Holes Florida must fill to become bowl eligible in 2023, build momentum

Florida has managed to become bowl eligible in each of the last two seasons but has failed to win its bowl game, posting back-to-back 6-7 seasons. If the Gators want to take the next step in 2023, a few things must happen.

“The most glaring hole they need to patch is the defensive depth,” On3’s JD PicKell said. “Last year we saw it, they ran out of gas in multiple games. I don’t mean stamina in terms of that first line of defense, because they had good talent on the first line of defense defensively. But behind that first line, behind those starters, it was a pretty noticeable drop-off. And in the SEC you can’t have a lack of depth and expect to compete how you want to compete.

“So for Florida we believe and have heard that the depth has been improved under Austin Armstrong, the new (defensive coordinator) there. I’m curious how that looks, because that has to be a thing for them if they’re going to win six games.”

That, of course, is far from the only hole Florida will have to fill to become bowl eligible.

The Gators barely reached bowl eligibility last season, even with a top-five NFL Draft pick on the roster in athletic freak Anthony Richardson. Richardson is gone now.

“The other part of that is you need consistent level seven quarterback play from Graham Mertz,” PicKell said. “What does that mean? Anthony Richardson last year multiple times played at 10 out of 10. Either kept you in the game or won you the game. Kept you in the game against Tennessee, won you the game against Utah. There were days where you just sat back as a Florida fan and said, ‘You know what? It’s AR’s day. He’s him. Glad we have No. 15 on the roster.’

“There were other times where AR played right around like a four. Times where AR was kind of a liability, if we’re being real. The Missouri game, threw for less than 100 yards. For Anthony Richardson, the spectrum of performances for him week in and week out was so grand — and I’m not here to say that made Florida worse, but I do think you ask the question what does Florida look like if they just get a seven out of 10 every single week?”

Mertz will get the chance to answer that question if he can mesh well with the Florida offense. It should suit a veteran like him.

For one, Florida doesn’t ask the quarterback to do too much to unlock defenses. The team’s system is built around the offensive line and the run game.

“I think they definitely are a six-win team this upcoming season if they get consistent quarterback play at a level seven from Graham Mertz,” PicKell said. “I’m not asking you to be Anthony Richardson. I’m asking you to be consistent. I’m asking you to minimize the turnovers. And I’m asking you to make the open throws.

“Because if the offensive line is up to par, that’s the other question mark, I suppose, the backfield is stocked with some dudes now. Trevor Etienne, Montrell Johnson, I think quietly one of the best running back combos in the country. Both averaged well over five yards a carry last year. They’ve got some dudes now they can hand the rock to. Two different dudes, so you’ve got some fresh legs there, you want to rotate them in drive in and drive out. They’ve got some pieces to be, I think, pretty sneaky offensively. But a lot of it relies with Graham Mertz keeping them honest and it relies with the defense putting the offense in good positions.”

There’s a lot on the line if Florida can become bowl eligible again in 2023. Or, at least, there’s a lot at risk if not.

Currently, the Gators boast one of the top recruiting classes in the country. Keeping it intact might require showing some tangible improvement on the field.

“To zoom it out, the question within this question, the great unknown of if Florida wins six games what would that mean?” PicKell pondered. “It means you can sell trajectory to recruits.

“If you win six games, dare I say you make a one-game improvement, which is probably what you would like to have happen if you’re a Florida Gator fan, at the least. Seven games, one-win improvement, then you go and tell kids, ‘Hey, you see where this thing is going, right? We’re starting to climb.’ Seven wins in the SEC, that is no slouch of an accomplishment. Come be a part of what we’re doing here. Come help us get this thing even further the right direction. We’re not taking steps backwards, we’re taking steps forward and we need you to really help us just blow this whole thing up.”