Each week following the conclusion of a Florida Gators game, ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive will grade the team position-by-position on how it performed in that match-up. This week, we look at how the Gators fared against the LSU Tigers in Death Valley.
QUARTERBACK: A
Tim Tebow was asked to tone it down and be a game manager, something that is not necessarily in his nature. Nevertheless, knowing the significance of the injury he came back from and the wishes of the coaching and medical staff, he did exactly that. An inexplicable interception late was Tebow’s only flaw on the night, and the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback made good throws when they were called.
RUNNING BACKS: A
No huge game-breaking runs from the Gators attack Saturday, but that is not something you can expect against the Tigers. Running back Jeff Demps was a madman, gaining 86 tough yards on 16 carries while Emmanuel Moody took some of the power rushing load off Tebow with six carries for 42 yards of his own. Moody showed up when he was needed the most, and that is what counts.
WIDE RECEIVERS: C+
They were not called on much this game with Tebow only begin given 16 passing attempts, but aside from a touchdown by wide receiver Riley Cooper, Florida’s receiving core was silent. Cooper led a group that used to be the Gators’ strength with 33 yards, and Deonte Thompson only hauled in two receptions for 11 yards. The receivers were up against an athletic secondary but needed to get better separation and help move the offense down the field. Too many stalled drives.
TIGHT ENDS: A
Aaron Hernandez cleaned up what the rest of the offense couldn’t, getting tough yards both on the ground on pitches and through the air. Finishing with 70 yards on the evening, Hernandez powered his way to first downs and extra yardage while dragging defenders with him just like a pro would.
OFFENSIVE LINE: A+
Florida’s offensive line was integral to the team’s success this week. Having to both open up lanes for the running game while giving extra attention to protecting Tebow, the line came through with flying colors. Sure, Tebow was hurried a few times and didn’t have his normal success on the ground, but the offensive line played like warriors at LSU.
DEFENSIVE LINE: B+
There is no doubt that defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was hammering one thing into his defense’s mind this week: pressure. LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson felt it all night long, but more so in the second half where an athletic Gators defensive line collapsed the pocket around him. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap played like a beast, though the stats may not exactly show it. A+ effort in the second half, B play in the first half earns them this grade.
LINEBACKERS: A+
Probably only an A if middle linebacker Brandon Spikes played a normal game – but he didn’t. Still hampered by Achilles tendonitis, Spikes played like an animal, recording a team-high 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Spikes was all over the place, playing inside, outside and at defensive end. Some big hits came from Ryan Stamper and A.J. Jones, and the unit achieved the pressure coach Strong was surely looking for while simultaneously stifling LSU’s running game.
SECONDARY: B
Let’s not get it twisted – the secondary played well Saturday night. And with only 17 passes thrown, Jefferson didn’t give them much opportunity to make plays. And yes, cornerback Joe Haden did take in a nice interception. Nevertheless, LSU’s wide receivers were open in the secondary throughout the night, and more plays would have easily been made if the team had a better quarterback. The defensive front seven shined Saturday night, and while UF held LSU to only three points, it was mostly because of the guys in the trenches.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C-
Kick returner Brandon James was not given an opportunity to do anything with punts being angled out of bounds and one of two kickoffs going through the back of the end zone. In his one return, he was stifled at the 15 yard line. And let’s be honest – kicker Caleb Sturgis looked awful. Shanking a 25-yard field goal is one thing, putting through an ugly extra point and even uglier 32-yard field goal is almost worse.
COACHING: A+
If you believe the Gators went into Saturday night with a game plan of controlling the clock, keeping the ball on the ground, limiting mistakes, quieting the crowd and winning on defense (which I do), then it worked to a T. If you are of the belief that they were forced into this game plan by the way the night started, then you would be sure to disagree with my grade here. Either way, head coach Urban Meyer did what was right – protected his quarterback and relied on a National Championship two-deep defense run by the best defensive coordinator in the game to control tempo and pull out a victory.
OVERALL: A
To play like the Gators did against the Tigers – in Death Valley – at night – with a raucous record crowd – and the situation surrounding Tebow – was impressive. Games do not need to be blow-outs for a team to have played well. A double digit victory with a defensive performance like the Gators had earns them an easy A this week.
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