Check out the top 10 things we learned from the Gators’ 23-6 win at Missouri.
Greenard’s mark
Jon Greenard, when healthy, is virtually unstoppable. The only thing that has slowed down the Louisville graduate transfer this season is an ankle injury suffered Oct. 5 against Auburn. Now 100%, Greenard was in the backfield all day at Missouri, racking up five tackles for loss — two of them sacks. He is the Gators’ only lock for All-SEC first-team honors.
Tough yards
Lamical Perine is making the most of a tough situation. The senior tailback has had little room to run all season, but has been a valuable receiver and continues to show a nose for the end zone. Perine’s 15-yard touchdown grab showcased his hands and body control. The play resulted in Perine’s team-leading eighth touchdown on the season, including four receiving, 25 during the past three years. No UF running back has caught four touchdowns in a season since records were kept dating to 1996.
O-line woes
UF’s offensive line is a mess. Missouri’s defensive front is the Tigers’ strength and showed it against the Gators’ Achilles’ heel. Mizzou entered the day 12th in the 14-team SEC with 14 sacks, but the Tigers had four during the first half. Redshirt junior guard Brett Heggie, who tore his ACL during his last trip to Missouri, had a particularly tough day as three of those sacks were from the Tigers’ interior linemen. On one of them, massive tackle Jordan Elliott (6-4, 315) made a swim move on Heggie and was on top of UF quarterback Kyle Trask in two seconds.
Slaton’s effort
UF defensive tackle T.J. Slaton is coming into his own, finally. Slaton entered Saturday with six tackles during each of the past two games — against Georgia and Vanderbilt. At Missouri, Slaton was in the backfield repeatedly, finishing with four tackles, including his first full sack of the season. Slaton nearly had another one, but slippery Missouri quarterback Kelly Bryant got loose before Jon Greenard could corral Bryant for a sack of his own. Slaton, the top recruit in UF’s 2017 class, has been a late bloomer, but better late than never.
Henderson struggles
Cornerback CJ Henderson is playing himself out of the first round of the NFL draft. Henderson, a junior expected to leave school early, was considered a mid to late first-round pick, but too often has not played like one. Missouri receiver Jalen Knox’s 44-yard catch against Henderson was the fourth time he has allowed a catch of 40 yards or longer this season. The Gators’ defense has yielded just six total. Henderson’s 10 pass break-ups were second in the SEC entering the day, but he has not had the dominant season many expected.
Wilson’s role
Marco Wilson is custom fit for nickelback. Wilson, who moved inside a week ago against Vanderbilt, set the tone for the Gators’ defense with a tackle for loss on Missouri’s second play from scrimmage. Wilson ended the day with an interception of Kelly Bryant. Wilson’s instincts are a major upgrade on sophomore Trey Dean and allow the redshirt sophomore to react more quickly in space than when he was playing outside.
Ball control
Jacob Copeland needs to cure the drops. The Gators’ redshirt freshman receiver is one of the team’s most explosive players. But an incomplete pass from Trask on third-and-three from UF’s 48 hit Copeland right in the hands, ending a Gator drive and marking another drop for Copeland. To win his coaches’ trust and become more of a factor in 2020, Copeland has to improve his hands and ability to win the football. Copeland entered Saturday’s game with the fourth-highest drop rate in the SEC (minimum 20 targets), failing to come up with 12.4 percent of the passes thrown to him.
Penalty problems
The Gators showed a shocking lack of discipline. Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate’s late hit of Bryant early in the second half was the Gators’ third of four personal fouls Saturday. But a little over-aggressiveness is to be expected from a first-year freshman. The other three personal fouls were by players with three years at the college level — Trevon Grimes, Zach Carter and Kyree Campbell.
Go-to Gator
Van Jefferson has been Mr. Reliable among the Gators’ veteran receivers. Jefferson caught three passes for 50 yards on UF’s opening drive, setting up a field goal. Later, his fingertip catch was a key play during his team’s first touchdown drive. At day’s end, Jefferson led UF with six catches for 82 yards, another workmanlike day for the redshirt senior, who now leads a talented group of wide receivers with 38 catches and 480 yards, and is tied for second with four touchdowns.
Sluggish start
The Gators slow starts away from the Swamp continue to plague them. UF has scored just 27 first-quarter points during games away from home, including three against Missouri. The Gators have managed just six points first quarter during the past three road games (South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri). But once the second half starts, Dan Mullen’s squad finds another gear. UF has outscored opponents 220-69 in second half, including 111-29 during the fourth quarter.
