Gators head coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier on the sideline during Saturday's game. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
McElwain Seeks Improvement in All Phases
Monday, September 4, 2017 | Scott Carter
Florida's head coach Jim McElwain took away some positives from the season-opening loss, but after reviewing film, there is a lot of room for improvement.
A subdued McElwain navigated his 25-minute press conference by trying to answer a string of questions that primarily focused on, first, what went wrong in Saturday's 33-17 loss? Second, what is he going to do to correct the problems?
"Obviously, all phases need to get better,'' he said. "Disappointed with the outcome, and yet, you learn from the outcome and keep moving forward."
The 17th-ranked Gators are 0-1 for the first time since 1989 and while a five-point underdog to the 11th-ranked Wolverines, they looked outclassed in the second half when Michigan turned a 17-13 halftime deficit into a runaway win.
The Gators failed to score an offensive touchdown for the third time in the last seven games and finished with just 192 yards as quarterback Feleipe Franks made his first career start and Malik Zaire made his UF debut in relief.
As you probably know, frustrated Florida fans lit up social media in the aftermath with offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier their favorite target.
McElwain said he has no plans to take play-calling duties away from Nussmeier as Florida prepares for its home opener on Saturday against Northern Colorado in the first meeting between the two programs.
"I've seen what he can do. I've seen what he's done,'' McElwain said. "He's a guy that takes a lot of it personal. Sometimes in this business that's the way it is. That's part of the gig, and yet also, we've got to step up around him too and make sure that we're getting some things accomplish in some other spots."
McElwain touched on several relevant topics Monday, including his plans at quarterback on Saturday. McElwain said Franks, the first freshman quarterback to start a season opener for the Gators since Kyle Morris 29 years ago, will start against Northern Colorado. The Bears opened the season with a 41-14 victory over the College of Idaho.
Franks was 5-for-9 for 75 yards against Michigan before Zaire entered on Florida's second series in the third quarter. Franks' most significant contribution was on the game's second play when he connected with receiver Josh Hammond for a 34-yard gain.
"Did exactly as he was supposed to,'' McElwain said.
Overall, McElwain said several mishaps – some on Franks, some not – caused his performance to be spotty. Meanwhile, he said Zaire "was looking probably to get out of the pocket first before delivering the ball. It's something he's got to get better at."
McElwain added the quarterback situation would continue to be monitored – the Gators planned to use Luke Del Rio on Saturday if they encountered a two-minute situation – so nothing seems set in stone beyond Franks starting Saturday.
"Both guys did some things, some things they'd like back,'' he said. "This is going to be one of those things that we go and we get better at."
Florida's offensive line was roasted on the field and then off it amidst Saturday's wave of frustration. The Wolverines had six sacks and limited the Gators to 11 yards rushing.
McElwain said the Gators got beat up physically and that was the difference in the game. Florida led 17-10 in the second quarter after back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns by Duke Dawson and CJ Henderson.
"You know, I didn't think it would be like that,'' McElwain responded to a question about perhaps misevaluating the offensive line. "I knew it would be a physical game. Our opportunities, especially on first-and-10, and then getting behind the sticks like we did, that's something I knew was going to give us trouble if that occurred, and sure as heck is what happened."
The tone in the locker room remains one of solidarity.
"You can't point no fingers at the offense,'' Dawson said. "I'm a team player. I don't point fingers. I've never been that type. We don't look at this game that is going to hinder us down the road."
Junior defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson echoed his veteran teammate's sentiment.
"Those guys [on offense] know what they've got to do,'' Jefferson said. "We're just here to support them any way we can. We're a team."
McElwain said freshman receiver James Robinson, one of 10 players suspended for the season opener, is back for this week's game. While Robinson served a one-game suspension following a citation for marijuana, the status of the other nine players remaind unchanged as of Monday.
"Still haven't heard anything,'' McElwain said. "We'll see."
The Gators returned to practice Monday evening with the reality of a 16-point loss and upset fan base staring their way. They have 11 regular-season opportunities to prove what happened Saturday is not reflective of this team's identity.
"It's just the first game of the season,'' defensive lineman Khairi Clark said. "We're going to get it together. We're going to practice hard. We're going to game plan, we're going to have that preparation to come out and be great this season."
That's the message inside. As for those chirping on the outside, McElwain had a message for them, too.
"I don't take that as a negative at all,'' he said. "That's one of the things that drew me here was the fact there's a lot of passionate people out there for the Gators, and you know what, we'll all entitled to our opinion and I appreciate it.
"I just know we're working to build this thing into something great."
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