Emory Jones on Florida Field following Saturday's win over FAU. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
The Opening Kickoff (Part I): Gators QB Emory Jones, 5 Questions
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In the wake of his first career start, Gators quarterback Emory Jones has been scrutinized more than any other time since he first picked up a football and threw his first pass.
Jones led the Gators on a pair of early scoring drives in Florida's 35-14 season-opening win over Florida Atlantic, which set the tone in the Gators' 32nd consecutive win in their home opener. Jones cooled off from there, which has raised questions about everything from his footwork to whether he has the "it" factor.
Sounds about right in this day and age of excessive analysis.
Jones finished 17 of 27 for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He added 74 yards rushing. All in all, certainly not the worst performance for a UF quarterback in his first career start. Could he have played better? Certainly.
Jones' ho-hum outing combined with the dynamic performance of backup Anthony Richardson has made for an interesting week as the No. 13 Gators (1-0) prepare for their showdown in Tampa on Saturday against USF (0-1).
UF head coach Dan Mullen said Wednesday that he has seen Jones respond well at practice this week, primarily in his focus on details and cleaning up some of the mistakes he made in Saturday's opener.
"Emory, as he looks at it, and he's been around a while and he's a mature guy and understands things," Mullen said. "Overall, you look, he played pretty well last Saturday, but he made some errors that he's not used to making and I don't know if trying to do too much is the word."
Whatever slowed Jones down, Mullen is looking for a crisper performance in Tampa. So is Jones.
Here is a Q&A with Jones as he prepares for another milestone: his first career road start:
Q: What were your takeaways after watching film of your performance against FAU?
A: Mainly, I could just tell that that was my first start. I learned how hard the grind is of being a starter and how detailed you have to be and how locked in you have to be mentally every single play. Basically, just how much I have to pay attention to details, and just lock into play after play.
Q: How would you sum up the entire start from your expectations to your nerves?
A: I mean, I wasn't really that nervous coming in, honestly. It was just more of being comfortable out there. I mean, after watching it, I had a lot of opportunities to make a lot of plays. Could do a lot of things differently: throw better balls and make better decisions, but, I mean, all I can do is just grow from it and just learn from it. I'm glad I got the opportunity to actually just get a chance to learn from all that. And just know I gotta do better than that and just come back and try to do better.
Q: What's it like for you to show genuine enthusiasm for Richardson considering your competition?
A: That's like my little brother, and I always had that, that relationship with other quarterbacks here that was ahead of me. And I mean, I'm just helping him out and just trying to be there for him and just trying to help him out all I can. And every time he's in the game, I'm there motivating him and talking to him on the sideline, just making sure he stays locked in, just making sure he stays ready.
Q: What was it like being the starter compared to your experience as the backup?
A: Well, like I said, it's totally different when you're in there and going to have to come back out there and be out there locked in every play. And I've been on the other side of it … coming in, and only being in for a couple plays to change the pace of the game. And I mean me coming out and coming back, it doesn't really faze me that much.
Q: What stood out to you in your film review that looked like someone in their first start?
A: Just some of the decisions I made. I was doing some things that I don't usually do. I mean, just making different type of throws that I don't usually do. And I mean, just comfortable balls. Just watching, I didn't look very comfortable to myself, and I mean, I'm very comfortable every day in practice. I've been doing this for a couple years, so just watching it I didn't feel like I looked really comfortable, like it was my first start.
Jones led the Gators on a pair of early scoring drives in Florida's 35-14 season-opening win over Florida Atlantic, which set the tone in the Gators' 32nd consecutive win in their home opener. Jones cooled off from there, which has raised questions about everything from his footwork to whether he has the "it" factor.
Sounds about right in this day and age of excessive analysis.
Jones finished 17 of 27 for 113 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He added 74 yards rushing. All in all, certainly not the worst performance for a UF quarterback in his first career start. Could he have played better? Certainly.
One of my favorite postgame interviews i've done. So impressed with how @GatorsFB QB Emory Jones handled himself. He will make you root for him. pic.twitter.com/USjjA8Hrlv
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) September 6, 2021
Jones' ho-hum outing combined with the dynamic performance of backup Anthony Richardson has made for an interesting week as the No. 13 Gators (1-0) prepare for their showdown in Tampa on Saturday against USF (0-1).
UF head coach Dan Mullen said Wednesday that he has seen Jones respond well at practice this week, primarily in his focus on details and cleaning up some of the mistakes he made in Saturday's opener.
"Emory, as he looks at it, and he's been around a while and he's a mature guy and understands things," Mullen said. "Overall, you look, he played pretty well last Saturday, but he made some errors that he's not used to making and I don't know if trying to do too much is the word."
Whatever slowed Jones down, Mullen is looking for a crisper performance in Tampa. So is Jones.
Here is a Q&A with Jones as he prepares for another milestone: his first career road start:
Q: What were your takeaways after watching film of your performance against FAU?
A: Mainly, I could just tell that that was my first start. I learned how hard the grind is of being a starter and how detailed you have to be and how locked in you have to be mentally every single play. Basically, just how much I have to pay attention to details, and just lock into play after play.
Q: How would you sum up the entire start from your expectations to your nerves?
A: I mean, I wasn't really that nervous coming in, honestly. It was just more of being comfortable out there. I mean, after watching it, I had a lot of opportunities to make a lot of plays. Could do a lot of things differently: throw better balls and make better decisions, but, I mean, all I can do is just grow from it and just learn from it. I'm glad I got the opportunity to actually just get a chance to learn from all that. And just know I gotta do better than that and just come back and try to do better.
Q: What's it like for you to show genuine enthusiasm for Richardson considering your competition?
A: That's like my little brother, and I always had that, that relationship with other quarterbacks here that was ahead of me. And I mean, I'm just helping him out and just trying to be there for him and just trying to help him out all I can. And every time he's in the game, I'm there motivating him and talking to him on the sideline, just making sure he stays locked in, just making sure he stays ready.
Q: What was it like being the starter compared to your experience as the backup?
A: Well, like I said, it's totally different when you're in there and going to have to come back out there and be out there locked in every play. And I've been on the other side of it … coming in, and only being in for a couple plays to change the pace of the game. And I mean me coming out and coming back, it doesn't really faze me that much.
Q: What stood out to you in your film review that looked like someone in their first start?
A: Just some of the decisions I made. I was doing some things that I don't usually do. I mean, just making different type of throws that I don't usually do. And I mean, just comfortable balls. Just watching, I didn't look very comfortable to myself, and I mean, I'm very comfortable every day in practice. I've been doing this for a couple years, so just watching it I didn't feel like I looked really comfortable, like it was my first start.
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