LSU vs Florida: Q&A with Hail Florida Hail

As we look ahead to Saturday’s LSU vs Florida matchup at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (otherwise known as “The Swamp”) , we sat down with Brett Kaplan, the editor at Hail Florida Hail (@HailFloridaHail on Twitter), the Florida fan site on the Fansided network. Brett, who you can follow @BrettKaplan13, was kind enough to answer some of our questions in regard to this weekend’s game.

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Death Valley Voice: Florida, like LSU, has been struggling on offense. What do you make of the Gators’ quarterback situation relative to comparing and contrasting Jeff Driskel with the now-suspended Treon Harris?

Hail Florida Hail: Driskel’s had some issues with turning the ball over, but the entire offense struggling can’t be pinned on him. The wide receivers have had some important drops and tips that have turned into interceptions. The bright spot on offense has been RB Matt Jones. He’s been really good this season and overshadowed by the inconsistency at QB. Treon Harris had four throws Saturday against Tennessee. He completed two of them, but somehow the team looked energized when he entered the game. Sometimes a change like that can spark a program. It would have been interesting to see how Will Muschamp would have handled the QB situation if Harris wasn’t suspended. Harris has moxie and that “it” factor. We’ll see how the team responds this week. I think they’ll have a lot to prove after a lot of criticism this past week.

DVV: I gather that a lot of Florida fans are not happy with Will Muschamp. How hot is Muschamp’s hot seat right now?

HFH: Muschamp’s seat is one of the hottest in college football and that’s with a 3-1 record and a 2-1 record in the SEC. The main thing with Muschamp is his offense hasn’t improved. It was a struggle to watch the Florida-Tennessee game for three quarters on Saturday and AD Jeremy Foley has said if there’s not improvement from last year, he’ll take a look at making a change at head coach. There hasn’t been improvement so far, but there’s still time left. Muschamp may be one of those coaches that win ugly. That’s not what Florida fans are used to, however. We’re used to high scoring offenses and the Fun ‘N Gun. Muschamp needs to beat Georgia and get to at least 8 wins to keep his job, most likely. Those supporters who liked him because of his impeccable off the field record (as far as police blotter goes) might have turned a little with the Harris and Cleategate situations. He needs to have fewer distractions off the field for the rest of the season, as well as results on the field.

DVV: The Gators are 2-1 so far in the SEC. Would you say they’re fortunate to come away with those two wins, given their struggles, and perhaps some good fortune with play clocks?

HFH: The two wins Florida has in conference play have been ugly. They’ve been aided by the play clock a little bit, but those are real quick judgment calls. It’s easy to call delay of game when you have super slow motion, but make that call in real time in a game situation. Not easy to do.

The Kentucky game shows the Gators resolve, coming back time after time against a tough offense to prepare for. A lot of people think the Wildcats aren’t a real good team based on history, but that team is a lot better than you think. I know South Carolina has struggled this season, but UK did just beat the Gamecocks. In the end, Driskel showed leadership in leading drives for scores, and eventually the win.

The Tennessee game was a great combination of really good defense and a player coming off the bench to spark a team. Harris did just that in Knoxville and the defense played out of their minds, sacking Justin Worley six times and coming up with a stop whenever they needed it. They did what they needed to win and that’s just what they did. It wasn’t pretty, but a W is a W. I’ll take those any day.

DVV: Do you consider the LSU a true rivalry, given the cross-divisional status of both teams?

HFH: There was a lot of complaining when it was announced that LSU would continue to be Florida’s permanent SEC West rival because the Tigers are usually so good. I think any time you get a chance to play a school like LSU on a consistent basis, it should happen. The series has been even over the past 14 years with both teams pulling off some great upsets in the process. That’s the mark of a true rivalry. They may not have geographical ties or even divisional implications, but the two teams play their best when they go head-to-head. I’d consider LSU Florida’s fourth rival, behind Georgia, Florida State, and Tennessee. You could make the case that LSU means more than the FSU game at the end of the day.

DVV: What’s Florida’s biggest strength?

HFH: The Gators’ rush defense has been really good this season. They’re allowing just a shade over 100 yards rushing per game. The front seven does a really good job of pursuing the ball carrier and the corners, especially Vernon Hargreaves, is one of the best CBs in rush defense.

DVV: What’s Florida’s greatest weakness?

HFH: The offense in general, save Matt Jones. Florida needs to be able to connect down the field to open up short passes and the running game. They haven’t been able to do that so far. It will likely be tough this week with the Tigers’ 10th-ranked pass defense coming to town, but they need to get at least one completion of 15+ yards on Saturday to keep LSU honest. That being said, the WRs need to stop dropping balls and causing turnovers. That’s been an issue again this season.

DVV: Name three impact players for the game and why.

HFH: WR C.J. Worton – Ever since TE Jake McGee went down with a season-ending injury against Eastern Michigan, Florida has needed a consistent slot receiver to catch passes across the middle. Worton missed time with a broken hand, but he’ll be back this week. The Gators need a boost from their WR corps, and the freshman might just be the spark they need. He impressed a lot of people in fall camp and was primed for a big season.

OT DJ Humphries – Humphries might have been the Gators best offensive lineman coming into the season, but he hasn’t shown it so far. He missed the Kentucky and Alabama games with a bone chip and struggled against Tennessee. He’ll be key in giving Driskel and the offense enough time to create positive plays.

CB Jalen Tabor – The freshman earned the first start of his young career last week and absolutely balled out. I know LSU’s offense has struggled, but so has Florida’s secondary. With Hargreaves and Tabor locking down WRs in man-to-man, it gives the safeties a little more leeway. Tabor was also good in the run game and even had a strip sack. He could be the answers to the pass defense woes.

DVV: How about a final score prediction?

HFH: Florida can likely key in on defense against the run and really hold a struggling LSU offense. Unless the Tiger QBs can step up (I don’t think they will with Dante Fowler, Jonathan Bullard, and Bryan Cox breathing down their necks), I see a Gator win. It’s a turning point in the season for Florida. They can either rally around the adversity, or they can fall apart. They don’t want a repeat of last season and I think Driskel and the offense do just enough to get the job done.

Final: Florida 24, LSU 6

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