An expected quarterback duel vanishes as Ole Miss sticks to the running game.
By BRIAN SHAFFER
Published October 5, 2003
GAINESVILLE - All last week, Florida's secondary was questioned about its ability to repeat its performance of last year's game against Mississippi and keep quarterback Eli Manning in check.
Saturday, Manning finished with fewer than 300 yards passing and didn't throw a touchdown.
But what the Gator defense, which used nickel and dime packages to protect against the pass, forgot about was Mississippi's running game.
The Gators gave up two big first-half runs and surrendered a 1-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of their 20-17 loss.
"It was pretty surprising to see that they ran the ball as much as they did," UF cornerback Johnny Lamar said. "We wanted to make them one dimensional and make them throw the ball all game. But they called the right plays against the defenses we had in and were able to run the ball more."
Injuries to linebackers Todd McCullough and Channing Crowder and defensive tackle Kenny Parker hurt Florida as five Rebels running backs combined for 229 yards on the ground. "(Injuries) enter into it, but that's the game," UF coach Ron Zook said. "People get hurt in the game of football all the time but when somebody gets hurt, the next guy has to step up."
Florida players and coaches insisted that the success Mississippi had on the ground was not the result of errors, but of simple schematic mistakes.
The Gators' gap defense let them down twice: A 41-yard run by Ronald McClendon into Florida territory in the second quarter and a 52-yard run by McClendon for the first Rebels touchdown.
"If one person jumps out of their gap, that could be a big play for them," UF defensive end Bobby McCray said. "That's what happened on those long runs. Everyone has to be fundamentally sound and stay in their gaps for that not to happen."
Holes up front that Crowder filled the past four games were left vacant, and the secondary was forced to make touchdown-saving tackles. Lamar led the team with 12 tackles.
Fatigue set in for the Gator defense, and it was apparent in the end.
"You are going to get worn down, that's part of football," McCray said. "Everybody gets tired, but you have to take that and feed off of it."
The Gators' failure to "feed off of it" allowed the Southeastern Conference's eighth-ranked rushing attack to dictate a game that was billed as a shootout between the SEC's best quarterback and Florida's quarterback of the future.
"I didn't think they would be able to run the ball as well as they did," UF defensive end Darrell Lee said. "We missed a few tackles, so we just need to tighten up."
