Coming into the season, the Gators talked about the offensive line being the strength of their team.
That might have been wishful thinking.
Florida’s line struggled tremendously in recent losses to LSU and Missouri, leaving the coaching staff to scramble for a new plan before Saturday’s game against Georgia at EverBank Field in Jacksonville (3:30 p.m., CBS).
The unit has allowed 10 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries the past two games. Tyler Murphy, a longtime backup quarterback who still is trying to find his footing, has barely had time to get the ball out of his hands. On top of that, the Gators rushed for their two lowest totals of the year.
“We definitely call ourselves out for those losses,” left guard Max Garcia said. “We had a lot to do with those losses, going three and out too many times. We do feel like it’s a majority of our fault.”
Because of that, there will be changes.
At this point, the Gators are pleased with center Jonotthan Harrison, right guard Jon Halapio and Garcia. The edges, however, are a major concern.
This week, it looks like UF will stick with unproven sophomore D.J. Humphries at left tackle and is ready to give junior-college transfer Trenton Brown a shot at right tackle over Tyler Moore.
Moore began his college career in 2011 at Nebraska, where he started four games as a true freshman, and quickly won a starting job at Florida this season after transferring. That momentum dissipated with a shaky performance and an ankle injury against Miami in Week 2.
Brown was a candidate to redshirt before potential starting tackle Chaz Green went down with a torn labrum in the preseason. Brown is believed to be the largest player in program history at 6-feet-8, 361 pounds, but he had never faced top-level college competition prior to this year.
“We’re looking at eight to nine guys still,” offensive coordinator Brent Pease said when asked how many players are in contention to start. “And you’re going to see a little bit more Trenton Brown.”
Brown has played every week, but this would be his first start. Pease said the Gators (4-3, 3-2 SEC) worked him at first-string right tackle during last week’s practices.
Humphries showed promise as a true freshman last year, but his progress seems to have leveled off. Pease and coach Will Muschamp were so exasperated by his penalties and blocking miscues against LSU that they benched him for the Missouri game.
They shifted Garcia to his spot and put Kyle Koehne at left guard, though that move was brief. They slid Garcia back inside and put Humphries at left tackle before halftime. In the fourth quarter, Missouri defensive end Shane Ray raced past Humphries and knocked the ball out of Murphy’s hands for a turnover at UF’s 7-yard line.
Georgia (4-3, 3-2) presents a serious test. The Bulldogs are fifth in the conference in sacks with 19 and have the SEC’s No. 4 run defense.
If Brown or Humphries falters, the Gators are considering alternatives. They even are willing to sacrifice a year of eligibility for true freshman Octavius Jackson, who is 6-4, 304 pounds. Muschamp prefers to redshirt all offensive linemen their first year, but he is running out of options.
He already met with Jackson to discuss the possibility of losing his redshirt, which means he will have three seasons remaining instead of four, and Jackson was fine with it.
“We’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do,” Muschamp said.
Whoever ends up playing will have enormous responsibility on their shoulders. The Gators’ season is on the line as they try to keep alive their thin hope of winning the SEC Eastern Division.
They plan to start a true freshman, Glades Day School product Kelvin Taylor, at running back. Murphy has a sprained throwing shoulder because the line didn’t protect him at LSU and can’t afford to suffer further injury.
They are counting on a line that has yet to show it can be trusted.
“They have to be our strength because if we can’t move anybody up front, it’s going to be hard to produce,” Pease said. “They’ve got to be the foundation.”
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