The Opening Kickoff: Florida at LSU -- #UFvsLSU
Friday, October 16, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
The Opening Kickoff
Florida at LSU
#UFvsLSU
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Tiger Stadium
Broadcast Info | Game Notes
BATON ROUGE, La. – The tone around Florida football was one of highs and lows this week.
A day after the Gators climbed back into the top 10 for the first time in more than two years, they learned their starting quarterback faced a one-year suspension.
Once the dust settled on a newsy week for the No. 8-ranked Gators, they closed practice Thursday confident in their chances at No. 6-ranked LSU on Saturday night.
"What we try to do in our program in general, is try to create as much unknown and as much chaos, so you understand that the key is you've got to focus on the detail or the task at hand and don't let any of the periphery get to you,'' first-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain said. "This team is about each other. They care. At the same time, you've got to move on.”
Moving on in this case means relying on sophomore quarterback Treon Harris to pick up where Will Grier left off.
Harris started the season opener and threw for two touchdowns after an extended quarterback battle with Grier through spring practice and preseason camp.
While Grier eventually distanced himself and won all five of his starts, Harris still has more career starts (seven) than Grier at this point in their careers.
“We expect the same from him,'' offensive lineman Trip Thurman said. “He stayed with it. I applaud him for that. Some guys want to kind of take the backseat."
Instead, Harris is back in the driver's seat as the Gators look to stay unbeaten. Graduate transfer Josh Grady is now the backup.
McElwain regularly met with Harris after Grier took control of the team. They rarely talked about football as the kid from Miami and the coach from Montana got to know one another on a more personal level.
McElwain learned enough to believe Harris has the right objectives in mind.
"Football is really important to him, and more than that, this football team is important to him,'' McElwain said. “He did a really good job of, when he was in that role, preparing like a starter. That's what we try to get across. I wish every guy on our team did that. You just never know. You're on play away.”
Former Gators quarterback Jesse Palmer, who knows a thing or two about quarterback battles at UF, expressed a sentiment heard often this week about Harris.
"I don't think Treon Harris has to be Superman,'' Palmer said on ESPNU. "He just has to avoid critical mistakes. The good news for the Gators is their defense is going to give them a chance to win every game."
To help you get ready, here is an in-depth look at the Florida-LSU matchup:
THREE STORYLINES
- Let's start with the obvious. The Gators were rattled early in the week by the suspension of starting quarterback Will Grier for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance banned by the NCAA. Enter Treon Harris, who has seven career starts and staged a battle with Grier throughout preseason camp for the starter's job. How will Harris and the Gators respond?
- LSU sophomore sensation Leonard Fournette is off to an incredible start, needing only five games to go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fournette has emerged as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy but he hasn't faced a defense as deep and talented as Florida's this season.
- This matchup between a pair of unbeaten top-10 teams could be a preview of the SEC Championship Game in December. The No. 6-ranked Tigers want to maintain their position atop the SEC West, and the No. 8-ranked Gators look to pad their two-game lead in the East.
THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Sophomore quarterback Treon Harris has taken limited game snaps in recent weeks as Will Grier emerged as Florida's clear-cut starter. Harris is a dual-threat specialist who is just as dangerous with his legs as his right arm. The offense likely will feature some tweaks to fit Harris' skill-set as he tries to lead the Gators to their seventh consecutive win to open the season.
- If this one turns into a defensive affair or is close in the fourth quarter, Gators walk-on kicker Jorge Powell could have an opportunity to play his most important role yet. Powell took over for injured Austin Hardin three weeks ago and was shaky in last week's win at Missouri, missing a 36-yard field goal and booting a kickoff out of bounds. Gators head coach Jim McElwain reiterated his confidence in Powell this week when asked about the kicking game.
- LSU senior defensive back Jalen Mills returned to practice this week after missing the first five games and is expected to play Saturday. Mills has six career interceptions and is a key member of LSU's talented secondary. He has been out since an ankle injury in preseason camp that required surgery.
THE QUOTE FILE
- “It's a different team than we've played the first six because we played basically spread-type teams. This is a different type of team that we're playing. It will be a great challenge for the defense." -- Gators coach Jim McElwain on facing LSU's powerful rushing attack
- “I would have believed it. I feel like we have the players. We have the talent to go as far as we want to go, top to bottom, you look at it." -- Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor when asked if he could have imagined a 6-0 start prior to season
- “We didn't know we were going to be in this position, in the top 10. We just want to keep this train rolling." -- Gators linebacker Jarrad Davis on Florida's 6-0 start
- “I've got 100 percent confidence in Treon. I'm not worried about that.'' -- Gators defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard on Treon Harris
- “We've spent a lot of time on our special teams. And I think our guys understand what needs to happen, and again, we expect to play much better against Florida.'' -- LSU coach Les Miles on his team's kickoff coverage, which allows 26.2 yards per return.
- "We're never satisfied. We want to keep making plays and keep
playing great ball. I feel like every week we come in and we try to get
better and better.” -- Gators running back Kevin Taylor
INJURY REPORT
Out: Linebacker Alex Anzalone (shoulder); Questionable: Defensive back Marcell Harris (ankle), defensive back Chris Williamson (leg); Probable: Tight end C'yontai Lewis (hand), linebacker Jeremi Powell (foot).
GAME PREVIEW
The Florida-LSU game is always one of the biggest of the season. The schools have played each other every year since 1971. The game is live on ESPN (7 p.m. ET) Saturday with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline) on the call. Here is a game preview from Kelly Price of GatorVision:
10 QUICK HITTERS
- The Florida defense has allowed only 12 points in two road games and the Gators are the only team in the country to play at least two road games and not allow a touchdown.
- Gators cornerback Jalen Tabor leads the SEC with eight passes defended (six pass break-ups and two interceptions).
- The Gators lead the all-time series against LSU 31-27-3. The winner in each of the past 10 meetings is the team that had the most rushing yards.
- Gators sophomore running back Kelvin Taylor has rushed for 80 or more yards in three consecutive games, the first Florida running back to do that since Mike Gillislee in 2012.
- LSU running back Leonard Fournette became the quickest player in SEC history to reach 1,000 yards, reaching the mark in just five games.
- This is the fifth time both LSU and Florida enter their matchup each ranked in the top 10. The Gators hold a 3-1 advantage.
- This is the third consecutive trip to LSU that Florida will start its backup quarterback (Jacoby Brissett in 2011; Tyler Murphy in 2013; Treon Harris in 2015).
- Gators receivers Demarcus Robinson, Brandon Powell, C'yontai Lewis and Antonio Callaway each have two or more touchdown receptions, marking first time four UF receivers have had multiple touchdown catches since 2009.
- LSU sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris has six career starts, one less than UF sophomore Treon Harris.
- LSU has trailed just once this season, 3-0 in the first quarter to South Carolina last week. The Tigers have outscored opponents 56-3 in the first quarter. The Gators have outscored opponents 58-20 in the first quarter.
THE OTHER SIDE
You can't talk LSU without talking about sophomore running back Leonard Fournette. In LSU's game notes, Fournette has two full pages devoted to him and countless other mentions. Some say he is the best SEC running back since Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson. It all started for Fournette in New Orleans at St. Augustine High, where he was the nation's top recruit in 2013 and eventually stayed close to home for college. Check out this Sports Illustrated video for more on Fournette's background:
WHAT THEY'RE WRITING
- Florida's offense: It came from Outer Space writes Ben Cohen and Jonathan Clegg of The Wall Street Journal.
- Gators rallying around Treon Harris writes Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun.
- Suspended Gators quarterback Will Grier faces lengthy NCAA appeals process writes Matt Murschel of The Orlando Sentinel.
- Opponent Overview: How can the Gators stop LSU running back Leonard Fournette via Anthony Chiang of The Palm Beach Post.
- Can Gators contend for playoffs without Will Grier? Rivers McCown of The Washington Post explores that question.
- Florida's, LSU's claim on "DBU" to be put to test on Saturday at Tiger Stadium writes David Ching of ESPN.com.
- LSU's Derrius Guice finds his niche behind star Leonard Fournette writes Ross Dellenger of The Baton Rouge Advocate.
BOTTOM LINE
If you love SEC football and big-game atmospheres, Tiger Stadium is the place to be on Saturday night. The Gators were humming along until news broke Monday about quarterback Will Grier's suspension. By the next day the Gators had settled into their normal practice routine with sophomore Treon Harris back as the starting quarterback. With Florida's defense one of the best in the nation, this game remains a winnable one if the Gators don't let LSU running back Leonard Fournette run wild and force Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris to beat team. The Tigers are a clear favorite, but don't be surprised if this one goes down to the final minutes like last year's game between these two at The Swamp.
