Residence Enhancement: Gators Find to Rebound from Oversight-Stuffed Loss at Utah with McNeese In advance in Swamp Opener
5 min read
Barnes could be listened to each and every time an individual opened the doorway to the cinder-blocked space Napier was about to enter.
“That’s the things you chat about when you happen to be a minimal child,” Barnes explained of his 70-yard landing go on Utah’s initial perform of a 24-11 win around the Gators.
Napier had number of highlights to explore through his media session, and little had improved Monday when Napier, 2,200 miles away from Rice-Eccles Stadium, took his spot at the rear of the lectern within the Heavener Football Training Middle to unpack even more what transpired in a disappointing season opener for the Gators.
The Gators suffered from an array of self-inflicted wounds in the reduction to the Utes, most notably 9 penalties for 45 yards — a number of coming at very important moments. They have an option to hush some of the criticism commencing Saturday when McNeese of the Southland Convention visits Ben Hill Griffin Stadium for Florida’s residence opener.
The Gators have misplaced four consecutive video games dating to very last time and will need a victory in the worst way.
“I consider the key to the drill here is that we really don’t waste this practical experience,” Napier stated Monday. “I imagine, just having achieved with the [team’s] leadership group … we are in fantastic situation to do that. We can’t squander a minute blaming or complaining or sulking, imagining about the previous. We have to understand. We have to transform. We have to adapt. We have to improve.
“So the lesson below is that you can find no 1 solitary particular person to blame here, other than me, ok? I imagine finally the buck stops in this article. We’re likely to go fix it. That’s what I would notify you.”
The Gators have won 33 consecutive property openers since the start of the 1990 period, the longest energetic streak in the region. Although McNeese enters as a large underdog — the FCS-stage Cowboys dropped 52-34 to Tarleton in their season opener — Florida is focused on taking treatment of its issues extra than the opponent.
The Gators have no option dependent on the way they performed at Utah.
“This is a spot that has winning expectations,” Napier stated. “This week for us is about advancement. We have to compete every single day like we are actively playing the ideal level of competition we will perform this calendar year. I feel that was the message from the leadership group. We look ahead to acquiring this style out of our mouth.”
A rash of unforced procedural penalties thwarted Gators’ drives at Utah, most likely the most important coming early in the 2nd quarter with Utah going through fourth-and-3 at the Gators’ 49-lawn line. The Gators were flagged five yards for having two players — defensive again Jason Marshall Jr. and freshman receiver Eugene Wilson III — both in No. 3 jerseys on the field at the same time. The miscue gave Utah a to start with down, and 4 plays afterwards, improve-of-tempo quarterback Nate Johnson scored on a 27-property operate to present Utah with a 14-3 lead.
The deflating penalty remained a topic of dialogue 4 days later on on Monday.
“It type of sucks,” Marshall stated. “We stopped them, then we obtained the penalty, turned all around, experienced to go back again out there. It was like a unexpected improve. It was just a absence of communication. I didn’t know he was going to be out there at that time. We’re likely to take care of that.”
Outside of the unforced problems, the Gators authorized five sacks and managed only 13 yards rushing on 21 carries when looking at the sack yardage.
With transfer quarterback Graham Mertz having around guiding a rebuilt offensive line and a youthful team of receivers, the operating back duo of Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne figure to engage in a sizeable position in UF’s offensive good results in 2023. Johnson concluded with just 6 yards on 3 carries Etienne 25 yards on 7 tries.
That should change for the Gators to be a productive offensive unit.
“On the lookout back at it, that’s a little something we could have been a little bit more dedicated to,” Napier reported of creating the run. “There is no doubt about it. But we get into, all of a unexpected, it truly is 17-3, 24-3, that impacts the approach you just take. I do assume Utah has some thing to do with that, as very well.”
Mertz’s functionality was a furthermore for the Gators. He completed 31 of 44 for a career-significant 333 yards. His 19-garden touchdown go to Caleb Douglas saved the Gators within putting distance in the fourth quarter.
However, Mertz confronted regular strain from a Utah defensive front that was lacking two normal starters and a third hobbled by injuries.
Gators offensive lineman Austin Barber has heard the sound from admirers due to the fact Thursday’s loss and understands their aggravation. He made guaranteed to join several of his teammates in singing the alma mater adhering to the video game and acknowledging the Gators admirers who produced the trip to Utah.
“This video game is not what we preferred. I imagine all people appreciates that. Clearly, you will find disappointment. You never want to get rid of your initial match. Everyone is energized for it. It was a significant video game.
“You just gotta study from it. This full working experience is a major discovering course of action for most people on this team. I assume that we’ll appear again and understand from it, exercise tough, do what we have to do to be well prepared for the up coming sport.”
Just one detail is specific: they will have essential eyes viewing how they respond.

