Running back Mark Thompson carries the ball in Saturday's loss to Michigan. (Photo: Andrew Weber/UAA Communications)
Thompson Ready if Called to Boost Gators' Ground Attack
Friday, September 15, 2017 | Football
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Senior Mark's Thompson's 13 yards rushing was a team-high in UF's season-opening loss against Michigan.
By: Tyler Savitsky, Writing Intern
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida rushing attack mostly struggled last season, finishing last in the Southeastern Conference (and 110th nationally) at just 128.2 yards per game. Both the UF coaches and players were confident heading into 2017 that a vastly improved offensive line and depth at the tailback position would equate to much better things on the ground.
And yet: 27 carries, 11 yards.
Those were the final running-game numbers from Sept. 2 in Texas, as the Gators lost their 2017 season opener 33-17 against Michigan in the AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium.
"Eleven yards is never a good thing," Florida senior running back Mark Thompson said last week. "[But] I don't really look at stats. I'm not a stats queen." Senior running back Mark Thompson capped his first season at UF with an 85-yard catch-and-run score in Florida's victory over Iowa in the Outback Bowl last January.
And that is a good thing, because two weeks into the season UF is again last in the SEC in rushing. Last among the nation's 127 FCS programs, also. The Gators (0-1) likely would have upgraded those digits significantly against out-manned Northern Colorado last weekend, but that game was wiped out by Hurricane Irma. So those that 11.0-yards-per game -- still last in the nation -- will carry this weekend when Florida faces Tennessee (2-0) Saturday at 3:30 at Spurrier/Florida Field in the SEC opener for both teams.
The lack of a so-called warm-up opponent to create rhythm and gain confidence is unfortunate, but it's the hand the Gators have been dealt. If the ground game is going to get going, it'll have to be against the Volunteers, who are giving up 328.5 rushing yards per game after getting trampled for 535 on 85 carries by Georgia Tech's stellar option attack in a 42-41 season-opening, double-overtime win.
Georgia Tech runs it down everyone's throat. Not even the most cockeyed of UF optimists would believe the Gators will run it at will on the Vols.
No. 1 tailback Jordan Scarlett remains suspended, so the production will have to come from either Thompson or sophomore Lamical Perine or perhaps true freshmen Malik Davis and Adarius Lemons. Against Michigan, which returned one starter from a unit that led the nation in total defense last season, Thompson carried five times for 13 yards, Perine seven times for eight yards and Davis once for eight yards.
"I'm not going to sit here and tell you I thought it would be like that," UF coach Jim McElwain.
The Gators aren't going to do a bunch of dwelling on that performance, either.
"We're not concerned about anything. It's only one game," senior slotback Brandon Powell said. "We have a long season ahead of us."
Indeed, there are still 10 games to play, including an entire SEC slate, and they can only control what's in front of them. Too bad. Last week's date against Northern Colorado would have put UF against a foe that gave up 215 rushing yards in a 41-14 victory over NAIA College of Idaho. It wouldn't have mattered who got the ball in that one. The Gators, almost certainly, would have established both the run or pass against an opponent they significantly overmatched.
Which of the two tactics do you think the backs are pulling for?
"Receivers are going to hate me for this, but I think we need to run the ball more," said Thompson, who came off the bench against the Wolverines, but may get a crack at starting in Week 2. "I just think we have to trust the running game and continue to do it. When something doesn't work, you don't just give up. You keep going until it works."
Thompson, the 6-foot-2, 238-pounder, had a 47-yard touchdown run called back on a pivotal third-and-3 on a holding penalty against center T.J. McCoy late in the second quarter. UF was up 17-13 at the time, with the Wolverines having kicked a field goal four plays earlier. So instead of a 10-point lead and all the momentum, the Gators had to punt two plays later.
Michigan scored all 17 points after halftime, dominating both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Minus a running game, redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks wasn't given much of a chance to settle into his first collegiate start. He finished five of nine for 75 yards before being lifted for graduate transfer Malik Zaire.
"If you can't run the ball, you can't throw the ball. The run opens up the pass," Thompson said. "Like I said, I think we need to trust the run, keep running the ball and we'll be fine."
Thompson is a big-bodied freight train who the Gators have tried to get going the last two seasons. In 2016, his first after an All-America junior college career, he started three of the first four games and went on to rush 68 times for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Thompson flashed some big-play pop in UF's 30-3 blowout of Iowa in the Outback Bowl when he took a screen pass 85 yards for a touchdown.
His touchdown that was called back against Michigan would have been every bit as big, but it wasn't to be. By the end of the day, Florida gained just 192 yards of total offense; of its 12 drives nine went for six plays or less; UF also was 2-for-13 on third down.
Much of the postgame focus was on the play of the offensive line, a unit McElwain and his staff have raved about since the spring, touting as perhaps the strength of the entire team.
Thompson defended his linemen this week.
"They blocked their tails off. They just need to execute. That's all it is," Thompson said. "It comes down to communication, execution and playing with a little pride. Be happy with what you put on film. I don't think any of us are too excited about what we put on film [vs. Michigan], so we're going to come out and fix that."
The fix would have come much, much easier against Northern Colorado.
[FloridaGators.com senior writer Chris Harry contributed to this report]
