Florida vs. Vanderbilt: Three Key Matchups to Monitor
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Homecoming has arrived at the University of Florida, and it could not come at a more critical time for the Gators' football season.
Following a brutal loss to Kentucky last week, Florida has a chance to get back in the win column against SEC East foe Vanderbilt.
Back-to-back struggles after the Week 3 upset victory over Tennessee have left a lot to be desired from the program, but a bounce-back win over the Commodores could be just what the doctor ordered for the Gators to get back on track.
Here are three key matchups between Florida and Vanderbilt that could decide the victor on Saturday.
RB Montrell Johnson Jr. vs. Vanderbilt's rushing defense
With Trevor Etienne on this week's injury report, Montrell Johnson Jr. is expected to be Florida's feature back on Saturday, and he'll have a tremendous opportunity to rack up yards. Vanderbilt gives up 147.8 yards per game on the ground, which is the second-most allowed among SEC teams.
Johnson has had a slower start to the season than anticipated with only 253 yards on 56 carries with three touchdowns. That being said, he is still averaging a respectable 4.5 yards a carry, and that number should go up after Saturday.
However, Florida in Week 6 will be playing with an injured offensive line. Starting tackle Austin Barber and starting center Kingsley Eguakun are both listed as questionable with lower body injuries for Saturday's contest.
It's no secret that the rushing attack has struggled with Eguakun out of the lineup, and now that Etienne is also expected to be limited, opportunities have been created for Vanderbilt to take advantage.
Relying on Johnson to set the tone early will be important. Florida's offensive identity and key to success begins with the rushing attack. Utilizing him early and often could set the passing attack up with openings down the stretch.
Graham Mertz has proven to be an efficient passer this season, and Vanderbilt struggles just as much at defending the air as they do the ground. But Florida cannot bite at the bait.
To pull out the win, the Gators must rely on Johnson and the ground game. It must depend on the style of play that Napier has strived for as Florida's head coach and offensive coordinator.
Gators' tackling vs. Commodores' run game
Defensively, Florida displayed tremendous improvement through the first four games under defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. To say the script flipped last week is an understatement.
Florida allowed 329 rushing yards against Kentucky, which includes Ray Davis' 280. The Gators missed 19 tackles in the loss, per PFF. To compare, they had only missed 27 in the first four games combined.
Fortunately for the Gators, they face a Commodores team that has struggled to find an identity in the ground game. Vanderbilt ranks No. 13 in the SEC with an average of only 97 rushing yards per game and has only eclipsed 100 yards twice this season. Neither of those performances have come in the last three weeks.
Vanderbilt is a passing team first. Quarterback AJ Swann, who missed Week 5 against Missouri due to an injury, has thrown for 1,290 yards in five starts. Meanwhile, Ken Seals had 259 yards against Missouri in Week 5. The duo has combined for 15 passing touchdowns in six games.
That being said, Florida taking advantage of Vanderbilt's struggling rushing attack, while simply making tackles, will not only go a long way to pulling out a win but should also help the Gators' improved defense regain confidence after what it hopes to have been an outlier showing against Kentucky.
Florida vs. Florida
One could argue that Florida's biggest fault during a 3-2 start to the year has been its self-inflicting errors in crucial moments of the game. Special teams gaffs and play calling have been the two most glaring issues so far.
Needless to say, Florida is in desperate need of a win, and now at the halfway point of the season, the Gators cannot allow these mistakes to cost them once more.
Vanderbilt may not be a top rival of Florida's, but the Commodores currently have UF head coach Billy Napier's number after their 31-24, upset victory over the Gators in Nashville, Tenn last season.
This game cannot be like the 2022 performance, and it certainly cannot resemble last week's showing against Kentucky if Florida is going to have any success in the second half of the campaign. The Gators cannot allow self-inflicted wounds and sluggish play to cost them.
Florida cannot afford random special teams mistakes that cost them down the stretch. It cannot afford poor offensive play calls on third and fourth down or in the red zone that kill drives and leave points off the board. It cannot afford to play down to its opponent.
Furthermore, the Gators cannot allow the current outside noise to affect their play on Saturday. It's a new week and a new chance to build confidence in the program. All of these are in their control. The ball is in their court.
Crucial mistakes like those above simply cannot happen against an opponent that Florida is an 18.5-point favorite against. And, it cannot happen at The Swamp, a place where Napier has had his best success at home. Otherwise, it's more ammo for outside critics.
The outside noise isn't deafening, but the volume is certainly getting louder, and Florida needs a big win at home to keep the noise down for the time being. The Gators cannot allow themselves to beat themselves.
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