It was only a matter of time before the Gators’ weaknesses caught up to them.
Florida was living on the edge the past four games, counting on its offense to make just enough plays and leaving the rest up to the defense to make it a grind-it-out type of win.
It’s been that same formula for the Gators in the past three games leading up to their rivalry game against Florida State.
Against the Seminoles — a team that had more overall talent on its roster — the Gators couldn’t follow the same formula that got them those ugly wins against Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Florida Atlantic.
I kept wondering to myself how Florida was able to pull off each win while overcoming deficiencies at multiple positions and still having hope for a College Football Playoff spot.
The potential of those deficiencies coming back and costing the Gators has existed for most of the season, but it started to get bad back in their 9-7 win against Vanderbilt on Nov. 7 that clinched a spot in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
The game against the Commodores was a sign of things to come for Florida’s offense and special teams: a lack of consistent quarterback play from Treon Harris and an inconsistent kicking game that ironically capped off that very game with game-winning field goal from Austin Hardin.
But since then, Hardin has gone back to his regular form of either missing field goals or having them blocked because he can’t kick them high enough to get them over the linemen, something he’s been called out on by coach Jim McElwain on numerous occasions.
Hardin has fallen out of favor with McElwain, who seems to have already moved on from the redshirt junior kicker.
"We’ll get a kicker. That’s our responsibility, and we’ll get one," McElwain said after the FSU game. "And we’ll get a good one."
While UF’s kicking game is the worst I’ve seen at the collegiate level, the passing offense is almost just as bad.
Harris showed flashes against LSU and against Georgia, but even then he missed open receiver after open receiver.
Against FAU, McElwain said Harris looked spooked, and against the Seminoles, Harris was worse, constantly getting happy feet and taking unnecessary sacks.
Fans have called on McElwain to bench Harris, but here’s the reality of the situation: Harris is the best option the Gators have at quarterback because Josh Grady is a wide receiver trying to be a signal caller.
Harris’ confidence has to be low because of how poorly he played against Florida State, but the players on the team and his coach are behind him.
"He’s our guy. We got complete confidence in him," tight end Jake McGee said.
Added McElwain: "He’s our quarterback and he’s going to get a little bit better this week as we go on to the SEC Championship Game, playing a pretty darn salty defense. But you know what, we’ve got to get a little bit better this week."
Now, the Gators have to get ready to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team that’s No. 2 in the country and has a coach — Nick Saban — who will make Harris throw the ball to beat them.
In addition, Hardin is essentially out of the question.
It’s only going to get uglier for Florida and Co., and the final score might be determined by how much mercy Saban has on his former offensive coordinator.
Follow Luis Torres on Twitter @LFTorresIII
UF quarterback Treon Harris scrambles in the pocket during Florida's 27-2 loss to Florida State on Nov. 28, 2015, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
