Florida players like Kurt Roper.
Heading into the season, running back Matt Jones called the new offensive coordinator loose and "more exciting than (former offensive coordinator Brent) Pease."
Wide receiver Valdez Showers liked the up-tempo feel Roper brings to practice.
Quarterback Jeff Driskel said Roper keeps the offense humble.
But heading into Florida’s road contest against Tennessee — and following a 42-21 loss to Alabama in which the Gators tallied just 200 yards of offense — Roper wants to make sure everyone knows that performance comes before the fun and games.
"I hope I stay who I am," Roper said. "When you go to the practice field, I think the big thing is I don’t want to put out the perception that when I’m on the practice field it’s all fun and games.
"I mean, there is a mentality, a toughness mentality, a focus mentality, and an effort mentality. And so, I don’t think that’s changed at all. … My whole philosophy is if we’ve got guys trying and giving effort, then we’ll coach ya. If we have to coach the effort and those things, that’s when we’re not fun to be around."
The Gators have struggled converting third downs this season. Through three games, Florida has a 34-percent conversion rate, which is 109th in the country and 13th in the Southeastern Conference.
Against Alabama, Florida moved the chains on just two of its 13 third-down attempts.
But when the average distance to go on third down is 7.8 yards, a low conversion rate is bound to occur.
"(We) played too many bad downs and distances," Roper said. "I don’t think we ever kept ourselves in good situations that way, which created a bunch of third-and-longs rather than obviously the third-and-shorts and third-and-mediums.
"So I don’t think we were very productive, really any down and distance. But I think because of our poor production on our early downs we really struggled on our third downs against a good defense."
Florida’s troubles on offense seem to be put solely on Driskel’s back.
But Roper reiterated Muschamp in saying the redshirt junior is Florida’s best quarterback to win games at this point in the season.
The first-year UF offensive coordinator said that Driskel has attempted 37 drop back passes on third down this season, and the coaching staff has needed to be critical on just eight of the attempts.
"On the other 29, they were either good decisions or we didn’t make the play," Roper said. "Not saying we made the play on all 29, but Jeff was solid in decision-making and the throw. It’s a team thing. We’ve got a guy that understands the game that is a tough-minded guy and has the ability to make plays for us."
Driskel has been at the root of the blame among Florida’s fan base, but Roper said the criticism for Florida’s offensive ineptitude against Alabama can not fall on just one player.
"It’s not just (Driskel)," Roper said. "He threw a couple of interceptions on third-and-longs when I put him in an aggressive call in the mind set of trying to make a play. So it’s all around. It’s me as a play-caller, it’s him as a decision-maker, it’s just the route-running, all of it together we’ve just got to get better at."
And Driskel’s teammates have the same mentality.
"It’s been tough for him because he’s getting the steam right at him," Jones said. "But we know it’s a team effort. Yeah, as quarterback, he takes the heat for the whole thing, but we’re trying to lift him up. … We’re not against him."
Despite all the struggles and all the improvements that need to be made, Roper said that Florida’s offense has found its identity.
"You know, I think you’re always growing and changing," Roper said, "but I think we’ve got a pretty good feel of who we are and what we are."
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson116
Jeff Driskel rushes during Florida's 42-21 loss to Alabama on Sept. 20 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
