Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL.
As Florida inches closer to unseating Florida State for a National Championship playoff opportunity, the Gators must first direct their focus to the Eastern Kentucky Colonels. Here are three strategies the Gators must entertain in order to bring home a victory.
Interceptions Need to be Committed
If there was ever a time where the Gators could work on picking off a couple of rockets, it would be now. The Gator secondaries have been notorious this year for either leaving a receiver ten yards uncovered or dropping elementary interceptions. But after forcing two interceptions in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores two weeks ago, the Gators D looks like it has finally found its groove. Faced against an extremely talented set of wideouts next week, the Gator's backfield must send a message to the Seminoles by having 3+ picks against the Colonels with hopes of inhibiting a through-the-air style of play.
Let Treon Throw
I can confidently say that Treon Harris is the next face of the Florida franchise. Catapulted into a situation where the Gators lacked confidence on both sides of the ball, Treon ultimately brought back a swagger that has allowed the Gators to look like a SEC Championship contender once again. After going 13 for 21, with 215 yards through-the-air against Vanderbilt, Florida Head Coach Will Muschamp will most likely increase the amount of pass plays Treon will be encouraged to produce.
Stop Making the Run so Obvious
This one is pretty much self-explanatory. The Gators have fostered an offensive style that has allowed opposing defensive coordinators and even fans to determine a play call in order to impede Gator running backs, Kelvin Taylor or Matt Jones, from acquiring significant yardage. If the Gators want to have a repeat performance of this year's Florida-Georgia game, which saw over 400 yards of rushing, the Offensive Coordinator, Kurt Roper,must enhance a style-of-play that creates confusion and uncertainty amongst the opposing defense.
