Dan Mullen: Florida has to identify problems after two SEC losses

The Florida Gators are coming off back-to-back losses to SEC opponents that were both decided by one score. Last week Dan Mullen’s team fell to Kentucky 20-13 in a matchup where the defense was the focal point.

On Saturday, Mullen’s Gators found themselves in a shootout in Baton Rouge, but the final scoreboard read 49-42 in favor of the LSU Tigers.

The Gators head coach met with the media following the LSU loss and didn’t identify one key area where his team fell short.

“It’s always much easier if there’s one thing you put your finger on, say ‘OK, this was the one thing that was the issue, and let’s go fix that one thing,” Mullen said after the crushing loss.

Florida’s upcoming bye week will be pivotal for the Gators to reset and make adjustments, according to their head coach.

‘”We got a bye week coming up, we’ll evaluate a lot of different things. We fix up some things then some other things come and bite us,” the Florida Gators front man added.

Despite putting up 488 yards of total offense with a balanced offensive attack (350 passing, 138 rushing) the Gators defense let the LSU offense catch fire on the ground.

Florida has been known for defensive dominance, particularly up front, under the Mullen regime. Shockingly, LSU put together 388 rushing yards, with one Tiger ball-carrier making history along the way.

Tyrion Davis-Price recorded a single game school record 287 rush yards in LSU’s win over Florida. In doing so, he also broke Herschel Walker’s record (238 rush yards in 1980) for most rush yards allowed by the Gators in a single game according to ESPN stats and info.

Florida Gators QB answers transfer portal rumors after loss

Florida’s Anthony Richardson is the latest quarterback to be caught up in transfer rumors. 

Following a 49-42 loss at the hands of LSU in Death Valley, the Gainesville native spoke about transferring. He did not get the start, but he nearly saved the day for head coach Dan Mullen’s team.

“I can’t really speak on that,” Richardson said after the game concerning a transfer. “Time is the only thing that tells. Right now I’m a Gator.”

Richardson was 10-for-19 with 167 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air, seven carries for 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground and two of Florida’s four interceptions on the day. 

Richardson entered the game after quarterback Emory Jones threw a pick-six to start the second half and immediately led an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. He converted for two points on a run after a 5-yard rushing touchdown. 

The Florida Gators scored touchdowns on their three possessions as well, but threw a pick on the final offensive drive for the Gators. Those drives were largely led by Richardson, although Jones did step in for a few snaps early in the fourth quarter after Richardson suffered a potential right arm injury. Richardson returned shortly after and appeared fine.

Jones went 12-for-19 with 161 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Justin Shorter was the favorite target today, catching six balls for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Outside of the passing game, the Gators posted a respectable 138 yards on the ground. In addition to Richardson, who was the team’s leading rusher on Saturday, five additional players had more than 15 yards.

The two quarterbacks remain Florida’s leading rushers on the year.

Mullen will have a much-needed bye-week to prep his team for one of the top teams in college football.

The Florida Gators next test will come against the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 30.