Florida O-Line Faces Uphill Battle Against Oklahoma
Florida’s offensive line allowed quarterbacks Tramell Jones Jr. and Aaron Philo to face a season-high 14 pressures in the 27-8 loss to No. 2 Georgia last Saturday in Atlanta. Statistics say Saturday’s game against Oklahoma at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will not be much easier.
The No. 24 Gators (5-3, 3-3 SEC) scored a season-low eight points and averaged fewer than two yards per carry for the second time this season as they struggled to hold back Georgia’s defensive front. The Sooners (4-4, 2-3) rank fewer than 20 spots below the Bulldogs nationally in both team tackles for loss per game and team sacks.
“It’s really hard to fully evaluate the quarterback position when we’re not playing good enough around them. I don’t know if Tom Brady was our quarterback on Saturday if it would have helped us,” Sumrall said Monday. “And I’m not trying to be a smart aleck. He would have been under too much duress and pressure to operate.”
All three of Florida’s interceptions against Georgia came on blitzed or pressured dropbacks. Every turnover worthy throw against the Bulldogs came on blitzed or pressured dropbacks as well, according to PFF.
Florida’s O-line struggled in the run game as well against Georgia, tying the season-high 11 tackles for loss allowed in Florida’s Oct. 3 45-17 loss to No. 18 Missouri.
The Gators also averaged 2.5 yards per carry when running on the right side of the O-line. Florida has averaged 6.1 yards per carry when rushing on the right side of the O-line, according to PFF.
“I’m so worried internally about us that it’s got very little to do with about what’s on the other side, because what’s on the other side’s pretty good every week in this league,” Sumrall said. “Every week in this league you’re going to play great personnel. No different with the challenge this week at Oklahoma.”
Oklahoma ranks 34th nationally in team tackles for loss per game (6.1) and 15th in team sack yards per game (2.88). The Sooners also rank 45th in yards per carry allowed (3.72) and 16th in passing yards allowed per game (175.4).
Four of Oklahoma’s seven interceptions have come on dropbacks where the opposing quarterback was blitzed or pressured, according to PFF.
The Sooners have also totaled at least 10 defensive stops in every game this season. PFF considers defensive stops “tackles that constitute a ‘failure’ for the offense.”
Oklahoma has been stout in high-stakes situations defensively as well, ranking fifth nationally in first downs allowed (117) and seventh in third down conversion percentage allowed (.282).
Florida’s O-line will look to redeem itself Saturday with coverage beginning at 4:45 p.m. on WRUF 98.1-FM/850-AM/103.7 HD2 and at 7:45 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Football
