A look at the Gators bye week

The Florida Gators football team entered the bye week on Sunday following a tough 45-35 home loss to Louisiana State on Oct. 15.

During the game, Florida collapsed defensively, allowing LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to have a career game with 349 passing yards and six total touchdowns. The Gators battled, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, but fell short of a 21-point comeback win.

Now, Florida has a chance to regroup ahead of its annual neutral-site game against Georgia on Oct. 29. Gators’ head coach Billy Napier addressed the media on Wednesday’s SEC weekly teleconference to talk about his team’s preparation.

Correcting defensive issues

Florida ranks last in third down conversion defense among 131 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Gators have allowed opponents to convert on third down 52% of the time (51 plays in 97 attempts), contributing to 429.3 yards allowed per game.

The lackluster defense was most notable in the LSU loss. The Tigers converted eight third-down plays in 12 attempts and amassed 528 total yards. Florida was also unable to stop LSU on two fourth downs attempts.

Napier said the defensive unit needs to find consistency during games by focusing on the things the players can control. He also emphasized working on the fundamentals, communication and alignment to see that improvement.

This season, the Gators have primarily relied on individual plays to make a difference in games. An example of this was cornerback Jaydon Hill’s two interceptions against Mizzou on Oct. 8, which sparked a 24-17 win.

Although disappointed with the last results, the team has remained committed to improving, Napier said.

Napier also said he’s confident in Co-Defensive Coordinator Patrick Toney’s abilities as he’s one of the “best coaches he’s ever been on a staff with.” Toney and Napier worked together for four seasons in Louisiana before moving to Florida.

Finding consistency at QB

There are no questions about Anthony Richardson’s athletic ability.

The redshirt sophomore quarterback has delighted the college football realm with flashy and impressive plays all season.

However, Richardson hasn’t been able to provide steady performances.

In the season opener against Utah, he led the Gators to a 29-26 upset win with a three-touchdown, 274-yard performance. The following week, Richardson threw two interceptions in a 16-26 loss against Kentucky.

Although Richardson has been the subject of heavy criticism, his talent has prevailed in seven starts this season. One of his best performances came on Sept. 24 against Tennessee, when he totaled 453 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the Gators’ 38-33 loss.

Looking ahead

The Gators will need Richardson’s best version of himself during the second half of the season.

With a 4-3 record, Florida will look to secure at least two wins in its next five games to be bowl-eligible.

After the Gators’ bye week, Florida will meet No. 1 Georgia in Jacksonville before traveling to Texas A&M on Nov. 5. The Gators will then host South Carolina on Nov. 12 before closing their season with road games against Vanderbilt and rival Florida State.