The Florida Gators fell short to the Tennessee Volunteers 33-38 on Saturday. The Gators now fall to 2-2, but they put up a good fight in this game. Clearly, Florida’s defense has a lot of areas to improve, but it’s tough for Billy Napier in his first year as head coach. Here’s a quick recap of Florida’s loss to Tennessee.
Anthony Richardson Came Back Strong
There was a lot of talk this past week that Anthony Richardson was not a capable thrower of the football. He threw for more than 450 yards, and he had four total touchdowns. He had an interception again in this game, but he really carried the Gators’ offense.
Justin Shorter and Ricky Pearsall were Richardson’s primary targets throughout the game. One good aspect of Florida’s offense is the ability to stretch the field vertically. Still, Tennessee does not have one of the best secondaries in the SEC, and the Volunteers’ defense really took away the run game. Florida also chose to shy away from feeding Trevor Etienne and Nay’Quan Wright, which hurt the balance on offense.
Florida still had a chance to win at the end after an onside kick recovery, but Richardson threw a pick to end the final drive. Also, the two-point conversion they missed earlier ended up hurting the Gators’ chances, for they would have only needed a field goal to tie the game.
Tennessee’s Offense is Special
As much blame people want to give Florida’s defense, Josh Heupel and his offense are a special group. The ability to run tempo, play tough, and maintain balance with proficiency on offense is a rare element for any college football team.
Hendon Hooker definitely has an argument to be the best quarterback in the SEC. He and Richardson had quite a battle, and Hooker finished with 350 passing yards, over 100 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns.
Florida’s defensive front was able to generate pressure, but the defensive backfield had a tough time keeping up with the likes of Bru McCoy, Ramal Keyton, and Jalin Hyatt. Regardless, the Gators definitely gave their best effort in Knoxville.
Concluding Thoughts
While Florida is still in rebuilding mode, Tennessee now moves to 4-0 and is a real contender in the SEC East. The Gators really need to find their identity soon, for the schedule in October will be even tougher than September. However, there’s no need to panic; Florida can still turn the ship around.