Discussing the biggest variable to success for Florida against Utah

Florida might actually have an edge over Utah in their opener this week depending on the status of Utes QB Cam Rising. They will only be able to underline that advantage further if their own quarterback, Graham Mertz, is able to deliver in Salt Lake City.

On3’s J.D. PicKell named Mertz’ play as a key variable during his preview of Thursday night’s matchup between Florida and Utah. There are two things he’s looking for from Mertz with the first being his ability to hit long passes when the Ute’s defense is playing up in the box against their run game.

“For Graham Mertz? I have two questions that I need answers of one of them to be a yes to,” PicKell said. “Can you either, one, hit the open shot when the Utah defense gets tired of tackling Montrell Johnson, they get tired of rallying up and tackling Trevor Etienne? If they put eight in the box, can you hit Ricky Pearsall downfield?”

“Can you stand in there, take a shot, and get the ball out to Eugene Wilson to let him pick up a first down? Can you be that guy for us? When we get the numbers, when we get the matchup, can you make the open shot? If yes, great. Good things are going to happen for Florida offensively,” said PicKell.

The other side of that is finding success early in the passing game. If Utah has to focus in on Mertz early, that’ll make Florida even more dynamic as they’ll be able to pick and choose between attacking through the air or on the ground.

“The other question if that’s a no to that question: Can you lighten up the box, can you make Utah play honest defensively by having success by throwing the football early? Because, for Utah, if they don’t have to honor the pass? They won’t,” explained PicKell. “I told you about this running back room. That’s going to be the first priority for Utah. So if they don’t have to worry about getting beat over the top, they don’t have to worry about Graham Mertz being an issue for them through the air? Hey, we’re just going to worry about the running back room then and we’ll play that way. We won’t have to play honest.”

“If Graham Mertz can get some success early on? Maybe they hit a deep shot, let’s say midway through the first quarter? As a safety at Utah, as a linebacker at Utah? You’re rethinking, ‘Okay, now we really have to worry about this pass game,'” said PicKell.

Mertz has entered the SEC as one of the league’s more questioned quarterbacks. People aren’t interested in the fact that he’s a former top-five quarterback recruit or starter at Wisconsin. However, if he plays how PicKell is suggesting, he believes Mertz might just announce himself as a problem for the next steps of the season.

“I’m telling you, man. If Graham Mertz is able to win this game on the road at Utah? It’d be great for this Florida team,” said PicKell. “But for Graham Mertz? Think about how we would talk about him if they beat the back-to-back Pac-12 champs at their crib?”

“If they go beat them? I think Graham Mertz has a totally new swagger about himself externally. And then I think, internally too, it just proves, ‘Yeah, I am that guy.'”