Driskel outruns Vandy's defense, Gators move to 6-0

[travisduncan]

Oct 13, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel (6) runs for a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. The Gators won 31-17. Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE


By Travis Duncan
Gator Envy writer

After establishing an 11-7, less than spectacular halftime lead, Florida's second half game plan was simple:

Let Jeff Driskel find openings against a blitzing Vanderbilt defense and make it a foot race between the sophomore quarterback and Vandy defenders to the edge.

Driskel won.

He rushed for a total 177 yards on 11 carries with 3 TDs, breaking Tim Tebow's previous record of 166 yards on 27 rushes set in 2007. Driskel made only three passing attempts in the second half, two which fell as incomplete passes and one pass which was completed for no gain.

"A large part of it was what they were giving us," said head coach Will Muschamp.

"They were showing us some packages and they were a little feast or famine. When you stunt and do as much as they do, you’ve eventually going to hit them on some things. We feel much more comfortable with our passing game than maybe it looks. We had some things, we had a couple of drops so we feel like we’re further along than we’ve seen. At the end of the day, we’re going to do what it takes to win games."

Mike Gillislee (whose Heisman campaign was put on hold Saturday) carried the ball for 17 times for 67 yards.

"They were keying in on Gillislee all night, which they should because he’s had a great season," said Driskel.

"When two or three guys go for him, it opens up lanes. We had great blocking from receivers and also from fullbacks and tight ends. It was a full team effort tonight."

Florida's offensive line played without left guard James Wilson who missed the game due to an eye injury he suffered in practice earlier in the week. Then center Jonathan Harrison left the game early with an arm injury and left tackle Xavier Nixon also left the game with an upper body injury in the first half.

Saturday's game won't go down as classic stuff.

The energy on defense was good enough to get the job done but there was a noticeable difference between the enthusiasm against LSU compared to what we saw Saturday. Junior defensive end Dominique Easley did not play because of a knee injury and junior linebacker Jelani Jenkins did not play because of a hamstring ailment. Florida did not have an interception but did recover one fumble.

"We need to get off the field on third down on defense," Muschamp said.

"It was quite evident we didn’t do that well enough. When we have those opportunities, we need to capitalize. We had some silly penalties that we need to get out of our system as the games get a little bigger and the stakes get higher. We need to end the game better."

Florida struggled on third down (2-for-11), and in four red zone chances, came away with just one touchdown and three field goals. If you are waiting for the Gators to open up the passing game, you might have some time on your hands. It appears the M.O. offensively will be centered on misdirection and running the ball.

Up next for the Gators is a home date against South Carolina which lost to LSU. Regardless of the Gamecocks' first loss, the game will have a huge factor in determining the fate of the Gators both in the SEC East and in the BCS.

ESPN's College GameDay will be in Gainesville on Saturday.

 

[DRU2012]

Well, I won't belabor the "what we need/gaps in passing game"-theme here (having already done so all last week leading UP to yesterday's game), but none of that has really changed: What HAS changed is any thought of "working on future needs" in the game ahead. Maybe that was ALWAYS unrealistic; anyway, this Gator team has so far dealt with every challenge, absorb each injury and set-back, continue to meet adversity with confidence, determination and calm poise, and ultimately come out victorious. They find a way to win. Uneven as they sometimes look, especially on offense, where against Vanderbilt their passing game continued to look moribund (what we saw of it--only 3 passes the whole 2nd half--we still haven't NEEDED one), while the Commodore defense concentrated on what they THOUGHT would stop the run, putting 2 or 3 guys on Gillissley only to have DRISKEL gouge them for 177 yards even with 3-of-5 O-line starters out with injuries, this is clearly a different Gator team than we've seen before--not merely a "return to the spotlight", but in fact something entirely new: They are not just "tougher than before", they have emerged quietly determined, relentlessly driven, and rock-solid consistent in their confident belief in themselves and each other. I don't know if ANY of that will get them a win NEXT Saturday, but it HAS fueled their rise, and helped them do the things they've done to win every game they've played so far. No matter the game plan going in, these Gators, from the Head Coach down to the practice squad walk-ons and everyone in between, are prepared to do whatever is required to put the TEAM in position to win the game--and so far have found new ways to so just that each week. They don't have all the pieces yet, and injuries continue to prevent their various units from reaching and/or maintaining the highest potential of the ones they've got--but all of the above gives them a chance going into EVERY contest...Which is why, while I am as usual "WORRIED" about next Saturday's confrontation with a now-angry and still-high-flying S.Carolina squad, and STILL have seen little sign of a passing game should they corral our running game and catch us short late on the scoreboard, now more than ever I believe in this team's CHANCE of winning going into this or ANY game.