- Sep 8, 2014
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Florida’s 3-0 SEC start is more about talent than luck
https://theathletic.com/114726/2017/09/30/floridas-3-0-sec-start-is-more-about-talent-than-luck/
First, there was the 63-yard, Feleipe Franks-to-Tyrie Cleveland prayer that beat Tennessee on the final play of the game. Then last week in Lexington, Kentucky’s defense inexplicably left Freddie Swain wide open in the end zone, allowing Swain to catch perhaps the easiest game winner you’ll ever see.
And on Saturday, there was Swain again, diving to haul in a one-handed, 33-yard reception after Vanderbilt’s Ryan White tipped it right to him. Three plays later, Florida scored the touchdown that ultimately put the game out of reach in a 38-24 victory.
So, is the 21st-ranked Gators’ 3-0 start to SEC play the result of skill or serendipity? Fortitude or flukiness?
Florida has undoubtedly benefitted from some good fortune in these wins, but to paint its early perch atop the SEC East standings as a house of cards built on nothing more than a run of luck would be wrongheaded.
At a certain point, it’s more than luck. For all its problems — and there are plenty of them — Florida is finding ways to win conference games. And not only conference games, but division games.
Saturday’s win against Vanderbilt was particularly impressive. Gators running backs Malik Davis and Lamical Perine combined for 182 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Florida’s defense was only on the field for seven plays in the third quarter and the Gators doubled Vanderbilt in second-half time of possession, allowing a 17-17 halftime tie to become a relatively comfortable Florida win.
Florida lost starting quarterback Luke Del Rio for the season with a late first-half collarbone injury — a decidedly unlucky break for a player whom Gators coaches love both on and off the field.
Franks replaced Del Rio and was 10-of-14 for 185 yards against Vandy. The Gators will now apparently roll with the redshirt freshman Franks and his cannon of an arm. He started the first three games this season but was benched in favor of Del Rio in the second half at Kentucky.
This is also a Florida team missing nine players — including 2016 leading rusher Jordan Scarlett and star wideout Antonio Callaway — who are caught up in a felony credit card fraud case.
And as far as the aforementioned lucky plays go, those don’t happen without skill. Franks escaped pressure before sending that Week 3 winning pass 66 yards in the air to Cleveland. Swain’s highlight-reel catch on Saturday isn’t possible without immense talent.
Swain’s winning catch at Kentucky … well, OK. Point taken. Having a receiver completely uncovered is pretty lucky — and it happened twice in that game.
And hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little luck. Coaching legend Don Shula once said, “Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.”
Franks is now unquestionably the Gators’ quarterback. He’s one of 10 signal callers who have started for Florida since Tim Tebow, and all of Gator Nation hopes he can be the spark that brings their long-dormant offense back to life.
It’s probably too early to tell just how good Franks is, but his performance the rest of the way — beginning with next week’s home game against LSU — will have a far greater impact on Florida’s ultimate success or failure than will luck.
https://theathletic.com/114726/2017/09/30/floridas-3-0-sec-start-is-more-about-talent-than-luck/
First, there was the 63-yard, Feleipe Franks-to-Tyrie Cleveland prayer that beat Tennessee on the final play of the game. Then last week in Lexington, Kentucky’s defense inexplicably left Freddie Swain wide open in the end zone, allowing Swain to catch perhaps the easiest game winner you’ll ever see.
And on Saturday, there was Swain again, diving to haul in a one-handed, 33-yard reception after Vanderbilt’s Ryan White tipped it right to him. Three plays later, Florida scored the touchdown that ultimately put the game out of reach in a 38-24 victory.
So, is the 21st-ranked Gators’ 3-0 start to SEC play the result of skill or serendipity? Fortitude or flukiness?
Florida has undoubtedly benefitted from some good fortune in these wins, but to paint its early perch atop the SEC East standings as a house of cards built on nothing more than a run of luck would be wrongheaded.
At a certain point, it’s more than luck. For all its problems — and there are plenty of them — Florida is finding ways to win conference games. And not only conference games, but division games.
Saturday’s win against Vanderbilt was particularly impressive. Gators running backs Malik Davis and Lamical Perine combined for 182 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Florida’s defense was only on the field for seven plays in the third quarter and the Gators doubled Vanderbilt in second-half time of possession, allowing a 17-17 halftime tie to become a relatively comfortable Florida win.
Florida lost starting quarterback Luke Del Rio for the season with a late first-half collarbone injury — a decidedly unlucky break for a player whom Gators coaches love both on and off the field.
Franks replaced Del Rio and was 10-of-14 for 185 yards against Vandy. The Gators will now apparently roll with the redshirt freshman Franks and his cannon of an arm. He started the first three games this season but was benched in favor of Del Rio in the second half at Kentucky.
This is also a Florida team missing nine players — including 2016 leading rusher Jordan Scarlett and star wideout Antonio Callaway — who are caught up in a felony credit card fraud case.
And as far as the aforementioned lucky plays go, those don’t happen without skill. Franks escaped pressure before sending that Week 3 winning pass 66 yards in the air to Cleveland. Swain’s highlight-reel catch on Saturday isn’t possible without immense talent.
Swain’s winning catch at Kentucky … well, OK. Point taken. Having a receiver completely uncovered is pretty lucky — and it happened twice in that game.
And hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little luck. Coaching legend Don Shula once said, “Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.”
Franks is now unquestionably the Gators’ quarterback. He’s one of 10 signal callers who have started for Florida since Tim Tebow, and all of Gator Nation hopes he can be the spark that brings their long-dormant offense back to life.
It’s probably too early to tell just how good Franks is, but his performance the rest of the way — beginning with next week’s home game against LSU — will have a far greater impact on Florida’s ultimate success or failure than will luck.
