- Sep 8, 2014
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Good stuff from Brady A. He must have been sober when he wrote this!
https://gridironnow.com/florida-football-luke-del-rio/
For Florida to win on the road, Luke Del Rio needs to produce
By Brady Ackerman
Saturday at Arkansas, Florida’s Luke Del Rio will make his first true road start as a college quarterback.
The Gators have played on the road against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, but Del Rio missed both those games. And while he was at Oregon State, Del Rio played as a backup in road games against USC and Stanford.
Del Rio is 5-0 as the Gators’ starter, with four home wins and a neutral-site victory over Georgia. This week should be his greatest challenge to date. If he can help deliver a win, Florida will be one victory away from heading back to Atlanta.
Del Rio’s season has been uneven. He looked more like Will Grier to begin the campaign but closer to Treon Harris after his return from injury. In the two games since his return, he is completing he is completing 52.4 percent of his passes. In his first three starts, he hit on nearly 62 percent of his attempts. He is going to need to approach the latter figure if the Gators are to win in Fayetteville.
RELATED: Arkansas-Florida one of 3 best games in SEC this week
Luke Del Rio has been sharp on third down and is a big reason Florida leads the SEC and is sixth nationally in third-down conversion percentage. KIM KLEMENT/USA TODAY SPORTS
Florida is 4-2 on the road in two seasons under Jim McElwain. The losses came against LSU last season and Tennessee this season. The wins have come over Kentucky, Missouri and South Carolina last season and Vanderbilt this season. The Gators close this season with three road games among their final for regular-season contests: Arkansas, LSU and Florida State.
Winning on the road comes down to quality play from your quarterback, with third down efficiency and red zone production the key evaluators.
Del Rio threw six touchdown passes and two interceptions in his first three games; in the past two contests, he has just two touchdowns and four interceptions. Another noticeable change; He has missed on some easy throws.
Del Rio won the starting job because he made the routine throws easy. Checkdowns, shallow crosses and screen passes are plays many take for granted, but good throws help make turn those into potential big plays. He was sharp on those to begin the season, but he has been off since his return. If he tightens up in that area, he will be back in the 60 percent range.
Florida is first in the SEC and sixth nationally in third-down conversions at 50.4 percent. The only games in which the Gators were under 46 percent with their conversions were against Tennessee and Vanderbilt – the games Del Rio missed. In the games Del Rio has started, Florida’s conversion percentage is 54.8 percent.
RELATED: Florida seeking to reverse recent history against SEC West opponents
Del Rio is completing 60 percent of his passes on third down, which trails only Alabama’s Jalen Hurts and Auburn’s Sean White among SEC starting quarterbacks. Conversely, he is struggling somewhat on first down, with a 50 percent completion rate. And last week, his only interception was thrown on first down. He just needs to get back to playing within himself and the framework of the offense.
Del Rio is a leader and well-liked by his teammates. He possesses some qualities that you cannot quantify. He is a coach’s son and he has been critical of his own play.
If he takes care of the ball and makes the easy throws in rhythm, the Gators have a legitimate shot to run the table. The run game is improving, and younger players such as Tyrie Cleveland and C’yontai Lewis are emerging as options in the passing game. With the nation’s second best defense and a strong kicking game, the formula for Del Rio is simple: Manage the game and win.
https://gridironnow.com/florida-football-luke-del-rio/
For Florida to win on the road, Luke Del Rio needs to produce
By Brady Ackerman
Saturday at Arkansas, Florida’s Luke Del Rio will make his first true road start as a college quarterback.
The Gators have played on the road against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, but Del Rio missed both those games. And while he was at Oregon State, Del Rio played as a backup in road games against USC and Stanford.
Del Rio is 5-0 as the Gators’ starter, with four home wins and a neutral-site victory over Georgia. This week should be his greatest challenge to date. If he can help deliver a win, Florida will be one victory away from heading back to Atlanta.
Del Rio’s season has been uneven. He looked more like Will Grier to begin the campaign but closer to Treon Harris after his return from injury. In the two games since his return, he is completing he is completing 52.4 percent of his passes. In his first three starts, he hit on nearly 62 percent of his attempts. He is going to need to approach the latter figure if the Gators are to win in Fayetteville.
RELATED: Arkansas-Florida one of 3 best games in SEC this week
Luke Del Rio has been sharp on third down and is a big reason Florida leads the SEC and is sixth nationally in third-down conversion percentage. KIM KLEMENT/USA TODAY SPORTS
Florida is 4-2 on the road in two seasons under Jim McElwain. The losses came against LSU last season and Tennessee this season. The wins have come over Kentucky, Missouri and South Carolina last season and Vanderbilt this season. The Gators close this season with three road games among their final for regular-season contests: Arkansas, LSU and Florida State.
Winning on the road comes down to quality play from your quarterback, with third down efficiency and red zone production the key evaluators.
Del Rio threw six touchdown passes and two interceptions in his first three games; in the past two contests, he has just two touchdowns and four interceptions. Another noticeable change; He has missed on some easy throws.
Del Rio won the starting job because he made the routine throws easy. Checkdowns, shallow crosses and screen passes are plays many take for granted, but good throws help make turn those into potential big plays. He was sharp on those to begin the season, but he has been off since his return. If he tightens up in that area, he will be back in the 60 percent range.
Florida is first in the SEC and sixth nationally in third-down conversions at 50.4 percent. The only games in which the Gators were under 46 percent with their conversions were against Tennessee and Vanderbilt – the games Del Rio missed. In the games Del Rio has started, Florida’s conversion percentage is 54.8 percent.
RELATED: Florida seeking to reverse recent history against SEC West opponents
Del Rio is completing 60 percent of his passes on third down, which trails only Alabama’s Jalen Hurts and Auburn’s Sean White among SEC starting quarterbacks. Conversely, he is struggling somewhat on first down, with a 50 percent completion rate. And last week, his only interception was thrown on first down. He just needs to get back to playing within himself and the framework of the offense.
Del Rio is a leader and well-liked by his teammates. He possesses some qualities that you cannot quantify. He is a coach’s son and he has been critical of his own play.
If he takes care of the ball and makes the easy throws in rhythm, the Gators have a legitimate shot to run the table. The run game is improving, and younger players such as Tyrie Cleveland and C’yontai Lewis are emerging as options in the passing game. With the nation’s second best defense and a strong kicking game, the formula for Del Rio is simple: Manage the game and win.
