Florida’s Week 8 matchup with Georgia has turned into a familiar kind of debate: how much can the Gators lean on the ground game, how aggressive should they get on defense, and which quarterback gives them the best shot to make this thing competitive?
That was the focus of a roundtable discussion featuring Andrew Spivey, Gentry Hawk and Nick Marcinko, who each weighed in on the biggest questions facing Florida heading into the game.
On offense, the biggest theme was simple: Florida has to run the ball early and keep things manageable for whoever lines up at quarterback. Spivey said Florida “has got to get the running game going early in this game,” adding, “Whether it’s Tramell or Philo at QB neither need the whole game on their shoulder.”
Hawk agreed that the Gators need a lot to break right, starting with physical play up front and a steady run game. He pointed to Jadan Baugh and the importance of getting help from the offensive line, while also stressing third-down production and longer drives to keep Gunner Stockton and Georgia’s offense off the field.
Marcinko framed it around explosives, saying Florida must win the explosive-play battle against a Georgia defense that ranks No. 2 in the SEC in explosive-play percentage. He noted the Gators should be healthier at receiver, but said Florida will need “elite perimeter blocking” to create those shots.
Defensively, the three were aligned on one thing: Florida needs pressure. Spivey wants the Gators to “Turn the pressure on again and don’t play soft,” arguing that this defense can’t sit back and cover for long stretches.
Hawk said Florida has to mix and disguise its pressures without giving up too much on the back end. He noted the Gators blitzed on 64.3% of Arch Manning’s dropbacks against Texas and finished with five sacks, but Georgia is built to handle pressure and extend plays.
For Hawk, the front four has to do its part if Florida wants a chance to out-scheme Mike Bobo. Marcinko said the plan is already clear: Florida is going to blitz and live with the results.
He pointed to the way that strategy struggled against South Carolina but worked against Texas, and said the Gators will need the same kind of front-line success to have a shot.
The bye week also gave the staff a chance to look closely at the roster, and the roundtable zeroed in on a few players who should see more run down the stretch. Spivey said LJ McCray needs starter-level snaps because he’s one of the few players generating pressure, and he also wants to see more of TY Jackson.
Hawk also singled out Ty Jackson, noting the sophomore and former No. 1 ranked inside linebacker had 3 total tackles, 2 solo stops and 1 sack against Texas. Marcinko took a different route and chose Stive-Bentley Keumajou-Yondui, Florida’s freshman interior defensive lineman.
He said Brad White told him earlier this week that Keumajou-Yondui has earned more third-down work, and added that his athleticism could help in pass-rush situations where Florida needs a boost.
There was also agreement that one trench battle could swing the whole game. Spivey put it plainly: Florida’s offensive line against Georgia’s defensive line, and the winner of that matchup wins the game.
Hawk looked at it from the other side, saying Florida’s front seven has to make Gunner Stockton uncomfortable and wreck Georgia’s rhythm by consistently living in the backfield. He said it’s critical that Florida’s defensive front picks up where it left off against Texas.
Marcinko circled Georgia’s linebackers against Jadan Baugh, calling the Bulldogs’ linebacking corps, led by Chris Cole, the strength of the defense. He also pointed to Kirby Smart’s comments this week about tackling Baugh, who stands out as a unique back at nearly 230 pounds.
The quarterback question was the toughest one to pin down. Spivey said he was leaning Tramell until Thursday morning before shifting to Philo.
Hawk ultimately came down on the side of Tramell Jones, saying Florida should stick with the hot hand and use Jones’ legs against a Georgia defense that can struggle with dual-threat quarterbacks. Marcinko landed on Philo as the best option, especially if Jones is not fully healthy.
He said Philo’s ability to read the option game fits this matchup well, though he also made clear he wouldn’t have a problem with whatever choice the staff makes.
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