Florida’s offense faces stiff test vs. No. 2 Alabama

Yet Florida and first-year head coach Jim McElwain have defied expectations lots of times this season.

Alabama continued its preparations Tuesday for the SEC championship game, working out for two hours in full pads at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.

But one player lingered before taking a seat on the bus. Now, the senior expected a few not-so-friendly text messages.

“Absolutely not, I’m a Gator for life, ” Hargreaves said. “I can’t imagine what’s on there”. That query usually requires a follow-up: Why not?

-K Adam Griffith. Griffith was a ideal 5-of-5 in the Iron Bowl.

Florida is the final hurdle between second-ranked Alabama and a return to the national semifinals, and the No. 15 Gators hope to be more than a mere speed bump when the teams square off Saturday in Atlanta for the SEC championship. A loss would be unthinkable, especially with the Tide as heavy favorites. If Alabama loses, that mini-drought will stretch to three seasons.

His production has climbed in each of his three years in Tuscaloosa. Fellow tailback Mark Ingram is the only Tide player to win one, in 2009.

In 2010, however, St. Paul’s reloaded and installed a pro-style scheme, one that better suited Coker. “He’s the defensive coordinator”, he said. We come to play against the best, week in and week out.

Barring upsets, the loser of the Big Ten title game between Iowa and Michigan State, and Ohio State will fill the Rose Bowl and one at-large spot.

“(Feleipe) is just a tall kid with a rifle for an arm”, said Chris Nee, a state of Florida recruiting analyst for 247 Sports. But Saban clearly disagreed, tabbing redshirt senior Blake Sims as the starter during fall camp.

Getting to the SEC title is a big step. “It’s something special to me to be able to play in the game”. Alabama, which lost only against Ole Miss, has been a prime national-championship contender all season. “I thought from a talent standpoint, Jake had everything you could want in a player”. The Crimson Tide held the No. 1 seed in the initial College Football Playoff in 2014. Coker regained his starting job and Alabama has won its last nine games with him as the starter.

“It speaks volumes of his character and his professionalism”, Saban said. “He’s shown that week-in and week-out ever since he became the starter”.

“There’s a lot of hurt in that locker room”. “I think guys have picked up on that”.

Harris and his offensive mates will be challenging the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide, who yielded 260 yards in last Saturday’s 29-13 win at Auburn and allow an average of 264.6 yards per game. Jefferson came up with the strip sack of FSU QB Sean Maguire that led to UF’s lone two points of the game on a safety and finished the game with 3 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack, giving him 28, 8.5, and 3.5, respectively. The coach demands smart decision-making and poise to earn the keys to his offense. “So he understands it and applies it in the game as well as anyone”. Against Auburn he completed 65% of his throws and delivered a huge play in the third quarter. Blame weather for the latter, because rains forced the successful forward pass out of Baylor’s repertoire against the Horned Frogs, but injuries at quarterback robbed Coleman of his game-breaking production. Alabama is plus-nine in turnover margin since losing the ball five times against Ole Miss…. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. “I owe a ton to coach Saban and what he gave me an opportunity to do”.

At Alabama, the quarterback position can be as political as it is athletic.

Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. Those fans can be just as passionate when the Tide aren’t winning, as well. They have a very good back. “We have a bunch of guys, you know what, still have something to prove”.

Echoes McElroy: “There’s probably more pressure if you appreciate the magnitude of the position you’re now playing. So much about it is muscle memory and your mentality when you take the field”. How he closes his brief Alabama career might not only impact his state; it will also likely define his legacy. Last week, Florida State’s Dalvin Cook gained 183 yards with a late surge that included two fourth-quarter touchdowns. That’s why Saturday’s matchup with Florida could be a seminal moment in his career.

Alabama and Florida meet in Atlanta for the conference championship. McCarron cut off communication with most friends and family, often staying in to play Xbox with his brother and avoid distractions. “This is a big game for us”. And I think anybody out there that doesn’t think this is gonna be a real challenge and a real test for our team is you know, I don’t know what you’re thinking. “I’m not really too sure what they’re going to do with that”.