
After this there is an extremely vague speech from the the best pilot in the resistance, Poe Dameron, regarding taking down the first order. While the speech reveals little, but for the fact that the Resistance believes they have something that will lead them to victory over the First Order, we do have the sighting of one of the cutest new characters in the galaxy! Chewbacca appears to be flying into battle (and of course making his usual Wookie noises) and is accompanied by a tiny cute creature called a Porg. We’ve now learned that Porgs are a sea bird from the planet Arch-To, the same planet where Luke stayed in exile.
After this we cut to a one on one battle between Finn, formerly known as the First Order Stormtrooper FN-2187, and his former superior, Captain Phasma. Phasma is wielding what appears to be a one of a kind saber (not light), while Finn carries what appears to be a First Order Riot Control Baton (The same weapon that a stormtrooper kicked his ass with in The Force Awakens). This battle is sure to be a highlight of the film – after Finn abandoned his post as a stormtrooper he caused major headaches for Phasma and the entire First Order.
Next we cut to Luke Skywalker, who appears to be trembling on the ground out of fear and disgust, saying “This is not going to go the way you think”. It’s unclear (like everything else in this damn trailer) who he is speaking to. Perhaps Rey, who is searching for her place in the galaxy? Or more likely his sister Leia, who appears in the next scene? What isn’t going to go the way she expects it to?
Finn is then seen walking through a First Order ship or base. He looks most unhappy to be there. Is he captured by the First Order? Or perhaps he rejoins the evil First Order (No!)?
We already broke down the final two scenes in which Rey is being controlled(?) by Snoke(?) and then seemingly asking Kylo Ren for guidance.
WOW! That was a lot to unpack! What does it all mean? I have no freaking clue. I do, however, believe that there is quite a bit of misdirection in this trailer. What I do know to be 100% true is that I can not wait to see this film in December.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters December 15th, 2017.
SEC Rivals Florida and LSU will face off this Saturday at 3:30 PM EST for the 46th consecutive season. While the two teams play in opposite divisions in the SEC, they’ve played each other each and every season sine 1971. Overall the Gators hold the series lead 32-28 with three ties. While the Gators hold the series lead the Tigers have won 9 of the last 15 matchups.
Florida enters the game ranked 20th in the coaches poll coming off of an impressive win over Vanderbilt, while LSU enters the contest unranked following an embarrassing loss to Troy that snapped a 49 game home winning streak against non-conference opponents. The Gators have won three games in a row, while the Tigers have dropped two of their last three games.
The Gators certainly have much more positive momentum going into this one, but while the Gators stand at 3-1, they could just as easily be 1-3 after miraculous last second victories over Tennessee and Kentucky.
Let’s take a look at some key storylines to watch in this one:
Can UF get their passing attack on track? The Gators passing offense has been atrocious in 2017, as it has been for much of the last decade. After losing Luke Del Rio for the season and learning the team’s best WR Tyrie Cleveland would be out with a high ankle sprain, can the Gators do anything through the air? If they look to utilize freshman QB Feleipe Franks’ big arm they could get in trouble against a dynamic LSU pass rush. Florida will need to find a way to get Kadarius Toney, Brandon Powell, Freddy Swain, and Dre Massey involved, but shouldn’t do so at the expense of protecting the ball. The Tigers have recorded 15 sacks already in 2017 and feature one of the hottest pass rush prospects in the country Arden Key. It looks as though the Gators offense will need to rely heavily on the running game again in this one.
Speaking of the running game — the Gators have been pretty darn good on the ground so far and had an impressive rushing attack against Vanderbilt last week. Malik Davis rushed for a season high 124 yards and two touchdowns, while Lamical Perine added 58 yards and three touchdowns of his own. Davis, a true freshman, looks to be a star in the making, and will give SEC defensive coordinators nightmares in the future, but for now he’s a key piece to the Gators rushing attack and a real difference maker – he’s rushed for at least 90 yards in three consecutive games and as he has seen an uptick in usage and production so too has the Gators offense been able to put more points on the board. The Gators rushing attack has been impressive as of late, but equally unimpressive has been the LSU run defense in recent weeks. The Tigers gave up 191 yards on the ground to Troy’s Jordan Chunn last week. The Gators will look to run the ball early and often.
On the other side of the ball LSU’s offense got off to a hot start to the season, but have fizzled out as of late. In two of their last three contests they’ve failed to eclipse 21 points. The Tigers have an impressive duo of running backs in Derrius Guice and Darrell Williams. They’ll be a true test for Gators defense that has yet to perform to the expected level of a typical Florida defense. Danny Etling, LSU’s starting QB hasn’t been all that impressive in 2017, but one thing he has been doing is protecting the football. The Gators young, but uber talented secondary will need to get their hands on the ball once or twice in this one to give the Gators offense a jump start.
PREDICTION: The Gators and Tigers are very evenly matched. Both rely heavily on their running game and defense to win games. The Gators enter the game on a hot streak, while the Tigers have lost two of their last three, but the Tigers haven’t yet lost their pride. The coaching battle may decide this one – Can Florida draw up some creative plays to get their young playmakers the ball? Does LSU’s Ed Orgeron already have one foot out the door after losing to Troy at home? I believe the Gators will be able to run the ball with freshman Malik Davis and will continue their dominance at home under HC Jim McElwain. This one will be close, and likely will be in question late, but if your asking me to pick Ed Orgeron or Jim McElwain in a close one the answer is very, very clear. I’ll take coach Mac to get the Gators past the Tigers in this one. McElwain furthers his impressive home record to 13-1.
The Gators head into their fourth game of the 2017 season coming off two of the more improbable wins in recent memory. Against the Vols two weeks ago Feleipe Franks found  Tyrie Cleveland for a Hail Mary TD on the last play of the game. Even more unlikely was the Gators victory over Kentucky – Florida was down two touchdowns with under eight minutes to go in the ball game and somehow pulled out a last second win.
The Commodores are coming off an embarrassing loss to Alabama, after what had been a fine start to their season. They’re 3-1 with wins over two small schools and a really impressive win over Kansas State.
Both teams will feel they should win this game, but only one will emerge victorious. Florida has won 25 of the last 26 meetings between the two, but this one will be a true test for the Gators.
Let’s take a look at three storylines to watch in this one.
Luke Del Rio retakes the starting QB job. Redshirt Freshman Feleipe Franks was named the Gators starter heading into their first game of 2017, but he has done little to impress. Luke Del Rio, the Redshirt Junior who started for the Gators in 2016, will enter this pivotal contest as the Gators starter. He lacks elite or even above average arm strength at the college level, however he offers the Gators best chance at a clean offensive game. He was able to guide the Gators offense in their miraculous comeback against Kentucky and played decent football prior to sustaining injuries in 2016. He’ll be asked to get the ball out on time and find open receivers for safe completions. Will he be able to take advantage of a Vanderbilt defense that has played tough football in every game except for their loss to Bama?
The Gators appear to have found their offensive weapons of the future (and present). In the Gators fourth quarter surge against Kentucky several players stood out. Freshman running back Malik Davis provided a spark at the position not seen since Jordan Scarlett was suspended, while gadget player Kadarius Toney continued to shine when given the opportunity. Sophomore Tyrie Cleveland continued to impress as did Brandon Powell. The Gators OC Doug Nussmeier needs to find creative ways to get these playmakers the ball early and often if the Gators hope to continue their success against Vanderbilt.
Can the Gators slow down Ralph Webb? Vanderbilt’s all time leading rusher Ralph Webb has caused fits for defenses in his time at Vandy, including the Gators. Last year Webb eclipsed the 100 yard mark against the Gators for the second straight season. In his three previous contests against Florida Webb totaled 311 yards on the ground. If the Gators hope to slow down the Commodores on offense it starts with stopping Webb.
PREDICTION:
The Gators and Commodores are as evenly matched in this one as they ever have been. Vanderbilt has already beaten a top 25 team in 2016 and, despite an ugly performance against Alabama, appears to have good balance on both sides of the ball. The Gators have been winning ugly — what’s new? But they have found ways to win in the toughest of situations. The emergence of some offensive weapons combined with a playmaking defense will allow the Gators to compete with most teams, but their lack of consistency at QB holds back the entire team. The Gators will squeak out another narrow victory.
The Gators are set to take on the Kentucky Wildcats this Saturday in the Gators second straight SEC East matchup.
Florida enters the game 1-1, coming off of an improbable 62 yard walk-off hail mary against bitter rival Tennessee.
Kentucky, 3-0, knocked off South Carolina last week and handled business against two lesser opponents in the first two weeks of 2017.
Both teams come into the game expecting a win. The game will be played at Kroger field in Lexington, Kentucky at 7:30 pm on Saturday.
Let’s take a look at four storylines for the Gators heading into their first road SEC contest of 2017.
The QB situation – It appears, after a magical ending last week, that Feleipe Franks has taken over the job at QB and won’t continue to get yanked from the game as he did in the week one loss to Michigan. Franks still hasn’t played his best, and probably won’t until late in the season, and maybe not even until 2018. But Franks has been tested by some highly talented defenses to this point in the season. Both Michigan and Tennessee have far more talent than does Kentucky. The Wildcats allowed over 300 yards through the air last week against Jake Bentley. Can Feleipe Franks build on his magic moment from week two? Or will the Gators go back to the status quo of ugly offense in their third game of 2017?
The Gators could be without their most consistent defensive back Duke Dawson. Dawson is questionable for the Gators and is going through concussion protocol. If he can’t go then the already young Gators defensive backfield will get even younger. Freshman CBs Marco Wilson and CJ Henderson have been impressive early on in the season. These guys are all talented, but as the Gators attempt to win their third straight SEC East title, injuries and youth in the secondary could catch up to them.
Speaking of missing players, the Gators are still without all their guys that were involved in the fraud situation. That means they will continue to miss their best WR (Antonio Callaway) and RB (Jordan Scarlett). Several players appear ready to step up for the Gators young offense. The tight ends are capable, while WR Tyrie Cleveland is ready for a big time break out performance. Offensive weapon Kadarius Toney has flashed in both games for the Gators and could provide a spark on the offensive side of the ball. Will the Gators young playmakers step up?
The Gators have beaten the Wildcats 30 straight times. That is not a typo. This year, however, Kentucky feels they have a legit chance to beat the Gators. Will playing on their home field help them against the Gators? One thing that is known about this Kentucky team is that they’re stout against the run. They are giving up only 57 yards a game on the ground – Â good enough for third in the country. The Gators are without their best runner, but Mark Thompson, Laical Perine, Malik Davis, and even Kadarius Toney have the talent to get the job done. Will the Gators offensive line be able to pave the way for a successful ground attack?
PREDICTION:
The Gators don’t lose to Kentucky — it just doesn’t happen (at least in football). The Gators 30 consecutive wins against the Wildcats would suggest that the Gators will get another one this weekend, however standing on history along isn’t the best way to predict the outcome of this game. The Gators have played much tougher competition in 2017 than the Wildcats have, yet Kentucky’s margin of victory against sub par team hasn’t been impressive. Against Southern Miss in week one Kentucky squeaked out a narrow a 7 point win, and in week two only beat Eastern Kentucky by 11. Obviously, their win against South Carolina was big, not only for their confidence, but also for outside perception. Still, Kentucky has yet to face a team like the Gators in 2017. Franks will find more sustained success in this one that he has to date, and the Gators will be able to, at times, play ball control offense. Kentucky will struggle against the Gators defense and the  Gators will win by a touchdown or two.
After a week off for the Florida Football Team thanks to Hurricane Irma, the Gators are back in action for their first home game of 2017. The Gators play host to their hated rivals, the Tennessee Volunteers, this Saturday at 3:30 (Game can be viewed on CBS).
After an embarrassing loss in week one at the hands of Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines the Gators are looking for their first win of the season.
On the other side of the coin the Volunteers enter 2-0 after a down to the wire victory in week one over Georgia Tech and an easy victory over Indiana State in week two.
The Gators are 1-1 under Jim McElwain against the Volunteers and are a couple plays away from being 0-2. Under Butch Jones the Volunteers have been much better at home than on the road – in 2016 they were just 1-3.
Let’s take a look at five storylines for the Gators entering week three:
Jim McElwain is on the hottest of seats. The Gators offense was just as bad against Michigan as it has been for the last 8 years or so. When McElwain came to Florida, a little over two years ago, he boasted that he could coach anyone into becoming a good QB. Obviously, that hasn’t been the case. And despite being given an elite coaches contract, new facilities, and a recruiting hot bed in the state of Florida, Mac still hasn’t figured out how to get the Gators to score points on a regular basis. The Gators have talented QBs on their roster, but against the Wolverines in week one the Gators QBs didn’t have a chance. With poor play calling and an underperforming offensive line, the Gators have a lot to overcome if 2017 is to be a success. McElwain will send his embattled offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier, upstairs to the booth in what appears to be a desperate move. The Gators offense NEEDS to show something against Tennessee in week 3.
How long of a leash will Feleipe Franks have? Franks was announced the starter at QB just days prior to the Gators week 1 matchup with Michigan. After an errant fumble to start the second half, Franks was pulled if favor of Malik Zaire, who proceeded to do . . . absolutely nothing positive for the Gators offense. Pulling Franks, again looked like a desperate move by a coach that’s running out of options. He should stick with his guy this week, instead of further weakening the confidence of his redshirt freshman QB. If Franks does get pulled in this one, it seems likely that Luke Del Rio will get a shot this week. The Gators most experienced QB was decent before injuries took over in 2016, and he may be the best chance at the Gators having a functioning offense.
Which offensive weapons will step up? Without Scarlett and Callaway the Gators will need some other offensive weapons to step up. At running back the Gators need Mark Thompson and LaMichael Perine to show something, anything. The tight ends weren’t much of a factor against Michigan, but Goolsby and Lewis are strong assets that need to be utilized. At receiver Tyree Cleveland appears to be the type of player you can force feed the ball, which is something the Gators should try to do a little bit more often this week.
The offensive playbook needs to open up. The Gators will have a few big play targets on Saturday with Tyree Cleveland, Brandon Powell and Kadarius Toney in uniform. Feleipe Franks has a big arm and the Gators should put it to work, testing the Volunteers downfield early an often. In addition to taking some shots, the Gators should work to get their explosive young players the ball in space, namely speedster Kadarius Toney, who didn’t see the ball nearly enough against Michigan.
Can the Gators defense hold up if the offense can’t sustain drives? The Gators defense played their hearts out against Michigan, but as we’ve seen so many times in the past, the defense can only hold up for so long while the offense continues to go three and out. The defense scored two first half TDs and gave the Gators the lead at the break against Michigan, but after the half the D ran out of gas. If the offense doesn’t turn things around, then this will be THE storyline to watch all year long. Can this Gators defense win the team games as the ones in recent years have done? Time will tell.
PREDICTION: The Gators have been really, really good at home under Coach McElwain. In the Jim McElwain era the only team the Gators have lost to at home is Florida State. The Volunteers struggle away from the friendly confines of Neyland Stadium. The Volunteers might be a better team than the Gators when all is said and done in 2017, but I believe the Gators and their coach will find a way to get the victory on Saturday. They might even when by a touchdown or two. Every time that Gator fans, boosters, and media have been ready to write McElwain off over the last couple of years he’s responded in a big way. The Gators get the win and get an early leg up in the race for the SEC East crown over Tennessee.
The Florida Gators, ranked 17 in the AP Poll, are set to face off with the Michigan Wolverines, ranked 11 in the AP Poll, in Arlington, TX. Both teams enter the game with high expectations in 2017, but only one team will emerge with a win after 60 minutes of football in Jerry World.
The game is set for this Saturday, September 2nd at 3:30 pm EST, and will be broadcast nationally on ABC and can be streamed on WATCH ESPN.
The Gators and Wolverines will both be dawning Color Rush uniforms for their season opener. Here’s a look at the Gators uniforms:
via Gators Football on Twitter
The Gators will be underdogs in this one with Michigan being favored by 4.5.
Let’s take a look at five storylines heading into Saturday:
1. Feleipe Franks has been named the starting QBÂ for the Gators
The Gators have had a QB problem since . . . 2009.
Yikes!
This year the team may have it’s best group of QBs since Tim Tebow graduated. The problem, until Jim McElwain’s Wednesday press conference, was that we didn’t know which QB would be named the starter. Coach Mac named the redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks the starting QB. Whether or not Franks will remain the starter throughout the season, or even for the entirety of the first game, remains to be seen.
At 6’5” and 220 lbs. Feleipe Franks has prototypical size, arm strength, and athleticism, but he’ll be facing the toughest test of his football career this Saturday. Will the redshirt freshman that’s never taken a snap in college be able to take advantage of the youthful, yet talented Michigan defense?
2. The Gators will be without ten suspended players against Michigan
This question comes to the forefront after news broke that a total of ten Gators would be suspended for their contest against Michigan. They’ll be without star WR Antonio Calloway, RB Jordan Scarlett, WRs James Robinson and Rick Wells, OL Kadeem Telfort, defensive lineman Jordan Smith, Richerd Desir-Jones, and Keivoniss Davis, and linebackers James Houston, and Ventrell Miller. The news broke Wednesday that the Gators would be without starting RB Jordan Scarlett. That means two of the Gators best offensive players won’t be in action for what is likely the most important season opener in Florida history. Make no mistake about it – losing Calloway and Scarlett is a major blow for the Gators against Michigan, but they appear better equipped at WR and RB to handle the losses than they have been in years past.
3. Can the defensive backfield hold up?
Injuries will lead to depth concerns in the defensive backfield. The team’s best safety Marcell Harris was lost for the year with a torn achilles and Nick Washington continues to battle a shoulder injury. The Gators may be forced to start freshman safety Shawn Davis against Michigan. Of course, all of the Gators defensive backs are talented, but inexperience may be a factor. Can the Gators secondary hold up against Michigan QB Wilton Speight if Nick Washington can’t play in the opener?
4. Can the Gators offense move the ball consistently?
In years past the Gators have struggled to move the ball consistently, usually due to a lack of production from the QB position. The Gators will need to find balance against Michigan if they hope to escape Jerry World with a win. In 2016 Michigan was the best team in the country against the pass and ranked 13th against the run. Granted, the Wolverines lost 10 defensive starters, but with dynamite recruiting on the defensive side of the ball they’ll still be a tough unit in 2017. The biggest reason the Gators haven’t been able to win games over the last several seasons is the offense not being able to hold onto the ball for extended periods of time, which in turn leads to a tired Gators defense. Controlling the clock and moving the ball consistently will be a story line for the Gators against Michigan and throughout the rest of the season.
5. Can Jim McElwain outwit Jim Harbaugh?
If the Gators are able to emerge victorious this will be THE biggest win of the Jim McElwain era. His opponent in this one, Jim Harbaugh, is thought of as one of the very best and brightest coaches in football, college or professional. The chess match began weeks ago and will continue throughout Saturday. McElwain waited until Wednesday to name his starting QB, and the notoriously neurotic Jim Harbaugh has yet to name his team’s starting QB or even release a full roster. However, it seems a foregone conclusion that Wilton Speight will be the guy for Michigan. These two have gone back and forth at each other throughout the week, but whoever can make the right moves on Saturday will likely start the season 1-0 and be in a great position to compete for a playoff spot.
There are a ton of compelling stories heading into this one, but this matchup, like so many Gator games in recent memory, will come down to whether or not the Gators can put points on the board – If they can, then the Gators might just start the season out on the right note. If not the noise surrounding the ten suspended players will get even louder and the pressure on Jim McElwain will mount.
Prediction:
The Gators and Wolverines will have a highly competitive matchup. Florida has more fire power on offense than it’s had since 2009, while Michigan will be starting 10 new players on defense and will be replacing all of their starters at skill positions on offense. Still, the Gators don’t have a proven QB and will deal with experience issues in the defensive backfield. Harbaugh and McElwain will go back and forth in this one, but in the end Michigan’s advantage at QB and superior recruiting during the Jim Harbaugh era will carry them to a narrow victory of the Gators.
Over the last decade or so the Florida Gators have had one of the most consistently dominant defenses in all of college football. This years defense, while loaded with young talent, may not be as dominant as the groups we’ve seen in recent years. The Gators lost their defensive coordinator Geoff Collins (now the head coach at Temple) and seven defensive starters to the NFL Draft, but there’s no reason to believe defense won’t be a strength for the Gators in 2017.
Former University of Miami head coach Randy Shannon will have big shoes to fill as the Gators newly appointed defensive coordinator, but he should be up to the task. He’s helped recruit many of the players on that side of the ball.
Up front the Gators are loaded with talent and will have a rotation that features anywhere from seven to ten players. Their defensive line is highlighted by former five star recruit CeCe Jefferson, who can play inside and out. The junior will look to have his breakout season for the Gators, and if he does, could be a day one or two draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Equally as intriguing is the “Wyong Wild-Man” Trevan Bryan. Bryan enters his junior year with high expectations after struggling to stay on the field in his first two years as a Gator. According to reports, Bryan has upped his consistency and has focused on becoming more disciplined within the Gators defensive scheme. Khairi Clark is expected to be a major contributor on the inside. The Gators also boast Jabari Zuniga, who, as a freshman, recorded 5 sacks, Jordan Sherrit, who despite injury concerns, is an impact player on the defensive line, and several youngsters including Tedarrell Slaton, Jachai Polite, and Kyree Campbell. The group may not have any established superstars, but there is a combination of star potential and returning production that might make this the deepest group on the Gators roster.
At linebacker, the Gators have several rising stars that could have as big an impact as the guys they are replacing. At inside linebacker, the Gators return David Resse, who got a ton of experience in 2016 during Jarrad Davis’ absence due to injury. During his four starts in 2016, Reese racked up 34 tackles and even won SEC Defensive Player of the Week after his 12 tackle performance against LSU. Reese projects as a star at the middle linebacker spot and will likely be playing alongside Jeremiah Moon and Vosean Joseph, both of whom enter their sophomore season. Both players saw the field as freshman – Moon’s season was ended after two games with a thumb injury. Joseph played well as a special teamer last year, but later in the season was forced into action as a starting outside linebacker. He showed the ability to crush opposing backs and will have high expectations in 2017. Reese, Moon, and Joseph could be a lethal threesome at linebacker. The Gators also have Kylan Johnson at outside linebacker – a guy that has starting experience and talent.
The secondary is the weakest it’s been in some time, on paper. The group lost Marcus Maye, Quincy Wilson, and Teez Tabor to the NFL just one season after losing Vernon Hargreaves, Keanu Neal, and Brian Poole. Adding to the list of losses for the Gators secondary is the team’s best safety, Marcell Harris, who suffered a season ending torn achilles tendon in July. But the Gators aren’t known as “DB U” for nothing. They’ve still got Duke Dawson, Chauncey Gardner, and Nick Washington – all of whom have big time skill sets. Dawson primarily played nickel in 2016, leading the team in pass break ups with seven. He’ll now be asked to play outside corner opposite sophomore Chauncey Gardner. Gardner enters his second season with extremely high expectations coming off of a two interception, MVP performance in the Outback Bowl. At safety the Gators have Nick Washington, but he’s been battling a shoulder injury and may not be available to start the season. If Washington is held out to start the year then the Gators could be in trouble and may be forced to start true freshman Shawn Davis.
Overall, the defense should be a strength for the Gators in 2017. Even if they aren’t quite up to the level that recent Gators defenses have played at, this edition of the Gators defense will be a tough, play-making unit, and will give opponents plenty of fits in 2017. Depth with experience is a bit of a concern in the secondary, but there’s more than enough talent to make up for the lack of experience. Bank on the Gators to have another top 10 defense in 2017.
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