Gators confident they can rev up idle passing game when they need to

Sat;11-20;77;0;0

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Sept. 1: 10-16;114;1;0

Two weeks ago, the Florida Gators managed a meager 61 passing yards in their upset over LSU. In the euphoria of the Gators’ biggest win since the Tim Tebow era, that number went relatively noticed.

When the passing game went quiet for a second straight game last week at Vanderbilt, there was reason to be concerned.

Heading into Saturday’s game against No. 9 South Carolina at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (3:30 p.m., CBS), No. 3 Florida is at the bottom of the SEC in passing. There are only six FBS teams in the country passing for fewer yards per game than the Gators’ average of 145.

“I didn’t realize we were last in passing, but we’re first in the East,” said quarterback Jeff Driskel, referring to his team standing atop the SEC Eastern Division. “That’s all that matters.”

Maybe Driskel is correct and the Gators (6-0, 5-0 in the SEC) can keep rolling along with a strong defense and run game. If he is, the passing stats will be merely a footnote.

Perhaps, though, the passing game is Florida’s biggest vulnerability. If defenses begin loading up at the line of scrimmage to keep Driskel and running back Mike Gillislee contained, the Gators might need to move the ball through the air.

Coach Will Muscham does not seem scared of that possibility. He said the passing game looks great in practices and would not be afraid to use it more if necessary.

LSU and Vanderbilt did not force the Gators to throw, though. If that is the case, Muschamp argued, there is no reason to veer from what works.

The overarching philosophy he has hammered since taking this job has been that Florida needs to play great defense and run the ball. This year’s team, which is No. 2 in the BCS standings, reflects that. UF rushed for more than 500 yards in the past two weeks combined and currently is second in the conference at 233.3 yards per game on the ground. It also has the SEC’s No. 4 defense.

“I believe you do what it takes to win games,” Muschamp said. “If that means we need to throw it 60 times a game, well, let’s throw it 60 times.”

The run-heavy approach is a sharp turn from the offense Florida ran under Steve Spurrier, now the coach at South Carolina (6-1, 4-1). When Spurrier guided the Gators to national prominence in the 1990s, he did so with a high-powered passing attack.

The current Gators are on pace for roughly 1,900 passing yards, which would be the program’s lowest since 1989.

This offense also diverges from what coordinator Brent Pease ran when he was at Boise State with quarterback Kellen Moore last season, which is a testament to his flexibility. He helped steer the Broncos to the No. 11 passing offense in the country last year and now has the Gators at No. 14 in rushing offense.

At Boise State in 2011, the run-pass play call distribution was almost 50-50 (that figure throws out kneel downs and counts sacks as pass plays). His team got 64 percent of its total offensive yardage through pass plays. Florida has run the ball 65 percent of the time this season and picked up 62 percent of its total yards by that method.

“Some balance has to come back,” Pease acknowledged. “Here’s what’s going to happen: if you are not balanced in what you do, they’re going to start loading things up. But when they have an answer to that, we have to have our answers.”

Driskel, a true sophomore, has been a reliable passer. His timing and his accuracy have been questionable at times, but his 66.7 completion percentage is 28th nationally. He has only committed two turnovers this season.

He also is one of the most gifted runners on the team. He ran for 177 yards against Vanderbilt, setting a new program record for a quarterback.

“Whether that kid ends up throwing for 300 or rushing for a record like he does, I don’t really care how it gets done as long as we’re productive with what we do and score points,” Pease said.