Tim Tebow calls out Florida 'fundamentals' despite having 'a lot to be encouraged about' vs. LSU

Amid mounting pressure, Florida suffered a second straight loss last week, falling to LSU on the road. Gators great Tim Tebow acknowledged some good signs from Billy Napier’s group, but said the “fundamentals” need to be better.

Florida out-gained LSU 366-316 in last week’s matchup, but DJ Lagway threw five interceptions, resulting in 10 Tigers points. Both teams also struggled with penalties, and UF had seven for 57 yards.

Combine the penalties with the turnovers, and Tebow said it’s hard to overcome those problems. Even despite what he saw as “encouraging” things on the film, the fundamentals remain critical to getting wins – especially on the road in the SEC.

“I actually think that there’s a lot – people won’t fully understand this, but there’s a lot to actually be encouraged about if you actually watch the All-22 and the coaches’ tape,” Tebow said on The Rich Eisen Show. “You go to Death Valley at night against one of the top teams in the country and for a lot of areas, you matched them stride for stride and in some areas, you outperformed them.

“But you’re just not going to win with five turnovers. I don’t care what level. When you lose five turnovers to I believe one, you’re not going to win when your defense really shuts them to 10 points but your offense gives them another 10, it’s too hard to win, especially in the SEC at night.”

Tim Tebow: ‘You have to win in situational football’

Lagway otherwise threw for 287 yards and a touchdown on 33-of-49 passing, though Florida and LSU both struggled to get much going in the running game. Still, Tebow said there were some things that stood out on the tape.

But between turnover issues, penalties and red-zone success, it’s hard to win games. That’s why Tebow said “situational football” has to be an area of improvement for Florida moving forward.

“I think when you really look at it, there’s a lot to be encouraged [by], but you have to win in situational football and there’s a reason why those always get talked about as the fundamentals,” Tebow said. “Turnovers, scoring in the red zone, penalties, third downs. There’s just certain things that are always the basics.

“You have a team that in areas are playing really well, but in some of the fundamentals – the penalties, the turnovers, scoring in the red zone – when you lose all of those, it makes it almost impossible to win the game. … The situational football is where we have to improve.”